Your Personal Test Track

[fupa727]

So i recently started trying to tune my cars exclusively by myself ever since i got the Audi r10 race car. And i now plan on going back to all my project cars and fine tuning everything.

Anyway my question is to all you fine tuning enthusiasts. Whats your go-to track to test your projects?

Im sure you all use more than one track. But what comes to mind first when it comes to testing your handling, top speed, acceleration, etc..?

 

[RacingManiac]

I've been using Tsukuba since its short and sweet, but I've found that it really exposes understeering issue with any cars. If I can get a car to go around there with manageable understeer the car usually is pretty neutral most tracks.

Problem I think is that its too slow speed wise, so it makes it difficult to judge changes needed for faster tracks.

I think I might use TG track for that.

 

[kd283]

Nurburgring every time for me.👍

 

[richATTK]

For the times when i just want to test & tune, I'm always drawn to Eiger but I think I am going to start using Tsukuba more. Both tracks have great sections for breaking down handling issues and it's easy to bang out a lap around a minute or so.

If I just want to cruise, and enjoy the drive it's the Nordschleif!!

 

[vantage2]

I just use the short version of SSR5 because it's short and looks so sweet at night. But now that my cars are getting faster it's almost too short so it's hard to tell which car is actually faster lol. I did a 51.7 on it in my SLS compared to a 52.4 in my 458. Then I took the Minolta and did a 46~

 

[Milo78]

For me it has to be Grand Valley full circuit, only because I know it so well from all the other GTs and happens to be my favourite. It has everything, not a bad straight and almost every type of corner. Once I get a car to go round here it is just a case of adjusting downforce and gear ratios depending on the track.

 

[MightyMoeJoe]

I prefer using Deep Forest Raceway/backwards...in myopinion it´s a track, that has nearly any type of corner as well as high speed passages. Also the Bumps at the start and before the last turn are helping me adjusting spring rates...

 

[psychot|K]

For me it has to be Grand Valley full circuit, only because I know it so well from all the other GTs and happens to be my favourite. It has everything, not a bad straight and almost every type of corner. Once I get a car to go round here it is just a case of adjusting downforce and gear ratios depending on the track.

I second that! Has hairpins, constant speed corners, S curves, and a tough braking section after the straight.

 

[AcceptYourDeath]

I prefer Grand Valley East, it`s obviously shorter than Grand Valley full circuit but i can keep better track were something went wrong with my driving instead of the car.

I think Grand Valley and Deep Forest have many to offer for serious testing of "all purpose"-setups!

The only thing missing on Grand Valley are noticeable bumps where Deep Forest (or Trial Mountain perhaps) can shine ^^

But i definitely recommend a track which is gonna lift your car with some heights instead of racing a flat track!

 

[Rotary Junkie]

Tsukuba is nice for setting cars up to handle well at low speeds. The fastest (final) corner is usually taken at less than 90mph on street tires, and that's not near high enough to test for high-speed stability.

Never mind that the rest of Tsukuba is so tight that the fastest setup for it WILL kill you at high speeds.

Personally, I do most of my tuning at Trial Mountain; it demands excellent mid-speed handling characteristics (50-80mph) and good high-speed manners under braking, quick switchbacks, and elevation changes. GVS is good as well but has a bit too smooth of a surface and is biased a bit too much towards high-speed cornering.

 

[premhz]

Yeah Tsukuba or grand valley,they generally have a bit of everything. Tsukuba is a slower and being short it`s easy to reproduce a handling trait quicker.

 

[skywolf23]

Nurburgring every time for me.👍

Quote ftw, if it goes well here it will go well anywhere.

 

[ghostrider135]

Im shocked no one has yet said Cape Ring that's my personal favourite test track no idea which variation it is mind

 

[niigma]

Suzuka it has all kinds of corners fast and slow that really push the suspension. Then the ring for bump testing and overall balance.

 

[big_al31804]

i always go to tsukuba first, my goal on most cars is to run under a minute. Then usually trial mountain for higher speeds

 

[Unstung]

Tsukuba really helps me tune spinning problems and understeer/oversteer (especially the first corner). The High Speed Ring is good for steering at... high speed... and has a long straight. Both tracks have short lap times also.

 

[daveyules]

Nurburgring every time for me.👍

me too

 

[Secondaries]

Tsukuba is nice for setting cars up to handle well at low speeds. The fastest (final) corner is usually taken at less than 90mph on street tires, and that's not near high enough to test for high-speed stability.

Never mind that the rest of Tsukuba is so tight that the fastest setup for it WILL kill you at high speeds.

Personally, I do most of my tuning at Trial Mountain; it demands excellent mid-speed handling characteristics (50-80mph) and good high-speed manners under braking, quick switchbacks, and elevation changes. GVS is good as well but has a bit too smooth of a surface and is biased a bit too much towards high-speed cornering.

+1 on all points. Tsukuba isn't well rounded. Also, I think its a bit unrealistic to use the 'ring for tuning purposes. Too long for consistent laps, and for tuning, quick lap times are easier to compare.

Trial Mountain is an ideal test track: very technical and has undulating sweepers. I tune my cars here and never change the settings again (save trans settings). Besides, it says "trial" in the name!

 

[Sail IC]

For me it has to be Grand Valley full circuit, only because I know it so well from all the other GTs and happens to be my favourite. It has everything, not a bad straight and almost every type of corner. Once I get a car to go round here it is just a case of adjusting downforce and gear ratios depending on the track.

+1

I use Suzuka for the same reasons you use Grand Valley

 

[Nuck81]

Grand Valley full is what I use...

 

[vett'e]

I will opt for Tsukuba every time, its got some great turns, on and off camber and a good straight. I generally find that a car tuned well here will perform well in most circumstances. Plus its short, so more laps can be dialed in before tuning.

My quickest on Tsukuba is with a modded NSX Type R '02 at 53.048s, I'm trying to nudge it into the 52s but its ever so hard to push.

 

[vett'e]

Im shocked no one has yet said Cape Ring that's my personal favourite test track no idea which variation it is mind

Cape ring has a good combination of straights and bends of the most frequented test tracks, but its.... too long? I make it a point to spend more time under than behind the car when I 'test'.

 

[SmushT3T4]

I prefer Grand Valley East, it`s obviously shorter than Grand Valley full circuit but i can keep better track were something went wrong with my driving instead of the car.

grand valley east for me as well short has great turns and breaking zones

 

[pervert]

Trial Mountain hands down. More corner types than Tsukuba and higher top speeds. Not as long as most other tracks. Perfect.

Any car that I have setup well at TM will take on most other tracks extremely well. 👍

 

[Turbonutter]

I will often use Laguna Seca. It's got varied radius corners, crested corners, and of course the magnificent corkscrew to really hammer the suspension and see if it bottoms.

 

[Fodder007]

Trial Mountain Circuit every time. It's a good balanced course. To test top speeds though it's gotta be SS7.

 

[Blitz187]

All my cars are setup on the Nurburgring... That track has a bit of everything and if it runs good there, it'll run good on most other tracks

 

[mafia_boy]

If I have to choose a GT course then it's off to the Guranbare for all GME testing!! (Grand Valley Speedway to the uninitiated)

HOWEVER, even I felt that this wasn't giving me enough feedback when it came to adjusting spring rates on various cars due to it being flat. So I have created a new course specifically for GME testing which involves a lot of dips, crests, jumps and various cambered corners which is working wonders for me and making me adjust things that I never considered changing before. 👍

The name of this circuit is called the "Uindibare" in Japanese. Quite a cool name if I do say so myself (THANKS GOOGLE TRANSLATOR!! ).

 

[dfv2]

TGTT all the way for a solid tune! I haven't found any other track to offer the variety of situations that TGTT does in such a quick lap. It's also very easy to set consistent and quick laps on, which help expose any increase/decrease in performance in the iterative tuning process. The drawback is, it's topographically challenged. But I wouldn't tune a car around those areas anywho.

 

[Tharain]

I prefer using Deep Forest Raceway/backwards...in myopinion it´s a track, that has nearly any type of corner as well as high speed passages. Also the Bumps at the start and before the last turn are helping me adjusting spring rates...

Same here If i want a quick test i drive Deep Forest, if i want a intensive test i drive Nordschleife