This drawing shows the ideal line through a simple, 180 degree
corner. The ideal line is drawn in red, and the track edges in
black. This type of driving line is called
Out-In-Out: approaching the corner, you take the
outside, as far as possible, you take the inside line in the middle
of the corner, and you take the outside again on the exit. The
middle part of the corner, drawn in blue, is called the apex of
the turn, or the clipping point. The wider you can make the radius
of the line, the faster you can take the corner. Or in other words,
the less speed you'll lose.
Note that all the braking should be done in the straight line,
before the circular part begins. The acceleration too begins after
the circular part, when the car is tracking straight. During the
circular part, the car's velocity is constant. It has to be,
assuming that the radius of the path is constant and the tires are
delivering maximum grip.
Click here for another illustration on 90
degrees out-in-out method.
