Does the Race Line actually provide more grip?

[watermelon punch]

I had thought there was more mention of the "middle-middle-middle" line somewhere in some parts that are only spoken and not in the written descriptions, but I have no idea where, and I could be mistaken.

You're right it does say the middle-middle-middle somewhere in the AMG. I remember reading that for sure.
I think I took it to have been referring to the area where "the water runs over the track".
But you're right, apparently in rain it COULD be reversed (in real life), that the line is more slippery. That is the case in real life, I stand corrected for any idea otherwise.

I'm not 100% convinced though that this is generally the case in the game. (ie: that Eiger U I mentioned before).
BUT, "could" may be the key factor. Perhaps that wet % determines it in the game. And my tests in particular were not at "the right percentage", if you will.
But I'm still convinced I'm better off staying on the line, rather than off it, through the U on Eiger in the rain!

And RE: JohnnyPenso
Agree - though there should be one truly best fastest way through a track I believe, according to the laws of physics... I do think there's areas of the tracks in the game, where the driving line aid, AND/OR the laid down rubber, is rather a tad off... from the true ideal line, and from each other.

Now I'm itching to do some tests with the driving line aid, rain percentages, on a wide custom Eifel circuit test course. LOL
But that's just opening another can of worms, I guess.

 

[MusicalArtist]

I tested this in the two SCRL races on the past Friday and Saturday nights.

Friday - Monza - 30 laps - RM tires used - 590pp - low grip reduction - Ferrari California
Saturday - Spas - 21 laps - RM tires used - 610pp - low grip reduction - Lambo Aventador

The race line provides a little more grip and/or the same grip without eating the tires as much.
The race line is a good line to follow on endurance races because it generates a good rhythm fairly easily, and it will get you around a track with a decently quick time that is very consistent.
But, it isn't the fastest you can go. If you are just doing a short sprint race, and not running a tire strategy built on steady driving, you can get faster laps by not following the line and just driving as fast as you can.

So for endurance races, I advise that it should be used.

 

[DGXR]

Yes I have noticed that the darker area where rubber has been deposited actually does provide more grip over the other "cleaner" areas of pavement. I agree with others who have said that this is the typical driving line and often there's an even faster line around a track, even though these faster lines don't benefit from the additional traction of the rubberized track surface... it's all about carrying speed for a lower lap time. Often I will go way outside the "driving line" in order to get a better approach to the next turn and carry more speed out -- I know this really annoys some of my fellow racers but it's just a faster line, so I take it, plus it makes me harder to pass. Stay ahead of me if you don't like the way I drive

 

[Ferrari Enthusi]

In real life it provides more grip in the game, don't think so.

 

[Tower Turn 13]

My question is, does it matter enough to affect your racing? Maybe it does have more grip, but the more important reason to follow the racing line would be if it is the ideal racing line for the other reasons that make it the fast way around.

I don't think anyone won a race, real or game, just by using the extra grip of tire tread on the road. I think way more important is your entry speed and angle, hitting the apex and tracking out clean and fast. If I were you, I wouldn't worry too much bout the tire tracks, except that it gives you an idea of a quick line.

 

[RX-7_FD3S]

I dont think theyve modeled road surfaces in the game to have varying grip.
The edge of the tracks have less grip, but the asphalt itself has the same grip over all.

Sometimes some parts of the road feel less grippy, thats more to do with the angle, camber of the road at that point. Can easily induce a spinout.

Your racing line is just a guide to get you through a track using minimum steering input and minimizing g forces. Racing line or certain parts of the road do not increase the grip of a car. Those black marks on the road are just there for aesthetics, but it does provide you with some racing line info i.e cars use this line the most.

👍

Also the drivine lane on wet tracks seems to have more grip because it's where it dry out the faster. Drier track = more grip. But if it rains continuously there wont be a difference of grip between the line and outside the line.

 

[Oshawa-Joe]

Old thread, but very important topic I think. I've recently started trying to stick more to the dark patches on the road in GT6 and I believe it's helping reduce lap times / provides more grip through the corners. Is it really that simple to get more grip??? Is this one of the unknown or perhaps unspoken secrets to speed in GT6 that keeps less experienced drivers running slower and sliding off the track? Are parts of the track "programmed" with more grip? Would be interesting to hear from more of the quicker drivers out there.

 

[dahcmai]

I've always kind of done that anyway. I have noticed you can get some serious grip in those areas, but I had always thought it was just the right place to be on the track. It shows off the most on places like Deep Forest or Trial Mountain.


I don't use that blue line thing anyway and when friends turn it on, I notice I'm not usually following it. It shows up in the License tests quite a bit. I don't use assists except ABS 1 and sometimes TCS 1-2 depending on the car. In the tests, if you follow the blue line, it's fairly impossible to beat the gold time by anything but microseconds. I have a few I golded over a second that show me not even close to that line. I am following the black marks.

 

[kilesa4568]

I've always considered the tracks were already rubbered up. So rubber on rubber + tightest racing line will always be quicker.

Not clipping apexes will see you closer to the outside of the track so more chance running too wide as well. My son drives like that and the it's main cause of his running off the track.

 

[eran0004]

All I know is that the track dried faster in the racing line, so after rain it definitely provided more grip compared to the rest of the track.

In dry conditions I have no idea.

Technically it wouldn't be very difficult to implement different grip levels, in theory you could just have a friction layer on the surface and paint the various grip levels with a brush.

 

[PlayerONE7125]

I noticed in GT6 the tires s reech less on the tracks racing line. This is noticable at Monza going through the first right hand sweeper in between the chicanes. Although i cant confirm it for this game I would imagine its the same.