is the smaller setup window on GTD cars a function of much less aero than the GT3 cars, or a combination of factors?
Sort of, but mainly because the GT3 cars are designed and a lot of time is put into making them work with all the aero, TC, and ABS. When you take that stuff away it turns the car into something it wasn't designed to be. With enough time and money you can eventually get it to work, but why go through all that trouble and spend more money to go slower and have a car that isn't legal anywhere else? The GT3 cars aren't allowed many tweaks or even adjustment when following the FIA spec, so they're very easy to get into a window that makes them very good (since the factory does so much development on the cars, which is homologated). Hell, the front rollbar only has 2 settings... hard and soft. Lol! -mike
Couple videos from our test at Sonoma on Tuesday and Wednesday-- My first attempt at using TC as a poor-mans launch control: [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIWIQM7UoUA]Bronze driver launch control in a Ferrari 458 GT3. Needs work. - YouTube[/ame] A few laps on Wednesday: [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ccgIcU2Yvs]Few more laps from Sonoma in the Ferrari 458 GT3 - YouTube[/ame] -mike
Mike, what type of launch control system does the car use? is it adjustable for conditions, driver preference, etc or is it just a "one size fits all" system? seems to me that this could be one area where manufacturers could really market the presence of these systems in their road cars.
Launch control isn't legal for the car in the current PWC rule package (even though the non-FIA GT3 cars get it!). The car has to run as homologated by the FIA.. so we'll be stuck with the normal traction control (which isn't designed for this) and basic pedal dancing. It shouldn't be that bad.. I did the same thing at COTA last year in the R8 LMS and it worked ok. Street cars actually have better launch control then race cars. Most series don't do standing starts, so there isn't much time spent on development of a good launch control system. -mike
Check out this angle... https://twitter.com/mike_hedlund/status/449227823421853696 Image Unavailable, Please Login
I spent more time in my car hiding from the rain than I did with my camera aimed at the track. Sure wish they could've got the race in Image Unavailable, Please Login
Thanks for the picture Str8shooter! These cars are so much fun to drive and the race was great. I wish we could have run on Saturday too! Btw, if anyone's bored and wants to kill 10 minutes, here's my race report from the weekend: Mike Hedlund Race Report: St. Petersburg, Pirelli World Challenge | Maximum Attack. -mike
My pleasure I got there just as you were coming out on the track Saturday morning and had to take pictures at the first spot I stopped on the fence which wasn't very good because of the fence. Later on I found a great spot at turn 14 and would've got some nice shots if not for the rain messing everything up. Unfortunately all I got was fence shots of the first practice and your crew bringing the car in. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Here's a couple laps from the end of Practice 2 at St. Pete. For Long Beach we'll have much higher quality video... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4WRtNuKbfA -mike
Mike, the Pirelli site lists New Jersey Motorsports Track end of May, but NJMP's site doesn't. Are you guys scheduled to be there?
Thanks Mike. The replay of the race the other day had the announcers really showing some respect for some young lad driving a black Ferrari. Ha Ha. They thought you were really stepping up by competing in the pro class even though you didn't have to. Great job man. It's amazing getting to follow your career like this. You're really gonna go places.
