Will Brown is the reigning Supercars champion, a series that stands apart from NASCAR in both style and technique. The differences between these two motorsport worlds are significant, with drivers adapting unique skills to excel in each environment.
In a recent interview, Brown highlighted these contrasts and praised fellow racer Shane van Gisbergen for his distinctive braking style, just as the two prepare to compete against each other in the upcoming Chicago Street Race.
Will Brown Breaks Down the Art of Braking: Supercars vs. NASCAR
One of the most notable differences between Supercars and NASCAR is the way drivers handle braking. In Supercars, competitors typically use their right foot for braking, while in NASCAR, left-foot braking is the standard. Brown, who switched from left-foot to right-foot braking when he moved to Supercars, explained how this technique shapes driving styles in both series.
Van Gisbergen, or SVG, is now a prominent NASCAR figure driving the No. 88 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Trackhouse Racing. Brown, eager to make his mark in NASCAR, made his Cup Series debut at Sonoma in 2024 and will also compete this season, including the Chicago event.
During a conversation on Corey Lajoie’s podcast “Stacking Pennies,” Brown said, “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.”
Brown continued, “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.” When Lajoie asked Brown about the driver’s name, he said it was Fabian Coulthard.
Brown explained, “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,” revealing van Gisbergen’s secret while praising his skill.
When asked about the difference between right and left foot braking, Brown explained, “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.”
He concluded by reflecting on his experience at Sonoma: “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.”
Brown’s insights offer a rare look into the technical nuances that separate Supercars and NASCAR. His perspective highlights why mastering these techniques is essential for drivers looking to succeed on both sides of the Pacific.