Race set-up tips

M8s, found this old article about the Z4 GT3, contains some really juicy info from a pro driver in the early days of the car that helped me improve lap times. Article can be found here:

http://www.speedhunters.com/2011/11/the_101_gt_gt_race_car_set_up_basics_pt_2/

 

Great! even just for the read.

3 part article..
The 101>> Race Car Set-up Basics Pt1
The 101>> Race Car Set-up Basics Pt2
The 101>> Race Car Set-up Basics Pt3

 

MOAR parts? Awesome!

 

How does one setup gearing? At the moment I just space out the changes evenly, with first gear being set for the slowest corner and top gear topping out on the fastest straight...?

 

It's probably more typical for the slowest corners to be taken in second, first just being used for getting off the line. Top should have some headroom in case you get a good tow down the quickest straight.

Space them equally, but tweaking might be necessary to avoid having to shift up just before braking for a corner, for example.

 

Each track has a different ratio, esp. on driving style. No track I've raced can really be set the same way, anyway, you either run out of gears or run into them too quickly.

 

Thanks for the article! Just to confirm, if I want to set my car up for a tough right hander I should lean towards positive camber on that side, correct?

 

Yes. Gives the least loaded wheel the maximum chance for grip.

But as AC would say...that's not always the case .

If it's a turn that leads into another one, you might want to check that...the article was discussing a track featuring one particular type of corner...Imola, though counterclockwise, has series of turns which void setting one side more than the other. The way I see it, a circuit has to be really one way around to justify a camber difference...but that's my driving style speaking. Mugello's another example: though it has series of turns, I set more camber in the right wheels because of a few key sweeping turns where the Z4 struggles to maintain speed, esp, the last turn.

 

Thanks for the reply! I use more camber in my right side at Magione to help me around the two right handers that lead into the long straight. Exit speed entering the straight is crucial for a quick lap time - for me anyways

 

Just wanted to remind people about this thread I made some months ago, since it contains some very useful advice about Zandvoort, the latest AC track!

 

A bit depends on the torque band of the engine, but you generally don't want to be stuck either lugging the engine or at the top of the rev band coming out of a corner ( matters a little less with auto clutch boxes I guess ), so start as you said & just make a note of any uncomfortable corners & which gear would be more natural, and tweak the ratio to fit. I usually use 2nd even for hairpins unless I don't have to worry about a standing start. If it's a race leave a few mph spare on the top ratio so you can slipstream. Also note your race pace might be a bit slower than testing.