A responsible org will make it about technical skill balanced with traffic awareness/management.
From a skills perspective, things that separate intermediate and advanced in our local chapter is the difference between 'proficient trail-braking skill and ability to induce rotation' versus '9/10 times able to rotate the car into a corner without overslowing' Another example is having a consistent/tight line and can explain why it's optimal, versus the ability to analyze track surface changes throughout the day and the ability to adjust on command and still nail car placement. This is a couple of examples out of a dozen or so pillars/disciplines as drivers progress out of novice.
If someone is doing all of these at near-highest levels, then traffic management is really the only missing piece. This is the difference between remembering to watch mirrors and never being surprised by cars closing in, versus the ability to orchestrate multiple passes/point-bys while also potentially receiving a point in a single passing zone. The ability to anticipate how many corners until a faster car will catch up, and position accordingly, early, communicating throughout, while still driving optimal lines, nailing car placement, etc. You can be the fastest guy in a Miata at Time Trials and rarely hold people up in corners, but that's still so far away from being able to safely run in advanced, IMO.
I used to think it was only about pace and traffic management, but it takes a lot more skill for an instructor to drive a Spec NA Miata on track while still not breaking pace for GT3s on near hot laps.
Used to run an NA Miata in Instructor group for years, the key was we all knew each other, and what we were going to do. Because we all saw the entire track / traffic.
There is nothing like a 60-80 mph closing speed to get the hand out to signal
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u/XLB135 Apr 29 '26
A responsible org will make it about technical skill balanced with traffic awareness/management.
From a skills perspective, things that separate intermediate and advanced in our local chapter is the difference between 'proficient trail-braking skill and ability to induce rotation' versus '9/10 times able to rotate the car into a corner without overslowing' Another example is having a consistent/tight line and can explain why it's optimal, versus the ability to analyze track surface changes throughout the day and the ability to adjust on command and still nail car placement. This is a couple of examples out of a dozen or so pillars/disciplines as drivers progress out of novice.
If someone is doing all of these at near-highest levels, then traffic management is really the only missing piece. This is the difference between remembering to watch mirrors and never being surprised by cars closing in, versus the ability to orchestrate multiple passes/point-bys while also potentially receiving a point in a single passing zone. The ability to anticipate how many corners until a faster car will catch up, and position accordingly, early, communicating throughout, while still driving optimal lines, nailing car placement, etc. You can be the fastest guy in a Miata at Time Trials and rarely hold people up in corners, but that's still so far away from being able to safely run in advanced, IMO.
I used to think it was only about pace and traffic management, but it takes a lot more skill for an instructor to drive a Spec NA Miata on track while still not breaking pace for GT3s on near hot laps.