Trail braking techniques course
Online course of 300 hours in trail braking techniques: 6 modules covering the physics of braking into corners, pedal technique, braking telemetry, car set-up for trail braking and application by corner type, with an assigned technical tutor.
Trail braking techniques course — studying from the United States
Automotive engineering in the United States is concentrated in Michigan's Detroit region, with major hubs in Ohio, Indiana, Tennessee and California. Large manufacturers and suppliers, including General Motors, Ford, Stellantis and Tesla, employ engineers across powertrain, chassis, body and vehicle integration. Motorsport, centered in North Carolina and the Indianapolis area, offers specialized opportunities in performance engineering and race vehicle development. Strong regulatory frameworks shape design requirements, making compliance knowledge a valuable asset for engineers in the sector.
Fees for the United States: US$610 (US Dollars), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in the United States
Typical roles
Questions from the United States
Which US bodies relate to automotive engineering, and how is it regulated?
Automotive engineering in the US is supported by SAE International, which publishes widely used standards, and the Society of Automotive Engineers’ professional community. Vehicle safety is regulated federally by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and emissions by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Engineering licensure, where it applies, is handled by state boards. SEIUM's private qualifications are not official degrees, so their recognition depends on employers or the relevant body.
How do US automotive and motorsport employers view private online engineering courses?
US automakers, suppliers and motorsport teams generally hire on the basis of accredited degrees, verified experience and demonstrable技术 skills. A private online qualification may support a career move or a specialist skill set, but its weight is decided by each hiring manager. Practical projects and a strong portfolio often matter as much as the credential itself, so treat it as one input among several.
Is a US-based student able to manage a programme's workload alongside a job?
Yes, the programmes are 100% online and taught in English, so there is no travel or visa requirement. The workload is substantial: 1,900 hours for a master's, 800 hours for a postgraduate diploma, and 300 hours for a specialist course. Each student has an assigned technical tutor for support. Fees can be paid in instalments, and employer sponsorship may be possible, so check with your employer about training support.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Explain the physics behind trail braking.
Master progressive modulation of the brake pedal.
Analyse corner braking quality with telemetry.
Set up the car to help rotation on corner entry.
Adapt the technique to each corner type and condition.
Train the technique progressively in the simulator.
Assess the driver's improvement objectively.
Who it's for
- Racing drivers looking to brake later and carry more speed into corners.
- Advanced driving instructors who coach braking technique.
- Track engineers who tune the car around the driver's braking.
- Braking data analysts working with telemetry.
- Driver coaches developing young talent.
- Professional sim racers aiming for consistent lap times.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to enter circuit racing.
What you'll work with
- ISO 7975 (braking in a turn, open-loop test method)
- ISO 8855 (vehicle dynamics vocabulary)
- SAE J670 (vehicle dynamics terminology)
- Appendix L to the FIA International Sporting Code (driver conduct on track)
- UN/ECE Regulation No 13-H (braking of passenger cars)
- MoTeC i2 Pro
- iRacing
- Assetto Corsa Competizione
- AiM Race Studio 3
6 modules
1.1Definition of corner braking, or trail braking1.2Load transfer to the front axle1.3The friction circle and combined use of grip1.4Progressive brake release while turning1.5Effect on the car's rotation1.6Differences between front- and rear-wheel drive1.7Straight-line braking versus corner braking1.8Trail braking in karts, single-seaters and GT cars1.9Risk of locking the inside wheel1.10Practical: theoretical analysis of a corner braking manoeuvre
2.1Initial application at maximum pressure2.2Brake release gradient2.3Modulation with the foot in the corner2.4Maintaining load on entry2.5Coordination with the steering2.6Left-foot braking2.7Heel-and-toe on downshifts2.8Adjusting brake bias for trail braking2.9Pedal sensitivity2.10Lab: modulation exercises in the simulator
3.1Brake pressure and steering angle3.2Overlap between braking and steering3.3Minimum speed and release point3.4Combined acceleration on the g-g diagram3.5Comparison with a reference driver3.6Lock-up detection3.7Braking quality indicators3.8Trail braking maths channels3.9Common mistakes in analysis3.10Case study: comparing two braking events in MoTeC
4.1Brake balance forwards or rearwards4.2Engine braking and rear-axle stability4.3Differential coast setting4.4Anti-dive geometry and pitch control4.5Front low-speed compression damping4.6Anti-roll bars and rotation on entry4.7Front tyre pressures4.8Aerodynamic balance under braking4.9ECU engine-braking maps4.10Case study: setting up the car for trail braking
5.1Long trail braking in hairpins5.2Short trail braking in fast corners5.3Braking in chicanes and changes of direction5.4Adapting the technique in the wet5.5Corner braking to overtake5.6Defensive braking on the inside5.7Looking after brakes and tyres in endurance racing5.8Specifics of trail braking in karts5.9Trail braking in GT cars with ABS5.10Case study: corner-by-corner braking plan
6.1Selecting the car and circuit6.2Analysis of the driver's initial braking6.3Progressive training plan6.4Guided simulator sessions6.5Telemetry analysis after each session6.6Proposed set-up changes6.7Measuring improvement per corner6.8Final progress report6.9Written report and presentation6.10Final project: final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, so the programme fits around your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is MoTeC i2 Pro, iRacing, Assetto Corsa Competizione and AiM Race Studio 3, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures: brake modulation exercises in the simulator, telemetry analysis of corner braking and car set-up to aid rotation. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final integrating project.
Standards covered: ISO 7975; ISO 8855; SAE J670; Appendix L to the FIA International Sporting Code; UN/ECE Regulation No 13-H.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No prior qualification is required.
- An internet connection and a computer able to run the programme software.
- English sufficient to read technical standards.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 300 hours over 3 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with MoTeC i2 Pro, iRacing, Assetto Corsa Competizione and AiM Race Studio 3, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.
A SEIUM Institute certificate, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the final project. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.
Yes. Modules passed are recognised in a higher programme in the same area (postgraduate diploma or master's). Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
No prior qualification is required: you need an internet connection, a computer able to run the programme software and English sufficient to read technical standards.
Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.
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