Will Brown, the current Supercars champion, recently shared insights into the stark contrasts between Supercars and NASCAR, especially focusing on braking methods as he prepares to compete against Shane Van Gisbergen at the 2025 Chicago Street Race. Brown highlighted how the different braking techniques greatly influence driver performance across these two racing disciplines.
Brown explained that in Supercars, drivers predominantly use their right foot for braking, while NASCAR relies heavily on left-foot braking. Having transitioned from left-foot to right-foot braking when moving into Supercars, Brown shed light on how this switch impacts driving dynamics and why mastering the appropriate braking style is crucial.
Will Brown on the Shift from Left-Foot to Right-Foot Braking
In a recent interview on Corey Lajoie’s podcast, Brown recounted an early career moment when Roland Dane, former owner of the 888 team and Pole Racing, insisted that he use right-foot braking to secure a contract. Brown recalled,
“Yeah, I think it stems back a fair while ago. Like I remember Roland Dane, who used to own the 888, Red Bull, and Pole Racing I drive for. Now, I was, you know, 18, and I was driving in what would be our Xfinity, and I used a left-foot brake then. And, he sort of recognized me, and we were going through looking at how I could get a contract with them.”
—Will Brown, Supercars Champion
He further noted,
“He said, I want to take you on board unless you are right foot brake. So, there’s actually only been one person probably in supercars in the last, I think, about 10 to 15 years that has been quite successful left-foot braking.”
—Will Brown, Supercars Champion
When asked to name that driver, Brown identified Fabian Coulthard as the rare example of a left-foot braking driver succeeding in Supercars.
Shane Van Gisbergen’s Mastery of Right-Foot Braking and Clutch Control
Brown praised Shane Van Gisbergen’s precision in braking, emphasizing that Van Gisbergen excels not because he uses an unusual technique but due to his expert modulation of the clutch. Brown said,
Image of: Shane Van Gisbergen
“I believe he would, but pretty much everyone over there. Shane does an amazing job at what he does, don’t get me wrong, but everyone over there is right-foot braking, heel, and toeing, and doing that, Shane just does a really good job at how he modulates the clutch.”
—Will Brown, Supercars Champion
Van Gisbergen, who drives the No. 88 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Trackhouse Racing, has made a significant impact in NASCAR after transitioning from Supercars. Brown, who made his NASCAR Cup Seriesdebut at Sonoma in 2024, continues to adapt to the demands of NASCAR racing techniques as they both prepare for the Chicago Street Race.
The Technical Differences Between Braking in NASCAR and Supercars
Brown highlighted the reasons why left-foot and right-foot braking create distinct driving challenges. He noted that in NASCAR, left-foot braking helps manage the rear tire chatter during downshifting. He observed,
“I still think you can use it a bit in these (NASCAR) cars. I have been looking at a lot of footage from last year of different guys at Chicago, and you really hear when they go for the down change, the rears start chattering.”
—Will Brown, Supercars Champion
Reflecting on his Sonoma experience, Brown added that effective clutch modulation can help maintain vehicle stability by preventing rear wheels from locking during cornering. He concluded,
“Hopefully, at Sonoma, I felt like you could modulate that a bit. If you can try to prevent that from happening and use the clutch to modulate that if you feel that it is locking rears, then it just allows you to have more stability in the corner.”
—Will Brown, Supercars Champion
Why Brown’s Perspective on Braking Techniques Matters
Will Brown’s detailed insights provide an important perspective on the subtle but essential differences that drivers must navigate when switching between Supercars and NASCAR. His observations about Shane Van Gisbergen’s braking technique emphasize the level of skill needed to adapt and excel in both motorsport environments. As these drivers continue to prepare for the Chicago Street Race, understanding these nuances will be vital for their success on the track.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Why did Shane van Gisbergen quit Supercars?
A. Shane van Gisbergen believes he made the right decision to leave Supercars for NASCAR. This year, he starts his first full season in the NASCAR Xfinity Series with Kaulig Racing after 15 years in Supercars.
Q. Why did Shane van Gisbergen leave Supercars?
A. I’m stepping away from V8 Supercars for personal reasons that I prefer not to share publicly. I’m returning to New Zealand without any definite future plans.
