Corner Exit

Corner exit is the final phase of navigating a turn in motorsport, where the driver transitions from cornering to accelerating in a straight line by gradually unwinding the steering wheel and applying more throttle.

Think of driving through a corner like a three-part process: entering the turn, reaching the tightest point (called the apex), and then exiting back onto the straight section of track. The corner exit is that third and final part, and it's arguably the most important for achieving fast lap times.

When a race car reaches the apex of a corner, the driver begins the exit phase by slowly straightening the steering wheel. At the same time, they start pressing the accelerator pedal more firmly. This might sound simple, but it requires precise coordination because the car's tires can only provide a limited amount of grip at any given moment.

During the exit phase, the driver must balance two competing demands on the tires: turning and accelerating. Early in the exit, most of the tire grip is still being used to turn the car. As the steering wheel straightens, more grip becomes available for acceleration. The key is making this transition as smooth as possible to maintain maximum traction throughout.

Professional drivers use the full width of the track on corner exit, allowing the car to take a wider, gentler path. This wider arc means the driver can straighten the steering wheel sooner and apply full throttle earlier, which translates directly into higher speeds down the following straightaway.

The importance of a good corner exit cannot be overstated. Every bit of extra speed carried out of a corner continues down the entire length of the next straight section. If a driver exits a corner just two miles per hour faster than their competitor, they'll maintain that advantage all the way to the next braking zone. Over the course of a full lap with multiple corners, these small gains add up to significant time differences.

Common mistakes during corner exit include applying throttle too aggressively, which can cause the rear tires to lose grip and slide, or not using the full track width, which forces a tighter turning radius and delays acceleration. Both errors cost valuable time and momentum.

Different types of corners require different exit techniques. A slow, tight hairpin corner demands patience and gradual throttle application, while a faster, sweeping turn allows for earlier and more aggressive acceleration. Learning to read each corner and adjust the exit technique accordingly is a fundamental skill in motorsport that separates fast drivers from the rest of the field.