What is the best way to get familiar with the Nürburgring as a relative newby. I am honestly scared of driving on Track because my best friend crashed his car with me in it on his first round at Hatzenbach... Maybe talk a little about how to best overcome negative experiences at the Ring. By the Way, you two are currently my absolute favorite TH-camrs, enjoy pretty much all your content!
I am a driving technique coach in the World Rally Championship. The concept you describe is what I call activation, as in activating the chassis. - Activate - Rotate - Accelerate An activated car is a car where the driver has manipulated weight transfer to "create" grip. How do you cure understeer? - Go deeper in the corner - Trail brake and for the advanced, left foot brake - Have slower speed at the point of rotation and prioritize acceleration - Be patient (To early entry is the beginner mistake) Very good content. One step further would maybe be to describe left foot braking, and possibly potential energy when it comes to linking one corner with the next? Thanks!
yes, I wanted to actually talk about how you can also adjust how far you take the late corner entry to aid in lining up the next corner but saw we were at 20 min already!!! I am not a coach so I have not made up my terms so I do like your ARA slang :)
@@RobertMitchell Hehe, yes time can move fast when one is approaching nerd level 11:) But yes, linking the corners, and also knowing when to prioritise acceleration, and when to prioritise highest possible minimum speed in a corner. And so much more :) You make a very good job of describing driving technique. Very clear and concise. Your most important point is, I think, the one about the meat computer between the seat and steering wheel being the most important thing to tune :) How much drivers can improve with some proper coaching, especially in difficult driving environments like the Nürburgring or in rallying, is highly underestimated. You run a cool channel, a brand deal certainly can't be far off :)
@@MrLundefaret thank you again! There are two sections of the ring that I love powering out of in a perfect trajectory to the paired follow up. Metzgesfeld and Spiegelkurve. When you get all balance just right in higher Power cars it’s wonderful.
@@RobertMitchell Yes, when you manipulate a car at your will, at speed, it's quite a sensation - definitely! Working with potential energy can be paralleled to alpine skiing, using the slope as the engine. When you get the mass of the car going the optimal path, it will feel like the car turns almost by itself. Hardest thing I teach is the difference between what feels fast, and what is fast on the stopwatch. The latter often quite undramatic. Great that you had Kubica do some laps, he is a spectacular driver, but of course inexperienced at the Ring, and his onboard looked super dramatic, but was it as fast on the stop watch as it looked? Hmmm... Keep up the excellent work :)
@@RobertMitchell Robert what do you think about a 991.2 GT3 RS with Nankang AR-1 in the size of 265/35r20 on 10's instead of 9.5's considering fender well clearance and front/rear traction balance with Nankang AR-1 325/30r21 on 12.5's(wheels with a custom offset). Also will this setup be a good choice for the 992 GT3 RS with it's front body width increase and double wishbone front suspension.
I did UK Institute of Advanced Motoring road training on bikes and cars - the bike observers were 100% insistent on no trail braking on public roads; they didn't want to see that brake light through the turns, but some bikes/corners are definitely quicker with a bit of "backing in"... of course, having control over front and rear brakes separately is a bonus for bikers,but the lack of relative contact patches compared to a car hurts for sure. Enjoyed the explanation of traction too - we used to be taught to balance the ABC affecting the traction (acceleration, braking, cornering) so as to be smooth... More of a 4 wheel mediocre sim racer these days but it all applies for sure Looking forward to the next summit :)
@@BobbyChariot I don’t even touch the rear brake really, but I’ll run the front brake and fade off it up to the apex. I’d probably not do it on the in the same way on the road since you don’t know what the surface is like.
@@BIRVS absolutely - there's a reason there are different sizes and numbers of disc brakes between front and rear.! Rear useful in wet for settling the bike- also good to cover in case of wheelies..! The lean angle is definitely an additional factor for the bikes - I miss riding but physical issues nowadays mean I prefer a cosy place - the Bridgestone BT-somethings on my last bike (Monster 696) really liked to tip in due to the profile.. but once you go over the edge... Good luck to you, thanks for the reply :)
@@BobbyChariot - The reason they do that is because they are leaning towards the side of maximum safety and the method that will result in the least amount of errors. They teach to the lowest common denominator of skill. Reality is however, there is a wide variety of skill in people. Some are highly skilled, some are not. Advanced driving techniques result in higher levels of performance but also require above average skill. Trail braking is by far, a superior driving technique. That is indisputable. You just need the skill to do it properly.
Thanks for explaining trail braking and weight transfer effectively, I never understood it until now, the phone analogy was brilliant and now I finally understand.
Really appreciate you to put up content like this. Track people like us often time regard track driving knowledge as common sense, while it is not. This definitely helps broaden the audience of your channel and create a better atmosphere for discussing & learning!
i've been trail braking all my life, but now i realize it and understand what i have been doing all along. wow. Thank you for this revelation. Good stuff.
robert ive said it before that you are an excellent driver, i knew it even when you were only going 60% of what you are capable of just from your head movement and how you worked the car with trailbrakeing, i thought wow it just comes natural to him but now this video has really just cemented that not only can you drive VERY well but you understand the why behind it so much that you can teach it and someone who hasn't had a single track day, and they would understand it. the saying "if you cannot explain it simply then you don't know it well enough" really applies here. you have just done the best explanation of trailbraking that i have ever seen or heard, and done so where a laymen could understand it. i really wish we could watch you drive a full blown GTE car on the nurburgring or even some type of prototype or open wheeler. you have the skills and mindset of a racing driver. ive tried explaining trailbraking to friends but i just end up confusing people, now i finally have a video to show them. everybody thinks they are the best driver because they weaved in traffic a few times. seeing a guy live driving on track the way you do is just incredible to see with all these different cars. its very easy to say "i could do that" when you never tried it. i had trouble keeping a C7 Z06 in shape at my track, and then i watch you take out cars that are really prone to snap oversteer and just glide it through the ring. i can fully appreciate what you do, i hope to someday get to your level. im only 27 so i have some years to go
I immediately want to hear everything you have to say on this. - Mediocre Budget Sim Racer. Thanks for touching on this. Every perspective adds to my weak knowledge base.
If you join Driver61’s sim racing masterclass, you will get a lot of theory and practice on trail breaking in iRacing. Rob is absolutely right emphasizing so much on it. It changes your driving and your car’s behavior. It is great to use modern simulators to work on it without the need of a race track.
This was by far the most informative instructional explanation about track driving. I’ve driven on track for years and I still learned so much from this video. Thanks Robert!!! Your channel is my all time favorite
Great video Robert! I was nodding in approval as this is how we explain weight transfer in our driving school. Up until the understeer part. The reason why most cars are set up to understeer at the limit is not because most drivers react with jumping onto brakes. That would actually overload the front tires even more, just imagine the traction circle. However what helps and is very natural reaction is to lift off the throttle, which induces immediate decceleration which in turn reduces the centrifugal force by square of the reduced speed, allowing the tires to get back INSIDE the traction circle and regain grip. So what we teach and practise with our clients when their car starts to understeer on the road is to lift off the throttle but eliminate the tendency to continue onto the brake pedal. Then apply the right correction at the wheel depending on whether the car has ESP or not. Keep up producing the great content. Cheers :)
Great video as always, just wanted to mention that there are still cars which are set up for oversteer from the factory. The ND Miata is an example of that. With the car in a steady turning state, you can make it oversteer by just turning the wheel more.
100% Bang On. Exactly the same with motorcycles. It drives me nuts that instructors say not to do it on the street. You can trail brake even driving at normal speeds.... it is safer. This braking in a straight line and getting off the brakes is just messing up your suspension balance.
100%. I only mention here not to test it on the street at full chat so someone doesn’t Spin off the road while learning and hit me up on the comments 🤣. Not a day goes by that I don’t brake into a corner at normal driving speeds:-)
Thanks Robert. I needed that instruction. The phone analogy was good and the rest of the content was spot on. Cheers and thank you for taking the time to make it. I like your motto about always trying to have fun. It’s a great attitude and outlook on life and the day to day way to live it.
Going into this video, I thought, “I know all about trail braking, weight transfer, etc, but I like hearing Robert explain things, so I’ll watch.” I honestly didn’t expect to learn anything new. But, your explanation of why trail braking works was awesome-how you are using the traction from the weight transfer to the front to improve turn-in, and the dynamic that happens through the turn was brilliant. Also, I had never thought about the speed at which I transfer the weight forward before going into the turn...brilliant! Thank you, Robert! I have a race this weekend, so I’ll be thinking of what you said 👍🏻 BTW, you don’t have to worry as much about that Porsche pendulum effect if you drive a mid-engine Porsche 😜
Robert, could we maybe get a video of your foot work during a lap in let's say in the 620R or maybe a manual that you have. And maybe then discussing what you're doing? I mean that's a lot of work, but that would be an awesome video. Love the content. And like you as well. Stay well!
Great explanation for one of the most important track technique. Here in Italy when teaching I always have to fight against the oldest bar legend... “never brake in a turn” 😂😂😂
Thank you for taking time to talk about trail braking and corner balancing in turns. Sudden weight transfer is upsetting to both chassis and lap times. Smooth is fast. Understeer is safe.... slow and boring. With porsches it’s slow in fast out.
Great content! I love the tutorial format, and your analogies are spot on. I am convinced the cure for Covid fatigue is a dose of video from you, Misha, and Tim.
This is an awesome video, please do more like this. While I already knew of the concept of trail braking, I feel you definitely did a great job explaining everything. From how it works, to how you go about using the technique in practice. What you said about improving as a driver vs simply adding more power, was very true. Having extra power might even make you slower through the corners, if you can’t properly control it. I feel that the majority of people here in America only care about straight line speed and high hp numbers. Very few (from my experience at least) seem to appreciate the art of cornering.
Nice, thanks for this! The Traction Circle was what helped me visualize the available amount of traction a tire has. Another good explanation for trail braking, and even applying throttle and more, was to imagine a string/rod that goes from your arm to your foot. Wheels is straight, 100% throttle, 100% gas. Now you start turning, 80% throttle, 20% steering input, etc. Definitely helped get the concept across, still required (And requires) a lot of practice for me xD.
Good video. While I enjoy your chats, I was starting to tune out and this sort of stuff is great and there is not enough of it on the net by people that are serious practioners like you guys. I enjoyed your piece on tyre pressures and another on the different tyres (how I was introduced by a friend to you). There is so much material to talk about with car setup and driving technique that you guys must almost take for granted which most of us don’t fully understand and the internet is so full of rubbish. I track a GT3RS and I’m sure you guys can teach a lot of people like me by video. I hire an instructor from time to time but not everyone can and I still learn from you. All the best.
Cool video man....trail braking,perfect if you chase someone....another cure i remember for understeer was turn the steering wheel to the direction of understeer...thanks man!great as always
This video is pure gold! The amount of information and the way they are presented is perfect. I would love to hang out with you guys some day. Keep it up!
Nice video. In 1999 I bought a Suzuki Hayabusa hyperbike and the best thing I did was take some riding classes at the local track. Many track days followed on various bikes, so I agree that learning technique is the best thing you can do to get faster and safer.
Superb explanation and spot on re 911's where trail braking is absolutely critical to driving the car fast.... miscalculated a couple times at Spa when the rear end of my turbo rotated far faster than expected under brakes leading to a near spin !
Great explanation about turning, i remember seen a show a lot time ago about the fastest mods for track time and the more difference by far was a couple of laps with an instructor more than tire, suspencion, brakes etc
I love the topic and practicing these techniques. Really enjoyed this thanks 🙏🏻 This helps the over confident realise there is sometimes more to it, than just smashing the pedals down in turn. (Have you heard of Dunning Kruger 🙄) Even at moderate road speeds, managing the weight transfer in these ways is SO rewarding to practice. I wish I could spend more time under tuition on track!
Terrific explanation of an Art Form technique! We use a large figure 8 wet skid pad at VIR to teach friction circle and trail braking....fun! Sometimes it works great, but not with novice drivers.
Your subject knowledge is really good. Clear, simple and precise explanation. How every lecture should be performed. It shows true understanding. Well done 👍
I did my fist round on the nürburgring on the 4. may and it was a hard rainy day. Before the started of my rounds I met you guys in Apex and talked with Misha (thanks for your time Misha I appreciate that!) you said to me that I just need to have fun but be carefull. There are a lot of dangerous places on the track and it was the best day I ever had but was scared after the second round (in front of me crashed a renault megan rs). I just wanted to say thank you that you guys intrigued me to make that step!
I am so glad to hear this! it really is true and the way to approach track driving. now you now that any day that the track is open you can go have fun
Great video Robert. I agree in the wet on circuit the limits are lower and you need to ramp up the smoothness and it’s amazing how much Grip you can get with trail breaking and Being smooth with inputs. I always heal and toe to smooth downshifts and seen friends loose traction and lock wheels if you don’t! A lot of people need to hear these techniques so keep up the good work. Making the ring safer for all.
Excellent video Robert 👍 I learnt alot about driving and traction dynamics, makes total sense once you explained it mate. Looking forward to more of these types of videos !! It would be great to hear you speak more on the GT2RS MR behaviour on track and how to get the best out of a Porsche. Thanks for the video 👊😎
Hi Robert Thank you, for doing these videos. Much appreciated. You, Misha and your whole team does a great job. I had my first 2 laps on Nürburgring this summer, definately will come back, and next time i will have instruction laps from one of you guys.
Unbelievable! This is the simplest explanation of a car should be driven I've ever heard. I hope everyone should consider such kind of info before modifying the car. Thank you, Robert, very kindly for that. I do hope that people will consider that developing driver skills are far more important than modifying the car for the result. But the main question for me is why do you have Volkswagens? Like UP, Golfs, Leon... Are they financially efficient?
Love the technical theroy on on how to actually drive on a track, even though I know this kind of video like you know will now get the easy views. Respect, cheers 👍👍👍
Another great video Robert. You are explaining things really good. Well done!!! I hope things will be better nest year and have the opportunity to visit you for the first time and have some laps!! Greetings from Greece!! Petros
Awesome video! I have a e82 125i as my first car, I did it up with some goodies, lightweight rims, sticky tyres, springs, and a tune. Imo one of the best and cheapest toys going round. Hola from Australia
18:05 Great tips! I'm now thinking that I'm personally starting with a bit too heavy breaking before the weight transfer is complete. I'm often surprised that ABS activity happens so early at the start of the braking even though I expected there to be more straight line traction. The explanation you gave here nicely explains why that happens especially at the start of braking.
Best animated use of an iPhone I’ve seen in years.. talking, chatting, email, nah, that’s sooo last century ..😀 At least I have one of the three key components he talks about. 1) McLaren- yes 😄 2) skill - limited 🤭 3) big cohooners- nope 😳 Hey, that mountain bike is far too clean 🤔
Very interesting and helpful information especially for someone like me who wants to start doing track days in the near future hopefully(family comes first) and wants to learn the correct way.Thank you
I started my driving years in a Fiat Cinquecento, and not even the sporting version but the slow 900cc standerd one. Never have I had so much fun in any car afterwards than in that car. Low power so you needed to be good in the corners to get any speed on the straights. Broke some things but because it was a small car the costs to repair were low. Even learned to 4wheel drift the car trough corners. Helped me to later in live drive way more powerful cars and have a good base driving skill.
suggested this on micha's channel already; I think there is a market for group B ish rally cars 80ies shell, bit more modern engine, drivetrain and breaks and such, slap some stickers on it.. Lancia Delta shell with modern Italian engine.. or Audi coupe with a nice modern 5 cilinder.. wouldnt be much more expensive than say the Cupra or Supra and lot easier to maintain/work on modern reliability, 80ies thrills. they could be 4 person taxi's. Also I might be slightly biased in my preferences ;) Keep the good vibes going, love that you guys arent just spoiled rich kids in fast cars
Big thanks Robert, driving techniques are one my favorite topics. I wish I could come there in the future, and have a practical lesson from you guys. 🏁💯👍🏁
Nice one as always. I recommend all to check the Driver61 video about the circle of traction, perfectly explained too on why some driving techniques are a must and why they make a huge difference on extending the car grip "limit" point.
Amen to all of what you said. Altough i can't follow your advice at 14:30, having learned all of what you perfectly explained on austrian mountain roads and a couple hours in sims. Loved your video at the Cinque Terre too, always wondered if a car like that could fit through those roads ever since i drove them in a Volvo C70 with my parents in 2018.
Again a nice video from Robert. I was waiting a long time for you to mention differences between cars and their weight distribution, and you got to it with comparing with the 911. 🙂 The car manufacturers build in a natural understeer, not only because uncle and aunty are going for the brakes when coming to fast into a turn and experiences understeer, but also as understeer IS braking the car a lot. 🙂 They turn the steering wheel more to keep the car in its lane, and this huge slip-angle is using more and more of the tyres 100%'s for braking, even not using the brake pedal. 😄 Then speed is down fast and they keep the car on the road without being skilled with the steering wheel. Safe. 🙂 (And we hate those characteristics...) 😂
You are creating some good drivers by making these videos. Never stop. I have learned so much from you. You should make a video if possible on safe street driving. Sometimes we are on some good roads and we want to drive quick but in limits ofcourse. I have seen people crash where it would be easily avoidable if they knew how to correctly drive. Let me know if this is something you can talk about or is this a stupid one.
Using this comment to let people ask questions for the upcoming Summit.
how do I change thumbnail on studio? can't launch till I figure this shit out
Best first track car?
light car lower power of heavier car big power for track use .
and please drink a good beer for a change like a westvleteren 12 or a abt 12 or gouden carolus cuvee van de keizer
What is the best way to get familiar with the Nürburgring as a relative newby. I am honestly scared of driving on Track because my best friend crashed his car with me in it on his first round at Hatzenbach... Maybe talk a little about how to best overcome negative experiences at the Ring.
By the Way, you two are currently my absolute favorite TH-camrs, enjoy pretty much all your content!
Tier two in the house 🙌
you made it!!!!!! Welcome to the show
😂
I am a driving technique coach in the World Rally Championship.
The concept you describe is what I call activation, as in activating the chassis.
- Activate
- Rotate
- Accelerate
An activated car is a car where the driver has manipulated weight transfer to "create" grip.
How do you cure understeer?
- Go deeper in the corner
- Trail brake and for the advanced, left foot brake
- Have slower speed at the point of rotation and prioritize acceleration
- Be patient
(To early entry is the beginner mistake)
Very good content.
One step further would maybe be to describe left foot braking, and possibly potential energy when it comes to linking one corner with the next?
Thanks!
yes, I wanted to actually talk about how you can also adjust how far you take the late corner entry to aid in lining up the next corner but saw we were at 20 min already!!!
I am not a coach so I have not made up my terms so I do like your ARA slang :)
@@RobertMitchell Hehe, yes time can move fast when one is approaching nerd level 11:)
But yes, linking the corners, and also knowing when to prioritise acceleration, and when to prioritise highest possible minimum speed in a corner. And so much more :)
You make a very good job of describing driving technique. Very clear and concise.
Your most important point is, I think, the one about the meat computer between the seat and steering wheel being the most important thing to tune :)
How much drivers can improve with some proper coaching, especially in difficult driving environments like the Nürburgring or in rallying, is highly underestimated.
You run a cool channel, a brand deal certainly can't be far off :)
@@MrLundefaret thank you again! There are two sections of the ring that I love powering out of in a perfect trajectory to the paired follow up. Metzgesfeld and Spiegelkurve. When you get all balance just right in higher Power cars it’s wonderful.
@@RobertMitchell Yes, when you manipulate a car at your will, at speed, it's quite a sensation - definitely!
Working with potential energy can be paralleled to alpine skiing, using the slope as the engine.
When you get the mass of the car going the optimal path, it will feel like the car turns almost by itself.
Hardest thing I teach is the difference between what feels fast, and what is fast on the stopwatch.
The latter often quite undramatic.
Great that you had Kubica do some laps, he is a spectacular driver, but of course inexperienced at the Ring, and his onboard looked super dramatic, but was it as fast on the stop watch as it looked? Hmmm...
Keep up the excellent work :)
3:31 "casually checking if I just destroyed my phone screen"
We love that first “chapter”... Hi I’m Robert
hehe gotta keep it real
Impressed by all the content of late Robert, really enjoying it 👍
we are having fun too! Thank you
@@RobertMitchell Robert what do you think about a 991.2 GT3 RS with Nankang AR-1 in the size of 265/35r20 on 10's instead of 9.5's considering fender well clearance and front/rear traction balance with Nankang AR-1 325/30r21 on 12.5's(wheels with a custom offset). Also will this setup be a good choice for the 992 GT3 RS with it's front body width increase and double wishbone front suspension.
Army saying of, "Slow is smooth, smooth is fast."
Great video as always. Very informative. 👍
Love the percentage explanation, that’s how I was taught trail braking and lean angle on motorcycles.
yes, motorbikes apply very well to this.. even a MTB :)
I did UK Institute of Advanced Motoring road training on bikes and cars - the bike observers were 100% insistent on no trail braking on public roads; they didn't want to see that brake light through the turns, but some bikes/corners are definitely quicker with a bit of "backing in"... of course, having control over front and rear brakes separately is a bonus for bikers,but the lack of relative contact patches compared to a car hurts for sure.
Enjoyed the explanation of traction too - we used to be taught to balance the ABC affecting the traction (acceleration, braking, cornering) so as to be smooth...
More of a 4 wheel mediocre sim racer these days but it all applies for sure
Looking forward to the next summit :)
@@BobbyChariot I don’t even touch the rear brake really, but I’ll run the front brake and fade off it up to the apex.
I’d probably not do it on the in the same way on the road since you don’t know what the surface is like.
@@BIRVS absolutely - there's a reason there are different sizes and numbers of disc brakes between front and rear.! Rear useful in wet for settling the bike- also good to cover in case of wheelies..!
The lean angle is definitely an additional factor for the bikes - I miss riding but physical issues nowadays mean I prefer a cosy place - the Bridgestone BT-somethings on my last bike (Monster 696) really liked to tip in due to the profile.. but once you go over the edge...
Good luck to you, thanks for the reply :)
@@BobbyChariot - The reason they do that is because they are leaning towards the side of maximum safety and the method that will result in the least amount of errors. They teach to the lowest common denominator of skill.
Reality is however, there is a wide variety of skill in people. Some are highly skilled, some are not. Advanced driving techniques result in higher levels of performance but also require above average skill.
Trail braking is by far, a superior driving technique. That is indisputable. You just need the skill to do it properly.
Thanks for explaining trail braking and weight transfer effectively, I never understood it until now, the phone analogy was brilliant and now I finally understand.
my absolute pleasure!
Really appreciate you to put up content like this. Track people like us often time regard track driving knowledge as common sense, while it is not. This definitely helps broaden the audience of your channel and create a better atmosphere for discussing & learning!
I was thinking the same before making the video.. so many have no idea what this all means so it could be fun to share
Damn Robert, I can watch you explain stuff all day..
thank you for that!!! glad youre enjoying the vids
Ganz simpel - vermutlich die ruhigste, fundierteste und verständlichste Erklärung zum Thema, sauberer Fahrstil!
So gut!
i've been trail braking all my life, but now i realize it and understand what i have been doing all along. wow. Thank you for this revelation. Good stuff.
robert ive said it before that you are an excellent driver, i knew it even when you were only going 60% of what you are capable of just from your head movement and how you worked the car with trailbrakeing, i thought wow it just comes natural to him but now this video has really just cemented that not only can you drive VERY well but you understand the why behind it so much that you can teach it and someone who hasn't had a single track day, and they would understand it.
the saying "if you cannot explain it simply then you don't know it well enough" really applies here. you have just done the best explanation of trailbraking that i have ever seen or heard, and done so where a laymen could understand it. i really wish we could watch you drive a full blown GTE car on the nurburgring or even some type of prototype or open wheeler. you have the skills and mindset of a racing driver.
ive tried explaining trailbraking to friends but i just end up confusing people, now i finally have a video to show them. everybody thinks they are the best driver because they weaved in traffic a few times. seeing a guy live driving on track the way you do is just incredible to see with all these different cars. its very easy to say "i could do that" when you never tried it. i had trouble keeping a C7 Z06 in shape at my track, and then i watch you take out cars that are really prone to snap oversteer and just glide it through the ring. i can fully appreciate what you do, i hope to someday get to your level. im only 27 so i have some years to go
Would you please re-explain in front wheel drive?
I certainly can
Was thinking the same... As informative as it is, this video is very much geared to rearwheel drive. Thx for the video Robert :)
I immediately want to hear everything you have to say on this. - Mediocre Budget Sim Racer. Thanks for touching on this. Every perspective adds to my weak knowledge base.
concept for sure works in sims too!
If you join Driver61’s sim racing masterclass, you will get a lot of theory and practice on trail breaking in iRacing. Rob is absolutely right emphasizing so much on it. It changes your driving and your car’s behavior. It is great to use modern simulators to work on it without the need of a race track.
This was by far the most informative instructional explanation about track driving. I’ve driven on track for years and I still learned so much from this video. Thanks Robert!!! Your channel is my all time favorite
This explanation about trail braking has made the most sense to me so far. Thanks for that.
Great video Robert! I was nodding in approval as this is how we explain weight transfer in our driving school.
Up until the understeer part. The reason why most cars are set up to understeer at the limit is not because most drivers react with jumping onto brakes.
That would actually overload the front tires even more, just imagine the traction circle. However what helps and is very natural reaction is to lift off the throttle, which induces immediate decceleration
which in turn reduces the centrifugal force by square of the reduced speed, allowing the tires to get back INSIDE the traction circle and regain grip. So what we teach and practise with our clients when their car starts to understeer on the road is to lift off the throttle but eliminate the tendency to continue onto the brake pedal. Then apply the right correction at the wheel depending on whether the car has ESP or not. Keep up producing the great content. Cheers :)
Great video as always, just wanted to mention that there are still cars which are set up for oversteer from the factory. The ND Miata is an example of that. With the car in a steady turning state, you can make it oversteer by just turning the wheel more.
Just happened upon your video. I am an instructor and might use this video with my student next weekend at Watkins Glen. Well done.
I really hope you were able to do so and I hope it helped if you did!!
I think it would be interesting a video with a lap on the ring but a camera also pointing to the pedals while you driving.
You Sir, speak the truths. For 21 full minutes you held my undivided attention! Salute!
Great advice. A coach, data logger, tires and lots of practice are far more important than the latest supercar.
100% Bang On. Exactly the same with motorcycles. It drives me nuts that instructors say not to do it on the street. You can trail brake even driving at normal speeds.... it is safer. This braking in a straight line and getting off the brakes is just messing up your suspension balance.
100%. I only mention here not to test it on the street at full chat so someone doesn’t Spin off the road while learning and hit me up on the comments 🤣.
Not a day goes by that I don’t brake into a corner at normal driving speeds:-)
Thanks Robert. I needed that instruction. The phone analogy was good and the rest of the content was spot on. Cheers and thank you for taking the time to make it.
I like your motto about always trying to have fun. It’s a great attitude and outlook on life and the day to day way to live it.
Thanks for chiming in Patrick! Hope it helps you on track :-)
Good stuff! Great explanation about the difference between the McLaren and Porsche in the trail braking and understeer.
Glad you liked it!
Going into this video, I thought, “I know all about trail braking, weight transfer, etc, but I like hearing Robert explain things, so I’ll watch.” I honestly didn’t expect to learn anything new. But, your explanation of why trail braking works was awesome-how you are using the traction from the weight transfer to the front to improve turn-in, and the dynamic that happens through the turn was brilliant. Also, I had never thought about the speed at which I transfer the weight forward before going into the turn...brilliant! Thank you, Robert! I have a race this weekend, so I’ll be thinking of what you said 👍🏻
BTW, you don’t have to worry as much about that Porsche pendulum effect if you drive a mid-engine Porsche 😜
Robert, could we maybe get a video of your foot work during a lap in let's say in the 620R or maybe a manual that you have. And maybe then discussing what you're doing? I mean that's a lot of work, but that would be an awesome video. Love the content. And like you as well. Stay well!
Possibly, as you mention a bit of work but could be fun
Great explanation for one of the most important track technique. Here in Italy when teaching I always have to fight against the oldest bar legend... “never brake in a turn” 😂😂😂
hahah yes this is a huge challenge isn't it?!
Robert Mitchell yes it is! I’ve been following both you and Misha and I promise I will show up in my next visit to the beloved Ring! Keep on!!
First thing they I learn from instructor was to be smooth. Thanks for the refresher course. Hope to meet you sometime in the future.
Thank you for taking time to talk about trail braking and corner balancing in turns. Sudden weight transfer is upsetting to both chassis and lap times. Smooth is fast. Understeer is safe.... slow and boring. With porsches it’s slow in fast out.
Great content! I love the tutorial format, and your analogies are spot on. I am convinced the cure for Covid fatigue is a dose of video from you, Misha, and Tim.
hahah we will get right on that vaccine :) have a great day and im glad you enjoyed the vid!
This is an awesome video, please do more like this. While I already knew of the concept of trail braking, I feel you definitely did a great job explaining everything. From how it works, to how you go about using the technique in practice.
What you said about improving as a driver vs simply adding more power, was very true. Having extra power might even make you slower through the corners, if you can’t properly control it. I feel that the majority of people here in America only care about straight line speed and high hp numbers. Very few (from my experience at least) seem to appreciate the art of cornering.
Thank you for this. I've been debating on implementing this more into my track driving
would love to hear how it works for you
Wow this is just what I needed! I could sit through explanations like these for hours.
Best explanation of trailbraking I have heard and how to apply it.
Learned something today...
It's like putting a paddle down in a canoe to slow/drag the rear so that it'll come around....just a tap will do ya
thats the trick!!!!!
Brilliant trail braking explanation Robert, especially McLaren vs. Porsche differences
Nice, thanks for this!
The Traction Circle was what helped me visualize the available amount of traction a tire has. Another good explanation for trail braking, and even applying throttle and more, was to imagine a string/rod that goes from your arm to your foot. Wheels is straight, 100% throttle, 100% gas. Now you start turning, 80% throttle, 20% steering input, etc.
Definitely helped get the concept across, still required (And requires) a lot of practice for me xD.
the string to foot is a great idea!! the traction circle explains why the string to foot is needed. very cool
Good video. While I enjoy your chats, I was starting to tune out and this sort of stuff is great and there is not enough of it on the net by people that are serious practioners like you guys. I enjoyed your piece on tyre pressures and another on the different tyres (how I was introduced by a friend to you). There is so much material to talk about with car setup and driving technique that you guys must almost take for granted which most of us don’t fully understand and the internet is so full of rubbish. I track a GT3RS and I’m sure you guys can teach a lot of people like me by video. I hire an instructor from time to time but not everyone can and I still learn from you. All the best.
Please do more videos like this! The amount of knowledge you have is amazing.
The content you guys put out is almost too good to be true. Amazing!
Love it:-)
New merch idea
Cool video man....trail braking,perfect if you chase someone....another cure i remember for understeer was turn the steering wheel to the direction of understeer...thanks man!great as always
This video is pure gold! The amount of information and the way they are presented is perfect. I would love to hang out with you guys some day. Keep it up!
One of the best explanations on this subject i've ever seen. You've just helped a lot of people Robert, thankou, Matt.
6 AM instead of sleeping im watching video about trail braking and it's awesome hehe :) good job explaining it
Nice video. In 1999 I bought a Suzuki Hayabusa hyperbike and the best thing I did was take some riding classes at the local track. Many track days followed on various bikes, so I agree that learning technique is the best thing you can do to get faster and safer.
no matter what youre on or in you can benefit from good lessons
Superb explanation and spot on re 911's where trail braking is absolutely critical to driving the car fast.... miscalculated a couple times at Spa when the rear end of my turbo rotated far faster than expected under brakes leading to a near spin !
Great introduction to trail braking, thank you Robert
Great explanation about turning, i remember seen a show a lot time ago about the fastest mods for track time and the more difference by far was a couple of laps with an instructor more than tire, suspencion, brakes etc
100% the way to go.. self improvement
I love the topic and practicing these techniques. Really enjoyed this thanks 🙏🏻
This helps the over confident realise there is sometimes more to it, than just smashing the pedals down in turn.
(Have you heard of Dunning Kruger 🙄)
Even at moderate road speeds, managing the weight transfer in these ways is SO rewarding to practice.
I wish I could spend more time under tuition on track!
yes, you dont need to be on limits to feel all this and put it to practice
Terrific explanation of an Art Form technique! We use a large figure 8 wet skid pad at VIR to teach friction circle and trail braking....fun! Sometimes it works great, but not with novice drivers.
Your subject knowledge is really good. Clear, simple and precise explanation. How every lecture should be performed. It shows true understanding.
Well done 👍
thank you very much!!!!
I was recently looking for a video to explain trail braking and found nothing, needed this! Thanks Robert 🙏
can you make a video with a GoPro in the footwell and one facing the track so we can see the use of the pedals?
oh man that is some high production work... hahaha but I will look into it :)
Great idea 💡 👍
@@RobertMitchell Hey, there are not too many videos like that, it could be your competitive advantage. Thanks for the great content.
Really good overview! Thanks for educating those who are learning and also those who need reminding.
I did my fist round on the nürburgring on the 4. may and it was a hard rainy day. Before the started of my rounds I met you guys in Apex and talked with Misha (thanks for your time Misha I appreciate that!) you said to me that I just need to have fun but be carefull. There are a lot of dangerous places on the track and it was the best day I ever had but was scared after the second round (in front of me crashed a renault megan rs). I just wanted to say thank you that you guys intrigued me to make that step!
I am so glad to hear this! it really is true and the way to approach track driving. now you now that any day that the track is open you can go have fun
Great video Robert. I agree in the wet on circuit the limits are lower and you need to ramp up the smoothness and it’s amazing how much Grip you can get with trail breaking and Being smooth with inputs. I always heal and toe to smooth downshifts and seen friends loose traction and lock wheels if you don’t!
A lot of people need to hear these techniques so keep up the good work. Making the ring safer for all.
An excellent explanation of trail braking. We done.
Thanks you!!!
The best Car TH-cam Chanel. Love watching you talk robert ! Keep it up
Much appreciated
Very informative insight into the world of trail braking, thanks Robert
A sure way to know your popularity is growing is the amount of ads that are coming on 😂😂
But seriously a great tutorial on the basics Robert👏👏👏
Excellent video Robert 👍 I learnt alot about driving and traction dynamics, makes total sense once you explained it mate. Looking forward to more of these types of videos !! It would be great to hear you speak more on the GT2RS MR behaviour on track and how to get the best out of a Porsche. Thanks for the video 👊😎
Amazing. In depth. Cheers Robert! Such a big heart to share all this info people usually take for granted.
Hi Robert
Thank you, for doing these videos. Much appreciated. You, Misha and your whole team does a great job. I had my first 2 laps on Nürburgring this summer, definately will come back, and next time i will have instruction laps from one of you guys.
Unbelievable! This is the simplest explanation of a car should be driven I've ever heard. I hope everyone should consider such kind of info before modifying the car. Thank you, Robert, very kindly for that. I do hope that people will consider that developing driver skills are far more important than modifying the car for the result.
But the main question for me is why do you have Volkswagens? Like UP, Golfs, Leon... Are they financially efficient?
Excellent explanation. I love smooth cornering. That's something I want to learn.
Love the technical theroy on on how to actually drive on a track, even though I know this kind of video like you know will now get the easy views. Respect, cheers 👍👍👍
I think this type ends up w less views.. its not a hot topic and no drama hahahah
Really enjoying your content 👍
Glad to hear it!
One of the biggest things I need to work on currently, very helpful!
You got this!
Tech tips from Robert, this is helpful, nicely explained.
Glad you enjoyed it man
Another great video Robert. You are explaining things really good. Well done!!! I hope things will be better nest year and have the opportunity to visit you for the first time and have some laps!! Greetings from Greece!! Petros
Awesome video! I have a e82 125i as my first car, I did it up with some goodies, lightweight rims, sticky tyres, springs, and a tune.
Imo one of the best and cheapest toys going round.
Hola from Australia
Loving these educational/instructional type videos 👍
18:05 Great tips! I'm now thinking that I'm personally starting with a bit too heavy breaking before the weight transfer is complete. I'm often surprised that ABS activity happens so early at the start of the braking even though I expected there to be more straight line traction. The explanation you gave here nicely explains why that happens especially at the start of braking.
Best animated use of an iPhone I’ve seen in years.. talking, chatting, email, nah, that’s sooo last century ..😀 At least I have one of the three key components he talks about. 1) McLaren- yes 😄 2) skill - limited 🤭 3) big cohooners- nope 😳
Hey, that mountain bike is far too clean 🤔
I tend to keep all my bikes clean after using them... good practice I suppose
Very interesting and helpful information especially for someone like me who wants to start doing track days in the near future hopefully(family comes first) and wants to learn the correct way.Thank you
I started my driving years in a Fiat Cinquecento, and not even the sporting version but the slow 900cc standerd one. Never have I had so much fun in any car afterwards than in that car. Low power so you needed to be good in the corners to get any speed on the straights. Broke some things but because it was a small car the costs to repair were low. Even learned to 4wheel drift the car trough corners. Helped me to later in live drive way more powerful cars and have a good base driving skill.
great content as always, thanks. Especially the bit exploring the rear engine v. mid behavior under trail breaking.
suggested this on micha's channel already; I think there is a market for group B ish rally cars
80ies shell, bit more modern engine, drivetrain and breaks and such, slap some stickers on it..
Lancia Delta shell with modern Italian engine.. or Audi coupe with a nice modern 5 cilinder..
wouldnt be much more expensive than say the Cupra or Supra and lot easier to maintain/work on
modern reliability, 80ies thrills. they could be 4 person taxi's.
Also I might be slightly biased in my preferences ;) Keep the good vibes going, love that you guys arent just spoiled rich kids in fast cars
Big thanks Robert, driving techniques are one my favorite topics. I wish I could come there in the future, and have a practical lesson from you guys. 🏁💯👍🏁
You are very welcome
best video from you so far! thank you robert
How the hell do you do these types of vids in one take?
Fantastically informative!
Not gonna lie I love his vids. Holy f*** they are fun and enjoyable to watch
This is great. A noob like me needs to hear this several times from different people before it sinks in on track lol
Thank you, more track concepts like these please!
Very well explained Robert, simple and understandable, thank you!
Nice one as always.
I recommend all to check the Driver61 video about the circle of traction, perfectly explained too on why some driving techniques are a must and why they make a huge difference on extending the car grip "limit" point.
Amen to all of what you said. Altough i can't follow your advice at 14:30, having learned all of what you perfectly explained on austrian mountain roads and a couple hours in sims. Loved your video at the Cinque Terre too, always wondered if a car like that could fit through those roads ever since i drove them in a Volvo C70 with my parents in 2018.
Quality video Robert! Very interesting and insightful. Thanks for that 🙂
Keep up this content Robert! Absolutely top work
what an excellent video. congratz! however, the hero here is the screenglass of ur mobile phone.
Luckily the case has a big fat lip
The best explanation of trail braking I've seen. There you go again with the Multipla. Ha ha
Im sure ill end up w a multipla in the garage... what do you think I would boot out? 675 Spider?
Thanks for the insight Robert! Hopefully I'll be able to visit Apex and do a lap in the future.
we would love to see you out!!
Again a nice video from Robert.
I was waiting a long time for you to mention differences between cars and their weight distribution, and you got to it with comparing with the 911. 🙂
The car manufacturers build in a natural understeer, not only because uncle and aunty are going for the brakes when coming to fast into a turn and experiences understeer, but also as understeer IS braking the car a lot. 🙂
They turn the steering wheel more to keep the car in its lane, and this huge slip-angle is using more and more of the tyres 100%'s for braking, even not using the brake pedal. 😄
Then speed is down fast and they keep the car on the road without being skilled with the steering wheel.
Safe. 🙂
(And we hate those characteristics...) 😂
Great video! Best investment is always in driver skill!!
Wow wow wow. Education is next level.
You are creating some good drivers by making these videos. Never stop. I have learned so much from you.
You should make a video if possible on safe street driving. Sometimes we are on some good roads and we want to drive quick but in limits ofcourse. I have seen people crash where it would be easily avoidable if they knew how to correctly drive. Let me know if this is something you can talk about or is this a stupid one.
Robert you are a great warrior
fighting the good fight.. its midnight here working hard hehe