Mastering the 6 Phases of a Corner for Faster Laps

The art of driving quickly and consistently around a circuit relies heavily on understanding the 6 phases of a corner. Each corner you encounter on the track requires precise inputs from the brake and accelerator pedals, along with a keen awareness of the car’s balance. By focusing on these six distinct phases, you can carry greater speed through corners and position yourself for faster lap times overall.

Phase One: Hard Braking and Downshifting

Before you begin turning, you’ll typically brake in a straight line and change down gears to match the ideal corner entry speed. Whether you’re reducing speed from 200 km/h or 60 km/h, the concept remains the same: brake in a controlled manner, using maximum available grip while the car’s tyres are aligned straight. By combining hard braking with smooth, well-timed gear changes, you ensure your car is stable and primed for the subsequent phases.

1. Brake in a straight line: This ensures maximum tyre grip for deceleration.
2. Downshift smoothly: Avoid abrupt gear changes to prevent unsettling the rear of the car or locking the driven wheels.

Phase Two: Trail Braking into the Turn

Trail braking is considered an advanced driver technique. As you ease off the brakes while turning the steering wheel into the corner, you continue to decelerate but at a diminishing rate. This approach can help the front tyres bite more effectively, promoting sharper initial turn-in and enhanced control.

• Gradually release brake pressure: This allows you to keep some weight over the front wheels for better turn-in.
• Maintain smooth steering input: Sudden steering movements while trail braking can result in understeer or oversteer.

If you’re a novice, it’s perfectly acceptable to brake fully before turning and focus on transitioning smoothly from brake to steering inputs. While less efficient than trail braking, this method is more forgiving and helps build confidence.

Phase Three: Transition from Braking to Throttle

Once you’ve started turning into the corner, you’ll transition away from the brake pedal. This moment requires significant finesse. Abruptly lifting off the brakes can cause the front of the car to rise too quickly, while jamming on the accelerator can lead to rear instability.

• Feel the car’s weight transfer: Aim for a seamless shift from front-loaded braking to a neutral balance.
• Use gentle throttle application: The key is to avoid jerky movements that might upset the car’s stability, especially if the tyres are still loaded from cornering forces.

Practising on regular roads at lower speeds is a great way to refine your brake-to-throttle transition. You’ll develop muscle memory for smooth pedal application, which is invaluable when you tackle corners at higher speeds.

Phase Four: Balanced Throttle at Apex

By now, you’ve turned the steering wheel enough to guide the car toward the apex. At this stage, you may be lightly back on the accelerator, but your goal is to maintain a constant speed rather than accelerate aggressively.

• Small throttle input: Often around 10-15% or just enough pressure to keep the car balanced.
• Stabilise your line: This brief moment of steady throttle helps the car hold its ideal trajectory through the apex without upset.

Maintaining balanced throttle is essential, particularly in high-speed corners where abrupt changes could unsettle the car and reduce grip.

Phase Five: Increasing Throttle on Corner Exit

As you move past the apex, you’ll begin straightening the steering wheel and gradually increasing throttle. The more you reduce steering input, the more grip is freed for acceleration.

• Open the steering progressively: Visualise a wider arc so that the tyres can handle both cornering and accelerating forces.
• Increase throttle smoothly: Think of a piece of wire connected from the accelerator to your steering wheel—when you reduce steering angle, you can press the throttle further.

This is where you’ll feel the car squat and accelerate out of the corner, but make sure to keep smooth, measured inputs to avoid losing traction.

Phase Six: Full Throttle and Exit

The final segment of the 6 phases of a corner involves going flat out once the wheels are sufficiently straight and you have enough grip to handle full power.

• Judge available grip: Higher-powered cars might require a more cautious approach to prevent wheelspin.
• Aim down the next straight: Return to maximum acceleration as soon as you can do so without losing stability or speed.

Knowing precisely when you can commit to 100% throttle is a skill that separates good drivers from great ones. This transition depends on tyre condition, track surface, and car dynamics.

Putting It All Together

From braking in a straight line to smoothly rolling onto full throttle, each element of the 6 phases of a corner requires patience, practice, and a carefully tuned sense of your car’s capabilities. By mastering these six stages, you’ll consistently carry greater speed, minimise lap times, and improve your overall racing craft. When you practise the 6 phases of a corner repeatedly, muscle memory develops, enabling quicker reflexes and more intuitive driving.

Remember: mastering corners doesn’t happen overnight. Use track days, coaching, and even everyday driving opportunities to hone your braking, steering, and throttle control. Over time, you’ll find that each phase flows seamlessly into the next, delivering not only a faster lap, but a safer and more enjoyable driving experience.

Zachary Skinner

Zachary Skinner is the editor of TechDrivePlay.com, where tech, cars and adventure share the fast lane.
A former snowboarding pro and programmer, he brings both creative flair and technical know-how to his reviews. From high-performance cars to clever gadgets, he explores how innovation shapes the way we move, connect and live.