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How to Get Better Braking in Iracing

Learn how to get better braking in iRacing fast. A calm coach-like guide for iRacing beginners and those new to iRacing—clear steps, drills and practical iRacing tips.

If braking feels chaotic or you’re losing time every corner, you’re not broken — you’re new. This guide explains how to get better braking in iRacing in straightforward steps a complete beginner can use today, so you stop guessing and start improving lap by lap.

how to get better braking in iracing

Quick answer: Focus on where, how hard, and how smoothly. Pick a consistent brake reference (turn-in point or marker), brake progressively to the desired force, trail off to maintain balance, and practice short drills to build muscle memory and confidence. Small adjustments beat random inputs.

Why this matters for beginners

Braking controls speed, balance, and your chance to make a clean exit. Many iRacing beginners think speed is only about throttle; mastering brakes wins more time than chasing tiny throttle gains. It’s confusing because virtual feedback differs from real cars — but iRacing gives clear cues once you know what to feel for.

Common mistakes and fixes

• Panic or stomp on the pedal: Fix — use a progressive press. Aim for a smooth ramp-up to full braking in the first half of the braking zone.
• Braking too late every lap: Fix — pick one reliable marker (a board, sign, or kerb) and brake at that point, then fine-tune by tenths.
• Locking wheels or instability: Fix — reduce peak pressure slightly and focus on trail braking (easing off) into the corner to preserve grip.

Simple step-by-step guide

1. Set up a visible marker: choose a roadside sign or kerb to be your single brake reference.
2. Practice one corner at a time: in practice mode, do 10 clean approaches at 70% pace focusing only on braking.
3. Find peak brake force: press progressively until ABS or tires begin to protest, then back off ~10–15% for stability.
4. Add trail braking: on lap 11+, ease pressure slowly into the corner to feel how the car rotates.
5. Record a lap and compare: use iRacing telemetry or onboard replay to spot where you brake and release.

Small practice drill (15 minutes)

Pick one slow-to-medium corner on a familiar track. Warm up 5 slow laps. Then:

• Do 10 laps where you brake at the same marker and count how many stay under a fixed target time.
• Next 5 laps, reduce peak braking by 10% and note corner exit speed.
  This isolates braking from the rest of the lap — fast learning.

Quick pro tips

• Aim for consistency first; speed follows.
• Use force feedback and sound to sense lock-ups or ABS activity.
• If you use a controller, set brake deadzone and sensitivity to mimic a progressive pedal.
• Learn one car and one track to shorten the learning curve.
• Read setup notes for brake bias; small bias moves can aid stability.

FAQs

Q: How long will it take to improve?
A: Expect noticeable gains in a few sessions (3–5 practice runs). Consistent drilling speeds learning far more than long unfocused runs.

Q: Should I use ABS or assists?
A: Use what helps you stay consistent. Many iRacing beginners start with ABS and lower complexity, then remove assists as they master technique.

Q: Where can I ask for feedback?
A: Upload a short replay to iRacing forums or friendly iRacing Discord communities; post your lap and ask for braking critique.

Q: Does car setup matter for braking?
A: Yes—brake bias and pad compound affect feel. But technique is the foundation; fix your inputs before chasing ideal setups.

Final takeaways: Pick one corner, practice consistent marker-based braking, and add trail braking slowly. For your next session: do the 15-minute drill above and record a replay — you’ll see clearer progress after just a few laps.