There are a few questions about fwd ballast and why many set-ups are not mimicking reality with slight fwd brake bias (usually around 2-6% variance). Answer I have deduced is that many set-ups max out tyre wear via alignment settings aquiring the desired cornering performance, and intern takes the optimum grip duration provided by new /newer sets of tyres dramatically shorter. I have on average managed 2-3 additional laps per set of prime and 1-2 on options simply by lowering the alignment angles. Allowing a little more reduction on wing drag on a few tracks as well, as I'm not forced to use tyres far into their life. I would definatly say I prefer a loose set-up versus a tight one and then slowly dialing in more rear toe and camber while my front alignment settings are almost max. When tolerable, I dial back my front setting for optimum apex bite and not necessarily initial turn-in. what follows is my sett-up for suzuka with all setting on except for Pit Controls-Auto and TC-Medium.
Aerodynamics dry-/-wet
Front Wing Angle: 5-/-9
Rear Wing Angle: 3-/-8
Braking dry-/-wet
Balance: F 51%-R 49% -/-
Pressure: Medium (to avoid outbraking yourself in Bruxelles, 3rd gear btw
)
Brake Size: Standard
BalanceBallast Distribution: F 80% - R 20% -/- F 60% - R 40%
Front Anti-roll Bar: 7 -/- 5
Rear Anti-roll Bar: 9 -/- 7
Suspension wet dry same
Front Ride Height: 2
Rear Ride Height: 2
Front Spring Stiffness: 5
Rear Spring Stiffness: 8
GearboxGear 1: 133 kph / xxx mph
Gear 2: 162 kph / xxx mph
Gear 3: 195 kph / xxx mph
Gear 4: 228 kph / xxx mph
Gear 5: 266 kph / xxx mph
Gear 6: 322 kph / xxx mph (std engine 304 kph)
Gear 7: 362 kph / xxx mph (std engine 344 kph)
EngineThrottle map: Fast in dry -/- std in wet
Fuel: Fixed amount
Alignment dry -/- wet
Camber front: -1.20 -/- -1.10
Camber rear: -2.80 -/- -3.10
Toe front: 0.11 -/- 0.13
Toe rear: 0.35 -/- 0.47
unfortunatly my times recorded are well out of date as they were from season one, with these settings refined once over during season two with Lotus. Having said that:
prime : 1m29s.7XX Pr' 1m30.548 Quali' #3 (ran deep, 1 stop)
option : 1m28s.172 race best 1st place
(increase/decrease wing angles to adjust tightness - ballast for turn-in /vs/ grip) <- kinda my bible
"also do not hesitate to adjust advanced steering settings for various tracks as will appreciate more linear steering on tracks with winding turns and long straits and set it to the more non-linear for tracks with really tight apex(s) but requiring finite controls on straights (Monaco, Singapore to name two I used this on. And was about halved in effect when I came to Suzuka)