What's faster: throttle control or higher gear?

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dkstz

dkstz

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arten_v
Hello!
I was just testing in Grand Valley with a JGTC Supra and a question came to mind. See, the gears on the car was mapped to run in Tokyo, and didn't function 100% at this track but..
...in one of the corners (slow left before first tunnel). The ideal speed was too low to use 3rd gear, but if I tried 2nd then the car was oversteering. So I was alternating between keeping 3rd and out of the power band a little, but following the line neatly or trying to control the oversteer in 2nd.

But what's faster?? When the tyres were cold or worn out, even throtle control wasn't enough to keep the car smoothly through the turn. When they were green-yellow it was easier.
The same thing was happening on the hairpin a few corners before...

If were you driving, what would you guys do? What's actually faster??

Thanks!
 
I sort of know what you mean. Sometimes, on some cars, I do ignore the flashing gear indicator, and went for a higher gear (the corner after the 2nd hairpin at Tsukuba, for example). It gives me a faster corner exit at times.

Like I said, it doesn't always work. So, In my opinion, it gives pretty much the same effect: using the throttle, or higher gear.
 
In honesty, I've never been sure which is faster as it's hard to get a fair test. But I'd always take it in the lower gear, especially in a race car with a fast-shifting gearbox. I use a DS2, but I can keep a TVR Speed 12 in line so it is possible to regulate the throttle well using the buttons. And don't complain about oversteer :)

If I were on cold tyres, I'd likely hold the low gear anyway, but if I was running on ragged and wearing reds I might shift up for personal safety :dopey:

DE
 
In my opinion it depends on the car, track, tyres and drivers preference.

Generally a higher gear will work better if the tyres are shot and/or the track surface is very slippery (wet or snow/ice), as the lower gear will deliver more torque to the driven wheels, making even a small change in throttle position result in a potentially bigger difference in torque to the wheels.

The lower gear and throttle control can work better on drier surfaces with good tyres, it may also suit a car with a flatter torque curve, as a change in throttle position will result in a more gradual change in torque to the driven wheels.

In short, what ever is quick for you for the track and car is quicker, sounds daft (and obvious) I know, but use what works best for the given situation and be ready to adapt.

Regards

Scaff
 
^agreed. You may also consider what type of race you are in. If you do an endurance for example, or a long race in general, you may want to go with the higher gear to preserve both fuel and tyres. Higher revs mean more fuelconsumption, and a low gear equals more torque and more likely to spin your wheels.
 
Good question. I agree that it depends on the situation/car. In rallying, I find using a higher gear gives you better traction. It's very difficult to do very precise throttle contol with the DS2, so this helps even more.

Whereas in some races, it varies even more. Having throttle control is the main option as quite a few cars don't have a good torque curve (unless you're driving a madly insane car like the SL65AMG for example). Being careful with the tyres also helps in a higher gear as you're more than likely not putting as much strain on the tyres.

It really does depends. Experimenting around is the only way to find out what's best.
 
You may also try adjusting your gear ratios so you have taller gearing in the lower gears. Especially for those that drive in automatic.
It really depends on how the car handles on the limit as to how it should be driven.
If it pushes wide (understeer) in the higher gear then I would use a lower gear and use the loss of traction to induce oversteer to rotate the car.
If it spins out very easily when losing traction I then would use the higher gear.
If it does both of the above then I know I need to rethink my suspension settings or drop the power.
 
Team666
^agreed. You may also consider what type of race you are in. If you do an endurance for example, or a long race in general, you may want to go with the higher gear to preserve both fuel and tyres. Higher revs mean more fuelconsumption, and a low gear equals more torque and more likely to spin your wheels.
Click to expand...

Actually, I tested this, incidentally, trying to spare fuel B-speccing an enduro... as you likely already know, Bob shifts early when driving on speed 2, and even earlier on speed 1. but used MORE fuel doing it!!! I don't know why, or how, but that's what he does, sad to say, I'm assuming it's the same when I drive.
However, if you set your gears up right, being able to floor it in 3rd is faster than holding back in 2nd... but like they said, it depends on the car and how bad you're lagging in the higher gear (3rd)
A denso supra has a great powerband, and you should already be shifting before redline for max performance, so, I'd use 3rd.
when in doubt, like Team666 said, save the tires, regardless of whether or not it saves fuel, pit stops cost more than .2 around a turn
 
Throttle control is always a MUST for any good race car driver. Other wise you'll be making good friends with a concrete enemy of mine and spending a lot of time facing the wrong direction and/or off the track. Also throttle control will always make you faster, no matter what gear your in.

Also you want to be in the RIGHT gear for the turn. Just cause you're in that gears range at corner entry DOESN'T mean you'll be in it at corner exit. Typically you want to be mid range in the rpm at mid corner, that way you give yourself room to accelerate out of the corner w/o causing a bog on the motor. If your up at redline at midcorner you'll either need to waste time shifting and possibly upset the cars balance or you'll have to back off and not accelerate to the speed you could be at because the engine won't allow it. If you're too low in the rpm's you'll waste time bogging out of the corner.

It's really just a feel. Drive the track enough and you'll figure out what gear works best for each turn. Shouldn't take but a few laps once you know the lay of the land.
 
it just depends on throttle control. If the car is coincidentally geared to give the maximum power that your car can put down in a certain situation, it is most effective. Otherwise, a lower gear with correct throttle control would be more effective. Obviously, that's easier said than done.

so, if you're going for a quick lap, go the lower gear - take a punt. Otherwise, play it safe. I know - I just did the formula GT world in tokyo (No TCS/ASM), using a gear higher than it reccomends in some places. Not quite as quick, but certainly easier.
 
It only works if the corner your on about is a 2nd gear corner. If the car has pletny of hp and torque then its usually better to use 3rd since its almost impossible to use 2nd as the tyres will spin and loose valuable time. I find that IF your car spins the wheels easily than consider using a higher gear, but if you get only a little bit of wheelspin then just manage it with throttle control and stay with the lower gear.

Another example is the ASL gariya, i was lapping the nurb and i was at my limit (so i thought) until i viewed a replay of Holl01. I saw that in a lot of corners he was a "gear" higher. Instead of being in 3rd high revs, he was in 4th low - medium revs. I used this tecnhique and instantly shaved off 2 seconds. It really depends on the cars peak torque and power curve. Some cars like to be in the low - mid revs and thus your in a "gear higher" than what you think is optiminal, but in reality your in the perfect gear to match the engines power.
 
This works especially well with turbocharged cars on street tires. Shifting early is about the only way to drive the Ford Focus RS in this game.
 
Depends on how high in the rpm range the needle is when you downshift into 2nd, if it's almost touching the redline then you'd be better off keeping the car in 3rd. Shifting to 2nd and controlling the throttle isn't helping you and then theres that shift you need to do when you're exiting the corner (which will lose you more time).

Another thing you can do is increase your final drive ratio (if thats possible on GT4), this will keep the gear to gear ratio similar but, your speed in each gear will increase by a little, helping you tackle the corner in 2nd without power sliding the car.

What ever gear you choose, make sure the car is able to take the intended racing line. If it doesn't, then you're in the wrong gear.

Shan2nu
 

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