real strategy

[fujiwaratofuuuu]

hey i did a search already and found some good stuff here, but does anyone know of any websites or such which provide more info on racing strategy and tips that can be applied both in the gt3 and real life.

also, does anyone know where i could find a downloadable video of someone doing toe-heel downshifting?

 

[Gil]

Don't know where you'll find a video on heel-toe shifting.
But if you "jeeves" it or "google" it you'll likely find a good explanation.
It is simply using one part (heel) of your right foot to brake, while using the other part (toe) to blip the throttle, while manipulating the clutch with your left foot, and downshifting.
It takes a little practice, but becomes "second nature" rather quickly.
Hopefully, neonduke will see this (I believe that he actually races some) and give you a better explanation.

 

[Duke]

I've done a track day or two, and some autocross, but real racing is on my list for after I win the lottery... But here's a description of heel-and-toe I posted for someone else who asked about it on the Cars board.

I heel and toe most of my downshifts in the Neon. I taught myself how to do it a couple years ago, and once you get the hang of it, it really smoothes out your downshifts.

The idea of heel-and-toe is to get the revs up so the lower gear engages smoothly when you let the clutch out, to avoid unsettling the chassis when braking and turning. I tend to do it gently when braking for a traffic light, and a little more aggressively when turning on a spirited drive.

I usually downshift from 5 ~> 4 without much braking; just give a slight blip of the throttle while the clutch is in, then smoothly let the clutch out. Then, with the heel of my right foot wedged firmly into the angle between the floor and the console, I rotate my ankle so that the big toe is on the brake pedal, and begin braking. As the car slows to each downshift point, I put the clutch in with my left while adding a little braking pressure to the right toe. Keeping my heel planted, I roll my right foot to the outside while the clutch is in, revving the car a few hundred RPM for just a moment, then let the clutch out smoothly, catching the revs before they start to fall. With practice, you can adjust the brake pressure slightly (less when the clutch is out; a little more when the clutch is in) so that the car slows evenly through all the changing down.

Try it first in light traffic, on a straight-line deacceleration. Make sure that you can keep your toes(s) planted securely on the brake pedal - you definitely don't want to slip off the brakes at a critical time. Wear shoes with a wide sole to help you. It may feel funny at first, but remember that normally you will be braking moderately heavily when you're doing this, so that the brake pedal and the throttle are closer to the same level. Also, don't rev the car too much, since that may cause a little burst of acceleration when the clutch engages. I don't usually bother to heel-and-toe the 2~>1 shift for that reason.