[Ashlandchris]

Originally Posted by SlowOne

I sympathise with Chris Ashland's view on letting people pass when being lapped. It has to be one of the simplest rules in all motor racing - pass on the inside; be passed on the inside. One almost never hears it.

In qualifying, both drivers need to slow down. The driver being passed needs to move to the outside and slow down, and the driver passing needs to move to the inside and slow down. You need complete control of the car to avoid a collision and to account for the fact that neither driver is gong to be millimetre perfect on track position.

IME, the passing driver fails to slow down, misses the apex by a country mile, collides with the other driver who is doing their best and then asks others to learn to drive! In qualifying, it is important that both cars slow down, even if for a fraction of a second, in order to give both drivers the best chance of qualifying high. When it comes to a final, then being lapped means pull over and virtually park your car to let the faster driver through!

When both drivers slow down and execute a clean pass, then both get the chance to stay closer to the racing line and get a better time. It helps if you call to the other driver and tell them what you are going to do, but that isn't always possible. Practice passing and being passed on a club night.

Thank you - that is helpful advice.