A wet track is a conquerable challenge.

The Wet Track: A Conquerable Challenge

Got a track day ahead but it's raining? Do you hang up your driving gloves or do a rain dance and set out to learn new track skills?

Many can drive fast on dry asphalt, but anyone who follows or participates in track racing knows that rain mixes up the game quite a bit. The usual power dynamics change: unexpected drivers and cars might clock fast lap times and surpass the dry-weather champions.

Grip is needed, but where is it hiding when it rains?

In dry conditions, the key to fast driving is maximum speed in corners and on exits—this helps to achieve the highest possible straight-line speed before braking for the next turn. Additionally, rubber left on the driving line of dry asphalt increases grip.

When the skies open, the situation changes.

What was fast and grippy in the dry becomes slow and slippery in the rain. The rubber that has filled the cracks in the asphalt on the dry line accumulates water, reducing grip. Water flows according to the slope, creating large puddles on the inside of corners. If you aquaplane in the bend, you can only hope for grip to return before an encounter with a tire wall or guardrail. At tracks like Ahvenisto, where there are negligible safety zones, you need to reconsider your driving style.

Ask experienced drivers about the lines they use. But if you're racing and in the same class, the answers might be vague or even misleading...

But where is the grip?

You'll find it by actively searching: drive the first laps very calmly and keep your eyes open.

See where there are puddles. Note whether the water is flowing or standing—standing water puddles may dry up during the session. Feel out the corners and braking points; are any particularly slippery? Are there differences in the quality and grip of the track surface? How do the fast drivers drive?

You’ll find the best driving line by experimenting. You can start by driving, for example, one car width outside the dry line. This likely isn't the fastest way, but at least it's better than the dry line. Carefully test lines that initially feel wrong.

What about braking and accelerating?

Find grippy spots outside the dry line. Try to brake and accelerate when the car is straight. Drive smoothly and avoid sudden movements. Don’t spin the wheels while accelerating or lock them while braking unless you want to spin out. Also, avoid painted markings on the track.

In the rain, conditions can change quickly, so it’s not wise to stick to the same driving line all day even if it keeps raining consistently.

Difficult conditions are hard for everyone.

Start with small steps and keep the car on the track. Remember, in the rain, it's probably faster to drive poorly on the right line than well on the wrong line. And even on a wet track, it’s possible to drive fast.

Also, read racing driver Ilmari Korpivaara's tips for dry-weather track driving.