Efficient Overtaking: Moving Through the Pack Without Losing Time
Step-by-step techniques for overtaking other drivers while maintaining race pace, minimizing time lost with each position gained
Welcome to a *free* edition of Terence Dove on Racing Drivers.
Here’s what you’ll get out of today’s episode:
Why some drivers can slice through the pack and hardly lose time
Stages you need to master before stepping up to super-efficient overtaking
How to fine-tune moves that get you to the front faster than anyone else
Have you ever been in a race where you start from the back, work through the pack—the kind you remember, not because you won from third but because of the fight from the back of the grid?
You’ve made up ten places, felt like you fought tooth and nail, and everyone’s giving you pats on the back, saying, “Great race.”
But then you check the results and see someone else—who started behind you—has slipped through cleanly, gaining 18 positions with no drama. They didn’t get held up in scraps, and you wonder, “How the hell did they manage that?”
This is an example of a driver who possesses an ability for efficient overtaking—working through the pack without losing lap time, passing cleanly and without struggle.
Getting there isn’t straightforward; it unfolds in stages. Each stage of overtaking builds on the last, giving you the skills to move up without disrupting your race flow. If you skip any stage, you’ll feel it in the gaps in your ability. We start by mastering braking, then progress through five clear stages, all the way to treating overtaking as just a shift in line. Let’s go through each step.
The Five Stages of Efficient Overtaking
Stage 1: Mastering Braking Control
Braking is where it all begins. To get through the pack without losing time, you must master the full range of braking—from heavy lock-ups to the softer, controlled braking needed for deep entries. It’s about taking the kart to the edge, forcing it into unpredictable scenarios, and staying in control when everything in you is screaming that you’re about to spin out. When you can control braking under all conditions, you gain the confidence to make moves without hesitation.
This stage sets up every other move. It’s not just about late braking; it’s about having complete command over the kart’s response to every pressure you apply.
Stage 2: Throwing Yourself In – Full Commitment to the First Move
With braking dialled in, the next stage is learning to commit fully to each overtaking move, even if it doesn’t look perfect. This isn’t about hitting every apex but about building the instinct to throw yourself into gaps without holding back. Go in hard, expecting that you might overshoot, go wide, or get challenged on the exit. That’s all part of the learning process.
This stage lets you get over hesitation. By fully committing to the move, you’ll build the confidence to dive in and handle the messiness, refining your technique as you go.
Stage 3: Imposing Yourself on the Opponent’s Destiny
In stage three, you’re taking command of the situation. This is the point where you stop worrying about the other driver’s reaction. You see them not as a rival but as someone whose choices you control. You’re imposing yourself on their decisions, trusting that their instinct for self-preservation will kick in.
Many drivers get held back here, overthinking what the opponent might do. But when you impose yourself, you take the line with the certainty that they’ll respond predictably. This stage is about establishing yourself on the track and giving them no choice but to yield, letting you pass cleanly and without hesitation.
Stage 4: Smashing the Driver Hierarchy
At this stage, mental barriers are the last thing you want. The quicker drivers, the local heroes—none of that should influence how you approach them. Everyone’s on the same level, and every kart is just another position to gain. It’s common for drivers to hesitate around a “name,” but you need to shake that hierarchy completely.
Interestingly, you’ll often find quicker drivers are easier to pass because they focus on their exit speeds and know when to give ground. Treating them as equals means you can make each pass cleanly and quickly, focusing on your own line without worrying about reputations or egos.
Final Stage: Seamless Overtaking That Barely Affect Your Lap-time
At this final stage, overtaking stops being a standalone action. Instead, each pass becomes a natural line adjustment, allowing you to flow through the field without losing momentum. You’re not making hard dives; instead, you’re subtly adjusting your line to pass opponents as part of your lap. The priority isn’t just the overtake; it’s holding onto your lap speed as you move forward.
This shift in perspective transforms each pass into an extension of your racing line. By focusing on maintaining flow, you’re not diving into gaps and disrupting rhythm. Each overtake feels like part of the track.
A standard overtake is like a stand-alone event. You line it up and make sure it happens. Getting position is all that matters and to hell with the rest. This will get you going with overtaking and is effective.
When you get into efficient overtaking moves, you can forget putting all the emphasis on making the move. Instead you can focus on completing the manoeuvre with the priority on the new line being as good as possible to make sure the time loss is the absolute minimum possible.
Putting It All Together: Hyper-Efficient Overtaking
At this level, overtaking becomes a natural extension of your race. Each pass is smooth, controlled, and nearly invisible, so you’re moving through the pack without drama or excessive corrections. Here’s how each part of hyper-efficient overtaking unfolds:
Take the Pass for Granted – Focus on the Line and Exit
When you reach this stage, you don’t need a big build-up to each overtake. You’re no longer preparing yourself with a “Here we go!” mentality; instead, you’re assuming the pass is happening and putting your focus on the line and exit speed. This lets you approach overtaking as an extension of your racing line rather than a distinct, isolated event. You’re not aiming to simply get by the other kart; you’re shaping the entire corner to maintain control and set up the best possible exit. Think of overtaking as a small deviation from the line, something that’s just going to happen naturally because of the confidence and skill you’ve built.Execute Every Overtake as You Would Drive on a Clear Lap
When overtaking at this level, you’re not making any exaggerated adjustments or special moves; you’re simply driving as if you’re on a clear lap. This means you’re applying the same smooth, precise techniques—braking, steering, and loading the kart into the corner—with no need to adjust or “compensate” for the pass. Every move is as measured as it would be on an empty track, maintaining balance and control throughout. You’re not reacting to the other kart but treating it as part of your optimal line, ensuring that the overtake feels like a seamless part of your lap, not a disruptive event.View Opponents as Predictable Moving Obstacles
Opponents aren’t seen as rivals but as predictable, moving obstacles. You’re treating each driver as an obstacle you already know how to navigate around, based on instinct and experience. This confidence allows you to commit to overtakes without hesitation, passing each kart with a sense of inevitability. You’re not concerned with their reactions or intentions; you’re treating them as if they’re just another feature on the circuit to work around.Braking and Turning Together to Control the Curve into the Corner
At this level, overtaking requires braking and turning simultaneously, shaping your line in a controlled curve rather than a straight dive. This method demands an exceptional degree of braking control, allowing you to guide the kart smoothly into position without overcommitting. The ability to brake in a curve sets you up to make clean, precise passes, aligning yourself perfectly around the opponent rather than forcing a harsh, linear move.
Precision Timing and Spatial Awareness: The Key to Clean, High-Speed Passing
Efficient overtaking relies on lines that prioritize speed and remain closer to a true racing line. Unlike the straightforward dive-bomb approach, which keeps a safe distance from the other kart, efficient overtaking requires a line that intersects with the space they currently occupy. This demands precise timing and spatial awareness since you’re using the exact part of the track the other kart will only vacate just in time for your pass.
With this approach, you need exquisite timing to cross paths with the other kart cleanly, relying on an instinctive sense that they’ll move clear at precisely the right moment. The line you’re committing to puts you very close to them, so there’s no room for error or adjustment—your spatial awareness must guide you through this narrow window without contact.
Key Takeaways
Foundational Skills
Braking Control: Master every level of braking, from aggressive stops to smooth, deep entries—this control underpins every pass.
Unwavering Commitment: Build the instinct to commit to every gap, learning to handle the unpredictability without hesitation.
Control Over the Opponent’s Decisions: Make your line dominant, assuming they’ll yield to your pressure and react predictably.
Disregard Reputation: Approach each overtake without concern for the driver’s name or status—hesitating for reputation only slows you down.
Hyper-Efficient Overtaking
At the highest level, overtaking becomes an extension of your racing line. Each pass flows naturally, preserving your speed and race rhythm. Focus entirely on line control and exit speed, timing each move with precision. Here, you no longer dive into gaps—you simply adapt your line as you progress through the field.
Thanks for reading
Terence