Ritchie Timpe - Training Plan No. 3
Goal
Understand the mechanics that help to get lap times down
Conclusion
Pretty fast times on track but there is room for improvement. Especially when you look at your theoretical best which is only three tenths off the reference lap. Nice work.
Assigned Task
Try to develop confidence in the high speed sections. A 300kph crash isn't going to hurt you here! Throttle control is still something for you to develop. Smoothness is important. Your biggest sin would be getting on the gas too soon and having to release (even a little). Smooth and a little later is your mantra for this training plan.
1st key mistake:
Too late to full throttle
Why it matters
Full throttle is where the speed is. As long as you have control, the general aim is to get to full throttle as quickly as possible.
How much of a problem it is for you
With 22% of your mistakes arising from 'late to full throttle', it is now important to study this area.
See an example in your own sessions
Look at segment 6. You achieve full throttle at the same time as the reference lap but check out the curve in the graph. Hesitation around 50% and allowing yourself to come completely off the gas, probably cost you a tenth.
Learn to improve
Take a moment to watch one of our videos that emphasises the need to get to full throttle quickly. Think smooth but fast, on / off the throttle will nearly always be slower than quick and smooth.
2nd key mistake:
Too harsh braking
Why it matters
Similar to too much braking and both affect the weight balance on the car. By stomping the pedal, the weight is shifted forward and control is trickier.
How much of a problem it is for you
A bit more than 11% of your mistakes are related to this and combined with 'too much braking', there are significant gains to be found here.
See an example in your own sessions
On corner entry of segment 4, your braking was at 100% compared to approximately 80% for the reference lap.
Learn to improve
Double check how easy it is to get 100% braking with your loadcell pedals. If there is room to adjust then experiment, as the advantage of loadcell is that it makes it easier to avoid full braking when it isn't required.
3rd key mistake:
Braking too early
Why it matters
After a couple of braking too late mistakes in your previous plans.
It isn't surprising to see this flip the other way. 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
Not a massive problem but one to always come back to and adjust as required. Only 6% of your mistakes account for this.
See an example in your own sessions
For example, in segment 2, the braking point is a little later. Also on this segment the reference lap is going up through the gears a bit quicker than yourself.
Learn to improve
It's not just about getting on the brake pedal later, it's also about technique. Check out our guide on how to brake later easily.
Your predicted potential lap time improvement
0.3s - 0.5s
11