Post by Alberto Ibanez on Feb 17, 2020 9:45:17 GMT
Now that the qualy races are over, we are heading for the big show, the 500 miler. That race couldn't be more different to these sprints we just got by, and they are the key to a succesful 74 campaign because the events give you points depending on the distance, and f.e. in these 500 miler the winner will get a full 1000 points. Thus, ending 5th here is like winning a short race elsewhere, which means FINISHING the race is the most important objective. So how do you go about maximizing your chances? Well, here are some tips:
1) SETUP
You have to be comfortable with the car, overtaking is not as important as having a good constant rythm. So if you need higher wings, by all means go for them and do not worry about being slower in the straights.
Set your gears so that you can get your top speed in 3rd, and then your 4th lowers the rpm for cruising. You never know when you might want to save fuel to stretch your stops waiting for a yellow. This will also allow you to add a bit more front wing for racing in traffic: The lower torque that reaches the ground in 4th will compensate the more oversteery car.
Ensure your rear antiroll bar makes a difference, you can program adjusting its stiffness to buttons on your wheel. Make good use of it as the stint progresses to compensate for the fuel use, or when driving in traffic.
If you need setup help, by all means ask for it. I posted a safe setup for these qualy races and will add another for the 500 milers soon.
2) STRATEGY
- Set as main objective finishing the race, not overtaking, catching the car in front or whatever. Don't get frustrated, pace yourself as if you were driving alone.
- Try to stay in the leader lap until half distance, then you can think about going racing or simply conserving points, depending on where you are.
Do some tests runs and know well how your car behaves when the fuel and tires go down, and also how many laps you can do on a full tank. That is essential to decide pitting or not.
- Because the race is so long, many possible strategy variants can work. Staggering your pitstops relative to other cars that are on your pace can work well, be it by going early in, or by stretching your stints on the longer 4th gear.
- Bear in mind at all moments that this is closer to an endurance race than to a normal one, the yellow flags group the field peridocally, and the engines can break down due to abuse.
3) DRIVING
Learn the proper distance to follow the car in front without suffering too much washout. In general, keeping about 1/2 turn of distance is enough to be comfortable (The car in front has to be at the apex when you start your turn in). Unless you are really willing to pass, don't get closer and keep your pace. The best thing you can get in this long race is a hare to set the pace and allow you to stay in the draft on the straights saving fuel.
Please NOTE that a good part of the washout is NOT aero, but the fact that the draft is so strong that you are getting to the turn way quicker than when driving alone. I normally got up to 205-206 on the straights but in the draft I once saw 215 MPH. Obviously, at such speeds you have to brake when going for the apex or you will understeer into the wall, no matter if you are following another car or not.
Overtaking is hard, but once the cars are on different strategies, fuel loads, and tire degradation, it will be way easier.
If you are on Firestone tires, you will have some hairy laps at the end of the stint, so be prepared for that.
Above all, have fun and understand the finesse of these strategic battles. Wheel banging is for touring cars, here we are batlling with our minds ... and some luck!
1) SETUP
You have to be comfortable with the car, overtaking is not as important as having a good constant rythm. So if you need higher wings, by all means go for them and do not worry about being slower in the straights.
Set your gears so that you can get your top speed in 3rd, and then your 4th lowers the rpm for cruising. You never know when you might want to save fuel to stretch your stops waiting for a yellow. This will also allow you to add a bit more front wing for racing in traffic: The lower torque that reaches the ground in 4th will compensate the more oversteery car.
Ensure your rear antiroll bar makes a difference, you can program adjusting its stiffness to buttons on your wheel. Make good use of it as the stint progresses to compensate for the fuel use, or when driving in traffic.
If you need setup help, by all means ask for it. I posted a safe setup for these qualy races and will add another for the 500 milers soon.
2) STRATEGY
- Set as main objective finishing the race, not overtaking, catching the car in front or whatever. Don't get frustrated, pace yourself as if you were driving alone.
- Try to stay in the leader lap until half distance, then you can think about going racing or simply conserving points, depending on where you are.
Do some tests runs and know well how your car behaves when the fuel and tires go down, and also how many laps you can do on a full tank. That is essential to decide pitting or not.
- Because the race is so long, many possible strategy variants can work. Staggering your pitstops relative to other cars that are on your pace can work well, be it by going early in, or by stretching your stints on the longer 4th gear.
- Bear in mind at all moments that this is closer to an endurance race than to a normal one, the yellow flags group the field peridocally, and the engines can break down due to abuse.
3) DRIVING
Learn the proper distance to follow the car in front without suffering too much washout. In general, keeping about 1/2 turn of distance is enough to be comfortable (The car in front has to be at the apex when you start your turn in). Unless you are really willing to pass, don't get closer and keep your pace. The best thing you can get in this long race is a hare to set the pace and allow you to stay in the draft on the straights saving fuel.
Please NOTE that a good part of the washout is NOT aero, but the fact that the draft is so strong that you are getting to the turn way quicker than when driving alone. I normally got up to 205-206 on the straights but in the draft I once saw 215 MPH. Obviously, at such speeds you have to brake when going for the apex or you will understeer into the wall, no matter if you are following another car or not.
Overtaking is hard, but once the cars are on different strategies, fuel loads, and tire degradation, it will be way easier.
If you are on Firestone tires, you will have some hairy laps at the end of the stint, so be prepared for that.
Above all, have fun and understand the finesse of these strategic battles. Wheel banging is for touring cars, here we are batlling with our minds ... and some luck!
