Light-Firm-Light Pattern

This exercise focuses on a fundamental steering input pattern that applies to every corner on the track. The pattern is simple: light, firm, light. This refers to the grip pressure and steering input you apply throughout different phases of the corner.

The Three-Phase Pattern

For every corner you approach, you need to think about this three-phase pattern:

• Light: Initial turn-in with very light steering input

• Firm: Firmer mid-corner rotation at minimum speed

• Light: Lighter exit to allow for transition into acceleration

While this pattern may seem dramatic when you first practice it, it becomes very subtle once you're accustomed to it. However, the pattern remains present in all corners, all the time.

Understanding the Transition Points

The transitions between these phases are not abrupt. The pattern is progressive, not on/off switching. Here's how it develops through the corner:

• Entry begins with light input, then progressively becomes firmer and firmer as speed decreases

• When you get back on power, you're still a little bit firmer

• As the car starts going out toward exit, you progressively relax more

• The final "light" phase happens on a transition, not immediately when you apply power

The complete progression is: peak light at initial turn-in, peak firm at minimum speed, and peak light again at the very end of corner exit.

Common Mistakes and Crash Points

Understanding where crashes typically occur helps explain why this pattern is so important. Most people crash at two specific points:

• Early entry: Very early at the beginning of turn-in

• Late exit: At the very end of the corner

These crashes happen because drivers are literally not relaxing their hands and are forcing the car to do something it's not capable of doing. This exercise allows you to align yourself with the capabilities of the car and makes your driving much more consistent.

Timing the Exit Relaxation

A critical aspect is not relaxing too early on corner exit. If you get back on power and immediately relax your hands completely, the car turns less mid-corner and you tend to go wide too early. This is a very common mistake among beginners.

Conversely, another common beginner mistake is to force the car on late exit, which causes a spin. Beginners are often afraid of rotating the car when it's most capable of rotation, which is around minimum speeds. Remember this key principle: minimum speeds is where you rotate the most, and the extremes of the corner are where you rotate the least.

Relationship Between Pedal Input and Steering Pressure

Your hand pressure should be relaxed according to how much pedal input you have:

• Braking: The more you brake, the more you have to relax your hands. Less steering input is necessary to make the car rotate when braking

• Acceleration: When you accelerate a lot and use grip for acceleration, the car has less grip available for rotation. You must relax your hands to feel how much actual grip is still available for rotation

This is why it's so easy to spin if you just strangle the steering wheel and ignore what it's trying to tell you. If you go full throttle and hold a fixed steering angle while ignoring the feedback from the steering, you're going to spin.

Practical Application and Error Recovery

The light-firm-light pattern helps even when you make mistakes. For example, if you miss your braking point and go a little bit late into the corner, you can still apply light-firm-light. This allows you to complete the corner without forcing the car.

If you forget about the pattern and become obsessed with hitting the apex after a mistake, you'll start forcing the car and might spin. The pattern helps you stay within the car's capabilities regardless of the situation.

How the Steering Self-Corrects

When you relax your hands properly as you get back on power, if your hands are light enough, the steering naturally self-corrects and the car naturally opens up on that opening spiral. This is the natural behavior of the car that you want to work with, not against.

Exercise Completion Requirements

To complete this exercise successfully, focus on finding consistency in your driving. The requirements are:

• Complete approximately 10 laps in a row

• No crashes during these laps

• No big mistakes or scary moments

• Consistent focus on light-firm-light pattern throughout

When practicing, you can exaggerate the pattern at first to feel it more clearly: super light on initial turn-in, super firm at mid-corner, and lighter at exit. Just be careful not to be too relaxed on exit, as you might literally not turn enough. Once you can maintain this pattern consistently for 10 clean laps, you're ready to move on to the next exercise.

Practice Reminder

Say out loud or think the pattern as you drive: "Light, firm, light" for every corner. Remember that as you accelerate more, you relax your hands more. The pattern applies universally to all corners, helping you stay aligned with the car's capabilities and maintain smooth, consistent driving.