Opposite Lock

Opposite lock is a steering technique where drivers turn the steering wheel in the opposite direction of their intended turn to regain control when the back of their car starts sliding outward.

This technique becomes necessary during a situation called oversteer, which happens when the rear wheels lose grip on the road surface. When oversteer occurs, the back end of the car swings out wider than the driver intended, potentially causing the vehicle to spin completely around if not corrected quickly.

To perform opposite lock, also known as counter-steering, the driver must react quickly and turn the steering wheel away from the corner they're trying to navigate. For example, if a driver is turning left and the rear starts sliding right, they would steer right to counteract the slide and bring the car back in line.

The amount of opposite lock needed depends on how severe the oversteer is. In mild cases, a small steering correction might be enough. However, in extreme situations, drivers may need to apply "full opposite lock," turning the steering wheel as far as it will go in the opposite direction.

This technique is most commonly seen in rally racing, where drivers navigate loose gravel roads, and in drifting competitions, where controlled oversteer is the goal. Rear-wheel-drive cars are more prone to oversteer than front-wheel-drive vehicles, making opposite lock a crucial skill for drivers of sports cars and race cars.

Opposite lock works best on low-grip surfaces like wet roads, gravel, or snow, where tires naturally have less traction. However, even on dry pavement, powerful cars can break traction and require this correction technique.

Learning to apply opposite lock smoothly takes practice, as too much correction can cause the car to oversteer in the opposite direction, while too little won't solve the original problem.