So I just did some tests.. and I hate to say it but I'm kinda proving my earlier posts wrong. Tested with the Mazda Furai Concept on Tsukuba. Here are the results:
~ Tsukuba Mazda Furai Concept (all aids off except ABS 1, race hard tyres, stock settings) ~
- Offline (5 laps Tsukuba practice, tyre wear and fuel depletion off)
Best lap: 0:53,224 > bit of wheelspin when going almost full throttle through corners, car feels a bit different than in the other tests
- Offline (5laps Tsukuba One make race, tyre wear and fuel depletion on)
Best lap: 0:54,063 > bit of oversteer and wheelspin when going above 3/4th throttle in corners
- Offline (5 laps Tsukuba 9H endurance, tyre wear and fuel depletion on)
Best lap: 0:54,248 > same physics
- Online (empty lobby, 5 laps Tsukuba free run, tyre wear and fuel depletion on)
Best lap: 0:54,079 > same physics
- Online (empty lobby, 5 laps Tsukuba race, tyre wear and fuel depletion on)
Best lap: 0:54,163 > same physics
- Online (5 player lobby, 5 laps Tsukuba free run, tyre wear and fuel depletion on)
Best lap: 0:53,694 with some drafting > same physics
- Online ( player lobby, 5 laps Tsukuba race, tyre wear and fuel depletion on)
Best lap: Didn't get to test, no race was started. Probably around same lap time.
I have no idea why this same car felt so different yesterday, maybe it was just the track (Deep Forest) or some settings in the lobby. Really confused right now after doing these tests. Only difference I noticed with these tests was when tyre wear and fuel depletion was off during offline practice. But it wasn't anything huge like what I said about my races yesterday..