Regarding car set ups

[dave kirk]

This is in regard to all sims but I posted in AC as it seems to have the most people interacting, I am competent in racing/driving all the cars but my knowledge of setup is very weak, I would love to be able to change the handling characteristics of the cars but I never know what to do. My knowledge is limited to brake bias, tyre pressures and gear ratios.
My question is, is there somewhere that explains what to alter to get certain results, for example if I wanted better turn in, at the moment I'd just guess add front downforce, alter decel diff, stiffen front, but I really have no idea.

Any help or points in the right direction would be appreciated

 

[dave kirk]

Don't get me wrong, it's important to learn about setups to modify the car and make them more driveable and suitable for your own personal style. Absolutely agree.

I just disagree that a single setup will make you 0.5 to 2.5 seconds faster.

In the Driver Academy sessions here at RD new drivers sometimes progress up to 12 seconds on their previous best lap and that is without tweaking a single parameter of the setup. It's driving technique, track and car knowledge and repeat repeat repeat

I can understand that you perhaps think the 2.5 seconds was maybe an exaggeration, but i'm assuming you agree that at least 0.5 -1 second can be found in some instances with setup alone?

 

[Blimey]

I can understand that you perhaps think the 2.5 seconds was maybe an exaggeration, but i'm assuming you agree that at least 0.5 -1 second can be found in some instances with setup alone?

I can gain atleast a second with proper setup change on the AMG GT3.

 

[Brandon Wright]

In the Driver Academy sessions here at RD new drivers sometimes progress up to 12 seconds on their previous best lap and that is without tweaking a single parameter of the setup. It's driving technique, track and car knowledge and repeat repeat repeat

Yep, I shaved nearly five seconds off my time by the end of the Academy session, and then a week later actually won an online race with the same car using the default setup.

I can understand that you perhaps think the 2.5 seconds was maybe an exaggeration, but i'm assuming you agree that at least 0.5 -1 second can be found in some instances with setup alone?

Sure, but you're always going to get the most out of your setup by first putting lots of laps in and learning the car inside and out. Do that first, know you're getting everything out of it, than a good setup can help you shave a bit more off. I think that's what Bram is trying to say, if you're going into a car that you're not very familiar with you're going to gain a lot more speed just by putting seat time in first and then tweaking the setup, rather than just doing a few laps and then hoping some setup changes will net you a few seconds. There are obviously exceptions to this, especially if the car has a rubbish default setup, but for the most part the best way to go faster is to improve the meat in the seat.

 

[Blimey]

Yep, I shaved nearly five seconds off my time by the end of the Academy session, and then a week later actually won an online race with the same car using the default setup.



Sure, but you're always going to get the most out of your setup by first putting lots of laps in and learning the car inside and out. Do that first, know you're getting everything out of it, than a good setup can help you shave a bit more off. I think that's what Bram is trying to say, if you're going into a car that you're not very familiar with you're going to gain a lot more speed just by putting seat time in first and then tweaking the setup, rather than just doing a few laps and then hoping some setup changes will net you a few seconds. There are obviously exceptions to this, especially if the car has a rubbish default setup, but for the most part the best way to go faster is to improve the meat in the seat.

Some people are fast learners and then there are the slow ones.

 

[dave kirk]

Yep, I shaved nearly five seconds off my time by the end of the Academy session, and then a week later actually won an online race with the same car using the default setup.



Sure, but you're always going to get the most out of your setup by first putting lots of laps in and learning the car inside and out. Do that first, know you're getting everything out of it, than a good setup can help you shave a bit more off. I think that's what Bram is trying to say, if you're going into a car that you're not very familiar with you're going to gain a lot more speed just by putting seat time in first and then tweaking the setup, rather than just doing a few laps and then hoping some setup changes will net you a few seconds. There are obviously exceptions to this, especially if the car has a rubbish default setup, but for the most part the best way to go faster is to improve the meat in the seat.

I know, what I am talking about was when the car/track combo has been mastered and I am lapping to within 0.2 of my times each lap, at this point I would like to work on setup to get some extra time, my issue is, I can identify what I want to alter in the car but often don't know how/what to adjust to get the desired results

 

[Bram Hengeveld]

a week later actually won an online race with the same car using the default setup

Haha nice one. Didn't know that. ☺

 

[Brandon Wright]

Haha nice one. Didn't know that. ☺

Been meaning to mention it to you. Did three races and was in the top 3 in qualifying times for all, could have won the other two but got caught up in other people's incidents. I'll be sending you a percentage of my winnings.

 

[Cristian Haba]

The basics:

Always make sure your top gear is at peak power in the RPM range on the longest straight.

Your tires reach, and maintain optimum temperature/pressure and range of temperatures IE. Out/mid/inner across the foot print of the tire over a ten lap stint.

Use appropriate downforce levels for the track.

Practice x 38483093 laps