Clutch in during cornering?

[Aqualung]

A search on this topic was unsuccessful....

I was under the impression that it was better to push the clutch in while cornering, then match the revs while exiting the corner (learning how to read the apex of a curve/corner is critical), and releasing the clutch.

However, in the Edmunds article about Heel & Toe here http://www.edmunds.com/ownership/how...2/article.html, I quote " For racecar drivers, however, this technique is too slow and also means that when the car is going around the corner, the clutch is pushed in, a serious no-no in a racecar."

What do folks here do/recommend? Do you drop speed/revs/gear before entering a turn and not depress the clutch? Or do you clutch in the middle of the turn?

Granted, we're not racing, but we are doing spirited driving, eh?

[Johnny225]

I might be mistaken, but I was under the impression that under NO circumstances disengage the engine(clutch in or neutral) during cornering.

[RustyPaint]

Being that it is FWD, accelerating in the turn will transfer the weight to the rear tires causeing you to get more traction by destributing the weight more evenly.

[Tom D]

The WORST thing you can do on any front-wheel drive car is to fail to accelerate during cornering. If you want to be going backward in a front-wheel drive car, the easiest way to do it is to enter a sharp corner without your foot on the throttle! , this is NOT a good thing...

[Mike Clarke]

Never heard anyone recommend clutch in while cornering.
Adjust speed BEFORE the corner and accelerate through the corner.
Slow In - Fast out
Fast In - Feet Out (into the ambulance)

[BobbySueZQ]

No No No No Noooooo. I can't even imagine cornering with the cluth in. zwiiiing, right off the side of the mountain. Depending on the speed I want to enter, I might drop down a gear, but I am always in gear none the less.

[EBMCS03]

ya no way... dont be in neutral in a corner... make all the downshift and braking before entering the corner then slowly and steadly accelerate out of the corner... dont WOT (Wide Open Throttle) out of it... smooth is the key...

[Aqualung]

whew! glad to hear it...tho' sometimes it gets tough when you're going 15 mph and taking a pretty hard (90 degree) turn.....almost have to drop to first

[SteveM3]

Well there is something to be said for that technique under extreme conditions
like cornering on ice. The grip the tyre can generate can be used to provide
traction or cornering grip. More traction less cornering grip and vice versa. Now
if you go into a corner on trailing throttle the engine braking is transmitting a
traction force similar to braking. By dipping the clutch you are stopping this
so all the grip is used to prevent the tyre going sideways. I've heard this
technique recommended if you are feeling the car start to slide on snow or
ice to get maximum sideways grip. However if you ever get this far you are
going to fast and you should slow down after getting through this crisis. Also
sliding about on snow and ice you are unlikely to be bothered by a lack of
acceleration coming out of the corner. Never heard it recommended for any
other circumstances.