What is a good test track?
- Thread starter dud959
- 41 comments
- 2,726 views
Midfield is decent, some elevation changes, a straight, and turns of varying sharpness. I used to drive cars on the Nürburgring, but it's just too long. I always prefer driving cars on real-life tracks instead of the "original circuits," so I've since settled on Infineon.
It's a challenging track, with a lot of different elements. There are several blind corners, hidden by hill crests where you can't see where you're going AND you lose traction thanks to negative g-forces. There are straights of varying lengths, some really tight corners, some lazy sweepers, and some esses. You get a little bit of everything and it doesn't take 7-10 minutes to lap it. The biggest problem is that sometimes it's hard to know where to go next. Not as bad as Suzuka, but it's annoying until you've done a few laps.
Another popular one is Tsukuba, but it's a bit short for my tastes. It only takes about a minute for a lap, depending on the car, and you again have many different elements at work. It's also totally flat, if you don't want to deal with blind corners.
It's a challenging track, with a lot of different elements. There are several blind corners, hidden by hill crests where you can't see where you're going AND you lose traction thanks to negative g-forces. There are straights of varying lengths, some really tight corners, some lazy sweepers, and some esses. You get a little bit of everything and it doesn't take 7-10 minutes to lap it. The biggest problem is that sometimes it's hard to know where to go next. Not as bad as Suzuka, but it's annoying until you've done a few laps.
Another popular one is Tsukuba, but it's a bit short for my tastes. It only takes about a minute for a lap, depending on the car, and you again have many different elements at work. It's also totally flat, if you don't want to deal with blind corners.
- 714
- elschrodelodo
Like Luca said, a good test track has different types of corners. I used Midfield as a test track in GT3 but I use Grand Valley in GT4 (as I did in GT2). Choose a track you are good at. You don't want to be testing a car and wondering if you did a crap lap time because the car isn't quite right or if you just aren't too good at that track.
- 638
- Los Angeles, CA
- scoobyonline2000
The Nurburgring...it has all sorts of corners, elevation changes and well its an all around good track. 
I used Grand Valley for GT1, 2, and 3 but I don't like the changes they made to it in GT4. It would still make a good test track though.
For GT4 I've switched to Fuji 90's. That might seem to be one of the worst possible tracks to test on but for some reason it works and I've been very happy with it.
For GT4 I've switched to Fuji 90's. That might seem to be one of the worst possible tracks to test on but for some reason it works and I've been very happy with it.
- 2,571
Despite my immeasurable love of the Nürburging Nordschleife (might as well spell correctly), it isn't an ideal test track. It's far too long to really gauge laptime improvements from settings, and it requires a totally different setup style to anywhere else anyway. Almost all of my hotlap cars have a racing setup, and then a Nordschleife racing setup - it's just too different.
Personally, I like Grand Valley Speedway, although predicting how a car will behave over bumpy bits is pretty hard there, so I often develop setups a little further at El Capitan. I accept Trial Mountain is a very good test track, but I've never liked being hemmed in by stone walls quite so much, so I'm not a fan of it.
DE
Personally, I like Grand Valley Speedway, although predicting how a car will behave over bumpy bits is pretty hard there, so I often develop setups a little further at El Capitan. I accept Trial Mountain is a very good test track, but I've never liked being hemmed in by stone walls quite so much, so I'm not a fan of it.
DE
- 342
- Netherlands
- ChromeBallz
- MChrome
I use Midfield for my testing. It's always fun to see if a car can make it through the first chicane full speed or not
there a couple of good track[no order]
Apricot [good for all]
Nurburgring [its just too long]
Motegi Short [good for brake setting and good if u don't want bother urself with kerbs problems
]
Autumn Ring [not mini] [very good for handling at low speeds where u can't use downforce too much]
Suzuka [Extended Vers.]
Apricot [good for all]
Nurburgring [its just too long]
Motegi Short [good for brake setting and good if u don't want bother urself with kerbs problems
] Autumn Ring [not mini] [very good for handling at low speeds where u can't use downforce too much]
Suzuka [Extended Vers.]
- 572
I would say El Capitan - from a testing standpoint what I like is that it is just bumpy enough, has high curbs and low curbs, and in general you don't pay too high a price for overcooking a corner so I find it easier to maintain a consistent rhythm than if I have to recover from deep in the kitty litter. The only downside is that it doesn't have a good low speed corner to test acceleration traction.
the Interceptor
Premium
- 4,168
- BEL / GER
- theInterceptor77
For testing, I always use Midfield for the following reasons:
I know it very well
Sounds stupid, but is a very basic rule. If you don't know a track well, you can't make consistent laptimes on it, which means that you're rather having luck than really testing a car. I already used Midfield for testing in GT3, and it is the track I've made the biggest number of laps on by far.
It is farily universal
Let me talk you through it, and I'll tell you what you can find out where. We're talking about the normal, and not the reverse direction by the way.
- the first corner shows you how the car behaves under heavy braking and steering (Will it under- or oversteer? Will the front wheels lock up? Are the brakes weak or strong? Is the brake balance okay?)
- the second corner shows you how the car behaves during accelerating through a whole corner (Will the front push wide, or will it stay level? Does the car accelerate slowly or quickly?)
- then you'll find a high-speed chicane, which shows you how much high speed grip, -stability and downforce you have. In a car with good grip, you can go full speed, while you'll have to lift or even brake in a car with bad grip. Pay attention to the speed you're doing though! You can also test liftoff-oversteer at high stability here (does the car get instable at high speeds when cornering? Is there enough downforce?)
- The following double right shows you if the car is susceptible for understeer if weight is taken off the front (which happens in the second part of this double-right)
- the sharp, long left shows you how the car behaves if you hit the curbs (Elises for example tend to become instable easily here) and how early you can step on the gas before running wide (does the car understeer with no power applied? does it understeer at half or full power?)
- in the downhill, you gather a lot of speed. Braking for the final sharp left into the tunnel, you can test stability under weight transfer to one side and heavy braking (some cars tend to spin out here regularly).
- in the sharp left, you can test how quickly the car responds to various manoeuvres applied in a short period of time (braking hard trying to keep the car stable, getting off the brakes and turning left hard at the same time, hitting the accelerator). Additionally, you can test the grip out of sharp corners (Powerful RWDs tend to spin the wheels here, FWDs can push wide easily and also spin their tires)
- The uphill final chicane shows you if the car has enough grunt to maintain acceleration uphill. Some of the weaker cars completely stop accelerating here
So, that's why I use Midfield for testing.
Regards
the Interceptor
I know it very well
Sounds stupid, but is a very basic rule. If you don't know a track well, you can't make consistent laptimes on it, which means that you're rather having luck than really testing a car. I already used Midfield for testing in GT3, and it is the track I've made the biggest number of laps on by far.
It is farily universal
Let me talk you through it, and I'll tell you what you can find out where. We're talking about the normal, and not the reverse direction by the way.
- the first corner shows you how the car behaves under heavy braking and steering (Will it under- or oversteer? Will the front wheels lock up? Are the brakes weak or strong? Is the brake balance okay?)
- the second corner shows you how the car behaves during accelerating through a whole corner (Will the front push wide, or will it stay level? Does the car accelerate slowly or quickly?)
- then you'll find a high-speed chicane, which shows you how much high speed grip, -stability and downforce you have. In a car with good grip, you can go full speed, while you'll have to lift or even brake in a car with bad grip. Pay attention to the speed you're doing though! You can also test liftoff-oversteer at high stability here (does the car get instable at high speeds when cornering? Is there enough downforce?)
- The following double right shows you if the car is susceptible for understeer if weight is taken off the front (which happens in the second part of this double-right)
- the sharp, long left shows you how the car behaves if you hit the curbs (Elises for example tend to become instable easily here) and how early you can step on the gas before running wide (does the car understeer with no power applied? does it understeer at half or full power?)
- in the downhill, you gather a lot of speed. Braking for the final sharp left into the tunnel, you can test stability under weight transfer to one side and heavy braking (some cars tend to spin out here regularly).
- in the sharp left, you can test how quickly the car responds to various manoeuvres applied in a short period of time (braking hard trying to keep the car stable, getting off the brakes and turning left hard at the same time, hitting the accelerator). Additionally, you can test the grip out of sharp corners (Powerful RWDs tend to spin the wheels here, FWDs can push wide easily and also spin their tires)
- The uphill final chicane shows you if the car has enough grunt to maintain acceleration uphill. Some of the weaker cars completely stop accelerating here
So, that's why I use Midfield for testing.
Regards
the Interceptor
- 623
- Massachusetts
- MrTimmyA
I use Midfield Raceway, but also use Deep Forest Raceway. Both offer the same or near same level of testing.
Basically for the same reasons as the Interceptor said.
Basically for the same reasons as the Interceptor said.
- 71
Midfield, Once I master the track for that specific car, I tend to push the car to get some faste lap times
- 10,838
- Belgium
- bramturismo
FUJI 2005 👍
Especially the last sector is a good piece to test, the corners are not really one big turn but they rather begin on a blind hill which I like
Especially the last sector is a good piece to test, the corners are not really one big turn but they rather begin on a blind hill which I like
- 865
- Wichita, KS
- Greenlightning
My favs in GT4 our Deep Forest, Infineon, and Laguna Seca, also like Grand Valley **short track**. My ultimate dream test would be to test every car on a minimum of 4 tracks. Each test 4 laps give or take a few laps. Test car in purchased form, test car in say tune up stage 1 form, stage 2, stage 3 etc.
Record all lap times, all parts cost, and all horse power increase, weight reductions etc. However work, family, and life will not allow me to do that. So every now and then test a few, but do not record as many things as I would like. Has anyone seen a master car list with things like purchased cost, hp, max tune hp, maybe even max cost with all possible parts puchased ?
EXAMPLE OF SOME OF MY TESTING
Record all lap times, all parts cost, and all horse power increase, weight reductions etc. However work, family, and life will not allow me to do that. So every now and then test a few, but do not record as many things as I would like. Has anyone seen a master car list with things like purchased cost, hp, max tune hp, maybe even max cost with all possible parts puchased ?
EXAMPLE OF SOME OF MY TESTING
- 7,666
I like Deep Forest and Grand Valley. Deep forest gives the elevation changes and a huge variety of corners (almost every one is different). Also a huge straight. It allows me to test the car in transitions well (Turn under throttle, quick brake, although I skip this somethimes, plant gas, turn other way.). Grand valley has a more accelerate, stop, turn, accellerate format. The opening esses are also good for high speed stuff. Braking to the hairpin is a good test for balance.
- 29,413
- Glasgow
- GTP_Mars
I spend most of my trial runs on the Ring, but on GT3 and in GT4, I always found Laguna Seca to be fairly challenging - since you pay a heavy price from straying from the grey stuff, as you do at Apricot Hill, and also perhaps Motegi as well...
- 95
I test the "smaller" cars there. Anything under 200hp (with exceptions) gets tested there. - 6
I mainly test on Deep Forest for reasons as mentioned before, but another track that has grown on me is Seattle although i have not seen it mentioned, just my preferences, regards
- 1,436
Here's my general testing procedure:
Apricot Hill - I develop a general suspension setup here. There are great high-speed corners, chicanes, and most of all the long, constant-radius turn that works extremely well for balancing off/on-throttle balance.
El Capitan - This is the second track, where I get a feel for how the car handles over bumps, jolts, jumps, etc. It also has some slower corners, and good medium-high speed corners. This is mostly just to make sure the car won't bottom out or have any strange behavior on less-than-ideal roads.
Sarthe II - The third track. I use this one for extreme high-speed behavior and to tweak the brake settings. The track has very high-speed corners that will help to develop downforce settings, and high-speed braking to develop the brake balance. Also, the final transmission setup can be worked out to try to balance the top speed with acceleration, given the long straightaway.
After those three, I might take it to Infineon or somewhere just to ensure that the car's behaving properly, then consider the tune finished.
Apricot Hill - I develop a general suspension setup here. There are great high-speed corners, chicanes, and most of all the long, constant-radius turn that works extremely well for balancing off/on-throttle balance.
El Capitan - This is the second track, where I get a feel for how the car handles over bumps, jolts, jumps, etc. It also has some slower corners, and good medium-high speed corners. This is mostly just to make sure the car won't bottom out or have any strange behavior on less-than-ideal roads.
Sarthe II - The third track. I use this one for extreme high-speed behavior and to tweak the brake settings. The track has very high-speed corners that will help to develop downforce settings, and high-speed braking to develop the brake balance. Also, the final transmission setup can be worked out to try to balance the top speed with acceleration, given the long straightaway.
After those three, I might take it to Infineon or somewhere just to ensure that the car's behaving properly, then consider the tune finished.
- 29,413
- Glasgow
- GTP_Mars
Another excellent test circuit is Suzuka... very punishing (sand traps everywhere), limit breaking (first hairpin), complex corners aplenty... plus it's very close to the real thing...
- 368
While Nurburgring does offer a variety of corners and looks, one mistake on such a long track can completely ruin a lap time.
I prefer to use El Capitan. First of all, it's a very fun and enjoyable track to drive. It also has a variety of corners (long sweepers, rising kinks, dropping sweepers, hairpins, and many fast corners) to test your car in every way.
I prefer to use El Capitan. First of all, it's a very fun and enjoyable track to drive. It also has a variety of corners (long sweepers, rising kinks, dropping sweepers, hairpins, and many fast corners) to test your car in every way.
- 20
I use four tracks so that I can keep records for different types of cars.
For the higher end LM/racecars, like the zonda LM, viper GTSR and Corvette C5R, I use Seattle. I love the elevation changes and the lighting, lots of sharp corners and two straightaways. It's a very fast paced track that keeps you on your toes, ideal for stiff suspensions and aero kits.
For GT500 class racers I use Stage 5 Special (I think that's the name, it's been a while). My favorite track, night time lighting. Again, high speed, but there are lots varieties of gradual turns, especially through the tunnel (Long, sustained turn), the complex after that, and the chicane before the split in tracks. You can see how your car handles the various turns, quick changes in direction, as well as maximum speed down the fron straightaway.
For Lemans prototypes I use Laguna Seca. The track is so difficult to do well that it has a 'sensitive' effect on tuning. If your car isn't right and you push it, you actually go off track rather than losing a portion of a second. The high end cars seem to handle the track a lot better as well.
For everything else I just use Deep Forest. Short, with that twisty section after the first turn, the track is suited more for slower cars, and its also fun to drive around on for hours.
For the higher end LM/racecars, like the zonda LM, viper GTSR and Corvette C5R, I use Seattle. I love the elevation changes and the lighting, lots of sharp corners and two straightaways. It's a very fast paced track that keeps you on your toes, ideal for stiff suspensions and aero kits.
For GT500 class racers I use Stage 5 Special (I think that's the name, it's been a while). My favorite track, night time lighting. Again, high speed, but there are lots varieties of gradual turns, especially through the tunnel (Long, sustained turn), the complex after that, and the chicane before the split in tracks. You can see how your car handles the various turns, quick changes in direction, as well as maximum speed down the fron straightaway.
For Lemans prototypes I use Laguna Seca. The track is so difficult to do well that it has a 'sensitive' effect on tuning. If your car isn't right and you push it, you actually go off track rather than losing a portion of a second. The high end cars seem to handle the track a lot better as well.
For everything else I just use Deep Forest. Short, with that twisty section after the first turn, the track is suited more for slower cars, and its also fun to drive around on for hours.
- 2,028
- RyosukeGunma
- Tau88
Winding Roads - Deep Forest
Long straight, many S-Turn, bumpy roads, long corners, small 90 degree turns. It's a great track for testing stock cars.
Long straight, many S-Turn, bumpy roads, long corners, small 90 degree turns. It's a great track for testing stock cars.
