While I join some servers people ask me about car setups (Porsche and Mazda). Isn't possible to detail each setup for each track, so I'll try to give some general tips about how to setup the cars, to save testing time. The most important things are already in the manual.
- Over all the other things, the most important is fuel, always. You could go as a rocket, but it isn't the most important, if you have to use a ton of fuel, you will lost all that gained time at the pits. You must start with the lowest boost/mixture possible (possition 7 or 8/15 on the Porsche, mixture "Endurance" on the Mazda). Later with the setup stablished, rise the boost/mixture if needed, but don't start with maximum boost/mixture because power will mask the setups problems. Start with few and then add if needed. Races are a pit stop chess, make a friend your race engineer to help you while you drive.
- High and Low downforce: It could be a tentation to use the low downforce at some tracks as Paul Ricard, Road America or other fast tracks, BUT, after some laps you will realize that the front tyres dies quickly. Use High downforce configuration at front at every track unless you are at Le Mans or Daytona. Even on those tracks a High downforce could work, it's all about what's your better rythm.
- Rev up the Mazda as high as you can at every gear (taking care of the rev limiter), because the power peak is exactly at 9000 RPM. If you don't feel confortable reving so high lower the mixture because other way you are using too much fuel all the time without reaching the power peak.
- Use the WSC engine on the Porsche first, unless you want a brutal peak of power in a short time lapse, if that's what you need for your car setup then use the IMSA engine. (We know the IMSA engine is the default engine, but we uses it to set the AI cars. Maybe we should switch in the future).
- Don't make it too complex with setups. First decide your strategy, high or low power (as fuel consumption), then knowing the power output you will use, setup the rear wing (it's supposed that front wing is in high possition) to balance the rear tyres heat/wear. The cars are very responsive to suspension changes. Once you know the power and wing settings you will use, setup the springs, dampers, roll bars, packers (those ones are very important) and weight distribution. Finally balance those items to get a stable car behaviour. The best lap times will come with practice and with a confortable driving more than with pure power.
- Weight distribution. At the start of the race you will have 100 litres of fuel, that weighs 74 kilos just behind your back. All that weight will make the car understeer. So, to get a good average balance throught the race don't setup the car with a full tank or dry one, make it with 50 litres. At the end of the race, with the tank almost dry, weared tyres and 700HP, the car will have oversteer. Take tha in mind when prepare your setup.
- For qualifying, the second lap on the tyres (Goodyear and Dunlop) is the best one, tyres are still with low pressure and tyres at not so hot, they could be good at the third lap if you do the outlap at low speed. Yokohama tyres need 1 or 2 more laps than the others.
- Finally, do at least 3 laps to reach the operational tyre pressure before decide something about the setup. The tyres stabilize after reach the operational pressure. So, be patient and be carefull with the throtle the first two laps.
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