Now we move on to a little strategy as pertains to defensive lines. This presentation assumes all moves are made in a legal fashion. I want everyone to keep in mind these general rules;
- A shallow entrance approach will require a wider exit to maintain speed.
- The tighter the radius of the curve to be traveled will require less speed to navigate.
- The speed lost, or gained, can be offset by distance traveled, but not always.
A standard entrance approach using the Outside/In/Outside philosophy where the ahead car is being attacked. This also takes for granted that overlap is established prior to the ahead car's turn in.
Standard inside passing attack.
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fig 1
The behind car has a right to the inside lane. The ahead car is obligated to allow that inside lane to be used and should plan accordingly. The passing car must also take into account who is where for exit. Unless the passing car (blue, mostly) completely clears the red car, he must leave an outside lane on exit. This is where many passes go wrong.
A standard defensive approach line;
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fig 2
The ahead car (red) here, has legally made their move to defend by moving one full lane shallower and allows the behind car to chose an outside approach, or an even shallower approach than the ahead car. While not precisely shown in the picture, this also assumes the attacking car has sufficient overlap at the ahead car's turn in. Again, if the attacking car chooses the shallower entrance the ahead car is obligated to allow a lane on the inside and the attacking car is obligated to allow a lane to the outside on exit. Neither will get through the turn as fast as they would have in fig 1 and both now risk washing out wider on exit and will need to slow down more at some point to maintain track boundaries and lane obligations. If the passing car chooses the outside line and can maintain the attack, the ahead driver is now obligated to allow a lane on exit and will likely have to slow down to do it and could lose the corner.
Alternate defensive approach line;
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fig 3
In this example, the ahead car chooses, instead of using up an entire lane for a defensive approach, to use up half of two lanes. This takes away the option of the outside lane for the attacking driver, as there isn't room for them to attain sufficient overlap. If they wish to press the attack and have sufficient speed to gain overlap by turn in, their only option here is to take an even shallower approach than in fig 1 and 2 and will have to slow even more to maintain exit lane obligations. While their making their decision, the ahead driver can already have made theirs to allow that inside lane and plan accordingly. It really is like chess folks and what is behind matters as much as what's in front. As a matter of fact, when another car is close enough behind you to attack, what's behind you matters more than what's in front. The race is not in front. It's anywhere there are cars attacking and defending each other's positions.