Crazy Steve Soper downshifts!

[Radisichrox]

On this year's review video, listen to Steve Soper when he downshifts. He goes so fast!!

Example- Mondello Park, 6th to 2nd in like 1 second.
Knockhill- 6th to 1st insanely fast, then he's hit by Phil Bennett!

[Owy's No1 Fan!]

He was like that at Oulton Park as well when he was electric that weekend. Sounded like an F1 car almost!

[Radisichrox]

Originally posted by Owy's No1 Fan!
He was like that at Oulton Park as well when he was electric that weekend. Sounded like an F1 car almost!

He was? Cool!

[Owy's No1 Fan!]

When he went to Druids, it was 6th to 4th in one quick double shift. Very nice on the ears.

[Radisichrox]

Originally posted by Owy's No1 Fan!
When he went to Druids, it was 6th to 4th in one quick double shift. Very nice on the ears.

Wow, sounds cool. I think he was trying to get back the feel for his old BMW...

[Jonny Apex]

Downshifting at that speed is the style Soper has adopted to help him carry more speed into a corner - he's using the engine braking to its capacity. He always did it in anything he drove - H-shifts, anything, even right back to his Fiat X19 special saloon. Anyone can use engine braking, but it takes a driver with great mechanical understanding to do it to this limit without buzzing the engine. Fantastic to watch and listen to.

[Chris Y]

Originally posted by Jonny Apex
Anyone can use engine braking, but it takes a driver with great mechanical understanding to do it to this limit without buzzing the engine.

And you have to be careful not to lock your tyres. This is something especially difficult when you have a rear-wheel drive car - all the weight is on the front wheels, but the engine braking makes the rears want to lock. Soper's a rear-wheel driver master though..

[Jonny Apex]

Absolutely agree. That's why for me he goes down as arguably the best driver in BTCC in the last 10 years. he could control or just about get out of any situation. He always knew wha he wanted to do with the car and did it (different thread, I know).

Nothing like seeing the on-board in Soper's VLR BMW as he shifts down at high speed and you can FEEL the rear end trying to break away as the rears start to grab. He controls it, though, every time. That's it - see my thread - best BTCC overtaking move of all time?