How to Find the Racing Line: Braking, Apex and Exit
The fastest way around a track is rarely the most obvious one. The racing line is the path that lets you carry the most speed through a corner and onto the next straight, and learning it is the biggest free speed gain available to a new driver. No upgrades required.
Every corner comes down to three moments: where you brake, where you clip the inside, and where you get back on the power. Get those right and the line falls into place.
Brake in a straight line, then turn
Do your heavy braking while the car is still pointing straight, before you turn in. A car can either brake hard or corner hard, but not both at once, so braking and turning at the same time is how most beginners lose the back end or run wide.
Brake later than feels natural, get the speed off quickly, then release the brake as you begin to steer. Smooth inputs keep the tyres working with you instead of against you.
Clip the apex
The apex is the point where you run closest to the inside of the corner. Aim to reach it a touch later than the geometric middle of the turn. A slightly late apex means the corner is already opening up as you get to it, so you can start accelerating sooner.
Turn in from the outside, brush the apex, and let the car drift back out to the far edge on the way out. Out, in, out is the shape you are looking for.
Open the wheel and accelerate out
The exit is where lap time is won, because the speed you carry out of a corner follows you all the way down the next straight. As the corner opens, unwind the steering and feed in the throttle so the car uses the full width of the track on the way out.
Prioritise the exit of any corner that leads onto a long straight, even if it means sacrificing a little entry speed. A clean exit pays back over the whole straight that follows.
Frequently asked questions
- Why is the racing line not just the inside of the corner?
- Hugging the inside makes the corner tighter, which forces you to slow down more. Using the full width of the track straightens the corner out, so you can carry more speed through it and onto the next straight.
- How do I practise the racing line?
- Take one corner at a time. Pick a consistent braking point, aim for a slightly late apex, and focus on a clean exit. Once a corner feels repeatable, move on to the next and link them together.