I was wondering about the proper technique and lines for taking the evo around the track. Unlike 2WD cars, the 4WD system and the power of the evo enables the car to maintain good traction and power out of corners. So I was wondering if anyone could give me an idea of the proper lines that I should be taking - generically speaking of course. Should I be hugging the turns and only exiting it when a (more of less) straight racing line is seen to the next turn?

This all began becos I was diving into corners with attempts to trail brake, but was told that that was more for front-wheel driven cars...

Thanks!!!

 

dansplace try not to think about handling being different because a car is FWD RWD or in our case AWD. The biggest factor that determines the proper driving technique in any car is weight distribution front to rear. The EVO is 60f/40r which puts it a little better than most FWD but worse than modern RWD. That means to drive it to its potential we use a 90% FWD technique but we get a much better launch off the corner than they could ever hope for

That means very little "steering with the throttle" (except in fast long corners after the car has been properly set-up). You want to follow the old racing axiom "slow in fast out" late apexes, trail braking and progressive throttle as you unwind the wheel.

Happy (apex) hunting

 

I try to be smooth and take symmetrical apexes on medium and wide turns. On tighter I really have to trail brake to get good turn in. I think Slow-in while trailbraking, then feather out the throttle on the verge of plowing (and if you are talented enough, a little left-foot braking) is the quickest way around the tight ones. The *** end rotates a lot easier when it's unloaded (and on one tire), hence the trail braking.

 

slow in, but brake boost to late apexes and fast out works great.

yes fwd based awd does understeer like crap.

i was doing this but don't brake while turning. seem to cause some hella understeer no matter what your setup is.

I've also found out that throttle blip control steer works great on the tight spots or long slalom with evo's. Use that throttle oversteer as much as you can.

 

Also you have to set up your suspension a little better than it came stock: max negative camber up front, -2.5 camber in back, and 1/8" toe-out all around does wonders for cornering.

 

Thanks everyone...

 

I second all-around toe-out suggestion (although I forget how much mine was toed-out; I remember being told quite a lot by the mechanic).

I run -3 camber in front, around -1.8 rear.

Don't forget about tire pressures too, they matter a lot.

With respect to technique, I think it's more or less the same as FWD, but in some corners you may be surprised at how well it grips (i.e. does NOT understeer).

I can't give any more "advice" I guess (I'm not qualifed to do so anyway), other than saying: from my personal experience, tracking the Evo (after moving on from STi) has been a revelation. In some corners I simply can't imagine going *that* fast, but I did.

Have fun, but remember safety first.

EDIT: Hey dansplace I just realized you're in Singapore, me too... maybe we've met before at Sepang or Pasir Gudang

 

Yes tire pressures are huge. With my current Falken Azenis Sport RT-615 in 255/40/17, ~36psi HOT on all 4 corners appears to be about the sweet spot. Which means cold on track days they are down to around 26 or so depending on the corner. I couldn't even imagine tracking my Kumho Ecsta MX's simply because they needed about 48 psi to even get decent turn-in. The RT 215's I had needed ~36psi as well. The stockers did well closer to stock pressures, ~32 psi hot. I really need to switch to nitrogen instead of air.

I put the same pressure at all 4 corners normally which gives the car a more netrual feel than running less pressure in the back like the factory pressures call for, and if I'm noticing understeer I'll put the back pressures even higher.