As a three-time Australian Supercars champion, there’s no doubt that Shane van Gisbergen is the cream of the crop in driving. However, what leaves fans puzzled is his sheer dominance on road courses. Let’s say the Trackhouse Racing driver has a “secret weapon” helping him dominate NASCAR’s road courses. It’s the classic “Heel-Toe Technique.”
While other drivers adapt to modern techniques, the New Zealand native sticks with something most racers abandoned years ago. It’s a risky old-school move that shouldn’t work in today’s NASCAR, but as results reflect, it does.
What Makes Shane Van Gisbergen’s Heel-Toe Technique So Special?
After another strong showing at the Chicago Street Race, van Gisbergen has everyone talking about his unique shifting style. This technique has been around for quite a while, but it’s rare in NASCAR. In the world of left-foot braking that defines modern stock car racing, van Gisbergen continues to use his trusty Supercars shifting technique. By the looks of it, he’s mastered the art.
Heel-toe shifting is a technique racing drivers use to slow down smoothly while keeping the car in its optimal rev range. It involves using the right foot to press both the brake and throttle pedals at the same time. The driver brakes with the top of the right foot and blips the throttle with the side of the same foot to match engine speed to the wheels while downshifting(rev-matching).
Sounds complicated? But van Gisbergen has turned it into an art form. In Supercars, where he spent most of his racing career, this technique is standard practice. Those cars use manual transmissions with clutches, and drivers brake with their right foot. Meanwhile, NASCAR drivers use their left foot to brake and aren’t familiar with this technique.
When van Gisbergen made the jump to NASCAR, he stuck with what he knew best. The decision has paid off handsomely, as he’s won multiple road course races in both the Cup and Xfinity Series.
This technique was perfected by legends like the late Formula One star Ayrton Senna. They were considered the masters of heel-toe shifting. However, due to its complications and the introduction of newer technologies, this technique has become less common in most motorsports series.
How Is Van Gisbergen’s Old-School Style Still Winning Races?
Van Gisbergen’s approach has made a huge impact in a short time. With victories this year in Mexico City, he’s proven this technique still delivers results. Fellow Supercars driver Will Brown has talked about how special van Gisbergen’s technique is, especially since most NASCAR drivers don’t brake or shift like that anymore.
Van Gisbergen himself seems surprised by all the attention his footwork has received. He’s joked about it several times in interviews, almost downplaying what makes him so effective.
But when he’s out on the track, there’s nothing funny about his technique. With another road course this weekend at Sonoma, it will be a treat to see what miracles this technique does.