1.5 Update is out!

For some random reason I did not use the default tracks that much recently, but now did again, and must correct an earlier statement by me, something like that the visual enhancements of the tracks are not that obvious too see at all. Visiting Imola corrected me on that. The track looks like newly done, and more detailed - and it was not bad-looking already before. Just want to say I appreciate it. Not all changes on all tracks are that obvious or dramatic, but Imola really caught my attention. Most changes on the other tracks are more subtle, I would say. The new Monza I admit - well, I think I liked the forest better like it was before, but maybe my memory fools me there, I do not use Monza often at all.

But Imola really feels like another, newer track. See how visuals influence mood and atmosphere of a location!

 

Every car has your set of tyres. The contrary is also true and the reason why slicks are not alowed on track days.

 

I had a quick race @ Silverstone National against a full grid of AI Fiat Abarth 595SS cars this morning (98% default setting). It's probably difficult to determine the behaviour of the AI with such a low performance car, but the AI drivers stayed in two separate lines (on opposite sides of the track; the outer edges) for most of the first lap, and seemed to be following each other in a line for the rest of the race. I started at the back of a 24 car grid, moved up to P13 by the end of the first lap, took the lead at the start of lap 7, and won the race by 7.5 seconds. My final lap was a phenomenal 1:38.514 I should probably test with a variety of other cars to see if the behaviour is any different.

 

The 2 lines of cars ar the start with a large gap between them has been happening for some time.



After half a lap they slot in behind each other. The main issue is if you get a decent start you can drive between them for the first few corners. It's a shame as overall the behaviour of the AI feels much more natural now.

 

This is normal?

 

Yes it is - Trento Bondone is the kind of track that was announced to be in-game but Kunos probably wish they didn't
Just concentrate on the road and go as quick as you can!

 

Yes, it's 'normal', you can also look through some things if you spin or drive the wrong way. Trento-Bondone is a very long course and not quite on par in terms of quality with the rest of the circuits ingame. Maybe they can update it at some point if they have time.

 

Trento update would be very appreciated for the upcoming Japanese Car pack.
Giving the Miata the beans up there would be epic...
So Kunos...

 

...and then they come telling Trento was already paid for. And it goes down again...

 

Yes indeed and it's great that the track is in AC. I was just pointing out that the quality isn't quite up there with the other tracks.

 

Does the Tyre Model version 7 make GT cars easier to drive? I spent some time without playing AC, then I spent some time playing other sims, now I'm back to AC and I just smashed my GT3 record at Imola by 1,5s. Is it down to the tyres? I may have improved with the other sims, but definitely not that much.

 

cars werr doing slower laps than irl... now they are more on par with real life times.

on the edge tryed the nissan gt3 today.. with 7/7 tc and 6/8 abs .. its still fun to drive and bites when over limit..
but if you want a challenge go for mclaren 630gt3... for me is undrivable lol... snappy oversteer no setup could fix it.. its really fast but a handful.... im not much into gt2 and 3 cars. just tested in some races. but didnt think they are easier to drive they are predictable, and usually do what you tell them to do.

 

I'm more of an understeer kind of guy as well. The mid-engine GT cars are really hard for me not to throw into every wall. But it's a matter of getting used to, I think. When I first started on AC my favourite car was the 12C GT3, and after I took the time to tame it I couldn't drive any other car. But for now I'm with the GT-R and the Z4. the AMG just feels like a bus.

 

Both McLaren GT3 cars are infuriating to drive. It's really hard to be consistent with them. One lap I can get a good laptime, the next I'm spinning out for a reason I can't work out. Any slide in these cars is a big moment because the likelihood is, it will result in a spin.

 

Basically they feel like they're glued to the ground, until you go a tiny bit over the limit, at which point you're dead.
IIRC I was pretty good (for my low standards) with the 12C, but now I'm with the front engined cars and don't feel like going back soon.

 

The 650 GT3 is way more snappy than the 12C GT3, at least those are my impressions.
But they are also very pointy with almost no understeer as opposed to the front engined ones.

 

Its really hard to drive with the McLarenGt3's actually. I can't feel the limit of the cars. Its not possible for me to catch also the smallest slide....

 

The answer to all problems in racing is one and only ... downforce.
The 630 is an interesting topic... it does have quite a bit forward aerodynamic balance and yet when pushed to the limit still can show understeer.
I have no idea how close the car is to it's RL counterpart and if it is how they tackle high speed corners (like copse), but in AC if you want stability, you have to move the downforce radically rearward. This >will< slow down the car not only on straights but also on corner exits (which is counter intuitive as overall downforce is increasing) while only marginally increasing entry speed. (which can net you a increase in laptimes, but you are sitting duck on straights and front wear will go nuts)

So since thats not too good, the best course of action would be to learn what kind of treatment the car expects, and drive to it instead of pushing your own style on it. The key is to lean on the front outside tyre as much as possible by liberal use of throttle (mid corner) and ABS (on entry). If you manage that, you'll see the understeery side of the car (even with default setup) and coincidentally it will be close to "optimal/fastest" driving line already, which brings another point... The best line is often slow in fast out, and this car is really build for that. Limited trailbraking, then lean on the throttle mid corner and exit with almost AWD like traction. When turned "on" the car does feel amazing... the problem is that the moment you are out of this "zone" it's oversteer city .

One thing that helps me get it close to the limit without spinning (which i still do since fck Maccas i have my Z4 <3 to cuddle), is to first test how far i can go in given corner and remembering the yaw rates near the moment it gives up, so on the next lap i don't push the car up to a visible limit (car letting go) as it is too late already, but to a highest yaw rate i saw before it snapped earlier. IRL it is probably much much easier as you drive not to a "yaw rate" but to some level of g-forces.

 

Take out some of that negative toe on the MP4-12C GT3 and it becomes much more manageable in my opinion. Adding rear wing helps, but taking some of the dartiness out of the front makes the back behave more predictably and not trying to shake it like Miley, without compromising turn in too badly. IIRC I have "5" on front toe, which results in display of ~ -0.01 to -0.03 toe, depending on the angle of the pit stall...
I also find going couple clicks (~2%) back on brake balance helps keep it more stable under trailbraking, but that could just be placebo...

Oh, and remember that yaw affects aero now, so if you add rear wing but still manage to kick out the back end, that wing isn't likely doing jack anymore and it's Dead or Alive time.