So I finally got up to Thunderhill for the school. It was great. We even had a 5 minute downpour before the last session so we got to experiece some wet tarmac.

Wet or dry however, I found that on the more sweeping, late apex turns, like Thunderhill's turn #2, when I started the turn correctly and followed a good line I would invariably drift around the turn. It wasn't some fat, smokey drift mind you, just a little off the trajectory from the wheels. As the turn was ending my wheels were pointed in the right way (towards the end of the outside berm).

Drifting, like what is done in drift competitions, is certainly not the fastest way through a turn. But I've been wondering if what I was doing was slowing down my progress through the turn or just a product of driving at the limit in an AWD car. It was completely controlled, and that by the throttle only. This was seriously at the limit, and one instructor of the two I had was FREAKING out. The other instructor I had for the 4 other sessions (including the one after the rain ) was fine with it.

So, for the experienced road racers, what's the verdict?

jason

 

having the tail out a little makes the front wheels work less. generally, the front wheels work very hard, so having the tail out makes the rear wheels work more. according to the skip barber book, the ideal slip angle of the tires is around 10 degrees.

 

"I try to drift about 9.75 degrees for maximum... BLEH" After my initial turn in, i tend to steer the car with the throttle more than the wheel (while leaving a miniscule margin of error of course). did u play around with that a little? smooth inputs and corrections. modulation to see how the car behaved? How did it feel? did it feel controlled?

everytime i go to the track, i find my self tighening up the rear end tighter to get the *** around more fluidly under throttle. damn subarus wanna understeer

 

I'd say the correction around turn #2 (best example) was about 75% throttle and 25% wheel. Wheel correction usually came when I was less sure of myself. Natural reaction I guess. One I should break? But over all it felt very controlled. Learning how to work my way from the outside in was new to me but I quickly saw how and why it worked so well and presented the best line.

THe car overall felt very neutral. I had 235/45 tires with a rear sway bar dialed in for 22mm. Admittedly I wasn't pushing it 100%, or close to that. So, maybe that's why I didn't experience understeer, only going between rear-out and neutral sideways drifts. A little after entering the turn as I'd squeeze on the throttle and the car began rotating it'd start scrubbing, and the fun would begin

jason

 

On Subaru, I feel the acceleration is whole lot different when the steering wheel is turned or straight. So I try to turn as small as possible and bring the steering straight as soon as possible. I think it's faster than good ole out-in-out.
Also I try drift for the same reason. Drag brake till late and induce oversteer, then once the tail is out, gun it and correct with steering.
I haven't timed my laps so donno if it's faster but drift must be faster in some turns. Otherwise WRC guys won't slide like they do.