Skip to main content
HOME   |   ABOUT   |   NEWS   |   TECH ARTICLES   |   AT THE TRACK   |   REVIEWS   |   VIDEOS   |   CONTACT ME

What is the best mod to cut down lap times?




You've got some money saved. You have been thinking about modifying your car to make it quicker and now is the time to go shopping. If you're not sure what to get, the good news is that with track days and interest in lapping becoming more popular, you can easily find good resources online. Better tires are usually recommended as the best place to start and I couldn't agree more. If you want to improve the specs of your car, tires are definitely the best place to start. If you want to go faster, though, save your money..

Last weekend, I headed to the track for Atlantic Sports Car Club (ASCC) Time Attack #2, my first timed event. I've only been going to non-timed, lapping events for the past few years but I've wanted to start going to timed events for a while to make sure I'm moving in the right direction. The event included 5 sessions - a practice session and 4 hot sessions. I was planning on using my GoPro camera to film all timed sessions but, unfortunately, it got very hot sitting in the back (I didn't want it in the front to avoid distraction) so I only recorded the practice session. I will have to find another spot for it next time I go.




My goal was a lap time of 1:25.x or under by the end of the day. After my first session though, the practice session, I changed my mind about the "or under" part of my goal.. My fastest lap during the practice session was 1:28.7 (video below). That meant I had to find 3 seconds to reach what was initially my minimum goal.

I started to think of the places where I thought I am losing a lot of time and decided to work on the entries of corners 1 and 7 and the exits of corners 2 and 9. I stayed on the throttle slightly longer after the front straight (between corner 11 and corner 1) and carried more speed through corner one. Similarly, a little late braking at the end of the back "straight" meant carrying more speed through 7. At the exits of corners 2 and 9, I applied more throttle past the apex. I didn't get on the throttle any earlier, only rolled into the throttle more quickly. This combination of late braking, carrying more corner speed and quicker throttle application cut down 1.5 seconds off my practice time for a best lap time of 1:27.2 during the 1st hot session.

I liked the results so much that I decided to work on the same corners during the 2nd hot session, with more late braking and corner speed plus quicker throttle application. I was able to find another half a second for a best lap time of 1:26.7. This meant I was less than a second away from my goal and I had 2 more hot sessions to find that second!




For the 3rd session, I decided to add corners 3 and 5 to the list of corners to work on. I had only made changes to braking and throttle application up to that point but no changes to my lines. That changed for the 3rd session. I tried to apply more throttle coming out of 3 but I was running out of room on corner exit so I tried to turn in later coming into 3 and I immediately noticed a huge difference in speed. I carried so much more speed that I almost ran into the rev limit before braking for 4 - a first for me. At the entry of corner 5, I refrained from using the brakes at all and decided to rely on engine braking alone. As you can see in the video (go to corner 4 at 0:40 in the video), corner 5 is an uphill/downhill corner - corner entry is uphill and corner exit is downhill with the apex almost exactly at the highest point. Because of that, the car unloads mid corner and shifts to the right of the track around the time you need to get back on the throttle so you can't carry too much speed going into 5. As it turns out, though, engine braking is more than enough for my speed coming out of 4. I might need some braking when I get corners 4 and 5 better nailed down, but at this point, the result was.. *drum roll*.. another 1.2 seconds - yes, I was at my goal! A best lap time of 1:25.5 during the 3rd session.

For the 4th and final session, I used the same line that I used in the 3rd session with late turn in into 3 and continued to work on my throttle and braking application. The result was another 0.3 seconds for a best lap time of 1:25.2 for the session and for the day. We got a yellow a flag, though, because someone spun so we were offered one additional hot lap and a few of us took it. For this hot lap, I tried to work on corner 2 entry as well. This didn't work so well.. I got on the brakes a little later, tried to carry more speed and ended up going wide so I actually lost time compared to my best time of the day and got a lap time of 1:26.3.

I have no doubt that 1:25 is a good few seconds slower than what the car can do but I was happy with the results nonetheless. From 1:28.7 to 1:25.2 is an improvement of three and half seconds. The cost? $160. Short of forced induction and track tires, I would be hard pressed to find something that can cut down 3.5 seconds off lap times on a 1.6 mile track, let alone do it for $160. If you've got some extra money saved, don't spend it on modifications until you attend a few high performance driving schools and timed events. Nothing will give you more bang for your buck. A "driver mod" is the best mod to cut down lap times until you have accumulated many hours of seat time on a track.


Comments

  1. Love it! Guess this means that I ought to just get front tires to pass inspection and shoot for this upcoming "Solo" autocross event, rather than that new set of wheels I've been eyeing!

    Looking fast in the video! My friend has a 2012 Mustang 5.0L and acceleration is just brutal. Cool to learn that one can use engine brake alone to keep going. Lots of good tips here and I'm definitely going to work on the driver, next.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Absolutely, although I know I will continue to spend money on modifications if I can afford them.. it takes a lot of self control to shrug off the mod bug!

      Thanks! I agree, the 5.0L is a great engine. What about you, what do you drive?

      Delete
  2. No doubt about that! There always seems to be a pull for something- and the ensuing set of complementary stuff, of course.

    I drive a 2002 Nissan Sentra 1.8L engine and just recently sold a 1998 Ford Mustang 3.8L the other day. Had the Mustang for a year and it has left behind a longing for another.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A buddy of mine has an 02 Sentra SE-R with a few modifications and he tracks it. Are you planning on getting in something to track or autocross or taking a break for a while?

      Delete

Post a Comment







Does An Aftermarket Grille Really Increase Airflow?
I put a Saleen S281 grille to the test to answer that question.

Stock Suspension S197 Mustang With Square 305/30/19's
What you need to fit a proper size square tire setup.

How Limited Slip Diffs Make You Faster on Track
What you need to know about how they put power down and pros and cons.

Can Telemetry Explain Schumacher's Talent?
A comparison between Schumacher's and then team mate Herbert's data.






Cayman GT4 Track Review
The first Cayman with proper (911-challenging) power.

Is an EcoBoost Mustang any good on Track?
Two days at the track in a Mustang short 4 cylinders.

2016 BMW M4 DCT Track Review
It's quick (properly quick). But is it fun?

Can a stock Golf Diesel handle a Track Day?
Not your every day track beater.




🔥 Most Visited This Week

Falken Azenis RT615k+ Street and Track Review

Last year, I picked up a 2009 Lancer Ralliart to do a long term test with it as a dual duty track/daily. One of the first things I knew I was going to do was put a decent set of tires on it. The car came without OEM wheels which was actually good because I didn't have to hesitate about getting a good set of aftermarket wheels to support going wider. Thankfully, my friends at YST Auto Halifax  set me up with a great set of Superspeed RF03RR wheels. The Wheels I had never even heard of Superspeed but I trusted the good folk at YST Auto who mentioned some customer cars running on track with them. These wheels are rotary forged which is basically a prerequisite to be taken seriously in this market populated by companies like TSW and Fast Wheels. The wheels looked like a high quality, well finished wheel and each had a "QC" check sticker on. Just for appearances? Maybe, but I found no defects. The wheels seemed easy to balance (didn't need many weights) and at 18.1 lb. f

2007 Saleen Mustang S281 SC Super Shaker Track Review

"Who's your green student today?" asked a friend and instructor at the BMW Club Atlantic Advanced Driver Training (HPDE) weekend in June this year. I said: "The Saleen." The response was: "Oh, boy." Mustangs, generally, have a reputation for being more power than chassis. Mustang drivers have quite the reputation for.. how to put this nicely? Taking advantage of said power/chassis imbalance. To make matters worse, this particular Mustang was a supercharged Saleen, with a honkin' Shaker scoop sticking out of its hood. Did I mention it was also a convertible? And the owner was someone who's never been on track before but clearly has the speed bug. Having had a Mustang for years and driven a few on track, they don't scare me - generally speaking - but the combination of being convertible and supercharged with a new and excited owner worried me a little. Nevertheless, I shrugged it off and got excited about chatting with the owner to find

2014 BMW 335i xDrive M Sport Review

Post-refresh 2015 F30 3-series pictured.  Which is better, an F30 3-series or an E46? The F30 has certainly taken its fair share of heat. But if you thought I was going to say the E46, you'd be dead wrong. The F30 3-series is better. Far better. It is quicker, faster, safer, more practical, more efficient, more refined, quieter.. the list goes on. A lot of reviews and people I talk to consider the F30 to be an abomination. Frankly, I don't see it. You'd have to be mad to think the E46 is better. Completely out to lunch. I don't know who in their right mind would prefer the E46..  Trouble is, since when were people buying sports cars in their right minds? Here, lies the real problem. " Raw rather than refined in its noises, pounding ride, heavy clutch, 50 grand and cloth seats? " "..  and not at all shy about its performance compromises. It always acts like the automotive jock it is, every mile of every day. " " Raw and quite loud.. An

How Limited Slip Diffs Make You Faster on Track

SADOKIST's (eSports Host) E46 BMW M3 GT3 Race Car - Kevin Doubleday © Over the years, I've found that limited slip diffs (LSD's) are some of the least appreciated performance parts you could get (or upgrade) for a car. LSD's make a big difference, though, because they can vastly improve how early you can get back on the power and, therefore, how good your corner exit is. That last bit is very important if you're driving on track and want to get a good lap. You don't have to just take my word for it, though. F1 royalty Sir Jackie Stewart puts an emphasis on the importance of corner exit. When Captain Slow was sent to him to cut 20 seconds off his lap time (Top Gear Season 8 - Episode 5), Sir Jackie told him: "the exit of the corner is FAR more important than the entry of the corner, with regards to smoothness." Sir Jackie Stewart coaching James May in a TVR Tuscan - Top Gear Season 8 Episode 5 You really need to nail the exit. And to get a