Chris is just an awesome guy. Definitely someone to listen to with so much experience! Really humble guy as well. Miss the days of him driving for SWRT in the 05 WRC car.
This is very informative. Ive noticed this about my Subaru outback. I have a lot of understeer on dry pavement. Where as the car is completely remarkable and responsive under harsh conditions such as snow, rain, or even in gravel. I'll definitely try to master these tips while driving on dry pavement. This video is awesome.
great driver, he started out pointing the difference of driving this on the track and normal rally surfaces, thats fundamental👍🏻 once in the car he preaches about creating your own longer straights👍🏻👍🏻
Great vid! He mentioned the STI or WRX in general being tailored for more slippery surfaces than pavement. So much fighting over the WRX and STI guys and truth is these cars are of course street cars for regular consumers like us but at heart they are cars meant for off road. I wish more people would realize this.
What you said is true, but these cars are just as much meant for the road. The all wheel drive gives the driver a lot of confidence and ability to push the car without having to be a pro driver. In the STi you can enter corners at crazy speeds, course correct pretty easily, and rocket out of corners.
100% on these tips. Would add that in my admittedly limited road course experience, I’d take a later apex than most others in my group, slower entry and square off more, but be able to get on the power and carry more speed out and down straights.
CarAdvice.com yeah totally get that Alborz - for me your facial expressions and comments made it come across like you didn't respect what he was saying. Anyway, love CarAdvice - Keep up the great work! ❤️
This was a great video, not just for the driver tips, but in showing how a good teacher can get the message across in a not-too-combative way to someone who (like most of us who are a few years out of school) has deeply engrained habits and has a little difficulty in accepting they aren't the best way.
Very good tips, AWD cars have FWD characteristics when pushed to the limit, except that the AWD can claw you out of the corners better. I'll be making a series -rwd vs fwd vs AWD performance driving
FlyinGato actually, in my opinion on a track fwd corners better. My old speed3 put down faster lap times than an sti same year. Lighter with the power to pull it out of the corners 3 wheel stats. Beat the stis buy over a second.
I've had FWD, RWD, and my STI. Coilovers and good tires gave me a car that oversteers when I throttle hard and lines up when I let off. Honestly, the feel is a lot more like an RWD car.
Good, we need more UA-cam experts who are actually experts. Sick of seeing these channels with high production videos and their content is so shitty and just off.
Very good video and exactly how to drive the sti fast, so many people don't understand and turn in too hot on this car, that's why people complain the car understeer
best feeling in the world is braking late into a turn, rotating the rear end and punching out with the tires clawing for traction as full boost hits. I see a lot of subarus crashed on instagram because it looks like they are slamming the gas during a turn lol.
@11:51 ha ha! I remember reading how Lawson told Ienatsch "you're doing everything well except braking, turning and accelerating" after a couple of hot.....ish laps around Laguna Seca.
Sounds a bit weird, but I figured this when playing Need for Speed Underground... That first bad graphics one. Still haven't gotten a chance to try it live in a race car, but in my stock impreza 2006, it worked exactly like I figured it in that game. So glad to get a confirmation from this guy. Cheers
It seems like the driver couldn't understand or refused to listen to the advice that was given. Kind of unfortunate but at least I was able to watch and take in the lessons the ins instructor was giving 👌🏽
It just needs time to learn. Take the tips he gave, practice, and you'll master the technique. Don't be discouraged, or let the haters bring you down. Thanks for the video - I think anyone who watches this and doesn't know how to track an AWD car can benefit by a lesson from a pro!
Now if I can remember this when I do my next track day.... I do exactly the same thing, too greedy with the throttle mid corner, but you learn pretty fast that the WRX/STI is an understeer monster. It is a bit easier to drive fast because of this and doesn't do anything dramatic, just let up and it pulls itself inline. I stiffened the rear up and always adjust the traction to more rear wheel bias to help it rotate, but obviously need to stay off the throttle until the wheels are straight. This gives me something to actively practice along with my heel/toe. Still 1 sec slower than a pro driver is not too bad.
Karting is what ultimately gave me the patience to go fast. Learning how to not make a front wheel drive front engine car understeer is the same for AWD. With practice you can feel the onset of understeer and let off till everything settles. I am no professional and it took me years to figure that out
in this video, i learned that you need to know your car well if you want to go fast. know the car's weakness and strength. For example, my fwd, it well go straight (under-steer) if you add gas while turning. So when cornering, u don't add gas. You only add gas when done corning, and by adding gas, you car go straight b/c under-steer.
Excellent and useful driving techniques for the track. Most awd factory delivered cars are set up for safety (understeer) and driving (and modifying it too) it to do lift off oversteer / rotate (then flat out on the gas when the front wheels are straight) is the fastest way to get better lap times.
Awesome video, tutorial/training/knowledge transfer! ;) That professional rally driver, Chris Atkinson, seems like a great teacher and cool guy. Great tips. That is not always easy to be teach something we do for X numbers of years, reprogramming that muscle memory. I also think that it's even harder when someone is teaching you, while you drive. There is too much going on. Thank you for this!
Very very informative video, ive been looking into driving technique. I can say i easily can pickup some speed around a track just from watching. I picked up most just by driving such as not cornering under power. The understeer is unreal on a GR. I feel cornering under power just doesn't work you will just wipe the tires. The biggest take away for me was the to get the car dead straight asap then punch it out of the corner.
I had a 2004. The issue with that car is that the bumpstops up front were very long, and very aggressive in how fast they ramped up the spring rate as you got into them; so much so that trailing the brakes to the apex wasn't an option, it only led to understeer and a frustrating lack of rotation. To go fast you had to release the brakes immediately after applying steering input to avoid that spring rate ramp. With most cars you want to take the most gentle arc around a curve, in an STI you want to square everything off. Brake hard in a straight line, get the car turned quickly, and power out aggressively. It's a tricky car to learn, and it's even more difficult to unlearn when you move on to a more traditional "smooth is fast" car.
Awesome info in this vid thank you for sharing! Though the presenter showing clear frustration at being taught by a proper racing driver was kinda cringe... Still good vid and again thanks.
Characteristically, RWD oversteers on power but AWD understeers on power, so why would you increase power in an AWD when you’re going around corners or bends? This explains why newbies complain about STi’s understeering…they’re driving an All Wheel Drive (AWD) like a Rear Wheel Drive (RWD).
the more time you scrub the tires by applying throttle too early into the corner... the more of your lap times scrubbed off. it applies to all drivetrain. just more apparent on AWD
I read somewhere a while ago a car can only give 100%, split between acceleration, braking and cornering. Its a balance of all three for maximum performance.
How to drive STi faster: know its limit and stay within the limit. Oh by the way, the same logic applies to any cars out there. Anybody who's ready for track should know this idea and find out the limit at the track.
It'd be nice to have a more consistent aerial view, or at least the wheels in the turn, showing the cockpit didnt show much (you cant show audio to see what theyre doing)
One thing I noticed is that Chris isn't turning his head 45+ degrees into the corners like you. He was maybe 20 degrees max. His peripheral vision and intuition moved him thru the corners. My non-professional opinion is that you are overthinking everything here.
It's weird how the STI seems so slow in this video but at the same time they're winning against RWD cars on the track and on the streets.I always hear guys talk shit whenever an AWD car wins saying it doesn't take skill to drive one yet people complain that theyre slow around corners?
The learner seems so arrogant. Like you can clearly tell he's not in the mind set to learn despite the instructor being a pro. Great quality video, but so awkward to watch the conversation.
Mate, it's very hard to concentrate and follow instructions when going that fast. It doesn't look that fast on UA-cam but in real life I'm sure it would have felt like you could ditch it into the grass on every corner. You weren't being arrogant, you were just concentrating, trying to take it all in. Well done, and good video.
Believe it or not, it's actually not that hard if you go fully open on the DCCD, turn off traction control completely, and know the basics of how to work the throttle to keep it going
Over time yes and depends on how hard / long you pull it. If your breaks fail you always have your hand break to rely on so I would master the technic of taking corner without using the handbrake unles it’s a really tight corner or your on gravel as this is much easily on the diffs e
I'm very impressed. Never seen this kind of detailed advice on a specific car before. Can someone point me to one on RWD cars (eg GT86) for comparison?
correct me if i'm wrong, but the technique will be similar- you want to get your vehicle straight before you accelerate so you don't fishtail and lose control. Most of my knowledge comes from doing license tests in gran turismo 6 though so what do i know :P
QUESTION: When the pro driver goes into the turn, is he downshifting? It seems like if you brake hard before a turn and don't downshift, you're going to lug it when you try to go wide open coming out. I have tried stuff like this and even downshifting, I still lug some coming out of the corner. And the WRX doesn't seem to like full throttle before the turbo has spooled up.
This is why driving a turbo fast takes a special skillset and also why modern rally cars have advanced anti-lag systems etc. Especially in tight racing like Autocross, its good to left foot brake and keep on the accelerator a little to keep the engine spooled up.
Actually the dccd control has nothing to do with front/rear torque split. It increases or decreases the torque it takes to activate the limited slip diff.
1.5 second improvement around a short track is huge
Thank you for this! Been looking for a way to shave off another 3 minutes from my trip time to work. :)
kept staring 50% of the time at that super sweet wing/spoiler in the end.
Chris is just an awesome guy. Definitely someone to listen to with so much experience! Really humble guy as well. Miss the days of him driving for SWRT in the 05 WRC car.
What a cool guy to take the time to help coach how to drive a Subaru. Much appreciated Chris👍
Its so funny the amount of youtube experts that blame the platform for the understeer rather than their lack of understanding of it.
I liked the principal of "turning + throttle = 100%", so if I'm 30% turning, I can only give 70% throttle. Gonna go out and try that later.
This is a PERFECT lesson. Just watching this, I've learned so much. I'd love for him to sit in my STi with me and learn me gud.
@nordhorny That is the joke... Went well over your head though.
@@mercsan117 saaame dude. Just got mine 5 days ago.
Best driving tips I've seen for the WRX
This is very informative. Ive noticed this about my Subaru outback. I have a lot of understeer on dry pavement. Where as the car is completely remarkable and responsive under harsh conditions such as snow, rain, or even in gravel. I'll definitely try to master these tips while driving on dry pavement. This video is awesome.
great driver, he started out pointing the difference of driving this on the track and normal rally surfaces, thats fundamental👍🏻 once in the car he preaches about creating your own longer straights👍🏻👍🏻
Great vid! He mentioned the STI or WRX in general being tailored for more slippery surfaces than pavement. So much fighting over the WRX and STI guys and truth is these cars are of course street cars for regular consumers like us but at heart they are cars meant for off road. I wish more people would realize this.
What you said is true, but these cars are just as much meant for the road. The all wheel drive gives the driver a lot of confidence and ability to push the car without having to be a pro driver. In the STi you can enter corners at crazy speeds, course correct pretty easily, and rocket out of corners.
100% on these tips. Would add that in my admittedly limited road course experience, I’d take a later apex than most others in my group, slower entry and square off more, but be able to get on the power and carry more speed out and down straights.
Clearly hating being taught how to drive properly! 😛
Martin Brown his expression tells it all. Definitely not a comfortable video to watch.
its hard to untrain someone thats been driving for so long lol
Not sure about hating being taught how to drive, certainly tried my best - Alborz.
CarAdvice.com yeah totally get that Alborz - for me your facial expressions and comments made it come across like you didn't respect what he was saying. Anyway, love CarAdvice - Keep up the great work! ❤️
This was a great video, not just for the driver tips, but in showing how a good teacher can get the message across in a not-too-combative way to someone who (like most of us who are a few years out of school) has deeply engrained habits and has a little difficulty in accepting they aren't the best way.
Very good tips, AWD cars have FWD characteristics when pushed to the limit, except that the AWD can claw you out of the corners better. I'll be making a series -rwd vs fwd vs AWD performance driving
Autocross teaches you to go slow to go fast. Learning where to give up to gain time later on. Highly recommend it.
FlyinGato actually, in my opinion on a track fwd corners better. My old speed3 put down faster lap times than an sti same year. Lighter with the power to pull it out of the corners 3 wheel stats. Beat the stis buy over a second.
Depends on the track. Also depends on experience. If you have more time with the FWD, you'll probably post quicker times.
I've had FWD, RWD, and my STI. Coilovers and good tires gave me a car that oversteers when I throttle hard and lines up when I let off. Honestly, the feel is a lot more like an RWD car.
Good, we need more UA-cam experts who are actually experts. Sick of seeing these channels with high production videos and their content is so shitty and just off.
Smooth is fast. One of the hardest things for most people (including myself) to learn.
Brilliantly and clearly explained. Seems like a top guy too. What I’d do for a days tuition with him in my 2005 STI!
Very good video and exactly how to drive the sti fast, so many people don't understand and turn in too hot on this car, that's why people complain the car understeer
that's why people buy a golf r with no driver involment, and they think its better .
Ben Chesterman many people think awd is boring and easy to drive, but in reality not many people can drive sti fast.
probably v8 owners find awd boring , I drive both my Gc8 wrx sti is far more fun mountain roads . Plus the 4.9 ' 12.9 factory stock
Ben Chesterman and one good thing of sti is the awd system is very predicable on the limit, give good confidence push the limit
wrx sti handles the best out there , the guys from everyday driver in Usa . said the focus rs has evo and wrx sti in it = perfection
best feeling in the world is braking late into a turn, rotating the rear end and punching out with the tires clawing for traction as full boost hits. I see a lot of subarus crashed on instagram because it looks like they are slamming the gas during a turn lol.
@11:51 ha ha! I remember reading how Lawson told Ienatsch "you're doing everything well except braking, turning and accelerating" after a couple of hot.....ish laps around Laguna Seca.
Sounds a bit weird, but I figured this when playing Need for Speed Underground... That first bad graphics one. Still haven't gotten a chance to try it live in a race car, but in my stock impreza 2006, it worked exactly like I figured it in that game. So glad to get a confirmation from this guy. Cheers
My sister bought me need for speed ll (for computer) many years ago. I played it nonstop. Then I turned 16. I am an expert driver because of it.
It seems like the driver couldn't understand or refused to listen to the advice that was given. Kind of unfortunate but at least I was able to watch and take in the lessons the ins instructor was giving 👌🏽
It just needs time to learn. Take the tips he gave, practice, and you'll master the technique. Don't be discouraged, or let the haters bring you down. Thanks for the video - I think anyone who watches this and doesn't know how to track an AWD car can benefit by a lesson from a pro!
The most beautiful thing about taking corners in AWD is you can glide in the corners. Then punch it almost out of it. Ugh its exhilarating lol
Ryan Wardrop you are probably the wrx i passed that was put into a wall lol
Now if I can remember this when I do my next track day.... I do exactly the same thing, too greedy with the throttle mid corner, but you learn pretty fast that the WRX/STI is an understeer monster. It is a bit easier to drive fast because of this and doesn't do anything dramatic, just let up and it pulls itself inline. I stiffened the rear up and always adjust the traction to more rear wheel bias to help it rotate, but obviously need to stay off the throttle until the wheels are straight. This gives me something to actively practice along with my heel/toe. Still 1 sec slower than a pro driver is not too bad.
This is some top tier instructions. Great video. Kudos to Chris.
Great video teaching how to track an AWD! Def recommended for all AWD track drivers
Karting is what ultimately gave me the patience to go fast. Learning how to not make a front wheel drive front engine car understeer is the same for AWD. With practice you can feel the onset of understeer and let off till everything settles. I am no professional and it took me years to figure that out
SLOW IS SMOOTH, SMOOTH IS FAST
YorumiTech on a track slower is faster. Not sure why but it is.
Smooth and steady wins the race
in this video, i learned that you need to know your car well if you want to go fast. know the car's weakness and strength. For example, my fwd, it well go straight (under-steer) if you add gas while turning. So when cornering, u don't add gas. You only add gas when done corning, and by adding gas, you car go straight b/c under-steer.
Excellent and useful driving techniques for the track. Most awd factory delivered cars are set up for safety (understeer) and driving (and modifying it too) it to do lift off oversteer / rotate (then flat out on the gas when the front wheels are straight) is the fastest way to get better lap times.
This is treasure!!! Thanks Chris for the free lessons! so much good stuff to learn
Awesome video, tutorial/training/knowledge transfer! ;)
That professional rally driver, Chris Atkinson, seems like a great teacher and cool guy. Great tips.
That is not always easy to be teach something we do for X numbers of years, reprogramming that muscle memory. I also think that it's even harder when someone is teaching you, while you drive. There is too much going on.
Thank you for this!
Can't wait till I can get a WRX, saved this video for further reference
the stuff hes explaining applies to most cars but its such a simple concept that most people tend to forget including me..
I already knew everything the instructor said, learned it all playing gran turismo lol
LOL
I WAS ABOUT TO COMMENT THIS 😂😂😂
I feel so validated cos I grew up playing GT with my older bro and bought my first turbo car (forester) afew months ago and love driving it
Thanks for sharing this. It's great to learn how to drive WRX from professional.
Man I'd kill to get a lesson like that from an instructor like that on a car like that. I'd be giggling like a little girl.
Love the video!! I just purchased my 2018 sti two months ago and i love it! Thanks for the tips as its my first AWD car.
Very very informative video, ive been looking into driving technique. I can say i easily can pickup some speed around a track just from watching. I picked up most just by driving such as not cornering under power. The understeer is unreal on a GR. I feel cornering under power just doesn't work you will just wipe the tires. The biggest take away for me was the to get the car dead straight asap then punch it out of the corner.
I had a 2004. The issue with that car is that the bumpstops up front were very long, and very aggressive in how fast they ramped up the spring rate as you got into them; so much so that trailing the brakes to the apex wasn't an option, it only led to understeer and a frustrating lack of rotation. To go fast you had to release the brakes immediately after applying steering input to avoid that spring rate ramp.
With most cars you want to take the most gentle arc around a curve, in an STI you want to square everything off. Brake hard in a straight line, get the car turned quickly, and power out aggressively. It's a tricky car to learn, and it's even more difficult to unlearn when you move on to a more traditional "smooth is fast" car.
Learned something new!
Bottom line, do not drive a AWD like a FWD. Great advice that explains the trouble l was having with my sons 400+HP WRX.
Awesome info in this vid thank you for sharing! Though the presenter showing clear frustration at being taught by a proper racing driver was kinda cringe... Still good vid and again thanks.
Thanks for the tips. I will try this on my new STI :D
CosmicBaconCat loving my first subie! Haha just put a exhaust on her
I just got mine as well and its my first! Love it!!
Germaingazm dont blow it up lol
Hope you are on the track. This is not something you practice on public roads.
How does this tool get a personal lesson from Atkinson?
Great video! Wish i had him next to me on my track days. Really informative and I cant wait to apply this on the next track day.
Waw those advices were spectacular, i don't think i will ever forget them
So he knows this guy is faster around a track just take his advice and stop fighting it.
Characteristically, RWD oversteers on power but AWD understeers on power, so why would you increase power in an AWD when you’re going around corners or bends? This explains why newbies complain about STi’s understeering…they’re driving an All Wheel Drive (AWD) like a Rear Wheel Drive (RWD).
the more time you scrub the tires by applying throttle too early into the corner... the more of your lap times scrubbed off. it applies to all drivetrain. just more apparent on AWD
I appreciate your driving skills they helped me a lot on my Gran Turismo 5 PS3 system.
This guy was unappreciative no wonder he didn’t say goodbye hahaha
I read somewhere a while ago a car can only give 100%, split between acceleration, braking and cornering. Its a balance of all three for maximum performance.
How to drive STi faster: know its limit and stay within the limit. Oh by the way, the same logic applies to any cars out there. Anybody who's ready for track should know this idea and find out the limit at the track.
I trash the shit on my civic on tight turns, no idea if it's a good thing or not but it sure is fun.
It'd be nice to have a more consistent aerial view, or at least the wheels in the turn, showing the cockpit didnt show much (you cant show audio to see what theyre doing)
has a Nurburgring shirt on but doesn't realize he causing the understeer? ok.
One thing I noticed is that Chris isn't turning his head 45+ degrees into the corners like you. He was maybe 20 degrees max. His peripheral vision and intuition moved him thru the corners. My non-professional opinion is that you are overthinking everything here.
When I first heard Atkinson was involved, I thought OMG please don't crash this one!
Wow this dude is an awesome driver, great advice, and works on fwd also thx ;)
racing involves so much theory and planning but it pays off. i guess its much different to driving fast for fun
Looks way better than the 2022
Great video. A lot of useful information.
Amazing . One of its kind video. More tutorials pls!!!
Alborz is the everyman i.e. the numpty viewer. we wouldn't learn much if he was spot on and Chris couldn't slap him around a bit.
I would absolutely love the opportunity to have a 1 on 1 driving session like this!
"It felt faster" this guy is hopeless while the pro is driving the wrong way
any advice for messing with the differential button?
Damn its beautiful here. Look at the freaking sky!
It's weird how the STI seems so slow in this video but at the same time they're winning against RWD cars on the track and on the streets.I always hear guys talk shit whenever an AWD car wins saying it doesn't take skill to drive one yet people complain that theyre slow around corners?
The learner seems so arrogant. Like you can clearly tell he's not in the mind set to learn despite the instructor being a pro. Great quality video, but so awkward to watch the conversation.
He would not put out this video if he was arrogant about it :D You sense what you want to sense, you just like drama
Geez, I am not sure how that came across, I was really eager to learn! - Alborz
dont read too much into other people's interpretations, i didn't think you came across as arrogant or awkward.
Mate, it's very hard to concentrate and follow instructions when going that fast. It doesn't look that fast on UA-cam but in real life I'm sure it would have felt like you could ditch it into the grass on every corner. You weren't being arrogant, you were just concentrating, trying to take it all in. Well done, and good video.
It's hard to sit there and listen to someone tell you that everything that comes natural to you behind the wheel is wrong.
Basic Principles of life, Give more now to gain later. Being in the flow. Give and you shall recieve. Practice given err!! 👍🙂👍
reminds me of driving a mustang or Corvette or other RWD car as well; can't carry a lot of speed into a corner but you make up for it in exit speed
Nice how you cut away at 11:43. A little car sick there.
It’s harder than it looks. Specially when you are used to driving one way.
This was very informational. Great tips.
Wish I would have seen this before I ran into a barrier thinking awd would handle any turn
awd donuts in a stock sti? damn, my man can drive
Believe it or not, it's actually not that hard if you go fully open on the DCCD, turn off traction control completely, and know the basics of how to work the throttle to keep it going
I do donuts in my stock 01 Subaru outback lol. You just gotta know how to work it
Very good informative video! Suby looks very good as well!
I've driven this track except in a different layout, would love to have it all to myself though
Does using the ebrake hurt the diff or anything else on the car when using it to help rotate the car??
Over time yes and depends on how hard / long you pull it. If your breaks fail you always have your hand break to rely on so I would master the technic of taking corner without using the handbrake unles it’s a really tight corner or your on gravel as this is much easily on the diffs e
I'm very impressed. Never seen this kind of detailed advice on a specific car before. Can someone point me to one on RWD cars (eg GT86) for comparison?
correct me if i'm wrong, but the technique will be similar- you want to get your vehicle straight before you accelerate so you don't fishtail and lose control. Most of my knowledge comes from doing license tests in gran turismo 6 though so what do i know :P
Subies are pretty rad
QUESTION: When the pro driver goes into the turn, is he downshifting? It seems like if you brake hard before a turn and don't downshift, you're going to lug it when you try to go wide open coming out. I have tried stuff like this and even downshifting, I still lug some coming out of the corner. And the WRX doesn't seem to like full throttle before the turbo has spooled up.
Always try to keep your engine in the power band.
This is why driving a turbo fast takes a special skillset and also why modern rally cars have advanced anti-lag systems etc. Especially in tight racing like Autocross, its good to left foot brake and keep on the accelerator a little to keep the engine spooled up.
Nice racing lines at the start
That dude fucking whipped it in there
Where’d you get that mini front license plate on the dark blue one??
Finally a clinic that feeds my addiction
What is the color code for this sti. i love this deep blue
Joshua Muzaaya Lapis blue
the dude driving is like stfu and let me drive
The 2018 model won’t be coming to the UK due to emissions...correct?
awesome video! And chris is the best!
Learning how to drive any car faster=seat time, seat time and more seat time.
Or you could use the front-rear setup to make it more RWD handling...
Actually the dccd control has nothing to do with front/rear torque split. It increases or decreases the torque it takes to activate the limited slip diff.
i was taught to think about the sti's differentials to drive it fast
I loved the video man. Thank you!
what a beautiful car
Awesome tips. Thanks for this
Great content
Good 2 c some Ausi content!
Slow is smooth, smooth is fast :)