How do you take a corner correctly on track?

You brake in a straight line before turning, turn in once from the outside edge, pass close to the inside edge at the apex and add throttle gradually while you unwind the wheel towards the outside edge. At first a slightly late apex works best: you go in slower, but you straighten up and accelerate earlier.

What is the apex of a corner?

It is the point on the inside of the corner where the car passes closest to the edge. Apex and clipping point are names for the same thing. It can be early, geometric (at the middle of the arc) or late; a late apex is used mainly in slow corners that lead onto a straight, because it lets you accelerate sooner.

What is the racing line?

It is the fastest path around a circuit. In most corners it uses the full width of the track, outside, inside and outside, so the radius is as wide as possible. In linked corners the line through the first ones is sacrificed to exit the last one well.

Should you brake or accelerate in a corner?

On track, the hard braking happens before, in a straight line. During turn-in the brake is released gradually, and from the apex you accelerate progressively while unwinding the wheel. Braking hard with a lot of steering lock asks the tyre for more grip than it has.

What is trail braking?

It means keeping some brake, less and less, after the turn-in point, to keep weight on the front wheels so the car turns better. It is used more in slow, tight corners. It is not the first thing to learn: master straight-line braking first.

Where can I practise cornering in Buenos Aires?

On a closed track. At TROMPO we give drift classes at El Picódromo (Av. Olimpo 80, Esteban Echeverría), Monday to Thursday, in a rear-wheel-drive BMW E36 with the instructor beside you; weight transfer is one of the first things explained. If you are after lap times, the next step is a track day.

Oct 3, 20261 min read

How to Take a Corner on Track: Braking, Apex and Exit

By Dmitrii McCarthy

How to take a corner on track: braking, apex and exit

The full guide is available in Spanish. In short: on a closed track you brake hard in a straight line before turning, turn in once from the outside edge, clip the apex on the inside and feed in the throttle as you unwind the wheel towards the outside edge. A slightly late apex is the easiest to learn: slower in, earlier on the throttle on the way out. The Spanish version also covers weight transfer, the friction circle, trail braking, the most common mistakes and how the line changes in drifting, with sources.

Read the full guide in Spanish.

Frequently asked questions

How do you take a corner correctly on track?: You brake in a straight line before turning, turn in once from the outside edge, pass close to the inside edge at the apex and add throttle gradually while you unwind the wheel towards the outside edge. At first a slightly late apex works best: you go in slower, but you straighten up and accelerate earlier.
What is the apex of a corner?: It is the point on the inside of the corner where the car passes closest to the edge. Apex and clipping point are names for the same thing. It can be early, geometric (at the middle of the arc) or late; a late apex is used mainly in slow corners that lead onto a straight, because it lets you accelerate sooner.
What is the racing line?: It is the fastest path around a circuit. In most corners it uses the full width of the track, outside, inside and outside, so the radius is as wide as possible. In linked corners the line through the first ones is sacrificed to exit the last one well.
Should you brake or accelerate in a corner?: On track, the hard braking happens before, in a straight line. During turn-in the brake is released gradually, and from the apex you accelerate progressively while unwinding the wheel. Braking hard with a lot of steering lock asks the tyre for more grip than it has.
What is trail braking?: It means keeping some brake, less and less, after the turn-in point, to keep weight on the front wheels so the car turns better. It is used more in slow, tight corners. It is not the first thing to learn: master straight-line braking first.
Where can I practise cornering in Buenos Aires?: On a closed track. At TROMPO we give drift classes at El Picódromo (Av. Olimpo 80, Esteban Echeverría), Monday to Thursday, in a rear-wheel-drive BMW E36 with the instructor beside you; weight transfer is one of the first things explained. If you are after lap times, the next step is a track day.

Reading about it is one thing, driving it is another

Try it yourself: 30 min at the wheel, no experience needed. From 300 USD (≈504,000 ARS at the P2P dollar rate), Monday to Thursday. 1-on-1 instructor in a BMW E36 and a 50% deposit to book.

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