VOLUME 3 TRACK SESSIONS
Photos by Tim Harris
4 MIN READ
The tips in this video are not a substitute for the road rules & regulations that operate in your State or Territory. This video is provided for information purposes in relation to the Gazoo Racing track days – all driving and associated tips are provided to enhance your driving experience on track day. Please drive safely.
Trail braking is a cornering technique where you brake slightly later than normal and carry light and continued braking pressure through the turn before gently releasing the brakes – i.e. ‘trailing off’.
By braking closer to the entry point of the corner, the weight transfers to the front tyres and increases their traction, creating a faster, more effective turn-in.
But how exactly does this work?
The idea behind applying light yet continued pressure through the turn is less about slowing the car down, and more about keeping the weight on the front tyres as you turn.
When the weight transfers to the front of the car, it rotates the rear end of the vehicle. This gives you a smoother rotation from the corner entry through to the apex, and allows you to unwind the steering wheel earlier to pick up speed through the exit.
Related reading: How to recognise and control understeer
When you trail brake, 80% of the deceleration happens on the approach, before you start your turn. You’ll apply the other 20% as you steer into the bend. There are three key braking moments in the sequence.
Here’s the step-by-step breakdown:
If you apply too much pressure, you’ll take too much load off the rear tyres and the car will oversteer. If you apply too little pressure, the car will push wide. If you get the pressure right, you’ll find the car is well balanced and you’ll make it through the turn smoothly.
Related: How to prepare your car for a track day
The slower the bend, the more useful trail braking is: it allows you to rotate the car before the apex, open up the exit, and use continuous brake pressure to guide the car around the tight radius.
If you’re practicing trail braking on the track, make sure you have a feel for the different corners and how the car handles first. It’s best to start doing this discovery before you even head out for a warm up lap.
When you’re on a track day, check if there’s a track walk with someone experienced who can talk through the features. Study a track map and make note of the different corners and where you think each braking zone, apex and exit point might be. Then when you get out on the track, take a few orientation laps to start getting a feel for where these points are on each corner. Once you’re familiar with the features, you can start to edge past the braking markers and practice trail braking.
Perfecting the trail braking technique will take practice, but the benefits of reading corners well and feeling the subtleties of the car will flow through to the rest of your driving.
The GAZOO RACING CLUB Track Sessions was developed with help from the team at Norwell Mortorplex. Discover their drive experiences and driver training programs today.
norwellmotorplex.com.au
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