Where to Look: Scanning Your Eyes on the Race Track

In racing, your eyes are your steering wheel. Where you look determines how smooth, fast, and safe your driving will be.

If you’re staring at the pavement directly in front of you, you’re already too late. Elite drivers train themselves to scan — constantly moving their eyes to the next corner, apex, exit point, and beyond.

Here’s how to train your eyes like a pro.


1. Look Ahead, Not Down

Your car goes where your eyes go. Always be looking through the corner — not at it. Find your apex, then shift your eyes to the exit before you even reach mid-corner.


2. Use a Visual Rhythm

Think of your eyes like a camera on a dolly — always tracking. Build a rhythm for every section of the track:

  • Braking marker

  • Turn-in point

  • Apex

  • Exit marker

  • Next braking zone

Move your gaze like a checklist — always one step ahead.


3. Keep Your Head Up

Don't let your helmet become a blindfold. Keep your chin level and head upright. This widens your field of vision and helps spot traffic, flags, or track changes early.


4. Look Where You Want to Go

If the car starts sliding or something feels off, resist the urge to stare at the problem. Instead, look toward where you want the car to go. Your body will naturally make the corrections.


5. Practice Off Track Too

Even sim racing or reviewing onboard footage is a great place to practice scanning. Train your eyes to follow the flow of the track — not just react to it.


Final Thought:

Speed comes from vision as much as it does from throttle and brakes. The more you train your eyes to scan, the more confident, smooth, and fast you'll become.

Look up. Look ahead. Stay sharp.

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1 comment

Not only are these map books impressive and helpful, they come along with these simple, brief reminders from time to time. Things most racers already know, but honestly isn’t it always good to remember the fundamentals? Good stuff here!

Pags

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