[Special Event] iRacing 24 Hours of Le Mans

[Kenadian]

3. So this is kind of vague, but perhaps since I haven't driven a prototype in real life, the car isn't as immersive to me. I feel more like I am playing a video game than driving a car . . . . (oh, wait, I am in playing a video game ), the Audi seems better also in this regard, although neither sound great, but I seem to have more of a sense of being in a car in the Audi and more like being in a very fast tank in the Porsche, there is less about it that feels like the real experience of driving a race car, but again, I've never driven a prototype.

I feel the very same way, thanks for articulating it because I couldn't figure it out.

Both cars feel very samey to me and the droning mosquito swarm sound they make isn't all that appealing. They're both quick but of the two I find the Audi just more interesting to drive but please understand that's based off very little experience overall.

I think what heavily influences my malaise is also my preference toward driving production race cars rather than purpose built race cars. While we can argue semantics about the Mercedes AMG GT3 being a production race car that's not really my point.

In driving down the freeway I'm more likely to run into an M8 or an AMG than I am a 919 or an R18.

I joined iRacing because of the Cadillac CTS-V so that should tell you something.

...or maybe none of this is relevant instead resultant of my disdain for LeMans. I simply do not like this track and maybe it's wrong to think a car is going to be what changes my mind?

Given a choice between LeMans and COTA I'd pick COTA, at least the misery is shorter lol.

 

[Brainling]

They are both "video game" cars, e.g. they both require systems management. The Audi just seems to require less at Le Mans, at least on a clean lap. I think you're still going to find yourself doing systems management in traffic (holding your boost, using boost to get by people, etc.). You just won't need to practice boost deployment as much with the Audi. That said once you learn where to use the Porsche's boost it becomes second nature. I don't even think about it zipping around the course anymore because it got ingrained in my muscle memory last year.

I love systems management cars though. I love zipping around in the Formula Hybrid in AC, managing the brake bias, diff and energy systems throughout the lap. It kind of goes hand in hand with my love of systems management in flight sims. It's why I find the F/A-18 infinitely fascinating and interesting to fly, while I get bored of war birds very quickly. Different strokes!

 

[Brainling]

Speaking of which, I promised to post this for people who want to practice the Porsche:

When to boost in the Porsche for lap time:

• Getting on the power on Mulsanne: Boost to 285 kph / 177 mph
• Getting on the power out of the first chicken: Boost to 285 kph / 177 mph
• Getting on the power out of the second chicken: Boost to 260 kph / 161 mph
• Coming out of Mulsanne corner: Boost to taste as you need to get by people, but save at least a quarter of your allotment (blue bar)
• Let the car manage boost all the way through indy, in to the and through the Porsche curves
• Use a squirt of boost coming out of the Porsche curves in to the short shoot before pit entrance
• Make sure you have at least 2 - 3 blue boxes left to use coming out of the Ford chickens on to the front straight (this is massively important, you will lose a TON of lap time not having allotment here)

Following that pattern you should always have some State of Charge (e.g. battery) left, and use your whole allotment every lap. in the Porsche you are managing your allotment much more than your SoC because the Porsche charges very easily. Also the speed numbers given are approximates, you don't have to nail it every time. It's just a simple way to think about managing your allotment.

Anyone who drove with us last year, correct any of that if I got the numbers wrong please. I am recalling that from memory based on what Denis told us last year.

 

[Bedo]

In VR, the Porsche has better visibility around corners. I did find the Audi easier to drive and was able to do 19's fairly consistently without playing too much with the buttons.

Also, did anyone see this, pretty funny:
https://www.reddit.com/r/iRacing/comments/boa2lc

 

[Brainling]

Funnily enough I can't do better than 22's in the Audi, but I'm damn close to the 18's in the Porsche. I just need to put a lot more time in to the Audi. I forget sometimes that I have hundreds of laps in the Porsche.

I saw that post on /r/formula1 a couple of days ago. Cool for that guy. Must have been a mighty lap. Probably one of those 15/16 guys we've seen in some sessions.

 

[Skid_Marc_]

Example of how I'm getting through the Dunlop Chicane. I'm by-passing the first yellow curb, and then taking half the other curbs. Really straightens out the second part of the chicane and points my nose just inside those pylons on the exit.

 

[Brainling]

So last year hitting those yellow things was damaging floors. Did they fix that?

 

[Skid_Marc_]

Haven't pitted in with any optional repairs, and I haven't been slowing down. Maybe it's a Porsche thing? Or maybe just higher ride heights?

 

[Nejtun]

I think the HPD and the GTE's need to be more wary of those curbs, the Audi has quite a high splitter and doesn't give that " CRUNCH" noise unless you really cut the corner , but I think you get a slowdown at that point anyway. Worth checking with the HPD if anyone is giving that a try this week.

 

[Deb]

Thanks @Skid_Marc_, I'll give that a try

Here is a track map with the corner and straight names that I thought was pretty good for its simplicity.

Of course, it has the wrong name for the Broccoli Straight, but we can improvise

 

[Kenadian]

Thanks @Skid_Marc_, I'll give that a try

Here is a track map with the corner and straight names that I thought was pretty good for its simplicity.

View attachment 4625

Of course, it has the wrong name for the Broccoli Straight, but we can improvise

View attachment 4626

Sorry all for my sporadic attendance, work related issues persist. Right now my Departments are the busiest they've ever been and I've a labor shortage of just shy of 40% in one of the main areas.

...so basically everyone is screaming at me and want everything done yesterday.

 

[Brainling]

Got comfortably in to the 3:20's in the Audi last night. I'm positive I can get in to the 19's, we'll see about the 18's. I still don't feel as comfortable under braking with the Audi yet. I lock it up way more than I'd like for some reason.

 

[Deb]

Sorry all for my sporadic attendance, work related issues persist. Right now my Departments are the busiest they've ever been and I've a labor shortage of just shy of 40% in one of the main areas.

...so basically everyone is screaming at me and want everything done yesterday.

I think you need to get your priorities in order

 

[Bedo]

Got comfortably in to the 3:20's in the Audi last night. I'm positive I can get in to the 19's, we'll see about the 18's. I still don't feel as comfortable under braking with the Audi yet. I lock it up way more than I'd like for some reason.

Have you tried playing with the dynamic brake bias? I think by default it's set to linear, but you can experiment. Should help with trail braking. You could also try asking Max Verstappen for the set he got from the other guy. Maybe he'll share.

 

[Brainling]

I tried the IBS at 5 and I did like it more than the 3 we have in the set now. I felt I locked my fronts up a lot less.

 

[Bedo]

Did a little bit of testing today and I think the car is a bit too rear biased on the aero. I tried both increasing the front wing or decreasing the rear, both yielding about a second faster lap time. Got me into the 18s, but have not nailed down which combo is better over the long run. I would probably err on the higher overall downforce but give it a try.

 

[Brainling]

I would think putting more down force on the front would be more comfortable to drive, but might wear out the front tires quicker.

 

[Nejtun]

Did a little bit of testing today and I think the car is a bit too rear biased on the aero. I tried both increasing the front wing or decreasing the rear, both yielding about a second faster lap time. Got me into the 18s, but have not nailed down which combo is better over the long run. I would probably err on the higher overall downforce but give it a try.

I would think putting more down force on the front would be more comfortable to drive, but might wear out the front tires quicker.

Just checking are you two talking about the same car?

 

[Brainling]

I assume we're both talking about the Audi?

 

[Bedo]

Yes, Audi.

So over the weekend I did a little bit more testing and seems like there is quite a bit of mechanical grip to be played with. I ended up dialing out the understeer with dampers and opening up the diff on the front. Need more testing, but will post what I have. I ended up running f/r wings around 5.5. Seems like setting them to the same value works pretty well.