FERRARI 458 GT2 @ SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS - how can i get better?

Here is one of the best laps I ever done on SPA with the Ferrari 458 GT2:


I know there is room for better, i have seen some doing 2:17 ... And here comes my question: is anyone able to correct me? I am playing for over 2-3 weeks now the same track / car and cannot seem to manage any better.

Some of the car setup is from a forum, i will attach some screenshots with it.

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What could be done better? Car's setup? My driving?

I saw some guys playing online they are breaking much later but if i begin to break where they break, my car jumps out of the track!

Any help is apreciated!

Thanx!
 
When you are at the corners mid./apex point, you should be able to go on at full throttle (with few gas corrections on some corners or situatons) on every corner. ;) Such has become at least my golden rule, some years ago [can and could see this 'style' even a bit in the telemetry comparisions from RDGTC practice servers on my laps]. That's not throughout the case in your lap, you are losing much time at corner exits.
Try to enter the corners in a way* (to position / land / 'park' your car at the corner's apex) and at correct -not too high / overshooting, but exact- speeds at the apex point, so that you can do that. ;)

*By using brake pedal and gas pedal(for stabilisation) at once in (or towards to until the very end of) every braking zone. By now you are only using the brake pedal in braking zones it seems.
Throttle has to be (kept at least a litte bit) applied at any time on the track, to get it done accurate and more exact.
[Only when you notice "Oh, that speed at or closely after the apex would be a tiny bit too high to go on at 'full' throttle without too much understeering.", then you can lift it for a short moment. To match the apex / inner curb again as originally amied (and to put you in the pos. to immediately go on with the pedal on the metal in the corner exit phase, as amied/wanted ;) ).]

That's basically what some already called "more clean / accurate", in the end.
 
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This is always worth a watch. It's mostly about driving technique but I think it covers some stuff about car setup too. It's old and has hilarious hair/clothing styles but it's still accurate.


I agree with the suggestion to watch this video depending on how serious you are. With sim racing applying the same techniques as real life can help make a difference in lap times. It sounds like you have spent a fair amount of time with this combo and you are doing pretty well already, so I will just assume you are serious in wanting to improve the lap times. While the setup is probably not perfect, I would suggest having the majority of the focus being on improving the driving as best you can. The great thing is, that even though this time can be frustrating, what you do now to shave off each bit of time will follow you and you will be able to use those skills to more quickly lower times on other tracks and combinations as well. So I would suggest that it is worth the time and investment to only further increase your skill set as a driver. With that said, here is just a little bit to get started:

Watch the video, read up on weight transfer, grip, and braking techniques. Attached are a few links to some articles that may be somewhat helpful.
http://www.drivingfast.net/grip/
http://www.drivingfast.net/smooth-driving/
http://www.drivingfast.net/weight-transfers/
http://www.drivingfast.net/racing-line/
http://www.drivingfast.net/tackling-corners/
http://www.drivingfast.net/threshold-braking/

https://speedsecrets.com/driving-tips/performance-race-driving-tip-6/
https://speedsecrets.com/driving-tips/why-smooth-is-fast/
https://speedsecrets.com/driving-ti...ormance-race-drivers-speed-secrets-quick-tip/
https://speedsecrets.com/driving-tips/
https://speedsecrets.com/ My favorite overall learning resource. Tons of free articles, some free e-books, and some e-courses for those that are a little more serious about learning. (Which I actually am using currently and recommend).

As a very abbreviated summary of some things to consider.
-Work on threshold braking, you should quickly but progressively get to full braking force, but without just stomping on the brake. Then typically you will want to more slowly ease of the brakes for a smooth transition and to minimize the weight transfer while still keeping front grip. Some cars may benefit from trail braking into corner entry as well.
-Use as much of the track as you can. Generally that means keeping two wheels within the white lines. Don't leave two feet on the outside, don't miss the apex, and if you have the correct speed you should end up at the edge of the track on the exit. If you end up two feet short of the track, then you can carry more speed in corner entry and mid corner, or get on the throttle sooner on exit.
-Drive the tires. Use as much as possible of the available traction. Not more, not less. Absolutely overlap cornering into acceleration forces, and play around with blending braking into cornering forces (trail braking). If you take a proper line (typically a slightly later apex than a geometric apex) then you should be able to get on the throttle around the apex, and be full throttle at least halfway from apex to corner exit if not before.
-Control weight transfer and be smooth to maximize the potential traction. You can not make a car have more traction, but if you aren't smooth, you essentially can lower the potential limit of the traction.
-Work on being smooth, driving well, hitting your lines, and being consistent. You will get to a faster time more quickly and more consistently if you focus on bringing up your consistent speed instead of one kamikaze lap. If you find some areas to improve and can get consistent laps down to say 2:21's, you will be able to hit 2:20s or 2:19s.

If you just wanted to watch one thing I recommend the above video, or if you just want one thing to read I think the performance driving e-book from speed secrets would be my recommendation. It is free but you do have to put your email. https://learn.speedsecrets.com/pdi-ebook/

Ugh, I didn't mean for that to turn into a large post. I hope something in here is helpful to someone. Trust me, I don't know everything, but I am sort of a learning addict and am always trying to learn and get faster/better/more consistent/etc myself. So I just thought I would share some of my favorites. :)
 
This 2:18.813 actually achieve on the warm up lap & i brake too late in the last chicane so mess up a bit. I upload this video also if you dont mind.


Thats it for now. Still another 0.5s room for me to catch but i seriously losing concentration after about 4 hrs into this :cry:
 
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Marco this was another question that needed asking but it seems you answered me indirectly.

You brake with your left foot?

Because i do like i would do in a normal car, break and throttle with the right foot.

If the car doesn't require clutch inputs during braking I always do. Even some times in H-shifters when there is no need for a downshift or I can do it without using the clutch as well.

Basically you can switch inputs faster which means better car response times. Sometimes even combining the two helps.
 

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