As strange as it sounds, drivers who can utilise the brakes the best actually drive the fastest.

It’s the old conundrum where some drivers aren’t confident in using the brakes, so there is a big down time between lifting off the throttle and applying it again.

In this article, we look at braking markers and what to look for on the race track that will enable you to hit the same spot lap after lap. When you watch motor racing stars in all different categories, a couple of areas stand out; consistency each lap & limiting mistakes. The reason this is applicable is because experienced drivers have visual and mental markers that they drive to every lap that allows them to push 100%.

Drivers can pick up on markers such as; tyre barriers, painted lines, trees, cracks in the circuit, flag/light posts and a whole range of things that triggers for a driver when they should either brake, accelerate or turn. The important thing to note with the above markers is that they are all fixed objects. So, from lap to lap, day to day, and morning to evening, these objects don’t move so every time you go back to drive that circuit, you can aim for the same markings.

Some drivers when they begin, use shadows or people watching on the sidelines as a marker, but the problem with these markers is that they change depending on the time of day or whether that person has moved. So it is important to always look for a fixed object, and something that you don’t need to turn your head to find as you still need your concentration fixated to where you are driving.

As you’re approaching your marker, you want to get a very early sight on it, so when you are driving next to it, you are no longer looking or searching for it, but casting your vision to the apex of the corner or the exit. Try to use tyre barriers for a marker, or painted lines on the race track as even after countless years driving at the same circuits, these points very rarely change. When you are starting out, your markers tend to be larger objects, but with more time in the seat, these markings go to as little as cracks in the circuit or change in bitumen.

Key takeaways:

* Always focus your attention to fixed objects that won’t change depending on weather or time of day

*Don’t turn your head to find a marker as this will force you to lose concentration on where you are driving

*Start off searching for larger fixed objects; trees, flag points, tyre barriers, then as you become more experienced hone in on smaller areas like cracks in the circuit or changing colours in the kerbing

Braking & throttle markers enable drivers to build the muscle memory so it becomes second nature to them. Once they have hit the same points over and over they can drive on instincts rather than searching for markers around the circuit. Once this has been achieved, you can start to build on those markers one kart length at a time to really push your limit.

Braking Markers