Racing Flags, Ideal Lines, and Drift: Motorsport Terms Explained

What is a chicane? What is the apex of a corner? What is downforce? Hyundai Driving Experience provides answers to these and other questions in our comprehensive motorsport glossary.

Learn what racing flags mean and decode common motorsport abbreviations.

1-2 Finish

Refers to when two vehicles from the same team secure the top two positions in a race.

Apex

What is the apex of a corner? The point in a corner where the car comes closest to the inside of the turn. Also known as the clipping point, it’s a crucial reference for finding the ideal racing line.

Apron

Refers to the paved section of a circuit that lies between the racing surface and the infield’s unpaved area.

Banking

The track’s inward slope towards the inside of the racing circuit.

Blend Line

Defines the area where the pit lane merges with the racing track. It’s designed to prevent vehicles leaving the pits from interfering with ongoing race traffic.

Bottoming

When a vehicle’s underside or floor makes contact or threatens to make contact with the racing surface.

Brake-by-Wire System

A computer-controlled system used in Formula E that can recover energy (regenerate) during braking.

Camber

What is cambering? Camber is the angle between the wheel’s vertical centreline and a perpendicular line to the track surface. Negative camber means the wheel tilts inward; positive camber means it tilts outward.

Chicane

What is a chicane? Chicane is sequence of tight turns, usually in alternating directions, designed to slow vehicles down on faster sections of the track.

Countdown

Starting a race car from a stationary position after a countdown. Also known as a standing start or Grand Prix start.

Diffuser

Located in the underbody area of a race car, it uses asymmetric pressure distribution to improve aerodynamics and create a suction effect.

DNF

What does DNF mean? DNF stands for “did not finish,” meaning a driver failed to complete the race.

DNQ

What does DNQ mean? DNQ stands for “did not qualify,” referring to drivers who didn’t qualify to participate in a race.

DNS

The abbreviation DNS stands for “did not start” and is used for drivers who didn’t begin a race.

Downforce

What is downforce? Downforce refers to the force that presses a race vehicle onto the track using rear wings and other aerodynamic components.

Drag

Refers to air resistance – the pressure created when an object moves through the surrounding air.

Drag Reduction System (DRS)

A DRS, such as adjustable rear wing elements, reduces a race car’s air resistance. Typically, DRS can only be activated at specific points on the racing track.

Hyundai i30 Fastback N at Nürburgring 24-hour race

Drift

What is drift? Drift is a driving technique where drivers deliberately oversteer their vehicle in a controlled manner at high speed. The corresponding motorsport discipline is called drift racing.

Drive-through Penalty

A penalty for an infringement on the racing track. The affected driver must drive through the pit lane, observing the speed limit before continuing the race. A drive-through penalty cannot be combined with a pit stop.

Dry Line

What is dry line? Dry line is the racing line that forms on a wet track as previous cars dry it through their passage. Understanding the dry line is crucial for racing in changing weather conditions, as it offers the most grip on a drying track.

Flying Start

Also known as a Flying Lap. Drivers start not from a standstill but directly after the formation lap or warm-up lap.

Formation Lap

What is a formation lap? The formation lap is completed from the starting grid before the race begins. Also known as the warm-up lap, it’s the final lap behind the Safety Car before the track is cleared for racing.

Grand Prix Start

See ‘Countdown’.

Grid

Refers to both the physical markings on the track where cars line up for the race start and the overall starting order of the competitors. The grid formation is determined by qualifying results, with positions arranged in staggered pairs for safety and fairness. In British motorsport, you'll often hear terms like "grid walk" (pre-race track access) and "grid slot" (a driver's starting position).

Grid Penalty

A Grid Penalty is a punishment where the affected driver is moved back a certain number of positions in the starting grid. Grid penalties can be imposed, for example, when a driver fails to comply with technical regulations.

Grip

Refers to a tyre’s adhesion to the track surface.

GT3

Also Gran Turismo – a vehicle category for road-going sports cars.

Hairpin

What is a hairpin corner? A very tight turn that resembles a hairpin in shape.

HANS

HANS stands for “head and neck support” and refers to the mandatory safety device that protects drivers’ heads and necks during motorsport races.

High-Performance Models

Hyundai’s term for sports cars inspired by motorsport, such as the N models.

Homologation

The approval or type testing of competition vehicles and racing tracks by national and international authorities. In many motorsport categories, this is a formal requirement for participating in competition.

Hot Lap

Another term for Flying Lap. This refers to a lap that begins at optimal speed, as opposed to starting from a standstill.

Ideal Line

What are racing lines? An imaginary line through a corner that represents the optimal racing path under given conditions.

Inlap

The lap after the race when returning to the pit lane.

Intermediate

The middle of three tyre types used in motorsport racing. While wet tyres are used for wet tracks and slicks for dry conditions, intermediate tyres with moderate tread patterns are used for damp tracks.

Lateral acceleration

The acceleration that pushes the race car outward during cornering.

Lift and Coast

A manoeuvre used in all-electric Formula E where the driver lifts off the accelerator before a corner and maintains speed while coasting, conserving energy.

Pace Car

Also known as the Safety Car. Race control can deploy the Pace Car to slow the field during difficult conditions or accidents requiring recovery work.

Penalty

In motorsport, “penalty” refers to punishments such as time penalties or penalty laps.

Pit Lane

What is a pit lane? The lane in front of the pits that isn’t part of the racing track and has speed restrictions.

Pit Stop

A stop in the pits where mechanics change tyres, address technical issues, and/or refuel. The timing and speed of a pit stop can significantly impact race outcomes. In British racing, the mechanics are often called “pit crew” and the whole team of mechanics “the crew.”

Prime Tyres

One of the three race tyre types used. The Prime tyre typically has the hardest compound. In UK motorsport, tyres are more typically referred to as “hard," “medium,” and “soft”.

Racing Flags

Racing flags meaning: Flags in racing serve as communication between race control and drivers, waved by track marshals. Each colour has a specific meaning:

Blue Flag: In racing, a blue flag means a lapped driver must let the following driver pass.
Yellow Flag: Waved in dangerous situations, such as accidents. Drivers must slow down and cannot overtake.
Green Flag: Indicates danger has passed and drivers can resume racing speed.
Red Flag: Signals that a race must be interrupted or abandoned.
Black Flag: Shown with a car number to signal that driver’s disqualification and requirement to return to the pits.
Checkered flag in racing: The black and white chequered flag symbolises the end of a race.
White flag racing: When waved during a race, a white flag indicates a slow vehicle on track, such as a recovery vehicle or ambulance.

Rolling Start

Also known as a flying start. Drivers approach the start line at reduced speed. A formation lap is required.

Safety Car

Also known as the Pace Car. Race control can deploy a Safety Car to slow the field during difficult conditions or accidents, for example, during recovery work.

Short Shifting

In Short Shifting, drivers change up early, before reaching maximum power RPM.

Slicks

Slicks are treading-free racing tyres typically used on dry tracks. Depending on weather and track conditions, Prime tyres and Intermediate tyres are also used in races.

Slipstreaming

When one vehicle drives in the slipstream of another. Drivers can gain a speed advantage by using another vehicle’s slipstream during overtaking.

SOC

The abbreviation SOC stands for “state of charge” and indicates an electric vehicle’s battery level.

Standing Start

See ‘Countdown’.

TCR

Touring Car Racing, a global standard for production-based touring car motorsport. While distinct from the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC), TCR represents an important category in UK motorsport, with several manufacturers, including Hyundai, competing in TCR UK and international TCR events. The category emphasises close racing with cars based on production models.

Torque

The rotational force produced by the engine that turns the wheels, determining how quickly a vehicle can accelerate from a standstill or low speeds.

Oversteer

Oversteer occurs when the rear of the vehicle breaks away due to the rear wheels losing traction. Skilled drivers can regain control through appropriate steering techniques. Quick reactions are essential, and drivers must avoid excessive counter-steering as this can cause the rear to break away uncontrollably.

Understeer

Understeer means a vehicle tends to continue straight ahead rather than following the curve. The vehicle turns less sharply into the corner than the driver intended with their steering input.

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