Hairpin Turn

A hairpin turn is a very tight bend in which the road doubles back on itself by roughly 180 degrees, like the bent end of a hairpin. Hairpins are typical of mountain passes, where the road zigzags up a steep slope, and appear on some race circuits as slow, heavy-braking corners.

Because the radius is so small, hairpins are taken at low speed with a lot of steering input. Uphill hairpins need steady throttle and clutch control; downhill ones need smooth braking done mostly before the turn.

Brake early, choose a wide entry with a late apex so you can see the exit, look through the turn rather than at the road edge, and keep the throttle slightly open to settle the chassis.