Fabio Messa - Training Plan No. 2

Goal

Improve race technique and lower lap times.

Conclusion

Usually with a training session there is one mistake that is highlighted and forms the basis of your next weeks learning. When you have mastered your braking points then you'll find that the rest of the corner will be just that little bit easier to control and optimise. 50% of your mistakes are based around your braking currently, therefore lets work here.

Assigned Task

Drive 3 laps of a track familiar to you, drive as fast as you can but make sure you complete valid laps. Refer back the analysis and see how often you are braking too late, i.e. later than the reference lap. Write this down. This time drive 5 laps concentrate on your braking points and repeat the process. We want to see you braking earlier (but not massively early) than the reference lap more often.

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1st key mistake: Braking too late
Why it matters

A good mistake to make since it's easy to fix! You simply need to find a slightly later braking point to maximise your lap time potential.

How much of a problem it is for you

Nearly 22% of your errors are a result of braking too late.  With few errors linked to throttle application, it would suggest that you could gain more time on corner exit by getting on the throttle sooner.

See an example in your own sessions

An example can be found in segment 7. Braking later and for longer is costing you time.

Learn to improve

There will always be a balance between braking too early and braking too late. These errors will show up here quite often. What is important however, is that you understand that if you constantly braking too late then we need to address this quickly. The reference lap is a great place to start to understand there the best braking points on track are.

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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 20% of your mistakes are related to this, there are significant gains to be found here.

See an example in your own sessions

On corner entry of segment 8, you were braking to nearly 95% where the reference lap was below 60%.

Learn to improve

If you are driving with potentiometer pedals, it will be harder to gain consistency, as you'll feel limited resistance on the brake pedal. You'll have to gauge how far you've applied the pedal instead of relying on feedback from a hydraulic or load-cell pedal. It is possible but you'll need to be more conscious of this motion.

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3rd key mistake: Running too wide out of the first part of a chicane
Why it matters

Chicane technique is crucial to a lap time as mistakes are multiplied as the entry, racing line and exit speed can really be affected and compounded by small errors.

How much of a problem it is for you

A specific mistake for the chicane but fixable with understanding the correct line.

See an example in your own sessions

For instance, see how much you gain in the first part of segment 2's chicane compared to the reference lap (on the Diff to Ref chart). You then lose much more than that through the second part.</p>

Learn to improve

Here is a good recommended video that teaches chicane fundamentals.</p>

Your predicted potential lap time improvement

0.8s - 1.2s

Check out your best session