Daily Slideshow: What is Racecraft?
Sure, you’re good, but do you have the needed race craft to win?
The Dark Art
Great racing reminds us of two things: outright speed and the ability to go around someone like they’re standing still. Setting up a pass is a black art that requires years of experience to master, and it can all go wrong in two nano seconds should you make the wrong move. So, how do you get good at it? What does it mean to have great racecraft? Let’s explore one of motoring's finer points of discussion.
Expect the Unexpected
A great racer is one who can make a clean pass without any drama, make the right decisions in a high-stress situation and knows when to hang back. It’s a complex process that can change instantly. So, the first rule is to expect the unexpected. Anything can happen—and it usually does at the race track. While accidents do happen, honing this craft will help you avoid situations and gain critical points in a championship. However, it isn’t just reserved for those battling it out for hall-of-fame glory. You can stay out of a lot of trouble at a track day by understanding what is acceptable and unacceptable behavior.
Road Rules
When it comes to getting around someone, it is always on the responsibility of the person passing to do so without causing an accident. Short of getting intentionally brake checked, you always need to be thinking as you approach someone. This is truly the first rule of great racecraft. Even if you are coming up on a car in a lower class, it is always on you to get the job done cleanly. Things get slightly more complicated, however, once you begin battling for points with someone. Rules of the road can fade away when the red mist descends on your rivals, and that’s where things get dicey.
It's All about Control
Imagine for a moment that you are racing another car down a long straight away. You get the draft and decide to go for a pass. Because your speed is slightly higher, you will end up alongside the car next to you as you attempt to out-brake them into the corner. Generally speaking, once you are halfway up on another car, you more or less have priority for the corner. If the person next to you turns into your car, it would be considered their fault. You have gained enough ground to fight for the corner, so it is on your competitor at this point. However, this doesn’t mean you can just slam into them. You still need to have total control over your own machine at all times.
Defending or Blocking?
Take the previous situation and reverse it. This time someone is making the pass on you and you’re not simply going to stay to the outside and let them pass you, right? It’s a fine line between defending and blocking, with the difference being how many times you move from left to right. Currently, in Formula 1, the rules state you are allowed to make one move to defend. Outside or inside? Pick one. Darting back and forth to stop someone who is faster than you is extremely dirty racing and should be avoided if you want to be respected in the paddock. Blocking occurs when someone has driven in a way that goes radically off of the traditional racing line. It’s dangerous and actually pretty slow to be constantly weaving back and forth. If the person behind you was faster than you by a significant margin, weaving around might actually make it easier for them to pass you up.
Back Marker Grand Prix
Inexperienced backmarkers can suddenly become professional racers when a faster car is about to lap them. Now is not the time to see if you can hang with the top dogs who are battling for first and second position. This is pretty common at track days among guys who are first starting out and are eager to prove themselves. Don’t hold people up who are quicker or try to show off once they are on your tail. Facts are facts, and faster cars should be allowed to pass without obstruction. This is different than blocking since you aren’t in competition with them directly and can be thought of more as holding people up. If you’re not in competition with another car then good racecraft dictates that you allow them to pass without incident. The backmarker Grand Prix can be dangerous to faster cars and even ruin someone’s race results. If you’re slower, then get out of the way to a safe place.
Aggressive Etiquette
In an American Le Mans Series race about nine years ago at Laguna Seca, two cars were battling neck and neck, which resulted in one car forcing the other into a wall. The reason for this? A tailing driver who couldn’t get around the car in front of him. As the two approached the final corner, the trailing car bumped the leading car while going into a braking zone. This minuscule action caused the lead car to run wide, which gave the chaser an advantage going down the straight away. Jorg Bergmeister, the driver who was bumped, didn’t take too kindly to this and drove the other racer straight into the wall. So, who was at fault? At this level, both guys knew what they were doing, and the driver who bumped did so intentionally. When you get to the big leagues, guys have no problem ending your weekend early should you pass in an unsporting fashion. The following car should have made a clean pass, and if a clean pass couldn’t get the job done, well, that’s racing. Some points are better than no points. But keep in mind that two wrongs but make a right.
Driving Clean is Always Better
Losing your temper is never a good move in racing. You must always exercise proper racecraft that respects those around you and shows you have absolute control over all situations. Racing can be incredibly aggressive while staying fair and clean. One of the greatest battles of all time—and a masterful display of race craft—is Rene Arnoux vs. Gilles Villeneuve at an F1 race in Dijon in the 1979 Formula 1 season. These guys actually touched and bumped wheels without ever crashing each other or doing anything sketchy. It’s a brilliant example of how you can be fast, aggressive and fair all at the same time. There really is no excuse for not practicing good racecraft.
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