A kart is not a point mass

A kart is not a point mass once handling matters.

Point-mass models are useful for rough path and speed estimates, but they hide body attitude, load transfer, tire forces, steering geometry, and chassis constraints. Those effects decide whether a line is merely short or actually drivable.

Vehicle dynamics starts when the model keeps enough structure to explain why the path works.

Related:

• A Kart != a point mass
• The physics of motor/bi cycles
• F1 Data Animations