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Panoz Esperante GTS
Panoz Esperante GTS
Panoz Esperante GTS
RVP – Reliability / Value / Performance
Defining the Corner
To help the driver and crew chief understand each
other it is important that they use the same terminology.
The car will do different things in different portions of
a corner so here are common definitions of the corner.
A:
Entry
The entry is the area where the driver lifts off the
throttle and begins braking. Steering input often
begins at the end of braking (except in trail braking
situations).
B:
Apex
The apex is the point when the car is at the inner-
most part of the corner. In road racing this is usu-
ally a little past the center of the corner (referred
to as a late apex).
C:
Exit
The exit is where steering input is reduced and the
car is at full throttle.
Corner Breakdown Feedback
In order to communicate properly each section of the
corner should be discussed in order. There is no ben-
efit in worrying about the center of the corner if the
car is unstable on entry. The preceding zone affects
the next zone. Make sure that the car makes a good
entry, hits the apex and then exits the corner well.
Reconsider your adjustments if your corrective action
adversely affects any preceding zone in the corner
area you are addressing. There is more information
on this in the Suspension section of this manual.
Again, whenever making any adjustment you must
consider each corner area. Adjustments cannot upset
the preceding section.
Common Feedback Traps
Cars that are loose on entry nearly always push in
the middle as the driver simply is unable aggressively
turn the wheel at the right time. Basically, a loose
entry causes the driver to miss the entire turn. There
is no point making changes that deal with the middle
when the car is loose at entry.
Cars that push in the middle of the turn are very likely
to be loose on the corner exit. The angular momen-
tum of the car is upset and the car travels off the exit
on the wrong line due to the push in the middle. The
car pushes and moves up. Upon exit the car runs out
of room in the groove and often becomes loose on
the late exit as the driver overturns to avoid running
off the track. Many times when you loosen the car up
to get a better run through the middle it will hook up
better on exit.
A car that is loose on corner entry should be cured at
all costs. A car that is loose on entry is uncomfortable
for the driver and is very difficult to drive. The driver
really has no way to adapt his line for a loose entry
problem. Basically, the driver just has to slow down and
ride. Cars that are loose on entry make for long day.
