How to Check Your Driving Position: Steps 4–5

④ Practice turning left and right with equal effort

He seems to be saying that, since people have a dominant hand, we should practice turning with equal effort in both directions (I think!). Being aware of this and practicing regularly should help you avoid reaching over the wheel or making other risky steering movements. He also says that the sports steering wheel has a marker at the top to help you keep track of its position.

⑤ Hold the wheel at 9 and 3, then set off

Once you’ve adjusted your arms, steering wheel, and feet, hold the wheel with both hands at the 9 and 3 o’clock positions. I always thought you were supposed to hold the wheel at 10 and 2, but I guess not! (゜o゜)

Just as sports like tennis and golf have proper techniques, driving has a correct form, too. It may not be a familiar idea in Japan, where motorsport culture isn’t deeply rooted, but the driving position really does matter.

Full English Transcript

I transcribed the English subtitles from the video (there may be a few mistakes), so if you’d like to know what it says in full, you can use the text below as a reference and try translating it. (If you manage to translate it, let me know! lol)

So before you even start the engine,you need to set an optimal driving position.
Come on let me show you.
Driving on the limit seating position has to be optimal to get to all the controls. The first things I look at with seating position is that I’m sat low near the chassis.Next I’m looking at steering wheel depth getting about a wrist to the top of the steering wheel.
So with the 911R we have a lightweight carbon-fiber bucket seat.
Not only does that get me load to the chassis but it gives me a lot of lateral support which is what you need. When you’re going faster the corners.
Another big part of the seating position is your leg distance in relativity to the pedals.
What you need is a slight bend in the knee even when it’s full throw in the clutch or throttle pedal.
With a steering settingI have two major adjustments the four aft and the up and down.
First key is that I get a slight bend in my elbow which gives you enough height clearance to clear your knee while being at full lock with your shoulder still against the seat.
With your seating position and distances to pedals and steering set,the next thing you want to talk about is actually the function of using the steering wheel.
You want to share the effort with both your left and right arms,so you’re equally pulling and pushing the weight as you turn.
With the 911 our we have a sports steering wheel the top-center marking which gives you good reference to where you are with steering lock at all time.
With a good arm and leg position my shoulders are back against the seat I’ve got a nine and three grip let’s start expiring the limits of this 911 are in the next lesson.