Performance brakes are one of the most important features of any race car, but what are some of the downsides?
In endurance races like the 24 Hours of Le Mans, braking zones are so extreme that teams often wear through and replace multiple sets of brakes just to make it to the finish. Temperatures soar, pads wear fast, and pitstops only slow you down.
In this video, Alcon's Scott Harris walks us through what makes it possible to create a GT3 brake package that will last for 24 hours of straight racing. Their GT3-spec billet monoblock caliper is precision machined on a five-axis mill, optimized through topology analysis to minimize weight while maintaining stiffness for consistent pedal feel. The design includes a quick-release pad system with 30mm pads that allows pad changes without removing the caliper, and the option of titanium or stainless steel pistons for fine-tuning thermal performance and unsprung mass.
This caliper is used across multiple GT3 platforms including the Aston Martin Vantage GT3, McLaren GT3, and Bentley Continental GT3. In one Le Mans campaign, the Aston Martin team ran the entire 24-hour race without a single pad or disc change, helping secure the class win.
Also covered are a few of the engineering trade-offs that make this caliper so good on track but completely overkill on the street. From noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) to dust seals, you'll see why this level of performance is generaly built purely for motorsport.
If you've ever wondered what separates a true GT3 brake setup from even the best aftermarket performance kit, this is it.
Click here to watch the video.
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TIMESTAMPS
0:00 – Intro | The brake system that lasted 24 hours
0:18 – What the Alcon GT3 calliper is and where it’s used
0:40 – Design features and GT3 applications
0:46 – 5-axis billet monoblock manufacturing
1:00 – Quick-release pad system explained
1:13 – Titanium vs stainless pistons
1:22 – Weight vs stiffness trade-offs
1:45 – Topology optimisation and unsprung mass
1:49 – 24 Hours of Le Mans | Why no brake change matters
2:55 – Dry-break systems and full calliper swaps
3:16 – Heat management and fluid protection
3:41 – Why GT3 callipers don’t suit street use
4:11 – Thanks Scott & Alcon
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