The DRM Revival Project's mighty 1980 Ford Capri Zakspeed Turbo (aka 'drm_aero' for legal reasons) is now up to v1.31 and it's a big improvement. It no longer feels like driving a hand grenade with the pin dangling out; the explosive burst of speed when the turbo comes on no longer threatens to rip the wheel out of your hands. In fact, it's quite civilized. But you still can't drive around with the turbo maxed out or you'll fry the engine within about a lap. Eighty-percent boost will last for ten laps, and if you need power to pass, you can bump it up to 90% for a while, but it probably won't last the full distance. I'd save 100% boost for qualifying (with a suitably reduced fuel load). The default skins are laughably 'legal' too, so I'd search the RD archives for Juan Salo Ramirez' realistic skins made for the 1.30 and earlier releases (they fit).
Why I test at Elkhart Lake. 1. It doesn't have any stupidly slow hairpins or chicanes, which interfere with repeatability...at least the way I drive. Spa would be ideal for testing if it weren't for that ugly, contorted chicane at the end of the lap. 2. The Carousel. Unlike the Nordschleife's Karusel (tight and lumpy), RA's Carousel is the closest thing you'll find to a high-speed, steady-state skid pad (or 'pan' as they call it in Blighty). It will give you an indication of absolute grip, with numbers you can compare, car-to-car and setup-to-setup (anything under 100 mph = pokey; anything over = speedy). 3. The Kink. The scariest turn in North America. Little cars will barely notice it, but big cars will make or break a decent lap-time depending on whether your setup will allow you to take it flat out. Or not.
Why I test at Elkhart Lake. 1. It doesn't have any stupidly slow hairpins or chicanes, which interfere with repeatability...at least the way I drive. Spa would be ideal for testing if it weren't for that ugly, contorted chicane at the end of the lap. 2. The Carousel. Unlike the Nordschleife's Karusel (tight and lumpy), RA's Carousel is the closest thing you'll find to a high-speed, steady-state skid pad (or 'pan' as they call it in Blighty). It will give you an indication of absolute grip, with numbers you can compare, car-to-car and setup-to-setup (anything under 100 mph = pokey; anything over = speedy). 3. The Kink. The scariest turn in North America. Little cars will barely notice it, but big cars will make or break a decent lap-time depending on whether your setup will allow you to take it flat out. Or not.
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