So I have been weening myself off the driving assists for some time but have finally come around to the very the final assist. (I have for some time been driving without the racing line and without the use of ABS.) The Traction Control System (TCS), is however, a beast in and of itself. I will attest, as most will, that it is almost impossible to be competitive with all aids off using only the wireless controller. (I am playing on the XBOX360.) Good news is that I have a wheel/pedal set & while unfortunately it's not a Fanatec, I am happy with the MS wheel...as long as it keeps working properly.
Digressing... I have heard the speech about how running with TCS off makes the car fast because it does not prevent power going to the wheel in instances where a traction control system would block power input from the driver to avoid what the computer might deem 'excessive' and cause the car to lose traction. In real life there is no argument for this, but I am not so sure of the difference in this game. It may just be that I'm still in my learning-curve developmental mode in regards to driving unassisted, but it who knows. There are a few regulars on here - moderators included, for which are on my friends list (XBL), and they can attest to the fact that I have decent lap times in time-trial without TCS & with TCS. But given that the vast majority of top times - on the XBOX at least - are with the TCS feature, I'm not so sure that it makes a better lap time. (For those ready to blast me for the "real F1" argument: I do believe that it is truer to the FIA rules governing Formula One for the 2010 season AND I believe whole-heartedly that it takes a much higher skill level to compete successfully without using traction control or any other driving assist.
That being said; I have found that I decelerate much quicker when TCS is turned off. For example, in São Paulo, when I am approaching turn four, I brake hard to decelerate from 7th - down-shifting into 3rd gear for the turn. Obviously my top speed varies greatly on how well I exited the Senna S' and around curva do Sol, but generally I must begin braking about 15 meters or so before the 100m sign. Without using the TCS assist, I am able to maintain my top speed for a longer period - not needed to apply the brakes until just past the 100m sign - I'm guessing it's around 80m or so. Since the distance is so great, it caught my attention easily; first in Turkey, and now again at Interlagos. Is it just me or does deactivating the traction control system enable a shorter stopping distance - even at top-end speeds?
Digressing... I have heard the speech about how running with TCS off makes the car fast because it does not prevent power going to the wheel in instances where a traction control system would block power input from the driver to avoid what the computer might deem 'excessive' and cause the car to lose traction. In real life there is no argument for this, but I am not so sure of the difference in this game. It may just be that I'm still in my learning-curve developmental mode in regards to driving unassisted, but it who knows. There are a few regulars on here - moderators included, for which are on my friends list (XBL), and they can attest to the fact that I have decent lap times in time-trial without TCS & with TCS. But given that the vast majority of top times - on the XBOX at least - are with the TCS feature, I'm not so sure that it makes a better lap time. (For those ready to blast me for the "real F1" argument: I do believe that it is truer to the FIA rules governing Formula One for the 2010 season AND I believe whole-heartedly that it takes a much higher skill level to compete successfully without using traction control or any other driving assist.
That being said; I have found that I decelerate much quicker when TCS is turned off. For example, in São Paulo, when I am approaching turn four, I brake hard to decelerate from 7th - down-shifting into 3rd gear for the turn. Obviously my top speed varies greatly on how well I exited the Senna S' and around curva do Sol, but generally I must begin braking about 15 meters or so before the 100m sign. Without using the TCS assist, I am able to maintain my top speed for a longer period - not needed to apply the brakes until just past the 100m sign - I'm guessing it's around 80m or so. Since the distance is so great, it caught my attention easily; first in Turkey, and now again at Interlagos. Is it just me or does deactivating the traction control system enable a shorter stopping distance - even at top-end speeds?