Left-foot braking
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Left-foot braking is a driving technique used in performance driving, particularly rallying and Formula One racing.
In rallying it applies exclusively to front wheel drive vehicles. It is closely related to the handbrake turn, but involves locking the rear wheels using the foot brake, which is set up to apply a significant pressure bias to the rear brakes. The vehicle is balanced using engine power by use of the accelerator pedal, operated by the right foot. The left foot is thus brought into play to operate the brake. Rear wheel drive rally vehicles do not use this technique because they can be much more easily turned rapidly by using excess power to the wheels and the use of opposite lock steering.
Another left-foot braking technique is also used in vehicles, such as Formula One cars, where the clutch is not operated via a foot pedal or where there is no clutch, leaving the left foot free to operate the brake pedal. By doing this, the time between releasing the accelerator pedal and engaging the brakes can be slightly reduced compared to when the right foot has to move from the accelerator to the brakes.
This technique should not be confused with Heel-and-Toe, another driving technique.