Am I shifting too much at Suzuka?

TheGeologist

TheGeologist

2,295
United States
Indiana
pie4july
About a month ago I posted a topic regarding fuel issues with the Viper Gr4. The issue was that in a FiA race, the Gr4 Viper was not able to run a full race at Suzuka with a single stop. The fuel map had to be altered to get the car to the finish. After the latest update, I found no fuel issues at other tracks, so I thought the issue was fixed.

It was not. Last night at Suzuka (11 laps) my Viper barely made it to pit road at the end of lap 5. I had to run the entire second stint in fuel map three because I was a lap short.

I was very lucky not to lose many spots while saving fuel because the room had horrid matchmaking (Dr S, Dr A, Dr B and a ton of Dr D). But if this room was much closer in speed, my race would have been ruined by having to go so slow on the track.

Since the Gr4 Viper does not seem to have fuel issues at other tracks, I am wondering if it is my driving style at Suzuka that is consuming too much fuel. Am I shifting too much? How can I maintain competitive speed in the Gr4 viper without being relegated to run a stint much slower than my competitors?

 
Last edited:
In my opinion, there are a couple of times when you could keep it in a higher gear to keep the revs down, but for the most part I think that shifting earlier will help with your fuel mileage. Like if you shift by the time the bar reaches the current gear, you'll save a good amount of fuel without too much power loss, if any.
 
littleregret265
In my opinion, there are a couple of times when you could keep it in a higher gear to keep the revs down, but for the most part I think that shifting earlier will help with your fuel mileage. Like if you shift by the time the bar reaches the current gear, you'll save a good amount of fuel without too much power loss, if any.
Click to expand...
The bar on the Gr4 viper rises very fast. I've compared it to my ghost and when I shift when the bar says to, I lose lots of acceleration.
 
I noticed that you are letting your revs get too high for proper fuel conservation. Try short shifting for a lap or two and compare your consumption. Your car is much thirstier at higher revs.

You will lose acceleration, but that's the sacrifice you have to make a strategic.decision about
 
Stay in 3rd through the S section, stay in 4th through the first part of the L corner (1:00), you can coast through the turn off the bridge (2:00) in 5th applying a little less brake. Looks like you're using TCS higher than 2, that's costing a lot of speed and fuel. And if you're trying to save fuel, refrain from overrevving the rpm like you were in that video. Good pace otherwise.

Suzuka is the toughest track for me though.
 
Last edited:
BSDShoes
Stay in 3rd through the S section, stay in 4th through the first part of the L corner (1:00), you can coast through the turn off the bridge (2:00) in 5th applying a little less brake. Looks like you're using TCS higher than 2, that's costing a lot of speed and fuel. And if you're trying to save fuel, refrain from overrevving the rpm like you were in that video. Good pace otherwise.

Suzuka is the toughest track for me though.
Click to expand...

My TCS was on two I'm pretty sure...? I wasn't aware TCS had an effect of fuel mileage
 
Everything is a compromise in racing. That being said, I guarantee that you can use higher gears in a bunch of areas without losing time. I don't know that car, but judging by how you have to shift up so soon as you exit corners, you aren't being efficient with fuel or time.

Hairpin can probably be taken in 2nd, don't shift down to 2nd in Spoon, even casino triangle will probably be fine in 2nd. Through the Degners, shift down to fourth for the first corner and shift down to third on the next corner. The esses you just have to try a higher gear, because I feel like cars generally rotate better in the lower gear, I won't say definitively that you need a higher gear there.

These changes will feel slow while you get used to it, but the car will be more stable and you can carry more speed through the turns. On exit, although in a higher gear, you won't lose momentum from having to shift so soon and lose time from the shift.

These are suggestions whether you are saving fuel or going for a faster lap. There are other situational changes you can make to save fuel, especially when you are closely following another car and can use the draft in straights and coast a bit into your braking points.

Hope that helps! Take what works and throw away the rest.

edit: One more thing, on Gr. 4 cars, I highly recommend turning off TCS.
 

Latest Posts

Back