Hey All.

Can u all tell me what the best driving style is ? And tell me some tricks too. ahah

Whichever one you're most comfortable and fastest with. Some like to be really smooth and hardly ever lock the brakes, some like to slam the brakes and be very aggressive into the corners.

A fairly broad question and pretty aptly answered by TJ .

I've found that over that past few years my driving style has changed more from being always smooth everywhere and super-early on the throttle to a much more mixed style. Now I might be smooth going into 8 corners of a track but then more aggressive or very aggressive into 2.

The ideal style would be to drive every corner with exactly the kind of style that gets you through them fastest - but also remember that a driving style that might be great in qualifying might be crap in a race.

Being able to adapt is key imo.

Last time I was out testing, I drove 20 laps in my normal extra-smooth style and got down to a 38.97 lap time and then I did about two or three more laps super aggressive. I was very hard on the brakes and using more curbing that I usually do. In those last couple laps of aggressive driving, I was able to manage a 39.02 lap time. This just goes to show you that many different driving styles will work. My normal style is to be very smooth through the corner and sit as straight as possible. Karts weren't made work well with the driver falling over in the seat. I also keep my hands very high on the wheel; to the point where my hands are up against the flat top part of the wheel. I believe this gives you less leverage on the wheel and keeps you from over-driving the kart, which is a very big mistake that a lot of drivers make. It keeps your steering inputs smooth and if you make a slight error in steering, it isn't amplified like it would be with your hands lower.

Over the years of driving I've done, I've studied different styles of karters to see what different drivers do. I've noticed that in Europe, Italy especially, there are some VERY aggressive drivers. Lots of blocking and hard braking usually resulting in lock ups. Here in the U.S., the best drivers are the ones who barely turn the wheel. They almost never lock up the brakes and are smooth as silk through all the corners. I've also noticed that in other places (Europe, Asia, South America) the drivers have their hands very low on the steering wheels. I'd like to know why this is, because over here we preach that you need to keep your hands high so you don't over-drive the kart. I know that the tires are stickier in Europe sometimes so they might need more strength to muscle the kart around the corner.

I think the BEST driving style would be to brake super hard like the Italians, except keep the kart in a straight line, and then steer very smoothly and keep an upright body posture, much like top U.S. drivers. This will give the most speed into, and through the corner.

This link is absolutely phenomenal in pointing out different styles and how each driver approaches each corner:
http://www.karting1.co.uk/kartsteering-karting.htm

There is another link on the bottom of each page to take you to another driver. Check out the part with Marco Ardigo, he's kind of my role model.

p.s. Would you guess this is one of my favorite topics to discuss?

If you dont have a style yet. look at the driver you like who's fast. watch and learn and try to copy his style. The end result will be a mix of his and yours..

In my opinion, smooth is Always good... Nothing beats smoothness. That is the true key to speed.

for me, holding the steering wheel low helps in minimising steering input.......in the hope my driving is smoother!

hmmm at the last race i was braking hard and locking up every lap into one turn and eventually one lap it stalled (HPV). So im gonna try easy in hard out

Locking up to the point that you're stalling the engine probably is going too far.

well its after you go over a bump with a big decrease in evelvation. you litterally get air over it. so its reallly easy to lock it up

I have to agree - smooth is good cos being agressive wears your tyres up, not to mention ur own physical condition too....

U may be fast in one lap of being agressive but never for a race long duration.....without paying the consequences later!

Two words SMOOTH , MOMENTUM

when im alone, i conserve and drive smooth, slow in, fast out.

When i want to push a little bit, i brake later and play the throttle as i brake and turn.

when im in company, i drive super aggressively, aiming to intimidate or make my opponents back off and wait for me to make a mistake, then go back to style 1 or 2