Photograph by David S. Wallens
Want to go faster? Have you considered how you let off the brakes?
If you’re hung around this scene for a while, you’ve probably heard some people who sound smarter than you talking about brake release. Or maybe you’re the one talking about brake release, and if so, congratulations, you get to take the rest of this article off. Go out …
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A coaching session with a pro coach at Road Atlanta bought me over 1 sec with proper brake release. It was something I knew to do, but had gotten into a bad habit after a couple of years on track.
When my students ride with me at track days, I tell them if they feel my final release of the brake, I did it wrong. :-)
So I'll add some things.
First I will disagree about the exit being the most important part of the corner. Corner entry sets the tone for everything that comes after that. This may be semantics of course.
Seocnd , and I think this is worth adding, most drivers can get the maximum out of sets of tires at any given time but very few can get the maximum out of all four tires at once.
Brake pedal release is absolutely the key to getting the most out of all four tires at the same time.
I nag nag nag proper brake pedal release when I instruct. It really is the key to getting the last 10% out of the car.
Love it!!
This is the number one thing I'm working on as I grow my (currently noob-level) skills at the track. I find it can make a massive difference between an entertaining/terrifying tank-slapper turn or a grinding understeer turn for me. Such a delicate balance and so so satisfying when it's done properly!
In reply to nickydh :
The toughest part for new drivers is that if you carry the brakes for to long you end up over rotating the car. This causes one to release the brakes earlier which as you've found leads to understeer.
Part of the issue is that new drivers tend to release the brake to early and to abruptly. Their solution is typically to wind in more steering than is truly needed.
In essence what they are doing by winding in that extra bit of steering is chucking the car into the corner.
To further exacerbate the issue; when the back end steps out they have to wind out that extra steering. The net effect is a delayed reaction to said oversteer. That delay then compounds because now your well behind the car and so you end up winding on more counter steering than needed. This is how you end up with the dreaded tank slapper.
How far the car rotates is dictated by how long you stretch the brake pedal release.
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