I still disagree in this point, but i recognize, we won't find a sweet spot in this discussion.
Just as an additional point, I think, always taking Thruxton as reference track is not the best decision. Thruxton is one very special circuit in the calendar. If you´re looking to the polelap of Ingrams polelap in the video, there is, apart from coram, where you have to lift and get ready for the breakzone in the corner, no such behaviour. And if you watch BTCC, you know, how loose Tom Ingrams cars are always set up on the rearend.
Thruxton isn't the only reference/testing we use. Thruxton is a high speed track, it's the only track where the BTCC cars go above 140 mph. For aero testing, at high speed corners like Church, it's good. But we don't just go around Thruxton. Knockhill is good testing bed for mechanical and suspension settings, Croft for traction, Oulton for a range of corners and demands. We've used different circuits, in and outside the UK, to see the reaction and handling of the cars. We haven't looked at one video or one style and gone "loosy goosy, okay dokay". The default setup isn't good, it's quite aggressive. But if we go safe and more understeer, people will likely get annoyed the front doesn't do as well and wears more etc. Is a balance that I'm working on, along with new physics to improve issues I have with the mod too.
But in regards to how they've never oversteering outside of Thruxton, that's not true. Here's a list of fast NGTC cars getting oversteer at a range of circuits, and cars/drivers too.
Austin at Silverstone in the Alfa.
Goff Honda getting oversteer into turn 1 at Brands.
Butcher sliding around in the new Ford at Knockhill.
Jordan at Brands Hatch.
Goff, Civic, Snetterton. Lots of oversteer into turn 1, 2, 3, 5, and last sector.
Do BTCC FWD have the ability to have a stable rear? Yes. We've never denied this. But, the fastest FWD method/style is to have a rear that's willing to step around so the front is pushed into the corner. It's a balance of what the driver prefers, and some like Ingram, Goff and Jordan have been known for quite loose and aggressive. I know some drivers prefer a more planted rear. In 0.99, it's not perfect. But I am working on that, getting a setup range that adapts to the range of styles people. But it's not right to say these cars have rear downforce, they have no diffuser/flat floor, so the splitter at the front is the only bit helping generate some downforce. While the rear wing acts for stability rather than pushing the rear into the ground. What I've been working on since the beginning of the year is developing a car which has a wider setup range to get the rear suited for different styles. So dampers, suspension, chassis, anti-roll, and tyres, they all needed work and I've made some good grounds on getting a more stable baseline, with the ability to have the rear step out or be more stable.
0.95 was just constantly stable on the rear, you could run the minimum wing and still have perfect rear grip everywhere. High speed tracks just didn't challenge the car, it felt super easy to throw them in like they have downforce. Is 0.99 a step in the aggressive side? Yes, I would say so, but it's being developed and honed in. We want to get the balance right, and with that we have to try stuff and learn from it. We've pushed ourselves to develop something new, and it's not perfect, but we've made progress behind the scenes.
Would recommend reading this regarding NGTC spec and downforce. Answers and explains a lot about the direction of NGTC and even the difference between RWD and FWD aero:
https://andrewcharman.webmate.me/index.php?fdownload=file-1411racetechaero_1487713539.pdf
But overall, that's not the point. It's the combination of this highly loose rear end since the update, and this new FFB feeling, that took me away from the cars i loved so much in the past. This incredible amount of torque steering that is now put into the FFB is simply too much to handle the loose rear end, because you always have to concentrate, that the car will drive in a straight line
. Yes i can lower the ffb multi and put the smoothing up, but if i do that, i can also go for AC or R3E (And yes, i even tried it with setups, i got from the NGMT boys themselves)
We've changed the default FFBmulti now to be lower. The FFB confuses me a lot. Yes, there is more torque feel and more feedback in the FWD 0.99 tyre structure change (with newer tgm advances from s397). Everyone has different views, settings and preferred style. It's a catch-22. I personally don't think it's fair to say you'll jump game if the FFB isn't perfect out the box. It takes just a couple minutes to find a range of FFB that's okay, maybe one 30-min race to find the sweet spot of your preferred taste. I spent a good couple weeks working out what I liked and didn't like ACC, but I didn't just bin it/request a refund because it wasn't perfect out the box. I think sim racers can be a bit spoiled and unwilling to experiment with stuff. I feel it's an unrealistic expectation for it to be perfect and intune for every users setup immediately. No different to a car setup. What I like is different from my teammates, so is about fine tuning to get the balance I'd like.
At the moment I'm glad to have an old version of the cars in a league pack, but there won't be a access, if new cars will appear.
Overall, 0.99 was pushed out earlier than I wanted. But I can't just sit on the work forever, so you'll have to respect and be patient for updates. We don't ask for money, we just ask for time. Feel free to use the older physics, so long as not shared. Personally don't seem them as better. The tyres melt like cheese when it sees fire, and the rear is so strong and stable it makes Theresa May tremble with delight.
1.0 will be a step forward. The rear will be less unpredictable, I've already got a new set of physics that definitely make the car a lot more user friendly. But it's not finished, and I've still got elements I'd like to implement and experiment with.
I've also got an incredible team around me, building exciting new cars for touring car fans. We've confirmed the new ST, the mighty 125, the classic VW, and another new car in the works too. And then there is more in place for stuff outside of NGTC. But we're all lacking the time, sometimes the motivation since this isn't a job and is a hobby. I'm proud to see this mod, team and community grow. Every update has been an improvement, but I've never been one to shy away from the fact there is always aspects to develop and grow.
