The "Let-By" Pass
Today we talk about the “let-by”. This is a topic that isn’t as fun as some of the other topics because it doesn’t help you become faster. If anything, it will make your lap times slower. So this is not going to be as fun, however; this is a very important topic because it has to do with safety. When you drive in an unpredictable fashion, then it will be harder for other drivers to read your driving style and when to pass you. I’ve seen it time and time again, where a new driver will not know what to do with drivers fast approaching and will inevitably cause an accident. Drivers’ temperaments will flare up, embarrassment will ensue and it would have been avoided if the “let-by” was done properly. The “let-by” pass is one of the most important and versatile aspects of racing and if mastered at an early age will make for a successful driving experience.
There are so many forms of motorsports that implement the “let-by” pass. If you look at endurance racing such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans or 24 Hours of Daytona, there are many different classes racing at the same time. Most of the time, the Prototype or LMP1 class cars are doing a majority of the passing and the other classes like; LMP2, GT1, GT2, etc. are all finding efficient ways to do the “let-by” pass. If you watch Formula 1, you will see cars that are on their out-lap, their hot-lap, and their in-lap. While competitors are qualifying on their hot-lap, cars that are on their out-lap to warm up tires and in-lap are cooling off their cars but are also in the way. To successfully let the cars go by without the loss of time, the slower cars will get out of the way or perform the “let-by” pass. The “let-by” pass is also done at the karting level. At SyKart, in Tigard, Oregon there are three different types of karts. There are the black high horsepower karts, the orange mid-range performance kart, and the junior karts. When driven properly there is about a second per lap difference between each type of kart. However with many different types of driving styles and experiences, in most cases, it is more than a couple of seconds between the different classes of karts.
What is the “let-by” pass? The “let-by” pass is when the slower driver will move out of the way of the faster driver in a predictable fashion, where there is little time lost by both drivers. Usually, this maneuver will involve the slower driver taking a wider line around a corner, while the faster driver will stay on the racing line taking the faster option around the corner. The slower driver should also signal to the faster driver, by pointing in the direction that they want the faster driver to go. Before your session starts on the track, it is always a good idea to survey what the ideal racing line is but then also survey the spots where to perform the “let-by” pass or where to expect to pass drivers that are slower than you.
If you can master the "let-by" pass early on, then it will make for a successful driving experience for everyone.
There are some cautions when surveying “let-by” passing zones. Usually, you don’t want to have these passing zones too close to consecutive corners. Also, try and find zones that allow you to easily merge back into traffic or onto the racing line. As you merge back onto the racing line or into traffic, be sure to look for other racers and adjust your speed accordingly. As you get back into the racing session continue to drive within your abilities and if you need to let someone by, wait for the next “let-by” zone. Deviating from that plan may cause an accident.
There are also some situations where you don’t need to do a “let-by”. In instances where there are yellow flags or when there are short distances between corners. Putting yourself in danger or in a dangerous situation to allow someone to pass is not the idea behind the “let-by”. Please always consider the safety of yourself and the safety of others when looking for areas to let someone pass. If you compromise anyone’s safety, then it is not worth doing.
If you can master the “let-by” pass early on, then it will make for a successful driving experience for everyone. The “let-by” pass is nothing to be ashamed of and you may find that other racers will compliment you for knowing what to do and will respect you more for understanding how you conduct yourself on the track. This maneuver is used in many forms of motorsports and when done right, your own driving experience will also improve and be a fun one. With safety in mind, remember to look for the “let-by” passing zones ahead of your session so you are prepared and know what to do when faster drivers come up from behind.
Thanks for this helpful blog post – it prepared me for my first race and kept me aware of what was happening in front and behind me. I was able to take wider lines and point in the direction to let faster drivers go by so the action could keep flowing along!