Sebring 2024 Testing

[Deb]

I did some testing today on the wet tire in dry conditions just to see what the difference in lap times and degradation are to help make decisions on tire changes. I was testing in the afternoon in the 296 at a temperature of 78 F and humidity of 45% with a track state of 40%. The lap times on the wet tires were from 6 to 8 seconds slower than on dry and the degradation is significant. After just ten laps on the wets, the left rear was already down in the 50%s, right rear in the 60%s and right front in the 60s%. I didn't think you'd be driving for more than 10 laps on wets in dry conditions. Also, the car is not as stable. Perhaps you could adjust brake bias to help with that some. Also uses a little more fuel for each lap, so definitely not efficient to spend much time on wets either before or after the rain.

 

[Noodleguitar]

Leave it to Deb to find more creative ways to use more fuel

I think we'll have to stay on wet tires for quite a while after the rain stops. I was testing the transition from rain to dry at Bathurst yesterday with about 30-40 AIs (who liked going into the pits frequently). About 45 minutes after the rain stopped I was still on wet tires. A somewhat dry line had definitely formed around the track, but not being exactly on that line would be a guaranteed crash on slicks. Most of the Conrod straight had dried up, but then the Dipper was still wet.

 

[Nejtun]

When I went to slicks on Sebring and went straight into the wall, I didn't allow for how wet the pit exit was, I tried it again on a drying track when I got to around 2:16 on wets and as long as you are careful as hell leaving the pit then slicks were instantly faster.
I did zero damage to the wet tyres when i switched to them the same lap the rain started btw.

 

[Deb]

Leave it to Deb to find more creative ways to use more fuel

I think we'll have to stay on wet tires for quite a while after the rain stops. I was testing the transition from rain to dry at Bathurst yesterday with about 30-40 AIs (who liked going into the pits frequently). About 45 minutes after the rain stopped I was still on wet tires. A somewhat dry line had definitely formed around the track, but not being exactly on that line would be a guaranteed crash on slicks. Most of the Conrod straight had dried up, but then the Dipper was still wet.

Did you notice how the wets degrade on a drying track?

 

[Noodleguitar]

Did you notice how the wets degrade on a drying track?

I was driving on wets for 40 minutes after the (heavy) rain stopped, and they only dropped to 72% tread remaining with quite a few spins. At that point there was quite a dry line and I think slicks were faster. But you put 1 wheel a few cm next to the dry line on slicks and you're going into the corner backwards. I think the transition from wet to try is perhaps the most dangerous phase.

50 minutes after it stopped raining there were still puddles on some exits and apices, but that could be because my AI were sometimes driving weird lines.

 

[Nejtun]

After driving today it took about 50 minutes- 1 hour with 45 cars (42 were AI) for the track to dry out enough for slicks at 12:00 server time in March, the session started with a wet track after medium rain. not raining at all at the start of the session.

 

[Deb]

@Netjun, like you asked, I did a test session in "moderate" rain to see what the lap times were. I honestly couldn't see much difference in the track conditions from when I was driving in heavy rain. The amount of water on the track seemed about the same. My best lap time was 2:19.755, but mostly in the 2:20s. My best dry lap time so far, although I haven't practiced much on a dry track since the rain came out, is 2:02.009. My above comments on 6 - 8 seconds difference was on a dry track but with wet tires. But I think what your saying is we shouldn't wait for track to be totally dry to take of the wets.

 

[Nejtun]

@Netjun, like you asked, I did a test session in "moderate" rain to see what the lap times were. I honestly couldn't see much difference in the track conditions from when I was driving in heavy rain. The amount of water on the track seemed about the same. My best lap time was 2:19.755, but mostly in the 2:20s. My best dry lap time so far, although I haven't practiced much on a dry track since the rain came out, is 2:02.009. My above comments on 6 - 8 seconds difference was on a dry track but with wet tires. But I think what your saying is we shouldn't wait for track to be totally dry to take of the wets.

I think it will be a bit different from person to person, but for me personally, getting down to around 2:15 felt about the right time to go to slicks (extreme care needed exiting the pits) anything faster than this and the wet tyres felt sloppy very quickly as the track got completely dry. I guess it just depends how safe you feel on slicks with a little bit of water on the track as to when to change them over AND if or when it will rain again.

 

[Noodleguitar]

I've just done some testing in the rain with AI at Sebring. Rear lights, brake lights and rain lights are definitely easier to see through the spray, even some distance away. It is still difficult to see much when you're in the middle of the spray, but I'd say they got it pretty close now.

 

[Kenadian]

You all running any sessions on Friday (tomorrow Friday)?

If so, wut time, I'd love to be there.

 

[Noodleguitar]

I am doing the IMSA Vintage race tomorrow until 22:00 GMT. After that I can be around for a bit.

 

[Kenadian]

I am doing the IMSA Vintage race tomorrow until 22:00 GMT. After that I can be around for a bit.

I don't know the time difference between the moon and West Coast of Canada?

 

[Nejtun]

I don't know the time difference between the moon and West Coast of Canada?

you are 7 or 8 hours behind GMT at the moment depending on if you already in summertime for Canada or not.

 

[Kenadian]

I prolly won't be around then, sorry.

Also, not sure about Battlebit this weekend? the weather is really nice and all my Tropicals have been out of hibernation since early Feb.

I'm going plant shopping tomorrow, hoping to pick up a dumb cane, money tree, possibly dracena marginata, parlor palm and maybe a bromeliad or two as ground cover around my banana plants.

 

[Noodleguitar]

I have no idea what any of those words mean, but it is good to hear that the banana plants are still going strong.