As we start a lap at Musselman Honda Circuit, we want to keep the kart towards the inside of the straight when crossing the start/finish line. This is to shorten the distance we cover on a lap, but also to minimize the chances of being overtaken on the straight. With this racing line, if a kart is faster, they're forced to either go the long way around the outside, which doesn't set them up in the braking zone, or to push your kart faster in the straight.

Once we've passed left-hand kink, allow the kart to drive a straight line towards three-quarter to full track width. What I notice on this circuit is that it's extremely wide in sections and drivers can get sucked into using all of it just because it's available to them. The extra distance slows us down and gives opposition drivers an easier passage to overtake.

The braking zone into the first corner is downhill, so drivers need to be mindful not to carry too much speed on entry. In our faster categories, a trail braking method can be used as this will slow the kart down faster, but it also provides stability into the corner. Cadets can use a quick lock of the brakes, then roll for a kart length before reapplying the throttle.

The apex point is very clear to see. There is one painted red square on the curbing where all the other boxes are either painted blue or white. There is a drain in this section and if your kart clips that, it unsettles the kart. So try avoiding this if possible. In the faster classes, you apply the throttle just before the red box. The cadet categories can get back on the accelerator between one to one-and-a-half kart lengths before this point, as drivers want to use all the exit of the racetrack.

Once you allow the kart to flow towards the outside of the track, drive a straight line towards the outside of the circuit. The entry point to this next chicane is between three-quarter track width and full track width. This chicane is high speed and a wide turn. Not much steering lock is required, where being smooth keeps the kart in control and provides the best exit speed.

Cadets will be full throttle through this part of the track with KA on the verge of flat out too. TAG karts have a quick lift off the gas. Some brake could be required to stabilize the rear and the apex is once again at the one red box on the curb. Drivers can use the bottom section of the curb but don't want to hit the high part as this unsettles the kart at high speed.

You then exit three-quarter track width, which takes you straight into the second part of the chicane, which is flat out in all categories. Run your inside tires across the red box on the curb and allow the kart to flow wide on the exit. The track is extremely wide here and drivers should be able to see a painted white line identifying the track, but you can flow the kart half to one kart width over this line.

Rather than just holding the outside of the track, bring the kart back one kart width from the outside edge and set up your next braking zone. A light lock of the brakes is required on entry, but drivers can get back on the throttle before the apex to not slow down their momentum. This corner provides drivers with an easy overtake up the inside with it being so wide. The apex point is the red square on the curbing, which is after the center of the turn. A slightly later apex, and keeping the kart relatively straight from the red square to the edge of the track is best.
Drivers can flow the kart to the edge of the circuit and onto the curb but be careful as the drop-off from the racetrack to the dirt is severe. This increases your chances of dropping a chain with the sprocket being located on this side. As we make our way into a fast right-hand turn, drivers will look to set up their kart between three-quarter and full track width. Because this turn is so wide on exit, a wider approach isn't required like tighter turns. This corner is a quick lift off the throttle and back on the accelerator, about one-quarter of the way through the turn.

Drivers will once again use the red square as a clipping point and flow the kart to three-quarter track width on the exit. This was another corner where drivers feel faster using more racetrack, but as your speed is already high, the extra distance traveled isn't necessary. Once you've flowed the kart to three-quarter track, keep turning the kart gently towards the next right-hand kink. Run your tires alongside the red square. This is flat out. Then set up the next left-hand turn, so your tires clip the red square here also.

Cadets and KA are easily flat out here and TAG will likely be flat out but may need to have a quick lift or a trail brake, so they don't flow out too wide for the next right. The following right-hand kink requires a quick lift in the TAG categories. The reason for this is so you don't flow out too wide, which then creates a tighter entry for the left-hand turn onto the back straight. Cadets and KA should be flat out, no problems, while still placing the kart three-quarter track width on exiting to open the left-hand turn.

Once you've exited the right and lift off the throttle in Cadets and a light brake in KA and TAG will allow you to get back on the throttle around one-quarter of the way around this turn. This is a very important corner as this leads into a slight uphill exit and then onto a long straight. The exit is far too wide for karting, so don't get sucked into using it all. If you find yourself crossing over where the flat exit curbing is, you are either entering too fast to the left or your apex point is too early, and this is forcing the kart wide.

Once again, the extra distance traveled isn't making us any faster. As you use the exit curb, keep the kart turning to the left gently and drive a straight line one kart width off the inside curb, allowing the kart to flow to the white line indicating the track width.

We now enter the final two corners. With the 180-degree left-hand switch back having a downhill approach, drivers will want to brake at the start of the outside curbing. A light lock of the brakes is needed in cadets and drivers in the faster categories trail brake towards the apex.

We need to concentrate on where the kart is placed on the exit, as this sets up the final turn. A later apex with the red square distinguishing the apex point after the middle of the turn. This then allows the kart to not cross over the center of the track. Drivers can get lured into turning in too early here with a downhill approach. This then flows their kart past the center point in the track and tightens the entry into the final corner.

Driver's right-hand side tires should be in the center of the circuit. Our cadets and KA categories can drive a straight line and take the final corner flat out. TAG also takes the corner flat out, but half a kart width wider to open the final turn. Stay off this inside curb as it's too aggressive and will bounce the kart towards the exit of the circuit. As you flow the kart to the edge of the track, hold the inside white line until the finish line.

That's a lap of Musselman Honda Circuit in Tucson. This circuit is all about flowing a lot of corner speed and being very gentle with our steering inputs. Drivers need to remember not to use all the racetrack in some areas as this circuit shares its facility with car racing and drifting. I hope these tips have provided you with a greater insight to this track and gives you an advantage for your next race.

Musselman Honda Circuit - Tucson, Arizona