How to draft in a corner?

[3spddrft]

I can draft in an oval. I have trouble when I'm in a race though and I come into a turn. I always seem to brake in a way that sends the guy pulling far ahead of me and kills any gain I may have had on him. I try to just take a good line and hit my braking points but it never matches with the guy in front of me.
Advice on how to stay on someone as I go through a corner?

Thanks :-)

 

[Wintermute.]

Drafting around corners is extremely difficult, and most of the time nonexistent due to the much lower speeds encountered in cornering. The reason you are falling behind in your races around corners could be to do with one of many reasons. Try experimenting with different braking patterns and entering corners at different speeds. If you still get no results, you probably need better acceleration or improved suspension settings. I can tell you for sure that attempting to draft cars around corners will not do much for you at all 90% of the time.

 

[McClarenDesign]

When drafting, you should notice a sizeable difference in the sound of the wind around you, compared to when you're running all alone.

If you're attempting to draft at Daytona or Indy, use the straights to gain as much distance as you can. Going into the turn, watch the line the leader is taking, and listen to the wind around you. At this point, pay special attention to the sound your tires make, as they're a great indicator of grip that is/isn't available.

Adjust accordingly, but keep in mind that these adjustments must be made in the first few feet of the turn, so you don't have a lot of time to figure your opponent out, unless you plan on overtaking in the next corner (i.e. the short chute at indy, or the section between turns 1 and 2, and turns 3 and 4).

When done right, you'll feel as though the leading car is sucking your car up to his bumper, and you will lose a bit of stability, as any downforce your car generates will be obviously disturbed. Upon reaching the apex, you should be able to make small, minute adjustments to find a line around the leading car upon exit.

Try practicing with a friend on 2p vs. mode at Indy or Daytona. With some work, you should be able to master the technique. Just remember: small adjustments.

Fast turns- slow hands. Slow turns- fast hands.

 

[darkblade986]

The only time you'd be "drafting" in a corner is if the corner is already a wide-open corner to begin with, in which case, just try and keep your tires in the same place the tires of the car in front was at a given point. For what you're experiencing, there may be several different issues causing it.

1) The car in front is able to hit the brakes harder, allowing him to drive away on corner entry.
2) The car in front has more downforce / grip, allowing him to take the corner faster outright.
3) You're hitting the brakes too early and being overly cautious -or-
3b) You're hitting the brakes too hard and too late and overdriving the corner.

If you're hard on the brakes while going through a sharp turn, then the car is very likely to understeer, meaning you have to hit the brakes harder to get the car slowed down or take a risk and lay off the brakes to let the car actually turn. You weren't very specific in where the issue happens (corner entry or exit), so here's the general rules I try to follow.

On sharp turns (think Monza 6/7 or Laguna Seca hairpin), you'll ideally want to be done braking right as you're about to start turning, so that the moment you turn the wheel, you're just getting off the brake and/or maybe getting back on the throttle slightly to help your corner speed/exit. Absolutely, though, you should be 100% off the brakes by the time you get to the middle or the sharpest part of the corner. From there, you should be using throttle control to manage your speed - more throttle if you can handle it, less if you're going too fast.

On more medium or light turns (think Suzuka East or Indianapolis NASCAR-1), you can probably get away with some brake as you're beginning the turn, but probably not much more than 50-75%, if that. You'll want to be back on the throttle asap and using that to control yourself through the turn. Do NOT be hard on the brakes on those corners - just ride them in until the car feel comfortable, then start using the throttle to manage corner exit.


By all means, braking is the hardest part of any track. It just takes some practice.

 

[Zuel]

From my experience pending on your setup of the Diff, suspension and brakes with greatly effect your braking distance. If you find away to set up all those factors allowing the car to squat while braking you'll be able to shorten your braking zone and go deeper in the braking zone of the turn. Having the car squat while braking will increase the braking load of the tires.

 

[McClarenDesign]

From my experience pending on your setup of the Diff, suspension and brakes with greatly effect your braking distance. If you find away to set up all those factors allowing the car to squat while braking you'll be able to shorten your braking zone and go deeper in the braking zone of the turn. Having the car squat while braking will increase the braking load of the tires.

There is no staying on topic, there is only Zuel. Braking and drafting are quite different. Although braking was mentioned earlier, the OP was looking for tips on drafting, not on car set up or braking techniques.

 

[Cowboys965]

If your on Daytona and there's no damage and it's say NASCAR you'd usually rear end the person for bump drafting unless your going too fast if there's damage you can let off the gas a little, hold the gas and tap the brakes, or tap the brakes letting off the gas not too much though, unless your like going too fast at him then you would net to hit your brakes

 

[Zuel]

I can draft in an oval. I have trouble when I'm in a race though and I come into a turn. I always seem to brake in a way that sends the guy pulling far ahead of me and kills any gain I may have had on him. I try to just take a good line and hit my braking points but it never matches with the guy in front of me.
Advice on how to stay on someone as I go through a corner?

Thanks :-)

There is no staying on topic, there is only Zuel. Braking and drafting are quite different. Although braking was mentioned earlier, the OP was looking for tips on drafting, not on car set up or braking techniques.

Yes I know and I don't think I went off topic. He already stated he pretty good at drafting at Daytona. From my understanding he's asking about drafting in the braking zone and why are other pulling away in the braking zone and at some braking point. So I gave him my thoughts on how they may improve. If your behind a car while braking your still draft yes or no? Now if I misunderstood and if he's still referring to draft on Daytona but in the corner then I'm sorry.


Now if you are still referring to drafting on Daytona then your best friend will be you setup. If you can keep in the turn while drafting with out getting lose then you be fine. Keeping the car from moving around is key and it all down to setup. I'll send you some replays of some SCANA races at Daytona.