Tips for Determining the Ideal Difficulty Level?

[Flamehead]

Hello all, just wondering what rules or procedures you use for determining the best difficulty level for any given track? I just recently started playing this and am really enjoying it, and am somewhat new to the sport of the Blancpain series.

Typically I've experimented by starting with 30 minute races in the middle of the pack (no qualifying). At Monza with 95% difficulty, for example, I did a single-make race (BMW), started at 15th, and 30 minutes later placed 11th.

I've been running a ton of laps learning Brands Hatch. Before typically wrecking out at the 15 minute mark (lol) at 92% during a non-single make race, I manage to gain about 1-2 spots.

I get the sense from watching real Blancpain races that overtaking can be a challenge. Are the above results realistic relevant to my skill level? I'm having fun regardless, just wondering what's more "true to life" than not.

How do you guys typically determine the best difficulty relative to your skill level?

Thanks!

 

[DrRob]

For me it was trial and error. I started at 90% at ramped it up after each test race.
The sweet spot for me at the moment is 94% while still trying to hone my skill level.
The thing is that between 93% and 94% the increase in KI laptime is a decider for me. Either I am leading by a big margin or I will be mid pack in those two.
Some tracks seems to have either a different scaling and/or I just suck at some tracks ... and in the rain.

 

[MPortnoy]

I get the sense from watching real Blancpain races that overtaking can be a challenge. Are the above results realistic relevant to my skill level?

Short answer is YES.

Contrary to what you're doing, I do always qualify. Even short 10 minute qualifying sessions are important IMO to get the best performance out of AI as possible.

I look for skill level which will place me mid pack for a race after qualifying.
Finally, once in the race, every time you cross the line use the HUD info to compare your lap times to the cars around you.
In a realistic scenario you'd find challenging to pass other cars and only gain a handful of places in 30min sessions, just like the results you're getting.

Once I find the right skill level for each track, I write it down and stick to it for every car.
For all tracks except 2 or 3 I'm between 94 and 96 so once you find it for one track, it shouldn't take long to test other tracks and find the right setting for each one