Thanks for setting out the diff values/effect so clearly Matt. I struggled in my early days of GTL ( some say I still am!!) trying to apply GPL values week after week and getting nowhere
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Just one caveat as regards diffs and all other settings IMHO.
Any effect is car related ( other than those infernal front wheel drive abominations, which should be banned ). There is not a "one size fits all" set of parameters that will work for ALL cars.
For instance the Falcon that I drove last night requires a different approach to that for Alfa or Cortina. The power to weight ratio can have a profound effect on how the diff responds. The Alfa is a nimble and agile car that really uses the available grip through the corners, whereas the Falcon has to be wrestled into the apex and then you can exploit the raw power to throw it down the next straight. So the Alfa needs a smooth rotation under coast and nothing too dramatic under power in order to carry more speed through a corner. I find with the Falcon that I need to be quite aggressive with the coast side to force the tail to rotate early ( along with rear biased brake balance), so that I can turn on the gas with a diff that yields just the right amount of power on oversteer to push through the apex. Similarly, stamping on the gas in the Falcon is good for shortening your life expectancy and tyre life. Only feed in as much as it will handle before wheelspin robs you of maximum propulsion, whereas the Alfa ( having less pure grunt) will probably tolerate quite aggressive use of the gas pedal.
Now that I have comprehensively sabotaged the driving development of many drivers ....my thoughts about the races at Brands Hatch.
Race 1
I was rather hopeful of a Class win after quali. Daz had extracted superb pace in the SUPER Anglia, (bet he ain't that quick in the 997 slug
). Given how close we were on pace and that I had qualified on full tanks ( discovered 5 spare galls after race 2!!) there might have been an opportunity in the race to sneak an outright win, but the class win was the target.
Despite abusing the tyres it still took 2 laps to get consistant slide/grip with the mighty Falcon, so I was content to follow for a lap or two keeping a safe distance....the brakes on the Falcon needed new pads I think!!! So content to tail Daz through T1 and up to Druids where the cold tyres refused to pull the nose around, so a dab of gas flicked the tail out and put a single wheel onto the grass ( I have not looked at the replay but certainly 2 wheel stayed on the grey stuff I am sure).
Message popped up " Track Limits SnG penalty" .......what?
I though that we always got 3 hits and out?? Can't complain as I assume that it would have been the same for all drivers, but I was not a happy bunny. Basically race finished,just compounded the problem with a speeding infringement in Pit Lane and another Sng!! that was my fault.
Decided to run on until or if I got lapped just to get used to the Falcon, with the intention to run it again in Race 2. When Daz caught me with a lap to go I parked the car.
Race 2 was better, although I had a Lotus Cortina piloted by Daz and an Alfa with Erling in the driving seat sitting ahead of me. And, to make matters worse I had Geoffers in an Anglia and Fulkvio in a quick Mini crowding my tailpipes.
To try and chase Daz and Erling would have been suicide so I concentrated on pulling a gap to Geoff and Fulvio who were enjoying quite a battle behind, and probably slowing themselves a little in the process
.
Made sure to keep Druids tight and clean and other than a moment of brain fade when I forgot to downshift AND brake all went well, I was managing the gap on the last lap as Geoffers closed in, but I was reasonably confident that Falcon Power would see me across the line in 3rd overall.
I have said it before but these mixed class races are great fun ( except for the exit of Druids!!)