Gear ratio

Each gear in your transmission multiplies engine torque by its ratio, and the final drive multiplies it again. A low gear with a high ratio, like first, gives strong acceleration but runs out of revs quickly. A tall gear with a low ratio gives higher road speed for the same engine speed but less shove.

On track, gearing decides where in the rev range you exit each corner. Exit in the meat of the power band and the car pulls hard. Exit too low and it bogs; too high and you hit the limiter or need an extra shift before the braking zone. The right gear for a corner is the one that keeps the engine strong from exit to the next braking point.

Novices often hold a gear too high through slow corners to avoid a downshift, which leaves the engine lugging. Others downshift too early and overrev on the way in. Learn where the engine makes its power, then plan your gear for each corner during track walks or the first laps.