Autoclutch off faster laptimes??

Bjorn de Haas · May 21, 2012

Guys i read somewhere that in iracing disabeling automatic clutch gives you better laptimes.
Is this true and so yes so i only use clutch on upshifts or also downshift??

Thanks

Jan Roman · May 21, 2012

Yes, it's true. It's not much, but there is a slight penalty to speed while using autoclutch.

The way you shift depends on the car you drive. For instance, Mustang has a H-pattern synchonized transmission. In a real world, you would probably go for clutch while upshifting and heel-toe for downshifting. Clutchless shift is possible of course, but you have to have the right RPM and even though it's not very gentle to your gearbox.

On the other hand, Corvette C6.R works without the clutch (except for standing starts). Simple upshift (throttle cut) and throttle blipping while downshifting (some people use clutch as well like in endurance races).

Hampus Andersson · May 21, 2012

You hit the limiter everytime with autoclutch so that is the reason why it´s faster without it.

Bjorn de Haas · May 21, 2012

ok thanks guys

Eric Estes · May 21, 2012

In the Dallara the clutch is never required, except at starts for a smooth quick getaway. No blipping either.

Greg Carr · May 22, 2012

I can't downshift the Corvette without the autoblip turned on.

Jan Roman · May 22, 2012

Why not Greg? It took me a while as well, but I think it's worth it.

Push the shifter forwards, hold it there, blip, release. It takes a while to synchronise, but i think it makes the Vette very enjoyable.

Greg Carr · May 22, 2012

Jan Roman said:
Why not Greg? It took me a while as well, but I think it's worth it.

Push the shifter forwards, hold it there, blip, release. It takes a while to synchronise, but i think it makes the Vette very enjoyable.

I have played the Endurance Mod for rFactor way to much

. So my methods are based on that. In that you need to blip on the downshifts (for the GT cars) and I could do it pretty well I think. But in that, the car would still downshift even if you didn't blip in the right spot. In iRacing you need to get it right otherwise it will not go into gear. Ya I just need to find a track I know really well like Watkins

and figure it out. I think my problem is I do this brake>blip> pull the paddle to downshift, when it should be brake>engage the downshift paddle>blip>release after it goes in gear, right? I guess that's what I will work on this week.

Jan Roman · May 22, 2012

Yes, it's exactly like that. It took me a couple of days to get myself comfortable with it, but after you learn it, it's not hard at all. I haven't failed to downshift for a long period of time so it can't be that difficult (since I am the slowest guys on this planet).

Greg Carr · May 22, 2012

Jan Roman said:
Yes, it's exactly like that. It took me a couple of days to get myself comfortable with it, but after you learn it, it's not hard at all. I haven't failed to downshift for a long period of time so it can't be that difficult (since I am the slowest guys on this planet).

Thanks Jan, I guess I need to work on it. So outside of the Corvette, cars like the MX-5 and Mustang, cars with the H-pattern, I can't see myself turning off the auto clutch and blip for those cars.

Jan Roman · May 22, 2012

Yes, heel-toe took me much much longer

I would rather drive like this however, heel-toe is the most enjoyable thing in racing I've ever done.

Bjorn de Haas · May 22, 2012

I will teach myself to use clutch with upshifting now haha

Yoeri Gijsen · May 23, 2012

It really depends on the car.

With the Corvette on Sebring the autoclutch off is worth a second or two. With the MX-5 it's much less.

Jan Roman · May 23, 2012

I also suggest chenking this thread out:

http://members.iracing.com/jforum/posts/list/1964652.page

They show that even auto-blip is a bit slower. The difference is minimal, it's there however.