Assetto Corsa | News and General Discussion

[ALB123]

I think Tsukuba is a great test track...but that's it. Horrible track to race on, in my opinion. I love Tiago Lima's handiwork (Portimao might be my favorite in AC) but it seems like the incline at Turn 1 happens too abruptly. I could be wrong. It's not like I've ever driven the track, so I'm just basing that opinion on visual comparison with on-board videos of real life drivers. Perhaps it's 100% perfect. Just feels a little weird to me sometimes.

 

[AlvaroF]

Tiago's Tsukuba is bad in my opinion, too wide, and something feels off. Portimão is more true to life, but the surface is mediocre.

 

[lancia delta hf]

I never understood using Tsukuba as a test track, it's short, flat, and basically just a bunch of hairpins, doesn't really test most cars to their limits. Same with Magione, it's flat and basically just hairpins plus a series of right-left turns, not really representative of the average race track. I always use Nurb GP because it has just about everything you'd care to throw at a car: hairpins, medium speed turns, fast turns, camber, elevation change, a chicane, and two fairly long straight sections. I've found Mugello to be a pretty good test track too as it has a bit of everything (except a slow hairpin).

Just my opinion, not saying it's wrong to use other tracks for testing or anything.

Mugello and Nurb GT sprint are my test tracks. No specific reason other than that they were 2 of the first that i randomly selected when testing and made sense to stick with them. Actually they were my test tracks for controller settings.

 

[BrandonW77]

Mugello and Nurb GT sprint are my test tracks. No specific reason other than that they were 2 of the first that i randomly selected when testing and made sense to stick with them. Actually they were my test tracks for controller settings.

Back in my GT5/6 days when I was always trying to find pairs/groups of cars that were pretty even to each other I started using Nurb GP and found that if two cars were fairly evenly matched at that track they would usually be fairly even matched on most tracks. However, if two cars were fairly evenly matched at Tsukuba it did not mean they would be evenly matched on other tracks because once you throw in elevation change, long straights, and more variety of turns the differences in the cars would suddenly come to light that hadn't been exposed at Tsukuba.

So, I guess I should clarify my original comment: When it comes to testing similar lap times Tsukuba isn't very good IMO. I never mess with car setups so I don't know how good it is at testing that kind of stuff.

 

[SVX]

I never understood using Tsukuba as a test track, it's short, flat, and basically just a bunch of hairpins, doesn't really test most cars to their limits. Same with Magione, it's flat and basically just hairpins plus a series of right-left turns, not really representative of the average race track. I always use Nurb GP because it has just about everything you'd care to throw at a car: hairpins, medium speed turns, fast turns, camber, elevation change, a chicane, and two fairly long straight sections. I've found Mugello to be a pretty good test track too as it has a bit of everything (except a slow hairpin).

Just my opinion, not saying it's wrong to use other tracks for testing or anything.

Nah that's a fair call really. I used Tsukuba due to experience and my enjoyment of it. While it sounds a bit cliche, the more you enjoy and have an understanding of a track, the more ability you'll have to get consistent lap times and therefore a good basis of comparison.

I'm a bit biased in the fact I generally drive ~300hp cars, which it's really perfect for.

The funny thing is that I used to not even like Tsukuba. It wasn't until I started getting more into the Japanese racing culture that I could really appreciate it. Best MOTORing, Japanese Time Attack, etc. Easy to learn but hard to master.

 

[lancia delta hf]

Back in my GT5/6 days when I was always trying to find pairs/groups of cars that were pretty even to each other I started using Nurb GP and found that if two cars were fairly evenly matched at that track they would usually be fairly even matched on most tracks. However, if two cars were fairly evenly matched at Tsukuba it did not mean they would be evenly matched on other tracks because once you throw in elevation change, long straights, and more variety of turns the differences in the cars would suddenly come to light that hadn't been exposed at Tsukuba.

So, I guess I should clarify my original comment: When it comes to testing similar lap times Tsukuba isn't very good IMO. I never mess with car setups so I don't know how good it is at testing that kind of stuff.

Fully agree, that's something i have learnt by doing many hours of testing for the controller.

 

[AlvaroF]

To be completly honest, my testing is a bit deeper. @BrandonW77 you're totally right, when I need other variables and concrete results, I resort to other tracks. Usually my testing begins in Magione to, as I said, exploit the chassis of evenly matched cars. Then I move on to Zandvoort for further testing. A mixture of swooping corners with plenty of aero load and chicanes and hairpins, it does have a bit of everything.

 

[Nielsen]

I like Tsukuba for it's combination of compactness and varied technicalities. Magione is comparable in size but there are too many relatively similar and sharp corners for my liking. To me it feels like a place you'd go for driving school rather than racing, which isn't how I see Tsukuba.

That said, Tsukuba has that last long corner, which lets you test a car in a braking-while-turning situation, and also provides high lateral G's mid corner.
It's a much more interesting track than Magione, in my opinion.

Good example.

That's not really the best way to compare this IMO, the ring is so long and has so many corners that you're bound to have big differences in laptimes?

Longer tracks will leave more room to mess up a lap, obviously. However, the Nordschleife is the track where I've driven most virtual laps over the years, and I feel more confident driving it than many short circuits. Driving the line becomes second nature when driven enough times. I'm not saying the Nordschleife is an easy track, but focus and familiarity goes a long way in posting similar lap times.

While it sounds a bit cliche, the more you enjoy and have an understanding of a track, the more ability you'll have to get consistent lap times and therefore a good basis of comparison.

Exactly.

 

[Cote Dazur]

To me a track choice is always dependent on what car I am driving/racing. I will enjoy road car on Tsukuba but not so much on La Sarthe, it would be the exact reverse with a C9.

 

[Nielsen]

To me a track choice is always dependent on what car I am driving/racing. I will enjoy road car on Tsukuba but not so much on La Sarthe, it would be the exact reverse with a C9.

Fast road cars can be good fun around Le Mans, but I'm usually playing by the same logic. That's why Laguna Seca will be a welcome addition. I think it feels right for nearly any type of car.

 

[Cote Dazur]

Fast road cars can be good fun around Le Mans, but I'm usually playing by the same logic. That's why Laguna Seca will be a welcome addition. I think it feels right for nearly any type of car.

Yes some tracks are very versatile and good with different cars type.

 

[mister dog]

Longer tracks will leave more room to mess up a lap, obviously. However, the Nordschleife is the track where I've driven most virtual laps over the years, and I feel more confident driving it than many short circuits. Driving the line becomes second nature when driven enough times. I'm not saying the Nordschleife is an easy track, but focus and familiarity goes a long way in posting similar lap times.

170 turns and you take them all at the same pace lap after lap? That's impressive

 

[Techy]

I would liken VIR as a "test track" of sorts. A decent mixture of corners with a number of layouts. Elevation changes too.

 

[Nielsen]

170 turns and you take them all at the same pace lap after lap? That's impressive

I do make mistakes sometimes. My point is that my times do not differ all that much when I pull off good laps. The Nordschleife is kind of strange. One the one hand it's full of dangerous kinks and cambers, and on the other it has this flowing groove to get lost in.

 

[mister dog]

I do make mistakes sometimes. My point is that my times do not differ all that much when I pull off good laps. The Nordschleife is kind of strange. One the one hand it's full of dangerous kinks and cambers, and on the other it has this flowing groove to get lost in.

If you can do 3 consecutive hotlaps on the ring that are within 2 seconds of each other, I'll sport an Alain Prost avatar for a month. What you say i'm honestly curious to see if you can do it.

 

[bleeder]

If you can do 3 consecutive laps on the ring that are within 2 seconds of each other, I'll sport an Alain Prost avatar for a month. What you say i'm honestly curious to see if you can do it.

Easy. Just drive in 2nd gear all the way and it should be no problem

 

[mister dog]

Easy. Just drive in 2nd gear all the way and it should be no problem

No cheating!

*edited to 'hotlaps'

 

[bleeder]

No cheating!

*edited to 'hotlaps'

Haha In my head I can do 3 laps of the Ring roughly at the same pace, but doing hotlap after hotlap really takes its toll. I was just trying to get 1 single good lap time last night but trying to go faster each time ends up in a mistake somewhere. And I get so annoyed when I crash after the long straight at the end after doing so well to get there! Nothing more frustrating than hooking up the whole lap and then screwing up right at the end of Nords.

 

[Saidur_Ali]

I use Brands Hatch Indy sort of as a test track, available in most racing sims laser-scanned too. Struggle to get the few corners on that track right, must be much harder on the Nordschleife.

 

[Nielsen]

If you can do 3 consecutive laps on the ring that are within 2 seconds of each other, I'll sport an Alain Prost avatar for a month. What you say i'm honestly curious to see if you can do it.

You wouldn't use an Alain Prost avatar unless you lost a bet?

Anyway, I never mentioned consecutive laps. You're challenging me beyond my point.

 

[35mm]

Anyway, I never mentioned consecutive laps. You're challenging me beyond my point.

 

[Nielsen]

Says the Nordschleife can be learned. Gets lynched for not entering the 24 hour race.

 

[mister dog]

 

[Wiz]

If you can do 3 consecutive hotlaps on the ring that are within 2 seconds of each other, I'll sport an Alain Prost avatar for a month. What you say i'm honestly curious to see if you can do it.

I'll take this bet. Can I pick the car?

 

[mister dog]

I'll take this bet. Can I pick the car?

Abarth 500 or something right?

What did you have in mind? Would be proper if it had some grunt and wasn't a walk in the park.

 

[ALB123]

I think the quicker the car, the more difficult the challenge. Use the Porsche 918 or LaFerrari.

 

[BrandonW77]

I'm thinking the 917/30.

 

[ALB123]

I'm thinking the 917/30.

Now that's just sadistic!!

 

[Nielsen]

I'll take this bet. Can I pick the car?

With or without tire wear?

 

[AlvaroF]

What about this: For each person that completes that bet, @mister dog has to rock a Alain Prost for a month, which means, for example, that, if 3 people complete the challenge the Alain Prost avatar has to stay for 3 months.