Glossary of Motorsport Terms

• Tear-off strips - Each driver has several layers of see-through plastic film covering the visor of their helmets, which they can tear-off as the visor gets dirty during the race. This eliminates the need to keep wiping the visor, for which the driver would not have time during the race.
• Traction - The degree to which a car is able to transfer its power onto the track surface for forward progress. Traction can vary depending on the track surface, weather or tyre and drivers will aim to have maximum traction during a race.
• Traction control - A means of electronically reducing the power to the driving wheels, to minimise wheel-spin, and maximise traction. This is usually done by matching the speed of the rear wheels to that of the front wheels.