When physics goes along with sim racing

I've seen some drivers doing a 0.2-second gap between a car in front of them, down a straight, and think that it is perfectly fine to continue to stop at their normal braking point they used the lap before...

In short: IT'S NOT!

Why?

Because doing a 0.2-second gap from the car in front down a straight, lets say Blanchimont, Spa at \~255km/h, both cars are travelling around 70 meters per second.

That 0.2s gap at 70 meters per second is a 14-meter gap nose to nose from the cars

14-meter = 3 car lengths (average car length in-game is about **4.7-meter**)

*(kmh x 5) / 18 = speed in meters per second*
*(255 x 5) / 18 = 70.8 m/s*

*m/s x gap in seconds = gap in meter*
*70.8 x 0.2 = 14.16 meters*

So, If you were to brake at 0.2-second gap on your normal braking point into a tight corner such as a bus stop chicken (chicane) or a hairpin down to \~80 Km/h.

At that \~80Km/h, both cars will slow to \~22.2 m/s... Your distance from nose to nose will now be about **4.44 meters**... (a number less than that average car length mentioned earlier)

If you were driving behind a guy in a Bentley with his **5-meter** car length... your nose will now be **22 inches deep** in Mr Bentley's backside! (*That's 56cm!*)

Mr Bentley surely will not appreciate you penetrating him like that, and taking a sniff... As both of you's will now spill your SA everywhere due to those **22** inches of action!

This wouldn't happen if you backed off just before braking to a much safer \~0.3s gap (*6.6m nose to nose, with 1.6m social distancing between the cars at braking*)
or even better is to brake earlier, and then modulate the brakes to keep close to him after the braking zone, and into the turn in.

**Brake modulation** = Brake early, then let off very slightly to come closer to the car in front again, and brake again to slow the car down to appropriate speed for the corner.

* \- Don't penetrate, tap or grind people unless they consent to it.

* \- If you're unsure about the gap and/or car distances at certain speeds, back off.

* \- If you do know the gap, always brake earlier in situations when you're close to the car ahead.

It’s much better to focus on the corner exit and get alongside your competitor before the next corner
Only ever brake normally (in this case 'later') if you are side by side and your car has an overlap, and you are on the correct side of the track.

braking late isn't the optimal way to overtake, there are some situation where you might find this, especially when you are side by side with someone. Although braking late can get you ahead, you need to know what the limit of your car is.

Because *"Braking late"* = you doing an EXTREME-ULTRA-SUPER-LATE-BRAKING! and going off into a ditch in front of some old grandmas house or The Lord of No Consent: Return of the Penetration.

Brake Early... Coast... Turn In... Accelerate...