Christian Agape - Training Plan No. 1

Goal

Improve race technique and lower lap times.

Conclusion

Fine tuning and optimising a great time comes from little adjustments. Braking just a half car length too early is an improvement you can practice as well as trying to stay in a higher gear to adjust any instability or traction loss in the lower gears.

Assigned Task


Choose a track with a long straight and requires a 100% braking corner after if, preferably at near the beginning of the circuit. This way you'll be able to reset quickly and practice more. Keep on pushing the braking point to find the true limits of the car. Drivers often react differently towards the end of a hot lap session than at a beginning due to a fear of ruining a good lap time. Testing the braking point needs to also incorporate your trail brake to test how the car handles on its limit.

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1st key mistake: Braking too early
Why it matters

It goes without saying that braking later reduces your lap time(assuming you make the corner). Even corners where the reference lap approaches the braking phase at a higher speed, you sometimes brake earlier. Focus on keeping your steering wheel straight to be able to brake as late as possible.

How much of a problem it is for you

26% of your errors are braking too early which still needs looking at.

See an example in your own sessions

This can be seen in segment 4. Remember brake harder and a little later.

Learn to improve

Just a little too early, good trail braking though. It is important to have a consistency in braking as this is really the best and only way to improve.

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2nd key mistake: Gear too low
Why it matters

Gear choice is the understanding of which gear can be used in the corner to maximise control and most importantly speed of the car. Drop into too low a gear and the car could slow to match the gear ration, too high a gear and your acceleration won't be optimal.

How much of a problem it is for you

Gearing errors is 30% of your total errors.

See an example in your own sessions

Segment 2 shows how you are using 4th gear while the the reference lap doesn't drop below 5th.

Learn to improve

The easiest and quickest way to improve gearing mistakes is to copy the reference lap. Put all your thoughts aside as to whether it sounds wrong or feels strange. Start by just copying the lowest gear in a segment.

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3rd key mistake: Too early on the throttle
Why it matters

Being too early on the throttle is a contradictory mistake. You want to get the full gas quickly but not at the expense of possible wheel spin or having to come off the gas.

How much of a problem it is for you

Not a large mistake at only 9% of your errors through this training session.

See an example in your own sessions

This is a perfect example of how your desire to reach full throttle quickly is actually costing you time on the track. Segment 10, shows us that the early application of the throttle was too much and you had to 'back off' a little before getting to full throttle.

Learn to improve

Not being able to accelerate quickly can jeopardise your times.  Very hard to achieve perfection but the balance between steering and getting on the gas is very important to understand and adjust to. Getting on the accelerating just a little later can lead to a quicker more aggressive acceleration.

Your predicted potential lap time improvement

1.0s - 1.4s

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