Following a Car Closely [HOW TO] 

I have to say following a similarly paced driver closely is probably the most fun part of racing. I had to learn these things the hard way. What helps me most is going off throttle before the braking zone to allow some space before your opponent starts braking. you can adjust the distance then by braking lighter or later.

Your videos are incredible! You’re more concise and demonstrate a fundamental practical knowledge of racing physics compared with other coaching channels. This channel is criminally underrated, with great tips

I've been sim racing for a while and I always got super nervous just having other cars around me, let alone being right behind one. The tips in this video have definitely helped me feel more confident being close to other drivers and I am much less frequently "that guy" punting others off track on accident. Thank you.

Who’d have known that if you don’t want to crash into the car in front, you have to brake earlier? No seriously, great video! I learned a lot.

All really good points, Nik... a few "intangibles" that I always went with were: - During my very heavy participation in iRacing some years back, I would tend to end up in races with the same people (thanks to the matchmaking algorithms). Inevitably, when you're around the same people long enough, you start "trusting" each other - meaning, you get to know how those people tend to react in certain situations. This allows you to take a few more risks here and there, depending on how well you know that opponent. If I wasn't familiar with someone I was racing against? Yeah, I'd be a little more conservative until I got a little more comfortable around them and their tendencies in different racing situations. - I'm ever the stickler for checking the Relative time board to see where my strongest corners are against an opponent. I'm always looking for those corners where I have an edge and am thinking about how I'm going to perform that overtake. That said, I'm always thinking about whether that's a good passing point at all, or if I should think about the usual out-brake, or overtake on exit and into the next corner strategy. In reference to "Aero-wash", it is DEFINITELY a thing in iRacing! I vividly remember setting up for a pass between Turns 1 and 2 at Indianapolis when the track was first introduced - Yep, straight into the wall out of Turn 1 because I was too close to the car in front of me. 🤦‍♂ You definitely have to get a sense for how the car feels when subjected to less than ideal aerodynamic conditions.

this channel is massively underrated

If only everyone would watch and follow the tips in this video! There would no longer be any inadvertent punts in sim racing.

Wow this video was super helpful, a huge problem I’ve had in sims and real life racing now is judging my braking to the person in front of me. This really should have more views

Exactly! It took me a while to discover this...after continually crashing on turn 1 Monza. Awesome vid!

Great video! Another thing to consider when following up closely is that even if both cars have the same braking marker, the car in front reaches the marker first and slams on the brakes. The car behind at top speed needs clearly to brake earlier otherwise they will slam the car in front.

Pure racing wisdom.

I literally searched for this a while ago and NO ONE had a video on this. I found your channel through someone's recommendation on Reddit and wow. Where have you been?

Excellent video!

Exactly what I was looking for!

Thanks for a wonderful and instructive video. Great information.

Amazing video. Great job!

That was actually very informative. The loss of aero for the front grip makes so much sense now. Keep it up man!

Really good information. I track my E36 as much as possible. When I catch up to a car, I use left foot breaking. You never know what the driver in front is going to do. It does take some practice, but it has saved me from being that guy.

I had to really think about this because it's not an issue I've had. I have been punted plenty of times, but I rarely end up punting someone unless they've done something poorly ahead of me. I end up doing pretty much everything he touches on in this video, but never had any of it explained to me. I do a lot of oval racing in iracing so I've gotten quite used to following cars very close on short tracks and bump drafting on bigger ovals.

Just stumbled upon your channel for the first time. great tips and delivery man! I was doing a lot of this stuff without really thinking about it but hearing you explain it makes me realize why it works. Thank you!

LOVE what you cover, really getting the right info from you.

I just want to take a moment and say that this is by far one of the best produced videos on race craft I've ever seen. You're doing phenomenal work and would love to speak with you about coaching. I'm still a novice and could use some help. As I increase my exposure to people with far more experience than I, I notice my lack of experience shows. Consider me high class C.

Subbed...love your style!

Really interesting and useful stuff, especially as a beginner. Thank you for the information.

Just got recommend this video and found that this channel is a gold mine. Thank you, very informative. Wait for the algorithm to do its job 👌

That's a great video! I wish I've seen it when I started simracing, would have saved me a lot of crashes and penalties! Maybe a video on what to do at the start of the race? In my novice days I found race starts to be very stressful and confusing

This was a really, really good video. Full of deep knowledge and pedagogy. Subbed Ps: u kinda handsome bro😳

Leaving a comment to help with algoritm :DDDD Amazing as always!

Another great video 💪 have you done one of Defending your position ?

nice

very interesting video, even though I don't play Iracing still interesting

Also you can't always see in front of the guy your behind so if he has to check up unexpectedly then your gonna crash.

Great video, One thing I see way too often is when you get fixated on the car in front of you and you follow them right off the track because they missed their mark. Ask me how I know LOL.

Many if not most elite drivers do not use brake point "markers". They are looking at the apex, or visualizing the apex in their minds eye, clear back on the straight. They have honed their the special acuity and send of speed/distance to know when to brake, without having a specific landmark they use to key their braking. The strange thing is their braking points will be very consistent, as if they are using a specific marker. This is why you will never be a professional driver. Elite drivers develop this ability back when they were 10-14 years old in karts.... By the time you race against them in say....F4, they have been honing that skill for 6 years+

that was a good tip video

This is an absolutely excellent video mate. Your way of explaining this is clear and makes perfect sense. I myself often fall into the mistake of hyper focusing on the car ahead when chasing someone closely - so hearing your take on that was very refreshing. Thanks!!

Subscribing

How DO you know you overheat when following too close to the car in front?😂🤣

Unfortunately, in games like GT7, if you follow close people brake check. I like to bump draft when I can to make up time. Most people in sim games are poor sports.

wait what does Offsetting mean?

If you're for hire, we should talk.

Or you could just you know... buy a BMW?