How to improve cornering speed

Look, if you want to drop lap times fast—whether it's on a track or just being a safer driver on backroads—cornering speed is where it's at. And honestly, it's not about being brave or having a death wish. It's way more about understanding how your car works, a bit of physics, and being smooth with your inputs. So here's the stuff pro drivers actually use to fly through turns.

What is the most important technique for faster cornering?

The big one? "Slow In, Fast Out." I know, it sounds backwards. Your gut tells you to brake as late as humanly possible, right? But here's the thing—if you brake a little earlier and gentler, you shift the car's weight onto those front tires. That gives them maximum grip for turning. Then you can get back on the gas sooner, and the car's momentum just pulls you out faster. It works.

"The biggest mistake amateur drivers make is trying to brake and turn at the same time. This overloads the front tires, causing understeer and costing you time on exit." — Ross Bentley, Speed Secrets

How do I find the ideal racing line?

The racing line is basically the path that makes the corner less sharp—so you can keep more speed. It's pretty simple, three steps:

• Brake in a straight line: As you approach, hit the brakes hard but keep the wheel straight. The car stays stable, and your brakes work at full power. No drama.
• Turn in late: Aim for what's called the "geometric apex"—the spot where your car gets closest to the inside curb. Late apexes? They let you get on the throttle earlier. Usually faster.
• Use all the track: Start wide on the outside, clip that apex, then let the car run wide on exit. Don't leave any pavement unused. Why would you?

How important is trail braking for cornering speed?

Trail braking is one of those advanced tricks where you keep your foot on the brake—lightly—as you start turning the wheel. Keeps weight on the front tires, gives you more grip for turn-in, and helps rotate the car. It's a game-changer for tight, sharp turns. Hairpins, chicanes, that kind of stuff.

What role does throttle control play?

Throttle control is everything for exit speed. Once you've passed that apex, you need to roll onto the gas smoothly. Progressive. If you just stomp it—boom—you'll get oversteer (rear end slides out) or understeer (front pushes wide). Neither is fast. The goal is to feed power in until the car's right on that edge of traction, using every bit of grip to launch out.

How do I reduce understeer in corners?

Understeer is when the front tires give up and the car just doesn't want to turn. Frustrating. Here's what to do:

• Lift off the throttle slightly—that shifts weight forward, back to the front tires.
• Reduce steering angle—turning the wheel more only makes things worse. Counterintuitive, I know.
• Brake earlier so you're not overwhelming the front tires at turn-in.

Checklist for Faster Cornering

• Brake earlier and lighter than you think.
• Look through the corner to the exit point.
• Use a late apex for faster exits.
• Apply throttle smoothly and progressively.
• Focus on exit speed, not entry speed.
• Practice trail braking on a safe, empty road or track.

Frequently Asked Questions