Show first lap time?

[R8pilot]

Hello forum members,

I recently started up with AMS2. Mostly I've been driving the Ring in non-race mode ("private practice" or whatever it's called).

Now, AMS2 does not show the time for the first lap. It only starts counting on the second lap. For the Ring, where laps are quite a few minutes long, that's kind of irritating. Especially since my first laps are always awesome, and then I totally crash on the second one!

Is there a way to make it count the time of the first lap?

(Also, Project Cars 2 does this same thing - no count for the first lap. Is there a sensible reason, or is there something deeply-conspiratorial going on!?)

Thank you.

 

[BillGuy]

It’s unclear where specifically in the game you’re referring to when you say it “doesn’t show you” the lap time. I just double checked with Spa and the HUD most definitely does show you the time of your first complete lap (after your out lap) when the lap timings section is set to full.

If by “first lap” you’re actually referring to your out lap from the pits, then I don’t believe the game ever will show that to you. First of all, it only could show you this for tracks where your garage stall happens to be “behind” the start/finish line and I’m pretty sure that’s not the case at some tracks. The game just likely doesn’t have the facility to deal with determining whether or not there even is a lap time to show you for your out lap based on your starting point in the pits.

 

[Lurkusmaximus]

It’s unclear where specifically in the game you’re referring to when you say it “doesn’t show you” the lap time. I just double checked with Spa and the HUD most definitely does show you the time of your first complete lap (after your out lap) when the lap timings section is set to full.

View attachment 436470

If by “first lap” you’re actually referring to your out lap from the pits, then I don’t believe the game ever will show that to you. First of all, it only could show you this for tracks where your garage stall happens to be “behind” the start/finish line and I’m pretty sure that’s not the case at some tracks. The game just likely doesn’t have the facility to deal with determining whether or not there even is a lap time to show you for your out lap based on your starting point in the pits.

You could always start the stopwatch in Windows for your first lap, but that's not the most convenient method. Sounds like your only alternative is via external means though.

 

[R8pilot]

Yes, I guess I mean the "out lap."

The problem is that the "out lap" for the Ring is somewhere around 7-8 minutes long, depending on the car, etc., which is a long time to drive just to get to the point of beginning a timed lap.

It would be more convenient if the car started just before the start / finish line for a timed lap. (And while they are at it, they could delete the forced, uncontrolled, exit from the pits.)

 

[BillGuy]

It would be more convenient if the car started just before the start / finish line for a timed lap. (And while they are at it, they could delete the forced, uncontrolled, exit from the pits.)

Even if Reiza wanted to do that, you can’t forget about multiplayer where it would probably be impossible to guarantee all human players started in a garage stall before the start finish line. I certainly sympathise that it's not an ideal situation for the Nordschleife but it's just part of "living that 'ring life."

Regarding your other point, turn on manual pit stops in the game play options and you can drive out of the garage stall and your pit box under your own control as you might expect. At least I think that's what controls it. I don't recall for certain. It is possible though.

Side note since you're a new user: The delta time displays in the HUD (+/- difference from your best) seem to be buggy or at least have some inconsistencies to them. The data shown is valid but there seems to be certain circumstances when the delta display should be shown for sector times and it never gets displayed.

 

[R8pilot]

Thanks for the comments. I do think it's possible to improve the issue for single-player, if Reiza were so inclined.

However, I shall henceforth take your advice and unconditionally submit to "living that 'ring life."

 

[R8pilot]

I've discovered an odd trick: Leave the pit area until you have manual control, hit "return to pits", and then leave it again. You usually have to do this at least twice, as it seems semi-random, but after a try or a few, you will get a lap time starting from the pit exit. It's irritating, but it usually doesn't take more than about 10 seconds or so to get the game to give you a timed lap.

Really, though, for a long, long track such as the Nordschleife, the option or default to just start just before the start line, as is normal in so many games, would make much more sense!

 

[cpcdem]

@R8pilot Why don't you use the time trial mode instead of practice? Time trial is perfect for what you want to do I think, since it starts with heated tires in good tire pressure, so you can push from the beginning and it does count the first lap (since your car is always placed a few corners before the start line).

 

[R8pilot]

Ah, I saw that mode but hadn't tried it yet since I certainly haven't been out to set any records. I'll give it a try! Thanks for the little tip.