Scuderia F1-Trac on the Track

According to several articles I've read, when the scud/16M is in "RACE" mode, you can mash the throttle after an apex and the F1-Trac will prevent you from getting sideways. Here's an excerpt from a MotorTrend article:

"But perhaps the most significant technology transfer from F1 to the 430 Scuderia is the F1-Trac traction/stability control system, which for the first time on a road car also has authority over the electronically controlled E-Diff2 wet-clutch limited-slip differential. Put simply, this system is designed so that in the Manettino's "Race" mode, any driver should be able to approach the apex of any turn and simply flat-foot the throttle and steer through letting the electronics modulate brake pressures, engine torque, and differential lockup."

Have any of you noticed this in your car? I was at the track yesterday in my scud and the back end broke loose more than once when I was in RACE, and I wasn't anywhere near flooring it after the apex (linearly increased throttle as you would in any other car). Wondering if there's a fault in my F1-Trac system. Although it was cool yesterday (high of ~62°), it was by no means cold.

 

How loose did you get?

It only kicks in at a certain extremity. Losing traction is only one of the prerequisites. You will definitely feel it =)

It also puts a lot of stress & wear on the entire system because of all the things you mentioned above, so track-regulars always recommend going CT mode. There's also still a "save me" failsafe in that mode, you just have to get more sideways!

 

The back end stepped out, but I caught it so it didn't go that far out. Maybe it is working but hadn't kicked in yet. I'd be surprised if that were the case though because it had stepped out enough that maintaining that slip angle for an extended period would've meant I'd be drifting. I assumed the system would catch things before that point as drifting isn't fast.

I hear you on the CT Off but I'm pretty conservative with this car because of its value. Road Atlanta can be an unforgiving track and an off can easily result in a very expensive day.

 

yea, the system probably needed to step out just a touch more w longer wheel spin

The trac stuff can really help or really kill you depending on the situation. Just this past weekend, I had an off in the Abarth, and if I had any trac stuff on, I would most definitely have ended up in the wall.

Here's how close I was, enjoy:
http://scontent-b.cdninstagram.com/hphotos-xaf1/t50.2886-16/10827043_605539269557676_1735959855_n.mp4

 

Whoa, looks like you got pretty close to the wall there!

 

The stepping out of the back end in the race mode is normal, the system needs slippage to start its adjustment control.

On the track, it's almost better (if you have the possibility to practice!!) to turn off the system, because the system controls quite abruptly back.

 

oh huhuhuhuh oh no...nonono. You can spin in Race amigo. ; )

It will try to stop you though and do it's best to let you work it out. If the tires are cold though or conditions poor, it may not save you.

I would never drive it like that anyway (mash gas at the apex) because you are putting more stress on the diff (in theory) and definitely wear the brakes more as it tries to keep you fast.

 

It will step way out. I was on cold Corsas at Pitt Race and almost spun coming out of a 3rd gear turn. I caught it a second before the Race mode caught it (I believe)...but my passenger was looking at the car behind him before I snapped it back straight.

Cold-ish tires also - had a nice moment where I was staring at the wall for a split second at 110 or so as it over-steered and I had to correct.

The second issue...there is no way Race would have caught it before I hit the wall - slip/drift angle was not great enough. Was just too close with the particular line.

Big reason I went to MPSS - they are very predictable and easy to run and maintain...just have to know their limits.

 

I can't tell exactly what happened there - you rode the grass on the way to the pit? Scary; glad no damage.

I think Race in Ferrari and MDM in BMW are pretty amazing systems. There are many terrible systems that will make you slow, overheat the car, and even get you in trouble for sure. Depends on the car though. I'll be running my M3 with DSC off next season, but the Scud stays in Race for now. Need more training! ; )

Is the Scud down? Why were you in an Abarth? Cool car I would like to track; just curious...

 

Okay, good to know. Was thinking my F1-Trac was failing to engage or something. I'm sure the cooler temps didn't help. The car didn't step out this easily last time I had it at RA, but that was in the summer when the temp was probably in the upper 80s.

And for the record, I do NOT mash the pedal when I track out.

 

It was a high speed turn and the Abarth was massively understeering and not gripping whatsoever, so before I knew it I was over the curbs and onto the dirt.

Obviously, I had only 1 shot to save myself (when i went "woohoo") so I took it as I would if I were drifting, counter-steered and waited for the car to straighten out a bit then flicked it over at the last moment to get me away from the wall.

I came inches away from the wall, which just happened to be the entrance to the pits yep =) Made it out unscathed and couldn't stop giggling.

A bunch of guys were driving their Abarths, thought it would be fun to all be in one. Other than that reason, I would NEVER track an abarth lol, what a pos.

 

Yah in my experience in race mode, it will engage right when you are at the 'oh ****' moment and not really before. Presuming you are taking a racing line.

What tires and pressure were you running? Too cold is one thing. Too much psi and or heat can also lead to a lot of correction.

Haha! Noted! ; )

 

Ha! Scary. Nice job. And ok, now not interested. Lol.

 

i owe karting and skip barber.

staying calm in that sort of situation is 80% the work because unless u're calm, u can't properly understand what the car is doing and without understanding it you can't react the right way.

so driving a pos on the track may actually be good training lol.

 

Also good to know that I'm still in control and not going fast only because of the computer (cough, GTR, cough, cough)

I was running at around 30 psi in all four corners. What do you normally run?

 

Depends on the track temps. Optimally, you want to keep the tire temps within 40 when running hot. So you try to compensate for that by deflating them prior to the hot laps.

You also would probably want to keep the rear tires at a higher psi than the front.

I run 30/33 on relatively cool-ish days, once the tires warm up you'll be seeing them in the right range.

 

Nice.

I agree. I learned more in minutes on a karting track about vehicle dynamics than in years on the road!

POS is a no go. M3 even feels slow now compared to scud.

Skip Barber in January than March ; )

 

32PSI hot on MPSS. You will have to let a lot of air out. You can play with front to back 1-2 PSI also and see how it reacts/feels.

I believe the Corsa want 30-32 hot also. There is a post on them.

I also verified that pressure w michelin via email.

Lower than 32 and the MPSS move on the sidewall. Over 37 psi they get greasy. Overdrive them and they can chunk.

Some other tires need substantially more pressure. Always best to double check.

 

Yeah, the manual recommends around 30 for the Corsas, which I have. I let out air as the day goes on to maintain that level. Amazing how much the pressure can change, especially in the summer when the asphalt gets especially hot.

 

Yah it's insane. Get a delay between sessions and you may even have to add before then remove during the session. The Corsa compound age and number of heat cycles may also be a factor. I really know very little about tire tech relatively speaking. Be safe. RA is fast!