Driving a sports car is about so much more than simply getting from one place to another.
It is not about the speed, horsepower, or lap times either. The magic happens when a bond is forged indelibly between the driver and the machine. The steering wheel becomes an extension of who you are, and every ounce of feedback from the car or the road gets directed to your very soul.
Sports car driving is next level and often defies the laws of both inertia and gravity. The most essential element to prioritize is safety.
Below are five tips for safer driving in your nippy new car:
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Accelerating
If you have one of the newest models of sports cars, you will likely notice that it has an acceleration button. It is the car’s throttle that propels it forward at exciting speeds.
When you accelerate, the weight gets transferred to the back, and when you brake it transfers forward – the same rules apply to sports cars, only much faster.
Be careful not to jerk the throttle.
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Smooth Shifting
If your sports car is a manual, learning how to shift between gears correctly is imperative to avoid an accident.
The goal is to shift quickly but as smoothly as possible. Pause for a second in between gears and be sure not to jam the gear lever – otherwise, you may damage the car or, in the event of an accident, find yourself needing assistance from an attorney to navigate legal complications.
Push the clutch while simultaneously releasing the throttle, quickly shift into the new gear, and then smoothly release the clutch and depress the throttle once again.
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Heal and Toe Method
This is a modern driving technique – and is recommended for sports car owners.
It involves operating the brake with your toe area while moving the foot across to the throttle with the side of your foot. By simultaneously braking and shifting, you can increase the revolutions per minute while still braking.
Advanced driving techniques like this can be learned at Ferrari Driving School in Queens, NY.
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Corner Preparation
Driving a sports car requires hyper-focus.
The car’s chassis must stay flat so there is no pressure on any specific tire. Balance driving is everything when driving a power machine like a sports car. Imagine driving the car with an egg balanced on the dashboard – no sudden or jerky movements are allowed.
When preparing for a corner, maintain a neutral throttle before a turn and learn to listen to every noise or vibration of the car so you can anticipate what it will do next.
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Low Profile
Driving up an incline or over bumps is challenging in a sports car.
You should master the art of spatial awareness, or you run the risk of damaging the vehicle – particularly the undercarriage. Sports cars are much lower to the ground than any other vehicle.
That gives them a better center of gravity, which helps them perform higher than other vehicles, but it also makes them vulnerable to patchy road surfaces or angled inclines.
Check if your sports car has a front axle lift option or find a similar tool to do the job.
In Closing
Lastly, remember to take the time to breathe in the fresh air and feel the sun on your face as you drive with the top down. You have earned this thrilling experience, so enjoy every moment!
