Correct 'track' seating position

[Mag1calTrev0r]

I've recently been paying attention to how racing drivers sit in their cars:



I had a bit of a search and found this

I'm interested in everyone's thoughts on driving positions for the track. Does your driving position change when on the road?

I suppose many normal cars don't offer the necessary adjustments to get everything in just the right place. For instance, the gear stick maybe too far away, the same could be said for the steering wheel.

Thoughts please.

[matt frost]

In my daily car I sit very laid back, moreso than I do when I take it on track whereas in the Westfield I have no option, I always sit the same. Its a very good driving position for me, very flat, legs go straight out infront level with your bum, the steering wheel a nice distance away for slightly bent arms and a very easy to reach gearstick. My brother (who shares the car) would prefer the wheel a bit closer but for me it is great.

I wouldn't like to be as close to the wheel as that guy in the pic.

There is some theory as to how you should sit but at the end of the day it is down to personal preference, there is no real right or wrong...unless it is shocking lol!

Edited by matt frost on Thursday 17th September 12:34

[Nurburgsingh]

I sit 2 clicks closer on track than I do on road. I cant change the up and down so Im as low as i can possible be already

[sniff diesel]

Something I notice at the Ring last month was the amount of cars with extra long gear levers.

[flemke]

Mag1calTrev0r said:

I've recently been paying attention to how racing drivers sit in their cars:



I had a bit of a search and found this

I'm interested in everyone's thoughts on driving positions for the track. Does your driving position change when on the road?

I suppose many normal cars don't offer the necessary adjustments to get everything in just the right place. For instance, the gear stick maybe too far away, the same could be said for the steering wheel.

Thoughts please.

The idea behind being close to the wheel is that:
- closer to the wheel, you have more leverage, so your arms won't tire as quickly,
- closer to the wheel, you can make steering corrections more quickly and accurately,
- closer to the wheel, if you have fixed hands and a lot of lock on (say, hard left turn, with right hand rotated over to 9:00), the extension of your arm will not cause your right (in this case) shoulder to pull away, or try to pull away, from the seat back. If your shoulders lose contact with the seat back/sides, your body is no longer anchored in place, with the result that your steering control is compromised,
- closer to the wheel, you can achieve more wheel rotation whilst maintaining fixed hands.

There may be exceptions, but if you look at the in-car films of drivers in WRC, NASCAR, WTCC, etc, you'll see that they sit quite close to the wheel.
For the road, at least in a sports car, you wouldn't be quite so close. Nonetheless, you'll want to be close enough that the angle of your elbows is nearly 90 deg. Now that power steering is almost ubiquitous, a lot of folks will drive with straight or slightly bent arms, but that's not the best way.

Single seaters are different, because the small diameter steering wheels and limited lock mean that one's arms don't have to stretch so far across one's body. Also, because of the laid-back seating position, your arms could not be very bent before your elbows would bang against your ribs.

[T89 Callan]

I sit in more or less the same position in my road and track car but in my track car I have the steering wheel closer to me for the reasons mentioned above.

[Mag1calTrev0r]

Thanks guys, that's really interesting and goof to know.

In current car I can't get the adjustability to get the steering wheel closer but it's a comfortable and safe position.

When I eventually get round to getting a track car then I'll be doing more to get the position right.

[scottbm]

i sit very low to the floor in my track car and elbows nice and bent. road car is laid back with long arms and long legs