Getting smoked in Qualifying

[jamman39]

So this has been a frustration for me since Project Cars 2 came out and I can't understand what the problem is.

I'm getting destroyed in qualifying I've never finished better than second last against the AI. Even after turning the AI down to 30 skill and 10 aggression I'm still >2.5 seconds off the pole time.

I've tried running similar cars and setups in Assetto Corsa and usually qualify top 3 on normal difficulty, on lower difficulties I qualify on pole by several seconds.

My question is are other people experiencing this? Is there a setting I'm not noticing that is making the AI so fast in qualifying?

 

[Sick Cylinder]

So this has been a frustration for me since Project Cars 2 came out and I can't understand what the problem is.

I'm getting destroyed in qualifying I've never finished better than second last against the AI. Even after turning the AI down to 30 skill and 10 aggression I'm still >2.5 seconds off the pole time.

I've tried running similar cars and setups in Assetto Corsa and usually qualify top 3 on normal difficulty, on lower difficulties I qualify on pole by several seconds.

My question is are other people experiencing this? Is there a setting I'm not noticing that is making the AI so fast in qualifying?

I'm not a fast driver (probably below average by GT Planet standards), but I normally find that the AI qualify worse than they race - If I am in "Custom Race and skip qualifying and set the AI to a level where I can manage 4th then rerun the race with qualifying added the AI drive much slower in the race and in qualifying - I will be on pole easily!

I don't know if the problem you are having is in "Career Mode" - I haven't started that yet, but I find the opposite to you when I am in "Custom Race Mode". To get a good race in Cutsom, skip qualifying and start last (otherwise I find the AI ram my car at the start).

 

[FOG-Smokebeer]

Are you loading up the stable setups ? double checking tyres when on track? taking out a lot of fuel?

 

[Cluck]

Are you skipping to the end of the session during qualifying? If so, don't, sit the session out by letting the timer run down normally. The 'skip to end' bug, whereby the AI dropped their quali times significantly, has had some work done on it. I can't remember if it had further work done for Patch 3 but I think it did so, if you're on XBOX or PS4, then that should help (when the patch comes out). In the meantime, as I said at the start of this post, let the timer run down rather than skipping

 

[psychoazubi]

I must admit that I have similar "problems" of the OP. Quali was always the part of the weekend where I struggle against the AI. Recently startet on P3 and ended up with a comfortable +30 sec win (1h race Oschersleben, GT3). Same in Hockenheim, was just enough for pole and ended up with a 52s win (again 1h race, GT3). Always on hard Slicks.
My race pace is usually within 0.8 s during the whole race, and around 1 sec behind my quali time (depends on track). AI on 110.

However, I like it how it is. Will turn the AI up for the next race and (probably) start in the middle of the pack.

@Cluck this bug seems to be resolved, never occured after Patch 3 so far

 

[jamman39]

Are you loading up the stable setups ? double checking tyres when on track? taking out a lot of fuel?

No, I never thought to change to the stable set ups. Could that be costing me 2-3 seconds a lap?

By double checking tires do you mean getting heat into them, or checking for wear? I can't imagine my ten minute qualifying sessions are enough to wear them out

 

[FOG-Smokebeer]

No, I never thought to change to the stable set ups. Could that be costing me 2-3 seconds a lap?

By double checking tires do you mean getting heat into them, or checking for wear? I can't imagine my ten minute qualifying sessions are enough to wear them out

1.Hmmm maybe 2/3 sec depends on the track I guess. Make sure to rename the stable setups(stabletest1) and save to a new slot or it reverts back to loose
2.Check the tyres when you get on track some series have hard or soft tyres choices and more often than not the hard tyres are default so set the stablesetup1 to soft and resave the setup just remember you will have to check for snow or rain etc because you will always be on soft slicks

 

[jamman39]

1.Hmmm maybe 2/3 sec depends on the track I guess. Make sure to rename the stable setups(stabletest1) and save to a new slot or it reverts back to loose
2.Check the tyres when you get on track some series have hard or soft tyres choices and more often than not the hard tyres are default so set the stablesetup1 to soft and resave the setup just remember you will have to check for snow or rain etc because you will always be on soft slicks

Thanks that's something I'm looking forward to trying later.

One thing that still confuses me is that the game says that AI isn't able to adjust from default setup unless you raise their skill level above 80, if that's true then my setup changes wouldn't have anything to do with why they are so much faster in qualifying

 

[MowTin]

This game is really hard. One thing I do like is when I win I get that same thrill I got in GT when I finally after so much trying got gold on a tough license.

This is what I do. Once you know the car and track you'll be racing, go to time trial and download the leader's ghost. In the time trial you can download his setup too. Now race against the leader. See where you're doing badly by comparing his sector times to yours. Your exit from corners that lead to long straights is usually what hurts you most.

After getting familiar with the track and closing the gap you have with the leader, go back and do practice and qualifying. If you're still not qualifying go back to the time trial.

Also, what car and track are you struggling with? What is your time?

 

[jamman39]

Great tip! I never noticed the time trial mode and didn't realize it had those features.
I've been using the Lotus 78 at classic Silverstone. I don't have the game in front of me but I think my best time was a 2:22.5 and the AI is posting 2.20.4

 

[cbrown119]

Are you loading up the stable setups ? double checking tyres when on track? taking out a lot of fuel?

I have the same problems.

Where do I check the tires? I must be looking in the wrong area in tuning because it just says “automatic by weather” or something like that.

I just recently discovered your tip about loading setups from faster people. It’s an excellent tool for me to see how others take the course.

 

[FOG-Smokebeer]

If you have the button setup to cycle through the HUD displays it tells you on the screen with all the temps/pressures/springs etc

 

[jamman39]

I don't get this game. I followed everybody's advice and have gotten my lap time down to 19.4 in free practice mode. I went over to qualifying to try to put it all together in a real qualifying scenario. Same car, same track, same set up, same date and weather and for some reason it's like I'm driving on ice. I've even tried switching to grippier tires and it makes zero difference.

 

[coltsjugg]

I have the same problems.

Where do I check the tires? I must be looking in the wrong area in tuning because it just says “automatic by weather” or something like that.

I just recently discovered your tip about loading setups from faster people. It’s an excellent tool for me to see how others take the course.

Automatic by weather would be where you change them, switching to your HUD you will see them, probably on hards. It seems to automatically give you the harder tire if there's a choice between soft/medium/hard

I also seem to get smoked during qualifying, and then smoke them during the race.

 

[MowTin]

I don't get this game. I followed everybody's advice and have gotten my lap time down to 19.4 in free practice mode. I went over to qualifying to try to put it all together in a real qualifying scenario. Same car, same track, same set up, same date and weather and for some reason it's like I'm driving on ice. I've even tried switching to grippier tires and it makes zero difference.

Look at your tire temperatures. If you're doing hotlaps in time trials you start off with warm tires. In qualifying your tires start cold.

Also, make sure your realism setting are the same.

 

[jamman39]

Look at your tire temperatures. If you're doing hotlaps in time trials you start off with warm tires. In qualifying your tires start cold.

Also, make sure your realism setting are the same.

Thanks! You are right about the temperatures starting off colder, even after I warmed them all the way up though I never regained the handling I had in free practice mode. It was like an entirely different car or surface.
Even thought never got that control back I was able to muscle the car around the track and get pole! I went on to win the race by 5 seconds. Might be the hardest thing I've done yet in a sim

 

[jamman39]

I don't get this game. I followed everybody's advice and have gotten my lap time down to 19.4 in free practice mode. I went over to qualifying to try to put it all together in a real qualifying scenario. Same car, same track, same set up, same date and weather and for some reason it's like I'm driving on ice. I've even tried switching to grippier tires and it makes zero difference.

The other thing I forgot to mention is that my FFB went crazy when I switched from practice mode to qualifying/racing. My wheel was shaking so hard that I thought it was going to fly off my rig. By the end of the race my left hand was so cramped from trying to hold the wheel still that I couldn't make a fist
Is this possibly a glitch?

 

[MowTin]

Thanks! You are right about the temperatures starting off colder, even after I warmed them all the way up though I never regained the handling I had in free practice mode. It was like an entirely different car or surface.
Even thought never got that control back I was able to muscle the car around the track and get pole! I went on to win the race by 5 seconds. Might be the hardest thing I've done yet in a sim

Feels good when you finally win, right?

 

[MowTin]

The other thing I forgot to mention is that my FFB went crazy when I switched from practice mode to qualifying/racing. My wheel was shaking so hard that I thought it was going to fly off my rig. By the end of the race my left hand was so cramped from trying to hold the wheel still that I couldn't make a fist
Is this possibly a glitch?

I've never experienced that. One more thing about tires, ideally they should be green. If they are yellow, I think they are too hot and you'll have less grip again.