Braking
Question : "How much technique can there be to braking? Surely it's just a matter of stamping on the pedal and coming to a halt?" Answer : Good…
Drive faster, drive smarter
The best driving guide on the web
This site is a resource for driving and track day enthusiasts, whatever your skill level. It's for drivers who would like to improve their technique, get faster on the track and make safe progress on the roads. The skills you'll learn here are relevant both for real life driving and simulations. Reading our content will give you the basic skills to drive quickly, but there is no substitute for real-life experience. So book yourself onto a track day or driving experience and practice!
We have a large number of articles which cover car control, techniques, road and off-road driving - please select from the list below.
Car control
10 articles
Grip
Grip is a wonderful thing. It keeps you on the road, it allows you to accelerate, turn corners, and then stop again. However, there is a limit to…
Heel & toe shifting
Heel and toe is the art of changing down a gear and rev matching while braking. By combining the braking and gear change when approaching a corner instead…
Left foot braking
Left foot braking is a technique used frequently in rallying, but can be equally useful on the road or track for the following: Reducing understeer into a corner…
Oversteer
Oversteer is related to understeer and occurs when the rear tyres reach the limit of adhesion in a corner before the front while cornering. This leads to 'the…
Rev matching
Rev matching is used when down-shifting to smooth the transition between gears, and prevent shock loads through the transmission. It's a useful skill for the road and track…
Smooth driving
In every discipline from drifting to racing, aggression does not equal speed. If you only learn one skill to improve your driving technique it should be the art…
Steering
Good steering technique is crucial for smooth driving, as it prevents any sudden lateral weight transfers which allows the corner to be taken at a higher speed. Driving…
Understeer
Understeer occurs when traction is lost at the front wheels while cornering, forcing you wide on a bend despite applying the correct steering angle (Diagram 1). When viewed…
Weight transfers
There are three ways that weight transfers can occur: Acceleration Deceleration Steering Why do weight transfers occur? Weight transfers occur as a result of the chassis twisting around…
Techniques
10 articles
Donuts
What kind of car do you need? Rear wheel drive is essential to perform sustained doughnuts, and you'll need enough power to spin the rear wheels and keep…
Drifting
There are many different methods of inducing oversteer, your choice depends on the properties of your vehicle. Once oversteer has been invoked, you'll need to control the drift…
Driving corners fast
Once the optimum route through the corner has been determined, it's time to negotiate the turn in the quickest way possible. To do this will, you need a…
Getting a good start
Get off the line before anyone else and you'll have an immediate advantage by being able to defend your position with the added bonus of having the ability…
Handbrake turn
Handbrake turns are frequently used in rally driving to negotiate tight, lower speed corners and can be useful in a variety of low speed maneuvers and stunts. This…
J-turn
This is predominantly an evasive driving manoeuvre or stunt, but is also a lot of fun. When trying to learn this technique, it's worth using low grip surfaces…
Racecraft - overtaking on a corner
A crucial part of racing is overtaking and defending your position - this is where things get seriously fun. This article builds on the fundamentals of the racing…
Racing line
The racing line is the route a racing driver follows in order to take corners in the fastest possible way. By using all of the available space on…
Scandinavian flick
The tightest corners and hairpins usually require the use of a handbrake turn, but the flick can be used in conjunction with, or without the handbrake. The name…
Threshold braking
Threshold braking is the art of slowing down in the quickest possible way by maintaining brake force at the optimum level. It's tricky and requires a lot of…
Racecraft
1 articles
Slipstream overtaking
Picture this scenario - you're competing in a race series with identically powered cars and you'd like to pass someone on the straights - how do you do…
Track
5 articles
Driving position
It's vitally important to get your driving position right before driving on the track. Your seat and steering wheel position should be adjusted carefully to... Allow grip of…
Engine & driveline
The following points are the most crucial factors to take into account when considering the engine and drive-line layouts of a car for the track. The moment of…
Engine modifications
It's worth noting at this point that it becomes exponentially more difficult and expensive to increase performance through engine mods, and although you might find it easy to…
Track preparation
Preparation for your car: Maintenance Driving a car hard on the track puts a great deal of additional strain on your machine so some simple maintenance is essential…
Wet versus dry driving
The first thing to think about is the decrease in friction between the contact patch and the road. This means you'll need to brake earlier, corner at a…
Road
6 articlesAdvanced driving courses
A quick search on Google will reveal countless organisations which claim to provide 'advanced driving' courses. But what constitutes an advanced driving course, and what can you expect…
Driving in floods
Firstly, it's important to note that driving through a flood can be very damaging to your car, terminal even. Secondly, there is a very real possibility of being…
Everyday driving tips
Braking - smooth and progressive Progressive application of the brakes is vital to maintain stability and composure at speed Progressive application of the brakes is vital to maintain…
Improve fuel economy
Let's face it - fuel is getting more expensive and we can't drive everywhere like a lunatic. So how can you make the most of your hard earned…
Snow & ice driving myths
Myth 1: ABS is a bad thing in winter conditions Anti-lock braking system It is true that when ABS is operating in slippery conditions, your stopping distance is…
Winter driving tips
Winter conditions can be unpredictable, however most of the techniques required in cold environments are common sense. Rules of thumb Keep speed as low as practically possible Increase…
Off-road
10 articles
Climbing hills
Steep hills can be one of the trickiest obstacles you're likely to encounter while driving off-road. Not only have you got a gradient to contend with, but gravity…
Controlling slides off-road
If you're driving on slippery terrain, you can expect to slide from time to time. Controlling a slide is an important skill to master to ensure safety when…
Descending hills
When descending a steep or slippery hill, it's important to consider the consequences of losing traction and being unable to stop on the slope. If you're pointing directly…
Ditch crossing
Ditch crossings can be quite hard on your car unless the correct technique is used. There is a risk of contact with the ground, and loss of traction…
Driving in deep water
Wading though deep water can be one of the most enjoyable and exciting aspects of off-road driving, however it can also be dangerous and may damage your vehicle…
Four wheel drive systems
The three main varieties of four-wheel drive systems are: Permanent / full time four wheel drive Manually selectable four wheel drive Automatically selected four wheel drive This article…
Off-road driving techniques
Welcome to the oevrview off off-road driving - this area introduces the skills and techniques required to make progress on tough off-road terrain in a four wheel drive…
Off-road snow & ice driving
This article is aimed at 4x4 drivers to explain some useful techniques for driving in challenging winter conditions off the beaten track. Be sure you know what you're…
Off-road vehicle attributes
Getting to know your vehicle is the first step towards being a safe and successful off-road driver. There are various natural attributes of your vehicle which determine the…
Pulling away off-road
When driving off-road, pulling away on the flat and on slopes without rolling backwards is an essential skill to master. This should become second nature if you're planning…
Technology
8 articles
ABS system
Overview An ABS system consists of the following components: Some wheel speed sensors Brake calipers A hydraulic motor Some pressure release valves A quick thinking computer (or control…
Biofuel
At first glance, biofuel might seem to be the a decent solution to several of the developed world's problems. Dwindling fossil fuel reserves, the high price of petrol…
Differentials explained
Spinning wheels are most likely to result from cornering while on the gas, pulling away from a stand still or accelerating in a car with lots of power…
EBD explained
When braking heavily in a car you get a dramatic forwards weight transfer. The body pivots forward, the front suspension is compressed, and more weight is transferred to…
Electric cars
The internal combustion engine has been around for hundreds of years, and although the original pioneers of this technology would hardly recognise a modern engine, the fundamental principles…
Gearbox technologies explained
Gearboxes are complex mechanical devices which allow cars to operate at different road speeds while remaining within the rev range of the engine Many performance cars are now…
Hybrid car technology
Hybrid vehicles attempt to strike a balance between the more versatile combustion engine and the more economical electric motor. A number of different options exist, and this article…
Stability control systems explained
Electronic stability control systems (SC for the purposes of this article) detect loss in traction and react to regain grip using the braking and engine management systems. Situations…
Motorcycles
5 articles
Best motorcycle sat navs
Your options If you want to use a sat nav device on your bike you have three main options - Adapt a car sat nav Buy a specialist…
Getting the best motorcycle insurance deal
So, you've passed your CBT and have been riding a 125 for a while, but you're bored of all that and now it's time to upgrade to your…
Guide to junctions for new motorcycle riders
Types of junction The UK driving standards agency (DSA) defines junctions as one of the following: T-junction Y-junction Crossroads Roundabouts Staggered junctions This article will cover all of…
How to pass UK motorcycle module one test
The module one test is conducted on a purpose built patch of high friction tarmac, and involves a number of cone based exercises. It lasts about 20 minutes…
Rev matching for motorcycle riders
One of our most popular articles in on the art of rev matching, which is a skill which can be even more relevant for motorcycles than cars. This…
Blog
1 articles
Most beautiful cars in the world
Below is our selection of the most beautiful cars in the world - would you add any to the list? Ferrari 250 GTO Ferrari 250 GT California Ferarri…