Q: “I race endurance wheel-to-wheel and at present I do not use heel/toe downshifting. I understand that this technique is a needed skill to be a “great” driver. If you had to rate this skill, where would you consider it to be?”
A: The short answer is I still think it’s a very important skill. How would I rate it? A 9 out of 10. Sure, braking is more important, but heel and toe is actually part of the braking procedure.
I hear some drivers say that heel and toe is not needed anymore, especially since so many cars have semi-automatic transmissions. But if you’re doing any endurance racing, I’ll bet that you’re currently racing a manual transmission car, or at some point you will be. If you’re asked to drive a car that needs it, and you can’t heel and toe, what a shame that you’ll lose that opportunity. And let’s put it this way: If I was looking for a driver for my car, I would never consider a driver who couldn’t heel and toe properly.
Heel and toe is easier on the car than downshifting without it, it helps you drive more consistently, you’ll be faster and smoother, and you’ll have more control. All of those seem pretty important to me!
Even if you’re currently not driving a car that requires heel and toe downshifting, knowing how to do so will make you more understanding of the needs and dynamics of any car. You’ll be a more complete driver.
I’d also guess that if you’re not unsettling the car without it, then either you’re not braking hard enough or you’re shifting at the point that it’s hurting your acceleration out of the corner.
Try different techniques too. I personally prefer ball-of-foot on the brakes and pinky-toe on the gas when I can, that keeps my braking heel planted as well.
The term “heel & toe” is not really accurate because we rarely, if ever, use the heel. Like you said, it’s the ball of foot and toe or side of foot. I talk about that in this video: https://youtu.be/K5Y2wb9ENR0.
I propose calling it “Ball and Toe”. Too late to change it now you say? Dang it.
The fact that you’re an endurance racer adds even more to the importance as your clutch and trans are likely some of the weaker links in your car. Proper rev-marching (the goal of the technique) not only improves stability on entry but is much, much easier on the clutch and the gears.
As Ross said, “heel and toeing” is a necessary skill to master.
Note that it’s important to have the pedals placed properly so that when the brake is full on it is still a bit, maybe an inch or so, above the gas pedal. If your road car has a manual shift you can practice this skill at low speed on the road. If the pedals are not properly placed, fabricate a riser or bracket so that that are oriented correctly.
After you master “heel and toeing” the next skill that is useful is to skip gears when downshifting from a fast straight into a slow corner. Braking into Lime Rock’s Big Bend for example. When I drove Formula Ford and tested the Barber Turbo ASSB Pro Car it was my standard way to enter such corners.
In a FF one brakes just before or even after the last braking marker if attempting a pass. You are on the brakes there for only a handful of seconds. For me at least, rowing through the gears was impossible to do without upsetting the balance of the car.
After some initial experimentation the technique that worked for me was to get off the gas onto the brakes at the point of brake application while selecting neutral and depressing the clutch. Then manipulating the gas to “blip” the throttle as if I were going through the gears. On the last blip and then selecting the appropriate gear and engaging the clutch to exit the corner under power.
This technique will allow later braking and increased stability when threshold breaking as no other force other than the brakes are causing a shift in weight.
I’ve only used this technique in cars with racing gearboxes like Wewlands and Websters so your mileage may vary.
-dave
This is Dave FF80, sorry about the typos!