Where do You Sit in Your Sports Car?

As much as a title like this might bring some sneers and jeers the seating position is a very important one. If you looked at your buddy and told him he had to ride shotgun he might be ready to argue with you about who was going to drive the sports car tonight, but the simple fact is if you don’t know how to position yourself in the best possible way you won’t be able to have the performance you want to have on the track. Seating position can be learned, but it may not be exactly like you would sit when you drive on most roads.

Because driving a sports car on the track is so much different from riding on the road you really do need to pay attention to how you are seated. The run you make on the track is typically much shorter than your drive around time although you might be in the seat for a longer period of time at once. With this in mind here is what you need when you step into a sports car and get ready to take on the tracks in your area.

First of all you need to be low and close to the chassis. This is why many sports cars are equipped with bucket seats that place you low to the ground and even offer some side support that will help keep you seated during your track run. The next thing to consider is having the right distance to the pedals for your legs. Even when the pedals are fully pressed you should have a slight bend in your knees this will allow you to react with your feet and have the full control of the car you need.

Next up is the steering wheel which should be about wrist distance from you. This will give you a bend in your elbows which is needed and the ability to sit back with your shoulders against the seat. After the distance of the steering wheel is measured you need to ensure the height of the steering column is such that your hands and arms can clear your legs with in a full turn because your hands will never come off the wheel if you take this run in your sports car at full throttle.

Speaking of your hands, they need to be positioned in the 9 and 3 positions (exactly across from each other) on the steering wheel for maximum control. When you are driving you should equally push and pull with your hands on the wheel to make the most of what your car has to offer you during your speedy run.

Now that you know how to sit in your sports car; it’s time to find the right one and take it out to the track for some fun laps. If you already have a great sports car and are a track veteran, you should already know about seating positon but it never hurts to have a refresher and you might find that you were missing a step before that can make the difference between winning and second place in your next race.