rear-wheel drive front wheel drive all wheel drive
how do we handle them on track and why that's what we're talking about today on
The Racing Line
let's start with the classic sports car layout engine in the front power in the
back because of this rear drive is well balanced for track work this is the ideal
configuration for two-wheel-drive acceleration out of corners naturally
transfers weight to the driven wheels in the back improving traction as we roll
on the gas leading a corner
here's what's tricky about rear-drive it swings both ways a little power causes
understeer a light front a lot of power causes oversteer wheelspin but also a
sudden liftoff causes oversteer a light rear and a bad downshift because the fastest
spinning whoever saw locked rear despite rear wheel drives pitfalls they are
instantly forgivable for the fact that allows classic power oversteer and
drifting well yeah and if you couldn't tell I like drifting now let's move on
to the most popular drivetrain on the planet
front-wheel drive but if rear-wheel-drive is what God intended
cars to be how come front wheel drive is so popular
well it's less complicated cheaper to build and the powertrain doesn't invade
the cabin giving you more room for your friends in a small package its biggest
dynamic advantage is the powertrain mounted over the front wheels giving
better traction in slippery conditions
but front drive is in all cherry and this is a good time to explain it on the
tire rack minute front-wheel-drive can be a real detriment to the pursuit of
fast lap times those portal front tires have got to do almost everything the
acceleration the steering and most of the braking at the track when two tires
are asked to do too much they get hot and that heat causes premature wear and
slower lap times another problem turns up in one of the classic traits of a
front-wheel-drive car torque steer torque steer happens when torque from
spirit acceleration pulls the car to one side it's a byproduct of the front
wheels being asked to do too many things but that is not front wheel drives worst
defense that happens when you win because then you'll be doing the world's
latest victory donuts boring
wait I got it
we've done rear we've done front so what does that leave us about all of the
above all wheel drive
it's the best of both worlds right well yes and no all-wheel-drive add stability
and traction under power but on the negative also adds weight because of the
extra components needed to drive all the wheels the added weight makes the car
slower and puts added wear on the components now that you know the ins and
outs of each drivetrain
well you'd better know how to handle each differently at the track power the
rear is the traditional norm so let's start with the rear-wheel-drive the
technique for corner and a rear-drive goes like this brake hard and straight
and then very lightly as you turn in rotating as you aim for the apex and
ease onto the gas transferring weight back then roll it on as you straighten out
the wheel right on the edge
so remember rotation is fast too much drifting is slow front-drive as you
might expect a response to acceleration quite a bit differently than rear-drive
adding throttle and a rear drive car could kick the tail out but in a
front-drive car with the wheels pulling from the front it will do the opposite
and straighten the car the best technique for getting around the corner
quickly is to start with a trail break and put weight on the nose then aim for
a late apex if you start to get off throttle oversteer begin adding power to
balance and straighten the car next all-wheel drive it can handle a lot like
front-wheel drive on track
depending heavily on how power is distributed front-to-rear the best part
about all-wheel drive is you have all four wheels clawing you out of the
corner for the best technique a apex later than you would in a
two-wheel-drive counterpart let your tail slide and get on the throttle early
nothing comes out of the corner as ferociously as an all-wheel drive car so
many drivetrains so little time
pick your config driving enthusiasts I will see you next time on The Racing
Line if you like watching The Racing Line here's a teaser for the next
episode live right now on Motor Trend On Demand
there are loads of driving styles but only one way to turn the best lap time
and what's the best driving style for that smooth or aggresive and that's what
we're talking about today on The Racing Line watch the latest episode of The
Racing Line right now on Motor Trend On Demand