What is heel toe downshifting

So please take a look at our guide to how to heel and toe. Take a look at the image below, the horizontal axis is speed and the vertical axis is rpm. The coloured lines on the graph represent the gear ratios — 1st through to 5th gear. If you take a look at the red line 1st gear you will see that the ratio line goes from 0 rpm, and therefore 0 mph, up to 10, rpm and 20 mph.

Hopefully, you now understand a little more about why we need to heel and toe — however carrying out this number of movements precisely and in sync is really quite difficult.

Still braking for the upcoming corner, but rotating foot to prepare to blip throttle, whilst dipping clutch. Continuing to brake, dipping the clutch, blipping the accelerator and changing from 4th to 3rd the tricky step…. The best thing to do is to practice in your road car, before you head out on the track — obviously in a safe area where there are no other cars around. Approach the hill with some speed and release the accelerator.

To watch the heel and toe technique in action, please watch the video above. Thanks for reading and see you next time, Scott. Join over , other drivers who have taken the Driver's University tutorial series. This step is done very fluidly with Step 4. Come off the brake, smoothly and progressively release the clutch. Tackle the corner then accelerate smoothly and prepare for the next bend. Diagram 6: Release the clutch, and accelerate out of the turn.

Your email address will not be published. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. Diagram 1: Accelerating in third gear. Diagram 5: Changing to second gear. Rev matching Rev matching is used when down-shifting to smooth the transition between gears and prevent shock loads through the transmission. Braking A driver's guide to braking, one of the most important skills required to drive quickly on a track and absolutely essential to master for the road.

Your email address will not be published. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Notify me of new posts by email. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. Facebook Twitter. Richard Stanford on March 23, at am.

Ross Bentley on March 23, at am. Dave on April 18, at am. Too late to change it now you say?