Wheel Drivers have faster lap times in general?

[Josephfolkmann]

I'm trying to figure out in general if the guys at the top of the time trial online leaderboards are using a wheel. I ask because I've been playing with a controller ever since Gran Turismo 1 and would consider myself a good controller driver but I'm always at least 5 seconds behind the top times at every track.

It boggles my mind because there are laps that I nail perfectly in my mind. Perfect braking points, apex, no oversteer, little to no wheelspin, carry the most amount of speed through corners while being smooth and yet I hit a proverbial wall where I can't get any closer than 5 seconds off the lead time.

I know its not my setup because you can't tune for online time trial events.

Are the vast majority of the top tier drivers using a wheel?

if so I think I need to bite the bullet and graduate to a wheel.

thanks

 

[H3rmaN]

Yes, wheel is generally faster, mainly because you will always have more control over throttle, steering angle, etc with a wheel compared to a controller.

Also if you have a G25 or Fanatec 911 Turbo wheel and use the clutch its also an advantage.

However, if you move from pad to wheel or from an old wheel to a new one like me (DFP to G25) it will take a couple of days to get used to it, but once you are used to it, you will be better than you were before.

At least thats what happened to me. My lap times with the G25 are better than the ones I did in the same car with the DFP.

 

[Josephfolkmann]

Yes, wheel is generally faster, mainly because you will always have more control over throttle, steering angle, etc with a wheel compared to a controller.

Also if you have a G25 or Fanatec 911 Turbo wheel and use the clutch its also an advantage.

Yea I think the main reason I'm behind on lap times is because using a controller stick is a lot more twitchy and it's more difficult to lay the power down smooth.

also, how can you use the clutch to your advantage? rev matching when downshifting?

 

[Gabkicks]

I don't know about Gran turismo 5, but in previous GT games and in sims for the PC, I can conserve my tires better than other drivers. I think its also because of my driving style too, but having a wheel helps

 

[Rocket Punch]

Also if you have a G25 or Fanatec 911 Turbo wheel and use the clutch its also an advantage......

Depends on the car. No advantage in cars like R35 and F430.

also, how can you use the clutch to your advantage? rev matching when downshifting?

Shifting time.

Some PC sims/mods have a fixed shifting time built in so they are the same with or without using the clutch. It is not the case in GT5, but cars with DSG/sequential transmission will have the same shift time, if not faster.

 

[Metar]

It depends on the game, and in GT4's case, on the combo. I participated in the WRS for about 40 weeks - and there was never a single, superior controller. The absolutely fastest, those that won every week, every time, were those capable of using both controllers to their fullest potential. Here's a few examples:

Week 102 (or 101?), a Marcos Mini around Motorland Reverse. Who won? A wheel driver - with the wheel, they were able to hold the exact steering-angle required to turn the car without turning the wheels too much and scrubbing off speed. With the DS2, from experience, it was a pain - after dozens of runs, I got the technique right - but I still had 5km/h less at the end of the corner. That was a pure wheel advantage.

Scenario 2: Week 85, Subaru/Mitsubishi rallycars around Seattle. Who won? A DS2 driver, who not only chose the fastest car and had a superior setup, but was also capable of swiftly correcting oversteer, which was plentiful that week - the key to a good time was throwing the car into a four-wheel slide, allowing the raw torque to return it to it's right ways with minimum control.

Another? Week 82 (I think...), Kei-cars around Clubman Stage - everyone who aimed for a good time rather than pure fun picked the Cappuccino. Who won? I have no idea - Hugo Boss (wheel-expert) and holl01 (DS2 on that week, expert on both) were separated by less than 0.02 seconds at the finish.

 

[Josephfolkmann]

Shifting time.

Some PC sims/mods have a fixed shifting time built in so they are the same with or without using the clutch. It is not the case in GT5, but cars with DSG/sequential transmission will have the same shift time, if not faster.

interesting. I didnt even think about that....but now that you mention it, the default driver doesn't shift that quick. I always knew I could bang gears faster in a real car.

 

[xStretch-]

it does mate, one of my freinds who is in the final of gt academy said when he was using a controler his laps were very slow and that the wheel what everyone in the top used gave them a advantage.

 

[Gabkicks]

sometimes, I miss shift into neutral or the wrong gear that never happens to you if you use sequential. its more mentally ahd physically stressfull when you have to healtoe and use a h gate shifter. especially in older cars where bliping the throttle can be the difference between braking heavily and spinning out/locking tires or successfully slowing down.