At the lights

As you are beckoned forward by the crew, keep an eye on the ‘Christmas Tree’ – the tower of lights that sit on the startline. By creeping forward slowly, you’ll see the first one ( pre-staged), then a second yellow ( staged) light come on as you dissect the two timing beams. Stop as soon as the second yellow comes on. You’re now in the right place.

Make sure you’re in first gear, and the handbrake is off. Once the track is clear, three orange lights will illuminate, before the green light comes on. In case you didn’t know... this is the time to nail it!

It’s worth noting that unless you are desperate to get a good reaction time, you don’t need to punch it as soon as you see the lights change. Ever wondered why cars like FireForce can sit on the start line for two or three seconds after the lights have changed and still run a six-second pass? It’s not because it does the quarter-mile in three seconds! But instead the timing system doesn’t start counting until you begin to move.

So, if you are interested in getting the best performance time, not reaction time, don’t be afraid to take a second to compose yourself, make sure the revs are high enough, and make sure you are set, before nailing it for the optimum launch.

Accelerate away as hard as you can. Minimise wheelspin, and be as smooth and as fast as possible ( smoothness takes precedence) with your gear shifts for the best possible time.