Drivers use the "heel and toe" method to smoothly combine braking and downshifting as they approach a corner. Good drivers know that blipping the throttle between gears in a downshift to speed up the engine to match the tire speed keeps the wheels from locking and stops the back end from getting loose.

Is heel toe downshifting necessary?

First used as a necessary technique for pre-WWII clunky gear mechanisms, heel-toe shifting is largely unnecessary for daily drivers. ... Coming out of the corner, to compensate for your reduced speed, you shift into a lower gear, but depressing the clutch only causes engine speed to drop faster.

What's the purpose of heel toe downshifting?

Using the heel toe method allows the driver to downshift at the very last moment before entering the turn, meaning the car can be in the optimal rev range as the lower gear is engaged. This, in turn, allows for a far smoother and quicker acceleration out of the corner.