beginnerCar Control

Car Control Fundamentals

Build the foundational skills every track driver needs: vision, braking, steering, throttle control, and weight transfer. This course teaches you how every input affects your car and how to drive smoothly, confidently, and fast.

4 hours20 lessons0 enrolled

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Course Outline

Module 1: Vision & Reference Points

Where you look determines where you go — master the art of visual driving.

Module 2: Braking Technique

Master threshold braking, trail braking, modulation, and brake release.

Module 3: Steering & Weight Transfer

Smooth inputs, proper hand position, and understanding how weight moves.

Module 4: Throttle Control

Using the throttle to manage weight, speed, and corner exit.

Module 5: Cornering Technique

Cornering Technique — added in the Phase 12 curriculum expansion.

Sources

Performance-Driving-Illustrated-Ross-Bentley
Going Faster Mastering the Art of Race Driving - Carl Lopez
Ultimate Speed Secrets - Ross Bentley
High-Performance Driver Education HPDE Techniques by Skill Level
High-Performance Driver Education (HPDE) Techniques by Skill Level

Skills You'll Learn

This course covers 19 progression outcomes across 5 skill categories. Complete the course to advance your progression tracker.

Vision and Situational Awareness

Recognize visually where reference points and landmarks are, and know the approaching turn
Spend most of their time looking well ahead of the car along the desired line
Look "through" all turns, mentally visualizing the path the car will take
Use visual reference points for braking, turn-in, apex, and track-out as aiming points

Throttle and Acceleration

Use maintenance throttle mid-corner to balance the car, especially in long corners
Progressively add throttle from apex to track-out, coordinated with unwinding steering
Maintain or continually increase throttle all the way down each straight
Keep right heel firmly on the floor when using the throttle

Braking

Position seat so they can press brake pedal to limit without fully straightening knee or ankle
Identify a braking reference point at some turns and brake consistently at that point
At the braking point, squeeze the brakes on quickly and smoothly
Brake in a straight line in threshold braking zones, using substantial braking ability

Steering

Sit with back and shoulders on seat; position seat for ~90-degree elbow bend at 9-and-3
Drive from turn-in to apex using a single, smooth movement of the steering wheel
Gradually unwind the steering wheel from apex to track-out
Hold the steering wheel at 9-and-3 on all straights and turns that do not require arm crossing

Weight Transfer and Car Control

Recognize significant understeer and regain control by smoothly reducing throttle and/or opening steering
Recognize significant oversteer and regain control by maintaining or adding throttle and/or counter-steering
Explain which inputs cause weight to transfer forward/rearward and how it affects car balance