Left- or Right-Foot Braking — a Matter of Preference
Driving stars discuss braking techniques in this SAFEisFAST video.
If you’re a right-foot braker, I recommend practicing left-foot braking on the street for a few months before you take it to the track.
Obviously, an automatic transmission is ideal for learning subconscious competency in left-foot braking.
However, manual transmission cars can also be used in re-training your brain as long as it is used in corners that require only a minor speed adjustments that don’t require a downshift.
Additionally, if your car is equipped with a dog box transmission that does NOT use synchronizers (meaning you can shift without using the clutch) then you CAN incorporate left-foot braking while driving into the turns.
Incidentally, Michael Schumacher is credited for introducing left-foot braking to Formula One.
Gearbox Dependent
The gas pedal in Beck’s Lister Corvette #007 (a Facebook page opens in new window) has been modified to allow blips for heel-and-toe braking when downshifting using a synchronized gearbox.
However, now that #007 has an EMCO dog box, left-foot braking can be used with the right foot dedicated to the gas pedal…once you go dog, you’ll never go back! 😉
NOTE:Â Do NOT ever modify the brake pedal when rearranging pedals to accommodate heel-and-toe down shifting; otherwise, it can turn into heal-and-tow.
