Wet Weather Techniques - Maximum Steering Lock

The next technique we want to master is full steering lock when entering a corner in the wet weather.

The additional steering input is used as an additional brake as the increased steering lock slows the kart down faster than being smooth in the wet. Due to the slippery conditions, drivers will feel understeer when the track is wet, so this needs to be taken into account when turning for a corner. If you start to turn the wheel where you do in the dry, you will understeer off the circuit, as it takes a kart length or two before the kart can generate enough steering / grip to make it around the corner.

The more experience you gain, the quicker and more aggressive you will turn the wheel. The benefits of this are that they kart will slow down more rapidly, you will gain more front grip and the inside rear wheel will lift off the circuit helping steer.

The more gentle the steering input in the wet, the less front steer you can generate and also the more brake you will have to use to slow down, rather than applying more lock as your brakes.

As hard as it is to drive in the wet, the drivers who have the most confidence and aggression are generally the drivers who can maximise their performance. Knowing that the additional steering lock is acting like a brake to the kart, once driven correctly, the driver can push harder upon entry which is where the most time can be made up.