On the track, a well-executed turn allows the driver to be fast. On the road, it offers the driver the best safety margin. Different objectives, same rules. To tackle every type of corner best – on the road or on the track – you need to know the trajectories, apply driving techniques, and make the best use of your hands, feet, and eyes. And carefully evaluate the curve radius.
To properly set up and drive through a curve, the first element to consider is the radius. The maximum speed and the safest trajectory depend on the radius. The Nardò test track is considered the fastest circular test track in the world. It is a perfect ring, 12.9 km in circumference, with a 2 km radius. On the Nardò Ring, cars can reach speeds exceeding 300 km/h. Why? Because centrifugal force, which pushes the vehicle to the outside of the set trajectory, is inversely proportional to the curve radius. So: the larger the curve radius, the lesser the effect of centrifugal force.
In a wide-radius curve, the car must counteract a low-intensity centrifugal force. It is tackled by turning the steering wheel by a few degrees and is not very demanding for the tires, which use little lateral grip. A good amount of longitudinal grip remains available to "spend" on speed.
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