TT RS driver pulls handbrake when brakes fail

Could have been a lot worse aye.

But, he wasn't braking that much different to previous laps, always around the 227-235km/h mark, braking at anywhere between (roughly!) 200-250m. Certainly wasn't the hardest braking he'd done at that point.

Possibly could have used engine braking and cut across, possibly could have pumped the brakes, possibly could have been less drastic on the handbrake. Too many unknowns. Just looks like big-arse brake fade.

Tad overcommited, but it *looks* like alloys/bumper damage judging by the hit.
 
Oof nasty accident! Not sure what else he could've done, I'd have no doubt ended up doing something much worse given the short time to react! Very fortunate he didn't end up on the roof or something.
 
Going for the handbrake probably was the best idea tbh. Perhaps he shouldn't have just yanked it on all the way, or done some epic engine breaking - but meh, split second decision.

Might teach the passenger to wear a helmet next time though!
 
I didn't think those type would allow you to engage it while moving?

Surprisingly they do. I would have thought they didn't but I guess the handbrake is an emergency brake.

I actived a Z4 electric handbrake at 30mph thinking it wouldn't work
 
Car was manual no? I would have slowed the car down using the gears. It could spin but, so would lifting the handbreak :\
 
brightbluesmurf
18 hours ago

@MrPatrikkaiser did the ESP fail then?

@brightbluesmurf Hi, No if you pull the handbrake, the backwheels block and there is no ESP working - I had it anyway switched off. But I knew from other accidents at that corner, if I go without brake into the stonefield, the car will crash into the tirewall and will be completely destroyed.

This be what he said.
 
Car was manual no? I would have slowed the car down using the gears. It could spin but, so would lifting the handbreak :\

There's no way it would have slowed sufficiently at that speed.

I spent 2 seasons racing in the Ferrari challenge a few years back with my Dad. What this guy did is *exactly* what we were told to do in the event of a serious brake failure at high speed. The fact that the only real damage was to the front of the car due to the 90 degree slide hitting the barrier is pretty impressive. Had he done anything else, that could well have been much more serious indeed.

Kudos points to him IMO, even after several years of racing, I still wouldn't have reacted quite that quickly.
 
[ui]ICEMAN;17434652 said:
There's no way it would have slowed sufficiently at that speed.

I spent 2 seasons racing in the Ferrari challenge a few years back with my Dad. What this guy did is *exactly* what we were told to do in the event of a serious brake failure at high speed. The fact that the only real damage was to the front of the car due to the 90 degree slide hitting the barrier is pretty impressive. Had he done anything else, that could well have been much more serious indeed.

Kudos points to him IMO, even after several years of racing, I still wouldn't have reacted quite that quickly.

I think a few people in this thread feel a little silly now :D
 
It's pretty easy to look into it from the outside, so its perfectly fair that people have their opinions. Perhaps he could have tried to cut right, maybe slow down a little first using the gears but ultimately, when you're in the situation yourself, you have mere fractions of seconds to make the decision.

He had cars around him too, another consideration. Overall this turned out very well, the slide scrubbed off more speed than any other option would have, shy of slamming it right into a wall.
 
Poor fella. I had a similar but less drastic thing happen to me on the nurburgring in a mk5 Golf GTI. Coming into a hairpin (I haven't learnt all the names because it's pointless) I hammered on the brakes and basically nothing happened, pumped the crap out of the pedal and uttered a few expletives. I turned in as late as I could for the hairpin and just made it around. It's all on video and to be honest, looks like I absolutely nailed the corner. I however nearly crapped my pants...

I think he definitely did the right thing. No way in hell would he have been able to scrub off that much speed just using the gears. I just hope that never happens to me when I'm racing....
 
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