Pay attention to speed and extreme load changes

Races on wet surfaces are challenging. The car's grip on the track surface is not only low but also uneven. Under wet conditions, the characteristics of the surface constantly change according to temperature and the amount of rainfall. At high speed, the tyres cannot push aside the water fast enough, which leads to hydroplaning, where the tyres will ride on top of a layer of water. Not only does this make the car slower, but it can also steer them off the track.

Fig. 15-1: Under wet conditions, tyres may not be able to push the water aside fast enough due to the vehicle’s speed. This can cause hydroplaning (where the tyres ride on a layer of water).

However, you can use this slipperiness to your advantage, allowing you to make up for a car's lack of performance with your driving technique.

For this to happen, you need to be in the proper driving position and really hone your senses to the motions of the car. You need to judge the condition of the tyres and road surface from the feedback you feel through your hips and hands on the steering wheel.

In addition, you need to stop yourself from doing anything too rapidly - applying the accelerator and brakes delicately and steering with care. Keep in mind how you will handle understeer and oversteer, and be ready to respond to any unwanted slippage immediately.

One of the most challenging things about wet conditions is cornering. To prevent understeer due to over-speeding, set your braking point during corner entry further inside on the track, and be sure to decelerate adequately.

There are cases where your driving line will have to adjust due to wet conditions. On a dry surface, you would drive the record line (the fastest driving line), but puddles may form on the inside of the track under wet conditions. In such cases, you would run a driving line that avoids them. It’s also important to note that driving lines where many cars have passed under dry conditions will have a layer of melted tyre rubber on the track, and during rainy weather, these lines will become particularly slippery.

Fig. 15-2: Braking distances are longer in wet conditions. It's therefore important to anticipate this and start braking earlier. Water sometimes pools on the inside of corners—as such, it can be better to take a line that traces the outside of the corner instead.

Though we have stressed the importance of cautious driving in poor weather, this doesn’t mean you want to hold back. You should increase your average speed while making sure you don’t drive in a way that causes an extreme change in speed or load. During a race, check the status of cars around you and drive in a way that allows you to take advantage of any opportunities that arise.