Unlike other types of racing where cars are more standardized, rally cars are varying greatly. Different differential, different weight distribution, different body style, all of these are important considerations in approaching cornering. In this article, we are going to explore how different types of differential influence cornering strategies of rally drivers and why it's important to adjust cornering strategies for different cars.

🏁 Optimal Cornering Paths by Drivetrain Type

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1. Front-Wheel Drive (FWD)

Traits: Pulls the car through corners, can easily understeer if overdriven.
Common Tactic: Trail braking and left-foot braking to shift weight to the front wheels and rotate the car.

🔄 Cornering Approach

• Brake early and trail brake into the corner to keep weight on the front.
• Turn-in aggressively while still braking to induce rotation (the rear becomes lighter).
• Power out gently — flooring it too early causes understeer.

🚗 Path

• Wide entry, tight apex, mid-wide exit.
• Prioritize rotation early, then let the front wheels pull you out.

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2. Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD)

Traits: Oversteer-prone, allows for precise rotation and throttle steering.
Common Tactic: Scandinavian flick and throttle steering.

🔄 Cornering Approach

• Use a weight transfer flick (Scandinavian flick) before turn-in to load the rear.
• Brake early, then rotate aggressively using throttle oversteer.
• Apply throttle to control the angle and exit with drift.

🚗 Path

• Aggressive rotation at entry, slide through the apex, and exit with oversteer.
• Focus on maintaining momentum and controlling drift angle.

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3. All-Wheel Drive (AWD)

Traits: High traction, stability under throttle, forgiving.
Common Tactic: Late apex, power-on rotation.

🔄 Cornering Approach

• Brake late, turn in smoothly.
• Apply throttle mid-corner — the AWD will pull the car through.
• Use throttle to rotate the car (especially if torque is rear-biased).

🚗 Path

• Tighter line, late apex, and powerful exit.
• AWD allows you to commit earlier with throttle and tighten the line under power.

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4. Limited Slip Differential (LSD) — Applies to any drivetrain

Traits: Helps maintain drive to both wheels even if one loses traction, reducing understeer (FWD) or oversteer (RWD).

⚙️ Effect on Path

• FWD with LSD: Allows tighter exits without spinning inside wheel.
• RWD with LSD: Controls wheelspin to maintain a more stable drift angle.
• AWD with LSDs (Front, Rear, Center): Further tightens exit, allows earlier throttle.

🚗 Path Adjustment

• You can commit earlier to throttle, and tighten your exit line across all drivetrains with LSDs.
• More predictable rotation and acceleration out of corners.

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🧠 Summary Chart

Drivetrain	Key Behavior	Entry	Apex	Exit	Cornering Tip
FWD	Understeer-prone	Wide	Tight	Mid-wide	Trail brake, rotate early
RWD	Oversteer-prone	Flick in	Drifty	Opposite lock	Use throttle to steer
AWD	Neutral + stable	Medium	Late	Tight/powered	Power-on rotation
LSD-equipped	Controlled traction	Any	Tight	Tighter	Earlier throttle, smoother rotation