Value of B-Spec race performance in assessing setups

[preypex]

Hi all, longtime GT player that recently discovered these forums. Have gotten a lot of good reading already, particularly the 'camber thread' from a couple of years ago.

Found this site by trying to understand the GT physics and car models enough to improve my own car control and laptimes, and wondered if the B-Spec driving is useful as an objective evaluation of car setup changes. The 'driver' has some kind of style that may or may not mimic a human player, so it's a separate question whether a setup that the B-Spec does well with also works for any humans.

Has anyone done enough B-Spec experimentation to say whether the laptimes or total event times it puts down can be used to evaluate car setups? The driver sometimes seems hesitant and jerky, and I'm wondering if that can be interpreted to mean the car's handling could be improved.

 

[demonchilde]

From what I have toyed with, it seems GT doesn't want you to 'just' let it go, in B spec.
Like back in GT5, there were some races you could hit start, leave the room, make dinner, eat, come back and collect cash.
Any interaction however throws the curve of using B spec for any relevent data, as far as tune checking. I basically gave up on B spec after seeing this.

 

[CBH]

Hi all, longtime GT player that recently discovered these forums. Have gotten a lot of good reading already, particularly the 'camber thread' from a couple of years ago.

Found this site by trying to understand the GT physics and car models enough to improve my own car control and laptimes, and wondered if the B-Spec driving is useful as an objective evaluation of car setup changes. The 'driver' has some kind of style that may or may not mimic a human player, so it's a separate question whether a setup that the B-Spec does well with also works for any humans.

Has anyone done enough B-Spec experimentation to say whether the laptimes or total event times it puts down can be used to evaluate car setups? The driver sometimes seems hesitant and jerky, and I'm wondering if that can be interpreted to mean the car's handling could be improved.

I think it is a waste of time using B-spec.

 

[OdeFinn]

From what I have toyed with, it seems GT doesn't want you to 'just' let it go, in B spec.
Like back in GT5, there were some races you could hit start, leave the room, make dinner, eat, come back and collect cash.
Any interaction however throws the curve of using B spec for any relevent data, as far as tune checking. I basically gave up on B spec after seeing this.

My B-Spec racing's in both GT's are identical, pressing once "push hard" and leaving it go alone and collect cash after race.
In GT5 it will bring money even crappier tune on car, but GT6 I have to sacrifice better car/tune for race, sacrifice coz in GT6 it will smash car once in every race and "body repair" needed when finishing B-spec cashing. Favorite cashing car type have to have good straight speed and art least average cornering ability, like smaller Corvette C6 with easy tune on it.
Bob will go always slowly thru corners and once per race trying something stupid on corners and crash.

 

[Dotini]

Has anyone done enough B-Spec experimentation to say whether the laptimes or total event times it puts down can be used to evaluate car setups? The driver sometimes seems hesitant and jerky, and I'm wondering if that can be interpreted to mean the car's handling could be improved.

I've been doing testing in B-spec to compare competing setups that I am evaluating for total time, quickest lap and tire wear. For instance, I've been testing the 600pp Chaparral 2J at the Career Mode Super events Apricot Hill 20-Minute Challenge against the AI McLaren F1 GTR-BMW. I've evaluated 6 similar but significantly different setups, finally focusing on ballast balance as it affects overall performance including spins, wins, total time, fastest single lap, tire color indications and tire wear at various points during the race.

I'm also using the Career Mode International A 15 Minute (3 dry laps) Race of the Nurburgring for additional testing of the same car against the same opponents.

After carefully tabulating the numbers generated over time by different setups, a pattern emerges as to which one is quicker through traffic, quicker overall, has fewer spins, and uses its tires more efficiently. Each setup has to be repeated X numbers of times before you can take it seriously, since odd things - and quirky numbers - can occur in any one race.


Edit:
Another nifty thing to do is objectively compare the reinforced chassis with the unreinforced chassis. It turns out to make a difference in terms of tire efficiency, tire wear, and lap times.

 

[preypex]

After carefully tabulating the numbers generated over time by different setups, a pattern emerges as to which one is quicker through traffic, quicker overall, has fewer spins, and uses its tires more efficiently. Each setup has to be repeated X numbers of times before you can take it seriously, since odd things - and quirky numbers - can occur in any one race.

What pace are you using when you do this testing, and have you compared the paces to each other in terms of repeatability? It seems that the faster options make mistakes more likely but I don't know if that's ultimately offset by faster race times.

 

[Dotini]

What pace are you using when you do this testing, and have you compared the paces to each other in terms of repeatability? It seems that the faster options make mistakes more likely but I don't know if that's ultimately offset by faster race times.

I use "push hard" in order to get the quickest time and test the maximum limits of the car, and just accept a higher rate of offs and spins. A worse setup will spin off more often than a better setup, I have found. I do think the mistakes are ultimately offset by faster lap times.

 

[Otaliema]

Just my two cents from my limited use of Bob.
He will tell you if you're set up is stable or twitchy on push the pace or push it hard based on how fast he corners and the number of times he crashes.
He can tell you if you're set up well for braking based on if he slams it in or gingerly sets up.
But he will never replace you or a friend driving it cause he can't tell you it's loose or tight or anything else.