Hi, new Porsche driver here. Whats the right way to downshift/brake when you're coming into a corner? I tend brake and declutch then going into 2nd or 3rd coming out of a corner. This is likely terrible and wrong. Anyone have a good step by step?

 

Slow in Fast out

 

Assume a rear wheel drive car. Brake prior to changing your direction ie only brake when wheels are pointing straight ahead. Get hard on the brakes, it will move the center of gravity to the front. Now you turn the wheel into the turn and add "some" throttle. That will move the center of gravity back to the rear and that adds grip to the rear wheels and results in better traction and better control, feed more power as soon as you start turning steering to straight ahead. Let it rip when the car is going straight. Then do some more of that in the next bend followed by wiping grin off face. Basically, try NOT to brake in a turn. As someone said, slow in fast out. Leave Traction control ON !! If you want to find out what traction control really does for you, turn it off and make sure you have a nice wide run off and bring a change of underwear. Just in case you get the "bends".

 

And remember ....... "Brakes are cheaper than transmissions."

 

Best two advices you will ever find, it is very similar than driving a sportbike. Braking should always happen when the wheels are straight. Also once you reach the speed you feel adequate, give it some throttle, your speed should increase steadily while your acceleration should be flat.

 

Change of underwear lol true stroy i pissed myself a few times with the traction control off lol always keep spare underwear in the glove box

 

Great advice. My only follow-up is when do I down shift? If I'm heading into a corner at 70mph and I need to take it at 40mph when do I shift gears?

 

wow, some of these answers have my laughing out loud! haha!
good advice too!

 

Like all have said. Brake in, accelerate out downshifting while braking.
..and don't forget to scream "YEE HAAA" as you pull out of the corner with your foot down...

 

You got to downshift while breaking before you"ll get in a turn. When turning you already have to be in a proper gear. The technic using to dowshift while brakking its called toe heel. Breaking with toes and adjusting throttle with your heel while downshifting. Requires a lot of practice and on a beginning seams to impossible but you will get it. Here's great video about it:

 

Either rev match down and then brake or rev match down while braking.
The second is the heel / toe technique and you have to be braking pretty aggressively to make it work smoothly. If you're not rev matching the downshift then you are shedding clutch life because you are essentially using the clutch and engine like a brake. Don't brake into the turn as you'll shift weight off the heavy rear end and it will swing around and bite you. This also happens if you let off the gas too abruptly in the turn. Extreme examples but it can happen.

 

Thanks!

 

What this person is trying to tell you is that you want a late apex. The advice about braking (not 'breaking' ) only in a straight line is sometimes true but usually not. The technique is called trail braking. Also, while braking, you want to clutch, downshift, and then when your speed is within the range of your exit gear, blip and let the clutch out so that you are in the right gear and haven't upset the weight balance. Then, at the corner exit, off with the brake and ease onto the throttle.

The three keys are a late apex, trail brake, and heel & toe downshift. Simple, no? dave

 

^^^ lol you forgot the spare underwear in the glove box just incase he doesnt catch the turn and goes *** out lol

 

How amazing to see it in action, and get first hand training from such a pro!!

Thanks for sharing forbes!