I have changed classes from stock to GT and bought a cup car wing and splitter for my car. After a day of testing is seems that my lap times did not improve and I am actually losing about 4mph at the end of the straight away. I am beginning to wonder if the new splitter and wing cause more drag on the car then down force. Since my car only has about 290 rwhp could the new set up be more of a hinderence than a help ? My mechanic seems to think so and wants me to take it off.

 

Cup wing words great on SP996's... Maybe your suspension is not set up for the additional DF?

 

Moton Tripple's with 900lb springs f/r

 

So are you faster in corners? Brake zones any shorter? Able to trail brake deeper? Etc?

 

Scott, it's still early in the season.

I can tell you that it took me a bit of time - perhaps two training days, to begin to understand my aero and trust in it. Once that occured, its affect in some corners and under braking (!) came through to me and I was able to increase my speed in many parts of the track...and decrease my lap times.

Perhaps give it a while and keep watching data.

 

900# f and r?

 

Not faster in corners but braking a bit later. As Kai mentioned maybe I need to drive it for a while and learn it ? Trust it ?

yes

 

IMO yes. It will be different, if this is the first time you have ever really used basic aero. You should end up a LOT faster in fast corners & sweepers, and you should be able to trail brake a lot more aggressively with full confidence the back end will remain planted...presuming you also have an LSD.

 

He made me take my splitter of at Sebring (picked up 2 seconds)

 

Scott,

We are creatures of habit. Your going to have to look at the data a bit and learn how to use improved DF and also balance the car differently for high speed and low speed turns. Also, instead of braking later start with braking a bit less. Keep the rough rule of thumb that low speed turns benefit from more rotation (oversteer). Stable car at high speed favors more neutral setup. You should definitely pick up time. Look at all the aero Eric and Josh are running on their Bimmers now. I think Eric ran a 2:03 at the Glen in GTS3 with all the car tweaks.

 

Your mechanic is a lunatic.

Sounds like the consensus is that I need to re-learn the car and drive it differently.

I don't see a splitter on your car. Is that the rules of your class or did you decide not to put one on ?

 

......Um.....if you are driving to your previous braking and turn in points then you will go slower as speed at the end of the straight should be less.

Takes a while to "trust" the downforce, but you might need to forget how you used to drive and simply drive it till you get squirrely and find new limits. Took me quite a while to trust the downforce. In fact, I actually lapped faster in my 951 until I figured it out.

 

It won't matter what you bolt onto that car, you're still going to be sloooooow.

But you've still got that thick head of hair so that's good!

 

Splitters are allowed. He's just too busy polishing his car to put one on.

 

It's quite possible that your mechanic is right although the Cup wing isn't particularly large nor is it usually run with much attack. It will no doubt increase your drag but that's not to say you can't benefit overall from the change as others have mentioned.