Next came practical training. Our group started with lane changes. But this wasn’t just ordinary lane changing—it was about emergency evasive lane changes when a car suddenly cuts in.
We gathered outside the cars to watch the instructor’s demonstration, then received explanations about the course, car operation, and target speeds. As explained in the classroom, this program focuses on “Precision,” so the goal is to improve accuracy to deliver stable performance anytime.
We were told, “Gradually increase your speed, check your timing, get as close as possible to the target speed, then lift off the accelerator and steer to change lanes.” At this point, everyone, including me, looked very anxious (laughs).
There’s no way I can do that… (-_-)
The instructor reassured us, “Everyone looks worried at first, but don’t worry, just give it a try, haha.” We tried once, but my first attempt was slow and cautious.
“Now let’s gradually increase the speed!” the instructor advised. When I tried, I overshot the target speed. Then, when told to stabilize the speed and get as close as possible to the target, I focused so much on speed that my steering was late, and I nearly hit the cones.
Improving precision is really tough…
Of course, each participant had different challenges, but the instructors gave spot-on advice tailored to each person, which was impressive. (Well, naturally!) My personal challenge was “steering technique.” The instructor said:
“Your speed is stable, so focus on steering. You don’t have to hug the inside line so much (laughs). Don’t be afraid—try turning the wheel more sharply.”
Right, this isn’t the Royu Driveway, so I don’t have to worry about clipping points here (laughs).
After about an hour and roughly 15 repetitions, I gradually got the hang of it and felt some runs were “good!” Everyone looked refreshed and happy afterward.
During the post-training summary, the instructor said something memorable:
I think everyone got a sense of “I did it!” at some point. The key is to improve precision so you can do it every time. That requires repetition. Also, the importance of visual information became clear. Pro drivers check the course surface and car condition every lap, marking the best braking points down to the meter. It’s like taking continuous photos. Although their eyes face forward, they adjust timing using “signs” and “markers” in their peripheral vision. The difference between someone who can do this to the meter and someone who can do it to 50 cm is huge. When you drive on a circuit, please try to be aware of this.
Hearing that made me think again, “Pros are amazing… truly amazing.”
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