Among top National autocrossers, some do LFB and some don't. I don't know what the split is, but it's definitely not a "must have" skill to be fast.
IMO, however, LFB does offer some advantages, particularly to drivers of FWD cars:
- The biggest thing, applicable to all drive types, is that you don't have that brief "coasting" period while your right foot is moving from the gas to the brake or vice versa- you can transition instantly. You'd think that would be a really big thing, but aparently it's not...
- In a FWD car, dragging the brake makes the car "hunker down" more and is, IMO, more stable in fast corners. Think of how a car squats if you ease the clutch out while holding the e-brake and you get the picture. Compare that to an alternative situation, flying into a fast bend and lifting- the car would rise up on its springs as the rear unweights- very unstable.
- In a FWD car, if you find yourself
really sideways, dragging the brake while flooring the gas will straighten the car out faster, and use less real estate, then just flooring it. The engine overpowers the front brakes, effectively applying throttle and rear brake at the same time. Electric trailer brake controllers have a "trailer brake only" function to that uses the same effect to calm a wagging trailer.
- In a turbo car, as Anders mentioned, you can keep boost spooled up by dragging the brake. But there is also an advantage for NA cars- a car will jump forward more quickly to the release of a brake than in response to opening of a throttle plate. My guess is it's because a motor straining with open throttle against a brake is moving more air through it, even though the RPMs may be low. Obviously, this only would apply to the split-second between the brake being released and the engine pressures equalizing.
There are some disadvantages, though:
- The biggest one is once you get into the habit, it's easy to hit the brake for
everything, and while that may not
necessarily be bad, the odds are good you'll be slowing down too much.
Important: Don't listen to those RFBers who tell you, "no wonder you're slow, your brake lights are on all the time". They can't tell how hard you're pressing the brake (you may be just brushing it), and they don't consider that you may also be on the gas at the time.
- If you drag the brake against full throttle (ie. through a section with no pure braking areas), you'll run out of brake boost pretty quickly. It's easy to lose focus when you get a hard pedal.
Now, I may be making it sound like I never lift and just add brake when needed, but that's not true- usually my brake and gas feet are moving in opposite directions.
But, it's nice to have a few extra tricks in my bag for when I need them...
Especially if you're relatively new to autocross, I'd really recommend you try taking the time to give your left foot some "sensitivity training" and give LFB a try. Doing LFB on the street is good basic training, but learning threshold braking is a different thing! Make a decision to give it a full season- you won't want to give it that long if you're already good using RFB. Try different combinations of pedal pressures- experiment, find what works for you.
OK, if you're still reading, I'm impressed!
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