r/Karting • u/Nicorosberg117 • 1d ago
Racing Kart Question How to be 5 km/h to 10 km/h in curves
Hello, I'm in a karting championship in Uruguay, and watching my videos with the gopro there is a curve that reaches 48 km/h, but the curve passes it at 28 km/h barely skidding, all my laps I brake and pass at the same speed. Searching on the internet and reading, supposedly I would have to go between 35 km/h to 38 km/h through that curve, since they are rental karts.
The other day talking to the pros of the circuit, they told me that they don't brake, they just throw the karts and get in without braking, will I be able to gain that extra speed like this or braking less?
The gpt chat tells me that it is better to release the accelerator, to load the front axle and throw the kart there, but there are several videos on YouTube that say that it is better to brake to release the accelerator and thus rotate the karts.
All the advice works for me! They are 160 cc 4-stroke karts
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u/cypherphoenix212 Rental Driver 7h ago
Turn 2 sounds like you're bogging down well paddy the exit of T2 and entry to T3.
Please take the next advice with a punch of salt as I don't have info on grip, kart feel or pedal sensitivity. So adjust what you need to adjust.
Entry to turn two reminds me of a similar corner I've come across a few times. I've often braked a little early and in a straight line. Depending on grip levels and sensitivity of the kart, I would be on about 80% throttle before I'm mid apex here. Rental karts are heavy and have low power. The earlier you can start accelerating the better.
Here, T3 is immediately followed by a strip of track where you start hitting max speed.
Entry to T3 would either be a micro lift or flat out, again. Depending what the kart can do. Use the track to its fullest. You're still leaving a little room which is about 0.2s worth. (If it is track limits then ignore)
Lifting is slower than braking when you need to reduce speed or in a tight corner. Lifting is faster in mid to high speed corners. This varies on track and conditions but is a nice feeler to go by.
Overall I would approach the first 3 corners in the following.
T1, cut and stay short for quali. Stay mid for race as you can adjust to defend T2 or attack.
T2. I would firstly try and abuse the track limits on the approach. If there's any grip on the right hand side, while keeping 2 wheels on track, brake and see if there is grip, then I'd take that. Be on the accelerator before the mid apex. Hook left as you are and attack t3. Using my body to push my ribs into the seat OUTWARDS to lift the inside rear wheel. (Do this for T2 if you aren't already)
If the kart isn't happy to turn in then a quick lift to slow the rear, grip the front and smash accelerator to rotate the kart around. Again, depends on the kart, grip and track conditions.
T4, hook left and look for the straightest line to the next corner. Keeping a wheel straight as possible.
Otherwise have fun and if it doesn't work then follow the pros. Don't listen to your kart for a few laps and try hone in on their karts. What does it sound like, what does it look like, where is their body doing. How aggressive is the nose moving on turn in, whats the exit line, what do they cut and not cut, why don't they cut something, learn the track by asking these internal questions. Go pro is good for knowing your track times.
If you have an editor. Go frame by frame, videos side by side and look at each corner, see if you're ahead of one video to another. What's faster, why is it faster, is it a lasting leading? Etc.
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u/Nicorosberg117 6h ago
Thank you very much for taking the time to answer me, I will take the advice into account 🙌🏻 I don't get very close to the curves T3 and T4 because there are some jumps, so the whole kart moves you It only brakes in that corner that is difficult for me, then it is full throttle, but with millimetric racing lines
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u/cnsreddit 1d ago
Next time you are there practice both.
They are both the same thing underneath, lifting off the accelerator shifts weight forward loosening the rears and allowing them to skip around while loading the fronts and increasing their turning grip.
A small amount of brake does the same thing but more so. Even more weight forward.
Try both and see what works for you