Hey guys, I am heading to Road Atlanta this weekend to run in NASA HPDE 1 in the evo. This will be my first event in inclement weather, they are calling for possible rain both days. Just wanted to know what tips you guys have, for both my driving as well as car/driver prep. Tires are hankook rs-3, 255-40-17 that have about 40 percent tread depth remaining. I will also be bringing my stock wheels with mostly new advan a046.
I am sure my instructor will be helping out, but just wanted some tips.


Thanks.

 

Don't crash.

 

Tread depth in the rain will play a large part. Brake earlier but not as hard such that you dont kick on ABS every time you get on the brakes. The great thing about racing in the rain is that it will teach (force) you to be very smooth with your controls. Smooth is fast and will help from upsetting the balance of the car so keep it tame.

 

Well, a couple things I learned after a couple laps at Portland in the rain...

• DO NOT DRIVE OVER ANY PAINTED SURFACE OR RUMBLE STRIPS
• no trail braking. You can play with this but every time I trail braked even a little, the rear tried to come out on me.
• apexing early will almost certainly result in an "off." There is not much margin in the rain

You can get on it a lot earlier and harder than the RWD guys but that is not saying a whole lot. Power needs to be applied very carefully.

I don't know what it was about Portland in the rain, but I feel I have more grip on the street than I do at that track when it is wet.

 

The good thing is that you will not be "racing" as it's a HPDE

The biggest challenge is finding grip on the track....it's not where you think it would be (i.e. on the normal line).

If your instructor knows the track well and has run there in the rain, you will be just fine....if not, late apex into the turns, smooth inputs (throttle and brakes) stay away from track "sheen", rumble strips, and puddles and have fun

Also, get a really good set of wipers...

 

Don't laugh at the above. It was the best advice that I was given when I asked this question.

 

This is my biggest fear. I decided to purchase Lockton insurance for this event...just in case, haha. Would still suck if I wad the car up, but at least Im only out 2 grand instead of 20.

 

This is actually really good advice that I had not thought of yet.

 

if theres any decent water on the track, i would not run the rs3's initially.

 

Yeah, I was planning on switching over to the stock wheels/tires if its pretty wet. I have heard the rs-3's arent great in standing water, plus they arent exactly new.

 

^I've never ran on RS3's however I dont recall my stock Advans being particularly good in the rain either...

 

I'm not sure about road Atlanta but at PIR there's a transition from pavement to concrete then back again, tires don't grip the same on wet concrete as the do on pavement. Be prepared for more under steer & oversteer on any concrete.

 

As a DE1 student, you may want to consider accelerating and braking only when the wheel is almost completely straight until you're comfortable.

 

Rain tires (like Toyo R1R ) - softer suspension set up - rainX on the windshield and good wipers. good lights. Balanced brakes side to side. Preferably stronger brake force on the rear then usual.
And going in cool then come out hot

 

this. find that WET race line.