Sector
A sector is one section of a lap between two timing lines, used to see exactly where on track time is gained or lost.
Also called: split, segment
A lap is usually split into a few sectors, often three, each bounded by a timing line. Your sector times add up to your lap time, but they tell you much more: if your lap improved by half a second, sectors reveal whether it came from the hairpin, the fast esses or the last corner.
Splitting the lap this way turns vague feelings into precise feedback. Drivers often think they are fastest where they feel bravest, only to discover their best sector is the one where they were patient and smooth.
Sector times also feed the ideal lap. More sectors give finer detail but more noise, and a gain in one sector can come at the expense of the next. Compare sectors over several laps rather than reacting to a single number.
Sectors show where on track to focus your effort, so practice time goes where it pays.
| Lap | S1 | S2 | S3 | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 44.48 | 37.28 | 45.57 | 2:07.330 |
| 2 | 43.71 | 37.12 | 45.54 | 2:06.370 |
| 3 | 43.54 | 37.32 | 45.44 | 2:06.300 |
| 4 | 43.83 | 37.06 | 45.61 | 2:06.500 |
Purple = best of the session in that sector. Add up your best sectors and you get the ideal lap: the time already in your hands, just never in one lap.