What defines an Early Apex in driving through a turn?

An Early Apex in driving refers to the strategy of positioning the vehicle closer to the inside of the turn at the point where the driver chooses to start accelerating out of the corner. This occurs as the vehicle enters the turn, allowing for an optimal line that can lead to a faster exit. By hugging the inside at the entry, the driver can utilize the steering angle effectively and set themselves up to carry speed throughout the turn and accelerate smoothly towards the exit.

In contrast, hugging the inside at the exit focuses on maintaining proximity to the inner edge while leaving the curve, which relates more to maximizing speed at the end rather than optimizing the approach into the turn itself. Positioning the car in the middle of the turn or maintaining speed throughout the turn are not definitions of an early apex; instead, these options describe varying approaches to cornering that do not specifically characterize the technique of an Early Apex.