Stable and fast Portland setup (Qualifying)

[Hristo Itchov]

Did another extensive testing, with a bit over 60 laps, trying many different setup changes. Just when I thought I won't be able to come up with an improvement, it happened! Normally I don't get excited over decent setups, but this one really surprised me and I even dare think others might actually like it, so here it is. :P

The car is really balanced and you can step onto the throttle much easier, especially out of those long corners. It still has a bit of understeer on entry, but as long as you don't brake too late it's OK. Not sure how the setup would work for the other chassis, but it works really well for the AAR, in Qualifying terms anyway. The chassis is quite low so it might require some raise for Race trim.

Here's the lap itself:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4CX-hk4h0s

[DS Purdy]

Hi All,

    I think Hristo's setup would run into trouble as a race setup, so here's my preliminary one modified from last race, but not a lot.

 

    I think Hristo's springs are way to hard and too much camber which will result in 140 Celsius tires on the left side, and an eventual spin. I have toned down the boost on this one to 4, to make the car more manageable here. If you still have trouble with it being too hairy, try a boost setting of 3. 

   

    This setup should run the distance without trouble, but I will no doubt refine it some before race time. It is a Shawn tweaked setup again. I won't say what time he did with it, but I am running low 1:01s with full race fuel, and 1.00.0 with my qual setup, (not included ;-)). I am sure I could get the qual time into the 59s with some more practice though. I suspect Hristo will run 57s in qual though, lol. Shawn is always a couple of seconds faster than me, like Hristo, lol, although on a short track 1 second would be more like it, if I practiced enough. That's why I expect 57s from him, maybe even low 57s. :-D I just don't have the time to practice a lot, (like in real life, lol they don't get that much practice time either). At least I am managing the braking zones a bit better now.

 

    I suggest short shifting out of the Festival turn/chicane, and lifting slightly at the kink that follows, because you will be in 3rd gear with the wheel turned as you make a transition from one pavement to another, back onto the dragstrip. At the exit of the first "real" left turn (turn 6?), there is a rise and fall in the road. I make a short shift to 3rd right at the crest, (using a lifting technique on the shift), because if you are at full throttle there in 2nd (or even 3rd if you shift too soon), the car is going to break loose. Just a little FYI there, 'cause it is important. ;-)

 

Dave

[Hristo]

Yeah, I don't expect my qual setup to fare well on full tanks and
throughout the whole race distance. One thing I'll probably do is use
hard tires for the race, just for consistency sake.

I wondered how to avoid lifting up for too long on the exit of the
first chicane as you mention, Dave, for that right hand kink. My
current solution is having 2nd gear much shorter, so it reaches
maximum revs just when you reach the kink, forcing you to lift up and
change to 3rd anyway. I still have to shortshift a bit to 4th soon
after though.

As for the middle turns, I just use 3rd there. It might drop the revs
a bit below optimal torque, but it gives you a nice safety cushion on
acceleration. Of course, that requires a lift up over that crest on
the exit of the left hander. Tried short shifting to 4th there, but
the drop in speed is too much, so a lift up seems to work better.

The most problematic thing for me is the entry to the fast left right
combo at the end of the back straight. It's so fast and narrow that
it's difficult to time it properly every lap. Especially with the need
to ride the curbs and change direction at near full speed.

Anyway, I really like the track, it feels more realistic with those
bumps than the usual super smooth surfaces we get. Besides, having
looked at actual onboards from last 2 years, the track is very close
to reality, so it gives a nice immersion. I hope we all have a good
fun race.

Cheers,

-=Hristo=-