what's the best way to gain performance driving skill for a beginner?

ChrisSlicks

Sounds good. Go karts are fun but pretty useless for learning to drive a car. Their grip to weight ratio is much higher than a car, and the weight is rear biased.

Video games are useless, driving sims are a tool. Driving sims are useful especially in that auto-x to track transition, they teach you about the racing line, braking zones etc. It will also impress your instructor if you can show up to a track and already have a good feel for the racing line, which the instructor can help you fine tune. Driving sims currently only exist on the PC, and you need a quality force feedback wheel and pedal set. Iracing's catalog of local tracks is gradually growing. If I'm going to do a track day I usually check to see if they have it and will do practice laps to familiarize myself before heading out. Although there is no substitute for real seat time with an instructor.

__________________
Hotchkis ARB | Stillen CAI | Art Pipes | Berk CBE | Stillen AP Racing Brakes | AE Performance Oil Cooler | BC Racing ER Coilovers | Doran Control Arms