Corner Entry Strategies for Better Braking and Turn-In

Feeling like you're leaving precious tenths on the table even when you nail the exit? You're not alone. Many drivers, from track day enthusiasts to seasoned racers, report feeling strong mid-corner, only to realize their competitors are killing them on the way in. The culprit? Often, it's a suboptimal approach to corner entry strategies.
This phase of the corner—from initial braking to the moment you commit to the turn—is arguably the most critical and complex part of setting a fast, consistent lap. As noted by experts like Scott Mansell of SafeIsFast.com, mastering your braking technique and steering inputs during entry lays the groundwork for everything that follows. It’s not just about slowing down; it’s about precisely orchestrating your vehicle's weight, grip, and trajectory to maximize speed and control through the entire corner.

At a Glance: Mastering Your Corner Entry

Shift Your Focus to EoB: Concentrate your vision and mental energy on the end of your braking zone, not just the beginning. This fine-tunes your speed and helps you release the brakes smoothly.
Brakes as a Fine-Tuning Tool: See your brakes as more than just a deceleration mechanism. They're a precision instrument for managing weight transfer and setting your ideal entry speed.
Practice Deliberate Brake Release: Experiment with varied brake release timings and rates, even on the street (safely!), to understand how your car's balance reacts.
Engage Your Senses: Dedicate sessions to purely auditory input. Listen to the engine, tires, and wind to build a more intuitive feel for speed and grip.
Vision is Paramount: Always look far ahead to your intended turn-in, apex, and even exit point. Your hands and feet will follow your eyes.
Smoothness Over Aggression: Gentle, deliberate inputs (braking, steering, throttle) are key to maintaining the car's balance and maximizing grip.

Why Corner Entry is Your Lap Time's Secret Weapon

Think of a corner as a carefully choreographed dance. If your first steps are out of sync, the rest of the routine—the mid-corner balance, the power application at exit—will be compromised. This is the essence of corner entry. It's the foundation upon which your entire cornering performance rests. A perfectly executed entry allows for higher mid-corner speed and an optimal exit, carrying momentum onto the next straight. Conversely, a rushed, early, or unstable entry often leads to a cascade of compromises: late apexes, scrubbed speed, and a sluggish exit.
Ross Bentley, the renowned driving coach behind SpeedSecrets.com, emphasizes that "how you come off the brakes will dictate how much speed you can carry." This isn't just theory; it's a observable phenomenon. Drivers who master this delicate ballet find themselves carrying significantly more speed through the entire corner, not just at the apex. It's about optimizing the energy management of the car – converting kinetic energy into rotational energy efficiently, and then back again.

The Domino Effect of a Poor Entry

Imagine approaching a turn too fast, or releasing the brakes too abruptly. What happens?

Lost Stability: The car becomes unsettled, causing you to react rather than drive proactively.
Reduced Grip: Abrupt inputs shift weight violently, momentarily overloading one set of tires and reducing the grip available elsewhere.
Compromised Line: You might miss your turn-in point, forcing a wider arc or a late apex.
Scrubbed Speed: All these factors combine to force you to slow down more than necessary, killing momentum.
Suboptimal Exit: A poor entry almost guarantees a slower exit, impacting your speed down the next straight.
This negative feedback loop is why focusing on entry strategies offers such a high return on investment for your lap times. It's not about being the fastest into the corner at all costs, but about entering at the optimal speed and angle to be the fastest out of it.

The Unseen Battle: Mastering Your Braking Phase

Braking isn't just about slowing down; it's a sophisticated art that manages the car's weight, influences its balance, and fine-tunes your speed for the perfect turn-in. Many drivers focus solely on the "Begin-of-Braking" (BoB) point – where they first apply the brakes. While knowing where to hit the pedal is important, true mastery lies in the End-of-Braking (EoB).

Beyond Just Slowing Down: Braking as a Fine-Tuning Tool

Your brake pedal is perhaps the most powerful tool you have for manipulating your car's dynamics. When you brake, weight transfers forward, loading the front tires and increasing their grip, while simultaneously lightening the rear. This forward weight transfer is crucial for turn-in.
However, the magic happens not just when you apply the brakes, but more critically, as you release them. This technique, often called "trail braking," allows you to extend the braking phase deeper into the corner, maintaining front-end grip for turn-in while smoothly transferring weight back towards the center of the car as you transition to throttle. Ross Bentley describes this beautifully: the brakes become a "speed fine-tuning tool." They allow you to micro-adjust your entry speed and maintain the car's balance right up to the apex.

Shifting Your Focus: From BoB to EoB (End-of-Braking)

For years, drivers were taught to brake hard in a straight line, then fully release the brakes before turning in. This "point-and-shoot" method is certainly safer, but it leaves significant speed on the table. Modern driving techniques, especially in performance driving, prioritize the EoB.
Why EoB is More Effective:

Forces You to Look Further Ahead: By focusing your vision and mental attention on where and how you'll be off the brakes, your eyes naturally extend their gaze. This gives you more time to process the corner and anticipate the car's behavior.
Improves Timing and Rate of Release: When your goal is to perfectly time the moment you're off the brakes, you become more deliberate about the rate at which you lighten the pedal. This smoother, more controlled release prevents unsettling the car.
Pushes Braking Deeper: With a clear picture of your EoB and confidence in your ability to manage the car's balance with trail braking, you'll find yourself comfortably pushing your braking zone deeper into the corner. This translates to carrying more speed for longer.
Optimizes Weight Transfer: A smooth, progressive brake release maintains front-end grip longer, helping the car turn in more effectively, then gradually shifts weight back to the rear, preparing for acceleration.
Practical Steps to Practice EoB Focus:

Pick a Mental "Release Point": Before you even begin braking, identify a specific spot on the track or road where you intend to be completely off the brakes. This might be a curb, a patch of asphalt, or a track marker.
Visualize the Trajectory: As you approach your braking zone, visualize the arc your car will take from your EoB point through the turn-in and apex.
Use Your Peripherals: While your primary focus is on the EoB, keep your peripheral vision active to monitor your initial braking point and speed.
Gradual Reduction: Think of your brake pedal as a dimmer switch, not an on/off toggle. Gradually reduce pressure as you approach your EoB.

The Nuance of Brake Release: A Dance, Not a Switch

The difference between a fast, smooth driver and a hesitant one often boils down to how they release the brakes. It's rarely an abrupt lift; it's a calculated, progressive reduction of pressure that allows the car's weight to shift gracefully.
Street Practice: Ross Bentley's Brake Release Drill
Even on the street (at safe, legal speeds, of course), you can develop a profound sensitivity to your car's dynamics. Ross Bentley recommends becoming acutely aware of your brake release. There's no single "perfect" way; the goal is to understand the effects of different approaches:

Early Release, Slow Rate: Begin releasing the brakes earlier than you think necessary, but do so very slowly and progressively. Notice how the car feels. Does it feel stable but perhaps a little reluctant to turn?
Early Release, Quick Rate: Lift off the brakes quickly but still relatively early. This can cause the front to lighten abruptly, potentially leading to understeer on turn-in.
Later Release, Slow Rate (Trail Braking): Extend your braking deeper into the corner, but release the pedal slowly. This is the essence of trail braking, maintaining front-end grip longer. Pay attention to how the car rotates and settles.
Later Release, Quick Rate: Release the brakes quickly while still deep into the braking zone. This can cause a sudden forward-to-rear weight shift, potentially leading to oversteer or a sudden loss of front grip if done poorly.
By consciously experimenting with these four scenarios, even at pedestrian speeds, you'll become incredibly sensitive to how your brake release impacts the car's balance (pitch, roll, and yaw) and its willingness to turn. This sensitivity is invaluable when you're pushing the limits on track.

The Art of Turn-In: Guiding Your Car with Precision

Once the braking phase transitions into the turn, your steering inputs become paramount. This is where you physically commit the car to its new direction, and every movement matters.

The Steering Input: Smoothness is Key

Abrupt steering inputs are the enemy of speed and grip. A sudden jerk of the wheel can overload the front tires, causing them to lose grip (understeer), or transfer weight too aggressively to the outside, unsettling the chassis. Instead, think of a smooth, progressive motion:

Initiate Gently: Begin your steering input with a gentle turn of the wheel.
Progressive Increase: Gradually increase the steering angle as the car settles into the turn and you approach the apex.
Minimize Adjustments: Aim for one fluid motion, rather than a series of small, corrective adjustments.
Vision and Target Fixation: Your eyes are the ultimate guide for your hands. If you're looking at the curb directly in front of your bumper, your steering inputs will be reactive and jerky. Instead, always look far ahead, through the corner, to your intended apex and even your exit point. Your hands will naturally follow your line of sight.

Weight Transfer During Turn-In

As you turn the steering wheel, centrifugal force pushes the car to the outside, transferring weight to the outside tires. This "roll" of the chassis is critical. The outside tires, now heavily loaded, provide the majority of the grip for cornering.
Trail braking plays a significant role here. By maintaining light brake pressure as you initiate the turn, you keep weight on the front tires, enhancing turn-in response. As you gradually release the brakes, weight shifts to the outside-front and then progressively to the rear, allowing the car to settle and maintain balance. The goal is to manage this weight transfer smoothly to keep all four tires working optimally.

The Critical Moment: When to Turn

Identifying the correct turn-in point is fundamental. This is typically just before the physical corner begins, allowing the car to use the full width of the track.

Early Turn-In: Turning in too early often leads to running wide at the exit, forcing you to slow down or use less throttle.
Late Turn-In: Turning in too late can mean you run out of road at the apex, again compromising exit speed. It also reduces the available radius for the turn.
The ideal turn-in point depends on the corner's radius, elevation changes, and the subsequent straight. For instance, when approaching an outside turn, your EoB and turn-in point will be critical to maximize your exit speed by ensuring you use the full track width to make the corner as wide as possible.

Vision, Vision, Vision: Where Your Eyes Should Be

We've mentioned vision repeatedly because it's that important. Your brain processes information visually, and your body reacts. If your eyes are fixated on the brake marker, your inputs will be geared towards that point. If your eyes are fixed on the apex, your inputs will adjust to reach that point.
To excel at corner entry, consciously train your eyes to:

Scan Ahead: Immediately after spotting your braking reference, shift your gaze to your turn-in point.
Look Through the Corner: As you turn in, your eyes should be already moving towards the apex.
Target the Exit: Even before reaching the apex, your vision should be focused on the corner's exit, anticipating where you want to apply full throttle.
This continuous scanning and forward-looking technique allows your brain to build a complete picture of the corner, enabling proactive, smooth inputs rather than reactive corrections.

Unlocking Deeper Instincts: Sensory Input Sessions

While visual cues and understanding physics are vital, true mastery often comes from developing an innate, almost subconscious feel for the car. This is where sensory input sessions, championed by Ross Bentley, come into play.

Beyond the Speedometer: Listening to Your Car

How often do you consciously listen to your car when driving? Most of us are bombarded by information, and auditory cues often get drowned out. Yet, your car is constantly "talking" to you. Dedicating sessions solely to listening can dramatically enhance your sensitivity to speed, grip, and balance.
What Sounds to Listen For:

The Engine: The rising and falling RPMs are a direct indicator of speed and acceleration. Is the engine straining? Is it in its power band?
The Tires: This is perhaps the most critical auditory cue for grip. Listen for the subtle scrubbing sounds, the faint squeal that indicates the edge of adhesion, or the deeper groan of an overloaded tire. These sounds tell you if you're pushing too hard, or if you still have grip to spare.
The Wind: The rushing sound of the wind past your car changes with speed. It's a subtle but constant indicator.
The Brakes: Can you hear the pads engaging? A slight hum or squeal might indicate appropriate pressure, while a harsher sound could mean you're locking up.
Track Surface Changes: Different asphalt textures, concrete patches, or rumble strips all have unique sounds that can inform you of your position and grip levels.
How This Builds Sensitivity:
By focusing solely on these auditory inputs for a session or two (or four!), you train your brain to become more attuned to these subtle details. You'll start to unconsciously associate certain sounds with specific speeds, levels of grip, or car behaviors. This heightened awareness allows you to make more precise, intuitive adjustments, often before a visual cue or g-force sensation even registers. It transforms your speed sensing from a visual-only process to a multi-sensory experience.
Other Sensory Inputs:
While auditory is a great starting point, also pay attention to:
Feel of G-Forces: How your body is pushed against the seat and side bolsters under braking, cornering, and acceleration. This is your most direct connection to the car's grip limits.
Vibrations: Subtle vibrations from the steering wheel or chassis can indicate tire chatter, impending lock-up, or even track surface variations.
Smell: While less frequent, the smell of hot brakes or tires is an unmistakable signal.
The more senses you engage, the richer your internal data stream becomes, leading to more refined inputs and ultimately, faster, more consistent driving.

Putting It All Together: Practice Drills for the Track (and Street)

Deliberate practice is the fastest route to improvement. Here are the most effective drills to hone your corner entry strategies, building on the concepts we've discussed:

Drill 1: The EoB Focus

Objective: To master the end of your braking zone and integrate it seamlessly with your turn-in.
How to Do It:

Select a Corner: Choose a familiar corner where you feel relatively comfortable.
Identify Your Target EoB: Before you even brake, pick a precise point on the track where you want to be completely off the brakes, just as you begin to turn in. This might be a curb marker, a painted line, or a ripple strip.
Approach and Visualize: As you approach the corner, keep your eyes glued to your target EoB point. Visualize your car arriving at that spot, fully turned in, and poised for the apex.
Brake and Release: Brake as you normally would, but consciously focus on progressively releasing the pedal towards your EoB point. The goal isn't just to reach the EoB, but to arrive there smoothly, with the car settled and ready to turn.
Repeat and Refine: Do this for multiple laps. Initially, you might find yourself releasing too early or too late, or too abruptly. Consciously adjust your brake pressure and release rate on subsequent laps.
Push the Limit (Gradually): As you gain confidence, try pushing your braking zone 5-10 feet deeper, still aiming for that smooth EoB. You'll be surprised at how much speed you can carry into the corner while maintaining control.

Drill 2: The Auditory Immersion

Objective: To heighten your sensitivity to the car's sounds as indicators of speed and grip.
How to Do It:

Dedicated Sessions: For one or two sessions, make it your primary goal to listen to the car. Turn off the radio, put away distractions.
Focus on Specific Sounds:

Tires: Pay attention to the subtle hum as the tires grip, the faint scrub as they reach their limit, and any sudden squeal. Try to correlate these sounds with how the car feels.
Engine: Listen to the engine's RPM. Is it lugging? Is it screaming? Is it in its power band for the corner?
Brakes: Can you hear your brake pads engaging? A light 'zzzt' sound usually means good modulation.

Drive at Varying Paces: Don't just push at 10/10ths. Drive at 7/10ths, then 8/10ths, and listen to how the sounds change as you increase speed and load the car more.
Connect Sound to Feel: As you listen, try to connect the auditory cues to the physical sensations (g-forces, steering feedback). This builds a comprehensive internal model of the car's behavior.

Drill 3: The Street Experimenter (for Brake Release Awareness)

Objective: To develop a profound sensitivity to how different brake release techniques impact your car's balance, even at low speeds.
How to Do It (Safely!):

Choose a Safe Environment: Find an empty parking lot or a quiet, traffic-free stretch of road with a gentle curve or intersection. This is NOT about speed.
Identify a "Turn-In" Point: For each mini-experiment, pick a consistent spot where you'd typically start to turn the wheel.
Experiment with Brake Release:

Early & Slow: Brake earlier than needed, then release the pedal very slowly before your "turn-in" point. Notice how the car feels entering the turn.
Early & Quick: Brake earlier, but release the pedal quickly before turning in. Observe the car's reaction. Does the front feel lighter?
Later & Slow (Simulated Trail Braking): Brake a little later, then release the pedal slowly as you begin to turn in. Feel how the car's nose stays settled and helps it rotate.
Later & Quick: Brake later, and release the pedal quickly as you turn in. Does the car feel unsettled? Does it understeer or oversteer?

Focus on Car Balance: Pay close attention to how the car's weight shifts (pitch, roll, yaw) with each technique. How does the steering feel? How quickly does the car respond?
Reflect and Compare: After each attempt, mentally note the differences. This drill builds an invaluable internal database of vehicle dynamics that will translate directly to the track. Remember, safety is paramount. You should not be driving at aggressive speeds on the street.

Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

Even with the best intentions, drivers often fall into common traps during corner entry. Recognizing these can help you course-correct quickly.

Braking Too Early/Too Much: The most common mistake. This "safety brake" robs you of speed and momentum. It's often a symptom of not looking far enough ahead or lacking confidence in your EoB.
Solution: Focus on the EoB drill. Gradually push your braking markers deeper. Trust your car and your developing skill.
Abrupt Brake Release: Lifting off the brakes too quickly destabilizes the car, causing a sudden shift of weight to the rear. This can induce understeer or, in extreme cases, oversteer if the rear tires suddenly gain too much grip or become unloaded.
Solution: Practice the street brake release drill. Visualize the brake pedal as a smooth dimmer switch.
Jerky Steering Inputs: Sawing at the wheel or making sudden, large steering inputs overloads the tires, reduces grip, and unsettles the chassis.
Solution: Focus on smooth, progressive inputs. Let your eyes lead your hands.
Looking Too Close: Fixating on the immediate foreground or the brake marker prevents you from planning ahead and executing a smooth line.
Solution: Consciously train your vision to scan far ahead: turn-in, apex, exit. Your hands and feet will follow.
Fixating on BoB: While knowing where to start braking is good, over-emphasizing it can lead to neglecting the critical EoB phase, resulting in a rushed, less refined entry.
Solution: Re-prioritize your mental effort on the EoB. Think of BoB as a launchpad, and EoB as the destination.

Consistency: The Mark of a Master

When you start improving your corner entry speed, you might initially feel a bit less consistent. That's normal. You're exploring new limits and techniques. However, the goal of these drills isn't just raw speed; it's consistent speed. A driver who can consistently hit their marks, manage their weight transfer smoothly, and achieve predictable car behavior will ultimately be faster and safer than one who occasionally pulls off a brilliant entry but struggles to replicate it.
As Ross Bentley notes, once your entry speed improves, your mid-corner and exit techniques will naturally need to adapt. You'll find yourself reaching the apex with more momentum, potentially requiring earlier throttle application or a slightly different line to maximize exit. Don't be surprised if your mid-corner speed, which you felt was competitive, now feels too slow – because it's being limited by a new, higher entry speed. This is a good problem to have! It means you're progressing, and it opens up a new frontier for refinement.

Your Next Lap Starts Now: An Actionable Guide

Mastering corner entry isn't a single "aha!" moment; it's a journey of deliberate practice, sensory awareness, and constant refinement. Start small, be patient, and trust the process.
Here’s your immediate action plan:

Identify Your Weakest Link: Are you braking too early? Releasing too abruptly? Not looking far enough ahead? Be honest with yourself.
Pick ONE Drill: Don't try to implement all three drills at once. Choose one (e.g., the EoB focus) and dedicate your next track session (or even your commute, safely) to it.
Set Clear Goals: For that drill, define what success looks like. "I will hit my EoB point within +/- 5 feet for five consecutive laps."
Debrief Honestly: After your session, review your performance. What felt good? What needs more work?
Listen to Your Car: Actively engage your auditory senses in every drive, even off-track. Make it a habit.
Experiment (Safely): Don't be afraid to try different brake release timings and rates. It's how you build intuition.
Remember, every lap is a learning opportunity. By prioritizing these corner entry strategies, focusing on the nuanced dance of braking and turn-in, and truly connecting with your vehicle through all your senses, you'll unlock significant improvements in your driving. The fastest way around the track isn't always the most aggressive, but the most precise and harmonious. Go out there and make every entry count.