Student Evaluation

Published: October 18, 2012; updated: May 19, 2015

These are general categories in which your progress as a student is evaluated. See run group promotion requirements for the absolute minimum required for run group promotion.

• Procedures
  • Blend line
  • Arm out with closed fist when pitting
  • Waving to corner workers
  • Knows all flags
  • Knows all corner station locations and which are manned
  • Knows all passing zone locations
• Seating position
  • Hands on 3 and 9 positions
  • Hands on steering wheel except when shifting
  • Distance from steering wheel and pedals
  • Minimum driver body lean in corners
• School line
  • Turn in from outside
  • Apex
  • Unwinding steering at exit
  • Using entire track
  • Line consistent over entire session
• Driving line - advanced
  • Late enough apexes given car's power and grip
  • Rain line
  • Ability to drive through corners off (school) line
  • Maintaining speed while driving off (school) line
• Vision
  • Looking at apexes
  • Looking at track out points
  • Looking ahead at least 2 elements (e.g. track out before getting to apex, apex before turning in)
  • Checking each corner station for flags every lap
• Throttle
  • Throttle application from apex
  • Full throttle at track out points
  • Full throttle commitment
  • Minimal coasting
  • Having throttle determine line
  • Throttle steering/rotating the car with throttle
• Steering
  • Smooth steering
  • Steering balanced with throttle when tracking out
  • Leading with steering on track out
  • Single steering motion through adjacent corners
  • Quick steering in short (distance) transitions
  • No shuffle steering
  • No sawing of steering wheel
• Shifting
  • Shifting before turn in
  • Heel-toe
  • Gear selection
  • Upshifting to avoid lifting
• Braking
  • One application per braking zone
  • Brake points reasonable
  • Smooth initial brake application
  • Hard on brakes
  • Brake points consistent over entire session
  • Brake release timed with corner entry
  • Trailbraking
  • Left foot braking
  • Braking to force weight transfer
• Concepts/execution
  • Smoothness
  • Quickness
  • Weight transfer
  • Traction sensing
  • Speed sensing
  • Transitions
• Passing
  • Seeing faster cars behind
  • Pointing-by early in passing zones
  • Using all designated passing zones
  • Leaving lateral space when passing
  • Appropriate following distance to slower cars in front
  • Setting up passes coming out of corners
  • Passes in braking zones
  • Passes in corners off line
• Incidents
  • Understeer handling
  • Oversteer handling
  • Spin handling
  • Handling going off track
• Driver
  • Consistency over entire session
  • Patience
  • Endurance
  • Driving own lines when following cars
  • Noticing own mistakes
  • Correcting own mistakes
  • Goal setting and evaluation
  • Confidence
  • Aggression
  • Safe to drive alone
  • Pace/aggression appropriate for current run group
  • Pace/aggression appropriate for next run group
• Car
  • Roll bar
  • Harnesses
  • Suspension
  • Tires
  • Balance

Links

• Printable form
• Chin student evaluation form
• TrackDaze student evaluation form
• SCDA student evaluation form
• Riesentoter PCA promotion criteria and here
• Rennsport PCA promotion criteria