Braking Technique in GT7 – how to nail/master it?

[Lightpilgrim]

Hey guys,

I’m trying to figure out another thing in GT7, specifically braking.

I’m going to share two screenshots from my lap analysis versus the world record at Turn 1 in Sardegna. The first one is how I was braking before I saw the world record. The second is me trying to replicate it.

I got a bit closer and the lap was slightly faster, so there is definitely some improvement. What I see is that the world record brakes a little later than me, hits the brakes much harder, holds that pressure, then goes to around 50%, holds it, releases, coasts, and accelerates.

My natural braking style is very different. I tend to be smoother, not as aggressive to 100% brake pressure, and I usually release the brake in one smooth, linear motion. I don’t naturally do the “100% → 50% hold → release → coast → accelerate” pattern.

The thing is, this world-record style feels extremely unnatural to me. It also makes me wonder if my braking habits simply don’t work very well in GT7 and if I need to adjust them.

I’d love some advice. How did you figure braking out in your own driving? What was your approach to learning it? Did you do any specific brake drills? How do you practice braking, and what helped you become really good at it?

 

[eran0004]

Ideally you'd want to brake the hardest at the beginning and then if needed reduce pressure later on. At the beginning you're going the fastest which means you have the most downforce and the most grip. Braking harder in the beginning would reduce your braking distance.

Try switching off ABS and do a couple of laps, you will find that you can often brake quite hard in the beginning.

 

[i386]

I don’t naturally do the “100% → 50% hold → release → coast → accelerate” pattern.

It's how real race drivers do it

 

[Lightpilgrim]

Here is progressive release

 

[Buckethead75]

What you call your "natural braking style" is just you braking too early.

If you have time to release the brakes a little and adjust your brake pressure it means you are in fact adjusting your speed approaching the turn because you realize that if you go to max brake pressure you will be stopped on track before even reaching the turn.

The fastest way around a corner is exactly what you saw in the world record. Max brake pressure while your car is straight, then release smoothly as you start turning (the car cant turn at 100% brakes) and finally coast the minimum time possible to make the turn. Easier said than done

That's how it works IRL too, well at least if you dont need to coast for 100 meters before braking to charge your batteries.

 

[Tommy_D]

I've been trying to brake at about 80% at the start and as I'm slowing down I increase brake pressure to 100% then feather off as I enter the turn, coast a bit through the turn and then apply throttle for the exit. It may not be the absolute fastest way to slow down, but if you are in a race where there is tire wear, it significantly saves your tires and will make you faster overall for the race. Sacrifice a couple tenths per lap so you don't have a situation where you lose a few seconds per lap running on ragged out tires.