Caterham Fireblade Shootout

[praiano63]

Ok, here we go. Testing results.

Group B:

Praiano:
255hp, 400kg, 614pp
Test vehicle: 264.6 miles, oil change, matte black paint.

Deep Forest: 1:17.690
Excellent balance and stability. Even on the cambered elevation changing complexes it glides through with dignity.
The gears are very good. Excellent length and I'm not changing in the corners too much.
Great feel through the wheel.
Great range-of-feel, even with RM tyres it stays well balanced when pushed slightly beyond its limit it will re-align calmly.
Trail-breaking is easy and in harmony with throttle steering. But keep your breaking limited to deceleration only. The throttle steering is all you need for rotation/attitude control.

SSR5: 1:27.109
Find a line that favors throttle. It's very easy to control the car using the breaks but don't get lolled into complacency. Use the throttle!
The long sweeping corners and slow swaying S-complexes feel purpose built for the stability of this car.
Turn in is razor sharp, every apex, every time.
Mid corner and exit are also very precise. Pushing this car to its limit is easy and intuitive.

Very nice, this car is for me one of the top 10 cars of my garage. I don't have any idea about how is driving a fast sport car in the real life, but i think this one must be very close to the reality.
Thanks for the test.

 

[Slender_Man]

Cap_Shadow:
224hp, 400kg, 601pp
Test vehicle: 296.8 miles, oil change. I'm using Praianos' car, matte black seamed appropriate.

Deep Forest: 1:17.485
Not nearly as stable as the previous tunes. It's noticeable from the first corner, all four wheels like to have slip through every corner.
Throttle steering is good but full throttle pushes the front end rather than over powering the rear into over-steer.
The last corner can be taken full throttle if aimed correctly. Just expect a little four wheel drifting.
I find myself 'sawing' for control alot. It wasn't till my fifth or sixth lap that I got an 'even and consistent' lap in.
Although throttle control is responsive it can't keep up with the steering inputs. Recovering from an unintended drift can be chancy and isn't smooth enough to continue a hot lap.
It's fun to push, push, push, but overstep just a little and there goes the lap.

SSR5: 1:28.215
These non-cambered corners make it easier to understand this cars attitude. Break early, then push through with throttle. If done correctly you'll power through the apex with over-steer then naturally transition into under-steer.
It's a wonderful way to tune. But unfortunately it does not fit my driving style.
DigitalBaka, want to give this car a whirl and see what you think?
If I spent more time exploring the limits of the car I'm sure I could post must more consistent times and faster times. But the over- to under-steer transition is throwing me off.
Turn it is good to great, but expect all four tires to slide when entering a low angle high speed, or even mid speed corner.
Mid- and corner exit are good to excellent, depending on how well you can work the cars style.
Gearing is long but well spaced. You can't play 'choose your torque' with multiple gear options but there is less shifting and more consistent power through the corners.
Breaking distance is good, and trail breaking is fairly easy and in harmony with throttle steering.

I have one question as you said you used the same Fireblade used for Praianos tune.....
Did Praianos tune use the Rigidity Bar/Chassis Reinforcement?????

If it did that may effect my tune as mine is tuned without one... 👍

 

[Ronald6]

Checking...
Whoops. The vehicle does not have Chassis Reinforcement. Praianos' tune/review is slightly off.

 

[praiano63]

Checking...
Whoops. The vehicle does not have Chassis Reinforcement. Praianos' tune/review is slightly off.

For me it's OK , with or without chassis reinforcement. The way you want, the
car is so lose and alive that there is no change ,i think. It's also an online tune, but it's fine offline too for the same reason. No understeer tendency at all ...

 

[NEWDRIVER2]

For me it's OK , with or without chassis reinforcement. The way you want, the
car is so lose and alive that there is no change ,i think. It's also an online tune, but it's fine offline too for the same reason. No understeer tendency at all ...

Is there is i can do with the tune sir ??

 

[praiano63]

Is there is i can do with the tune sir ??

No thanks, it's perfect the way it is.

 

[MrGrado]

My internet has been bad, so I haven't been able to test any of the cars. I could place the tunes onto on of my cars, I would need onboy to list his tune and I could test the tunes on tuesday.

 

[praiano63]

My internet has been bad, so I haven't been able to test any of the cars. I could place the tunes onto on of my cars, I would need onboy to list his tune and I could test the tunes on tuesday.

For me it's ok, you can build my car with your own car, with or without chassis reinforcement. Have a good drive.
><(((((°>°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

 

[Onboy123]

My internet has been bad, so I haven't been able to test any of the cars. I could place the tunes onto on of my cars, I would need onboy to list his tune and I could test the tunes on tuesday.

Ah damn, totally slipped my mind to post it&#8230;ehhh, gimme it a bit, I'll pull it off share and give you the tune.

Edit:

Suspension:
Ride Height: -10/+5
Spring Rates: 11.5/12.0
Damper (Extension): 6/5
Damper (Compression): 5/4
Anti-Roll Bars: 4/1

Alignment:
Camber: 2.0/2.5
Toe: -0.20/0.15

LSD
Initial: 30
Accel: 25
Braking: 10

Brake balance
2/1

Gearbox
Final: 3.115/2.000
Top Speed: 112mph (180kph)
1st: 6.755
2nd: 5.150
3rd: 3.081
4th: 3.310
5th: 2.735
6th: 2.376

 

[MrGrado]

Testing Results​

praiano63
Deep Forest 1:16.561
SSR5 1:28.321

This car doesn't kick around much at all. This car is fast in a straight line too. The car steps out just a little bit on SSR5.

Driver score: 4 Points

Onboy123
Deep Forest 1:18.807
SSR5 1:31.905

Okay at deep forest once I realised I needed to be cautious mid corner. Rear can step out with throttle. Need to be fast with the wheel to make input corrections. Rear steps out very easily at SSR5, the tune is not very good on this track.

Driver score: 2 points


MrGrado
Deep Forest 1:15.448
SSR5 1:26.677

Corners nice and rides bumps nice, doesn't feels as planted as some of the other tunes. Gears maybe are too long, it gets some alright lap times but it has a PP advantage over some of the other entries.

driver score: 4 points



shadow
Deep Forest 1:19.258
SSR5 1:28.270

Feels pretty nice. Nice engine note. It does well with turns and bumps. Flawless when driven at medium pace at deep forest. Straight line speed is low because of low PP. Amazing grip at SSR5, easily my favorite tune on this track. Great fun.

driver score: 5 points

 

[Onboy123]

Ok, here we go. Testing results.

OnBoy:
255hp, 369kg, 626pp

Deep Forest: 1:16.889
Fun and consistent when sporting around, the limit is a little closer than the other tunes. The suspension feels kinda squishy, which makes the slaloms difficult.
When pushed to the limit the tail will slide out on a moments notice, even on a relatively straight stretch like the up and down hill before the last tunnel. The power is barely contained and will light up the rear tyres at a moments notice at almost any time.
Breaking distance is short but trail breaking is difficult and will spin the car if you come into a corner too hot. There isn't much forgiveness in trail breaking.
The gearing is good and tight.
Turn in is excellent, perhaps the best thing about this car.
Mid- and corner exit are much less predictable. The amazing power-on-demand combined with the squishy suspension makes controlling the car after corner entrance chancy at best. It takes the car so long to 'settle down' after a corner that I often find myself backwards because I put my foot down too heavily too fast. This car calls for a masterful right foot.

SSR5: 1:27.572
Much easier to control on this less cambered track. But it's still easy to push the car too far in a corner or complex and put yourself into an uncontrollable spin. Even those that I do recover from take up the whole track and several seconds as my tail goes to and fro several times.
Trail breaking is still chancy but not suicidal. But it doesn't matter. You don't need the breaks to help rotate the car, the throttle will do all the rotating you need.
Break early, power through the corner gently, and don't get fully on the throttle till you are well and away from the corner exit.

Hmm…given I spent all the best of a day on the car due to my PS3, there were some rough edges I couldn't quite iron out. I've still not quite got the hang of tuning light weight buggers, it seems.

The squishy-ness was an issue, but I was rather scared of experimenting with even higher spring rates…I didn't quite have the skill to control being bounced around at speed when I was tuning it.

I think the gearbox does contribute to the snappiness, mainly because I thought that, with such a gutless engine, I need to run a closer gearbox to make up for the lack of torque.

Thanks for the review…and a bigger thanks for not dying in that thing. If you did, we'd lose one of our rare and prized testers.

 

[DigitalBaka]

Argh! This totally slipped my mind last week!

Group A

NewDriver
Grand Valley Speedway: 2'14.388
Autumn Ring: 1'30.451
Driver Score: 3

GVS: Didn't get along with Turn 1 very well, exit specifically. No matter how careful I was with the throttle the rear came out to play instead of keeping to business. Definitely feels like it is spinning the outside harder than the inside though I couldn't say for sure; didn't look toward the tire indicator as much as I should have. Once you get a handle on it the ride is enjoyable but still requires concentration. Good on the brakes, never felt like I couldn't slow enough or as quick as I wanted.

AR: Squeamish around the sweepers. Need to be careful with the steering angle. Get it right and it goes through no problem but slightly off and you're in the weeds. Again, good brakes into the first turn but the rest of T1 needs a gentle touch on the throttle as with the curbs and dirt in the switchbacks the rear is even more playful.

GranTourist
Grand Valley Speedway: 2'11.911
Autumn Ring: 1'28.409
Driver Score: 5

GVS: Surprisingly easy to drive. While it didn't like the curbs it didn't get too out of shape running over them. Definitely needs some room at the top of the gearbox as I was 1-2MPH off max at the line and bouncing off the limiter all the way to the braking point of Turn 1. 5-10MPH would be all it would need for this track. Holds a good, steady line in the last tunnel without much fuss.

AR: Again, great feel around the track and goes where I want it to. As with ND's 7 it is skittish in the sweeper before the namesake ring. Perhaps it is my line or just the car's nature. Would have liked an ever so slightly sharper turn in from the front. That said, only minor correction is needed if it gets out of shape.

Trackripper
Grand Valley Speedway: 2'13.206
Autumn Ring: 1'29.500
Driver Score: 3

GVS: Got a couple tenths left here in the first section but it was tough to string everything together. Laps were consistent but it felt a like a fight for most of the lap. Running over the curbs will have the rear sliding out nearly every time but it will come back without a problem.

AR: Same story as GVS but less consistent lap to lap. Feels sluggish at the switchbacks in T1 which I think ate up a good chunk of time.

Group B

MrGrado
Deep Forest: 1'17.304
Special Stage Route 5: 1'26.191
Driver's Score: 3

DF: Holy locking up the brakes, Batman! First turn on the first lap of the first group B car I test and I lock the brakes, light the tires on fire sending smoke and rubber bits everywhere and bury the car nose first into the wall. Not a good start! Once I got used to the brakes the ride went well for the most part but any lapse in concentration had catastrophic consequences. To be fair, I'm not sure I had the ABS on for testing but still managed the fastest time around a course where the brakes definitely come into to play.

SSR5: After struggling mightily to get used to it in the forest the highway was like a dream. Real stable through most of the course but the braking did often throw me in the last sector.

Onboy
Deep Forest: 1'19.048
Special Stage Route 5: 1'28.067
Driver's Score: 2

DF: Have to wonder if OnGoof tested the car here. The bouncy track wreaked havoc on the suspension and it was a terrible, bloody fight just to get it through some corners. You do eventually get used to it but it still requires 110% concentration or it will bounce, slide and roll you right off the tarmac. I'd show pictures to prove it but I have deleted the evidence lest the insurance folk come looking... I probably have some time left out there but in the time given to each test this is the best I could do.

SSR5: Braking into turn 1 was a crapshoot but if you worked to get it just right it felt great. Overall there doesn't seem to be quite enough freedom or range for driving styles. Again, get it right and it feels great but just a hair off and it is a struggle.

Praiano
Deep Forest: 1'17.850
Special Stage Route 5: 1'25.454
Driver's Score: 5

DF: Out of the frying pan and into the....something less hot and dangerous. As expected from "He Of Beach And Fish" this car goes like it is on rails. Still will throw you for a loop if poked too hard but you can definitely put effort into your line instead of just keeping the car pointed in the right direction.

SSR5: I could have used just a touch more in the top end of the trans here but other than that it matched very well to the track. Just put your foot (or thumb) down and it goes with no trouble. Stable, planted, smooth.

OCShadow
Deep Forest: 1'18.646
Special Stage Route 5: 1'26.353
Driver's Score: 3

DF: Fairly stable tune over the bumpy course. It holds well mid-corner and doesn't have much issue on exit if your line is OK. Didn't feel it accelerated well and could do with a bit less stiffness for my taste.

SSR5: Couldn't mash the loud pedal but with some care it was solid around the tracks sweepers and most tighter corners. Would like a little less slide in the slower turns and more accel as mentioned before.

 

[trackripper123]

Ohhhh!

Totally forgot to share the Caterham. Oopsie.

 

[DigitalBaka]

I'll be on in a couple hours if you have time to share it, otherwise I will run it off Newdriver's car since I will be retesting that quickly before jumping to group b. Hoping I can make it a done deal with both groups by Thursday, Friday at the latest.

 

[NEWDRIVER2]

I'll be on in a couple hours if you have time to share it, otherwise I will run it off Newdriver's car since I will be retesting that quickly before jumping to group b. Hoping I can make it a done deal with both groups by Thursday, Friday at the latest.

Thank you for your test i'm waiting for the new retesting 👍

 

[trackripper123]

I'll be on in a couple hours if you have time to share it, otherwise I will run it off Newdriver's car since I will be retesting that quickly before jumping to group b. Hoping I can make it a done deal with both groups by Thursday, Friday at the latest.

Could you run it off Newdriver's car! I'm quite far away from my PS3 right now... Thanks.

 

[DigitalBaka]

Thank you for your test i'm waiting for the new retesting 👍

Could you run it off Newdriver's car! I'm quite far away from my PS3 right now... Thanks.

Done on both counts, will update when I am home since I forgot to bring my notes to work this morning. ND, yours did end up a bit faster in a couple laps on each track and TR ended up both slightly faster and slightly slower than those.

 

[DigitalBaka]

Little bumpity. Results above updated with times and comments for group A. Group B is coming along and should be done and posted by Friday. Sorry for the delay but I will finish up.

Edit: Updated with group b times!

 

[MrGrado]

Has anyone still got times to submit? Also scores from all the drivers awarded for enjoyment are needed to get the results finished. I'm itching to find out how the final results look.

 

[Ronald6]

Final results are in for Group B. Group A is almost done, just a little more scoring to do.

If anyone would like to check my math I would appreciate it.

Looking forward to next year and the 2nd annual Caterham 7 Fireblade Shootout!

 

[trackripper123]

I was celebrating my podium finish when I realised there were only 3 tunes in Group A. Awks.

Cheers for hosting this Ronald, something different from the norm, enjoyed it. 👍

 

[Ronald6]

Thanks TrackRipper123.

 

[MrGrado]

Thanks group B testers and thanks Ronald for the event!

 

[NEWDRIVER2]

Thanks Ronald and tester for this good resault :tup:tup:

 

[praiano63]

Nice, thanks for the shootout and congrats to MrGrado

Group B: Final
1st: MrGrado: 5:26.509
2nd: Praiano: 5:27.765
3rd: Cap_Shadow: 5:30.699
4th: OnBoy123: 5:32.567

I will test this cars when back to the game.

><(((((°>°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

 

[GranTourist]

Big thank you to DigitalBaka and MetalGear for testing!

Very nice shootout, Ron!

I really hope the number of deadly accidents with the Blade are now reduced with those three good-natured group 'A' tunes...and the time table of group 'B' should be complemented with: "Don't try this at home kids, they are professionals!"

 

[DigitalBaka]

Ooops! Forgot to update my timesheet with notes and driver score. I'll pop that in tonight.

Artificial Intelligence is no match for natural stupidity.

 

[DigitalBaka]

Well after the fact but I've finished up my commenting and suchness. 👍 Well done everyone who took up the challenge.