This work proposes a new procedure to determine the optimal trajectory on race tracks based on constrained optimization techniques, where the constraints are defined by means of the dynamic characteristics of the vehicle and the geometrical limits of the track. The vehicle is represented by an oriented particle with the capabilities of traction, braking and normal acceleration, which are typical in a competition vehicle. First, the minimum-time trajectory for a 90-degree curve is obtained through a geometrical analysis of the problem. The solution is then expanded to be applied to all angles. Starting from the individual minimum-time trajectory for each curve of the track, constrained optimization techniques are employed in order to obtain the shorter curve that concatenates these individual optimal trajectories. The dynamic characteristics of some polynomial curves are analyzed to infer the one that can best be applied in the concatenation process. The minimum-time trajectory for the race track obtained by the concatenation procedure is presented and the advantages and disadvantages of the proposed method are discussed. Alternatively, an overview of the optimal control problem is presented and a complete model of the minimum-time trajectory problem is developed using this approach, including the dynamic constraints of the vehicle and the geometric constraints of the track. Some possible methods for the solution of the optimal control problem are suggested.