Ready for your next lap on a slick track? Hit faster corner exits by mastering traction moves now. In this roundup you’ll find slick tricks racing techniques. These tactics will sharpen your control on greasy surfaces. Each tactic comes from top racers and instructors. You’ll gear up with throttle tips, spring tricks, style tweaks and prep hacks. See our comparison table at a glance below. Then pick your playbook and take your lap times to the next level.
| Technique | Ideal condition | Key benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Keep spring load | Loose tracks | Maintains traction through corners |
| Control your throttle | Slides and spins | Smooth power delivery |
| Smooth corner entries | High-speed turns | Reduces sliding and boosts speed |
| Adapt your driving style | New tracks | Aligns your strengths with demands |
| Tune your car setup | Pre-race | Optimises handling and balance |
| Plan for contingencies | Any session | Cuts downtime on failures |
| Simulate track scenarios | Pre-season | Builds muscle memory |
Pick two tactics and test them next session. Track your lap time improvements this week now.
Keep spring load
Load your springs to press tyres into the track surface. Crush unwanted lift by keeping compression through each corner. Set spring preload high enough to handle ruts and bumps. Apply smooth throttle to keep springs loaded exiting turns.
Steps to nail spring load:
- Check preload on each corner before your first run.
- Brake gently entering the turn to shift weight forward.
- Roll on throttle early to push down on rear springs.
- Review data logs to confirm load consistency each lap.
This trick locks your tyres into loose sections and prevents bouncing. Practise it on greasy tracks to boost forward bite. Test spring load setup on your next practice. Track corner speed gains now.
Control your throttle
Switch between feed and hold to manage traction mid corner. Hammer the throttle slowly so wheels hook up. Avoid jabbing the pedal to prevent spin out hazards. Balance your pressure to maximise forward drive without over rotating.
Throttle control game plan:
- Map your throttle pedal travel to avoid abrupt power spikes.
- Practise smooth roll on in low-grip sections.
- Use a throttle map for consistent power delivery.
- Check lap data to fine tune throttle curves.
Mastering this method keeps your car hooked and prevents spins in slick conditions. Work this into your next session. Aim to improve exit traction by 15 per cent.
Smooth corner entries
Carry your speed into turns by smoothing your entry line. Aim to glide into the corner instead of chopping and sliding. Keep your wheels tracing a gentle arc to reduce tyre scrub and maintain momentum. New racers and veterans both benefit from Chub Frank’s tips. Treat slick corners like blacktop bends for smoother lines.
Steps to smooth your entries:
- Pick a consistent apex point a little earlier in the corner.
- Trail brake lightly to balance weight before you lean on the throttle.
- Feed the power in gradually as you unwind the steering wheel.
- Note your speed and steering angle in data logs for review.
This approach reduces unsettling slides and keeps you on the throttle sooner. Practise it at your next outing. Target a 0.3 second lap drop per corner.
Adapt your driving style
Recognise your natural style then adjust for slick conditions. Josh Richards says slow in and drive hard out suits some tracks. Other circuits reward carrying momentum through the bend. Test both approaches to find your sweet spot on low-grip surfaces. Use video review or simulators to isolate strengths and weaknesses.
Style adjustment plan:
- Record multiple laps focusing on either entry speed or exit power.
- Compare your average lap times to see which style lowers times.
- Adjust your driving inputs accordingly to match track demands.
- Review onboard data to measure style consistency.
Adapting your style boosts corner speed and reduces variance lap after lap. Apply this at your next practise. Aim to cut lap spread by 0.5 seconds.
Tune your car setup
Fine tuning your setup unlocks consistent grip on slick tracks. Chub Frank reminds you to mimic blacktop smoothness with minimal slide. Rick Eckert suggests tweaks like panhard bar changes and stagger adjustments. Use them to balance tightness and looseness on slick surfaces.
Setup checklist:
- Adjust panhard bar angle to centre the car in turns.
- Reduce front-left stagger to open tight crate cars.
- Balance shock valving to dampen harsh track transitions.
- Tweak anti-roll bars to manage roll without killing rotation.
Tune your car to fit track demands and your personal style. Review logs after each run to assess grip changes. Incorporate these adjustments next time you head out. Target a stable handling window by lap five.
Plan for contingencies
Expect the unexpected often on low grip tracks. Andrew Comrie-Picard urges you to plan for engine hiccups, tyre punctures and grip swings. Map out fallback settings and emergency procedures before arrival.
Contingency game plan:
- List potential failures like spin outs, loose rear or tight front.
- Allocate extra lap time in your strategy to handle surprises.
- Pack spares and tools to tweak your setup on the fly.
- Have radio check ins scheduled every session to review issues.
This approach cuts downtime and keeps you in the rhythm. Practise contingency drills in your sim or warm up. Aim to respond to issues within two laps next meet.
Simulate track scenarios
Build muscle memory before you hit the dirt. Peter Krause recommends using YouTube, Google and iRacing to map unseen tracks. Simulate rain, mud and ruts to learn corner rhythms early. Use this prep checklist before your next simulation session:
- Load track models into your favourite simulator.
- Run sessions with low-grip settings to mimic slick conditions.
- Review telemetry to spot inconsistent lines or throttle snaps.
- Watch onboard videos to visualise track high spots and ruts.
Then test these moves in real time at your next slick tricks racing events. By simulating the worst case you’ll react faster on race day. Aim to carry 5 per cent more speed into your first race.
Hit the track now
Now it’s time to lock these tactics into your muscle memory. Pick two techniques from above and practise them during your next session. Record your lap times and compare to your baseline. Iterate on each trick until you consistently beat your PB by at least 0.5 per cent. Set your goal to slash 0.5 second on each lap within one week. Then share your results with the team and celebrate your progress.