Guest contributor and racer, Canaan Manley, shares some timeless racing lessons below.
So how much should you brake as you approach a turn?
For newer racers, almost all of the braking will happen before turning in.
As your driving skills increase you can do about 90% of your braking before transitioning into the corner, and then use a minimal amount of braking to slow until the apex of the corner (the last 10% reduction).
This continued minimal braking in the corner is known as “trail braking.”
For example, if you know you need to shave 50 MPH before you turn, then you’ll reduce your speed by 45 MPH with heavy braking in a straight line, and then use a light brake application to reduce another 5 before the middle of the turn (apex).
We talk more about the different types of braking in the full Keys to Speed course. Check it out if you are serious about learning race car driving theory!
