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 A guide to Understeer and OversteerCLICK HERE to watch a short film, or continue below.
To recap, there are two types of slide in a car, understeer and oversteer... |
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• Understeer is when you turn into the corner and the car wants to go straight on. There's a lack of grip from the front end of the car, the car isn't steering enough hence the term 'understeer'.
• Oversteer is the opposite, as you turn into the corner the back end of the car starts to loose grip. This has the effect of the rear end wanting to overtake the front end of the car, as a result, the car is now turning more then the steering angle applied, hence the term 'oversteer'. |
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Rally cars need controlled oversteer to be quick, with a balanced 4 wheel drift state being the optimum situation. Understeer simply slows the car down by increasing resistance on the front tyres.
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Excessive Understeer...
With too much weight on the rear wheels as you enter a corner, you are likely to experience excessive understeer. You 'plough on' through the corner and off the stage.
You may have felt this on a wet/icy road - the car fails to make the corner you're attempting. (esp. front wheel drive) |  |
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 | Excessive Oversteer... With not enough weight on the rear wheels as you enter a corner, you can experience excessive oversteer. You start to spin through the corner and off the stage.
You may have felt this on a wet or icy road, when the car spins off the road. (particulary in a rear wheel drive car) |
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The 4 wheel drift...
The ideal state for any competition car to be in mid corner (including rally cars, racing cars etc) is the 4 wheel drift.
Essentially a state where all four wheels drift sideways, with the car still under forward motion, thus minimising tyre drag, whilst still maintaining maximum momentum.
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Using the Handbrake Turn and Lift Off Oversteer techniques, allow rally drivers to do exactly that on gravel.
You might not understand these principles fully to begin with, but our our professional instructors will go through these with you. Mastering them gives you the knowledge to drive like Colin Mcrae himself!
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