(time to have some poll running here)

I know it really depends on the race condition, but without thinking much to it, which are you and post why.

Yay KartingAsia.com's first poll!

I voted "take the lead early keeping a close gap to 2nd" ... but like you said that depends on the situation.

If it's heat 1 or heat 2 or pre-final it's usually keeping a close eye on 2nd and pacing according to where he is. If I'm in heat two and qualified on pole and won heat one I might let the guy in 2nd go ahead. If it's the final at least the first 5-10 laps are usually pushing trying to get a bit of a safety margin in case you have to lap guys later in the race for example.

Oh yeah and at some tracks/situations the option is "Shadow the leader until the last few laps then overtake"... but for example at Kota Bharu you take any chance you get to overtake no matter how early in the race.

Ah and the why: taking care of the black round things.

RocK what do you do?

I should have included a scenario to the poll. oh well next time.

For me I try to lead and pull a gap everytime. then its easier to managed the race towards the end. guess this apply well on 100cc.

for 125cc, i think the most important part of the race is the 1st 5 laps. if u managed to get the lead, push all out to build a gap while they are busy tossing for position behind. shadowing the leader is 50-50 for me.

For me, I like to try my best to get to 2nd place from the start. And pressure the 1st driver till the very end and take the lead. I get a bit too nervous if i'm up ahead. I feel that its less pressuring to be on second place for 3/4 the race and just stay close behind him.

Comments?

same kinda of feeling here..
prefer to be 2nd then taking the lead n be under pressure

taking the lead early on would be better as anything can happen within a few laps and while trying to pressure the first placed racer the racer in third place could catch up and put pressure on you making it easier for the person in first to slip away...

I used to try to be the chaser and try and be the one to put pressure on the leader, but lately, I've done the opposite. Now I try to take the lead early. I've lost too many races that ended early because of red flags. You could be waiting for the last lap to make the pass and then with 3 to go, the red flag comes out and the race is ended.

For me, that's depends on the circuit....if it's an easy passing track or a hard passing track.

its kind of like NASCAR at Talladega. On the last lap, 1st place is the worst place to be in...with 42 other drivers behind you

I remember there was once during a race qualifying i managed to past the drivers & took the lead & was pulling away from them then after i had pulled away from them i suddenly had a feeling im not in a competition mode, or rather im more in the mode of having fun..

On top of that, It Piles on Pressure to not make a mistake or else your lead is gone. Especially if someone is so close behind you until they can see the Homologation Code on the back of your suit.

I nearly picked the 4th choice - i.e. this poll sucks since it all depends on my starting position as well as rivals' pace. So all mentioned choices are possible actions, depends on the condition I am in.

Anyway I will prefer to start from pole, take the lead and pull away..IF I CAN

for me i would like to keep close to the front runners as in 2nd and 1st ......it might change if iv got more power at the start of the race.....it depends on how the race is going.....

I find this an interesting poll because most karters never get the chance to lead a race anyway. It is usually the same drivers who are in the top positions. As I usually start between mid field and the back my strategy is just to drive as hard as I can and pass who ever I can and this is the same for most of the drivers in a large field

Usually in a race, i have the same strategy every time. In the two heats (my track doesnt do qualifying which is lame and annoying) I push hard and pass anybody i can to get as close to second as i can. Then on the last 2-3 laps, I will get right onto first's bumper and bump draft him anywhere i can so we can pull away from third (not only does this make a gap between 2nd and third, it puts less strain on your engine, and it puts a lot of pressure on first as they know your right there and might try to go too fast through a turn to get you off of there bumper) and then make a last lap pass, in a braking zone so they can't pass me back afterwards.