I've noticed on some of the Best Motoring videos and some others that clearly show the drivers "tapping" the brake pedal with their left foot (not in the same way as left foot braking) but is done usually at higher speeds on the straightaway, prior to engaging their brakes to HT into the corner's entries.

Does anyone use this technique and what is the idea behind it?

Thanks!

 

Maybe to heat the pads before the corner.. I don't know of anyone that does it regularly/

 

That would be my guess but it seems to light an effort to really build some heat. Or it could be to check brake pressure just to make sure its still there.

 

My guess is they're afraid of the corner and they want to be that much slower when they start their braking and turning in

Seriously, there could be some reasoning behind it.

There are some very good books out there on technique. There's no guarantee the Best Motoring drivers know what they're doing. Of course, they probably a lot know more than I do, I just like to make sure I'm learning from the best.

 

Maybe its dependent on the pads that are used. It might have something to do with just enough heat to achieve a desirable initial bite.

Or it could just be a jdm thing like double clutch upshifts

 

I believe it is mainly to 'set' the brake pads squarely on the rotor. I'm sure an engineer could give a more technical/detailed explanation than myself but that seems to be the most likely theory that I've heard. The part about checking to see if the brakes are still there sounds plausible too, although sometimes I see such a light tap from the drivers I don't know if it would do them any good in that regard.

 

It might be to wake up the guys behind them

 

Yeah, and get em to brake early

 

Just wire up the brake light so they're on whenever you're not at WOT. That'll slow 'em down

 

Don't recall where I read it but I've read more than one account that indicated that they are testing the brake to ensure that braking is available before needing to rely on it.