The art of the handbrake: Knowing when to use it

If you’re thinking about adding a dedicated handbrake to your rig, you’re probably wondering if you’ll actually use it, and if it even matters.

For many sim racers, the answer depends entirely on what they drive. A handbrake is a specialist control that comes into its own in rally and drifting, where it's used to help rotate the car or influence its balance. Even then, there's no single "correct" way to use one.

In rallying, the handbrake is most commonly used at very tight junctions and hairpins where braking and steering alone aren't enough to rotate the car quickly. A brief pull locks the rear wheels, helping the car pivot towards the exit before the driver gets back on the throttle.

That doesn't mean every hairpin demands the handbrake. Skilled rally drivers also use weight transfer, trail braking, and the ‘Scandinavian flick’ to achieve the same result. Which technique they choose depends on the corner, the surface, the car, and their own driving style.

The drivetrain matters too. In many manual cars, drivers depress the clutch while pulling the handbrake to disconnect the engine from the driven wheels. Without doing so, locking the rear wheels can load the transmission or even stall the engine. Modern rally cars simplify this process with systems that temporarily disengage part of the drivetrain when the handbrake is applied, allowing the driver to focus on steering and positioning the car.

There's long been debate within the drifting community about what defines a drift. Some drivers see the handbrake as one of several valid ways to initiate a slide, alongside techniques such as clutch kicks or feint entries. Others believe the best drifts rely primarily on weight transfer and throttle control, using the handbrake only when necessary.

Competition judging reflects this. Drivers aren't rewarded or penalised simply for using the handbrake. Instead, judges score the result, looking at factors such as angle, line, commitment, and fluidity. A well-timed handbrake input can help achieve those goals. Relying on it too heavily, however, can reduce speed and momentum, making a run look less committed.

For many experienced drifters, the handbrake becomes a precision tool for initiating a drift, tightening a line, or making small corrections, rather than something they hold throughout the corner.

A dedicated analog handbrake gives you a level of precision that's difficult to achieve with a button on your steering wheel. Instead of a simple on or off input, you can vary how quickly and how far you pull the lever, making it easier to develop consistent technique across different cars and disciplines. Whether you're making a small correction during a drift or rotating the car through a tight rally hairpin, that extra control can make your inputs feel more natural and repeatable. The Fanatec Handbrake V2 is designed with this in mind, offering robust construction, adjustable settings, and a precision load cell sensor.