Andrewmc wrote:
It was amazing that he continued to focus on where he wanted to be. Not the stone walls he was approaching At 150
THAT was not "so" amazing to me, simply because of the number of times you get to practice it. You get told that on day-1, and EVERY time you (almost) lose control you get to reinforce that instinct---either because you did it right, and saved it, or you didn't. Big slides, small slides, spins, etc. Even just driving, you practice that on every turn. That is as ingrained of an instinct as there is in a driver.
The fact that he didn't give up on it is pretty impressive, but probably speaks to his Rally driving vs. road course driving history. In road-coarse we are taught to lock it down once it gets away from you...that instinct kicks in around the second oscillation. Its better for everyone ELSE for you to slide predictably than to try and guess which way to try and get by. Rally (and TT / IoM, of course) driving you hit things HARD, if you give up. TT format doesn't have the same concerns for cars around you.
Still to me, the most impressive is the number of oscillations he was able to keep up with, and the severity of them. I've been backwards and sideways at 120 mph in my Miata. I've save a couple (including one hand-over-hand save) and I've failed to save a couple. I'm guessing the yaw rates at 120mph in a 89" wheelbase Miata are similar to a 150 mph 106" wheelbase WRX. Things happen VERY fast in that scenario. Just getting the wheel turned fast enough is a feat. Doing it precisely, and reversing directions at the right moment...again at the right rate...and again, and again...That's truly artful and no one wants to (or gets to) practice that very much. Also dabbing the brake as the car cross through Zero Yaw, hugely skillful. Do that wrong, and its over.
All that is just raw talent.