Cdsbblue
Member
- Joined
- Mar 4, 2023
- Threads
- 5
- Messages
- 34
- Reaction score
- 36
- Location
- Gainesville ga
- Vehicle(s)
- 2023 FL5
- Thread starter
- #1
I tracked the car at Road Atlanta for two days with Porsche PCA. Temps were in low to high 70's. Rainy the first day, nice the second.
First, everyone loved the car, especially the track crew. Second, they were laughing about hard it was running and pushing much faster cars. And it really was the car - I was pretty tentative gauging threshold braking, and entry and exit speed grip. In short, I was seriously underdriving the car. My best laps were generally in the low 1:45s. There is at least another 3-5 seconds in the stock car for your average track rat who's not looking to drive at 10/10, especially with a bit more confidence inspiring camber. I tend to drive more aggressively in the corners and lay back on the straights. For example, my high straight speed was only 128mph, and generally hung around mid-120s. There's more there if you want it. For some reason, the data log only compiled segments around the pits and on my way to a restaurant, but not around the track. User error I'm sure.
TIRES AND BRAKES.
The first day was wet and rainy all day, so I used the Michelin stock tires. The next day, I used Falken 660's on Apex EC-7s 18x9.5, and was trying to keep hot PSI around 36-37. Started both tires sets around 28, which worked for Falkens but I had to let out a couple of PSI in the Michelins. No pyrometer. Also, I had the Paragon discs and R5 front/P3 rear pads both days, with SRF fluid.
The Michelins were solid but the Falkens were at another level (for about 8-9 laps before fall off). Probably not an entirely fair comparison because of wet vs dry.
DRIVING IMPRESSIONS.
I drove the car in R+ mode, nannies on. Chose caution over speed for my first weekend out with the car.
I have always driven high horsepower rear wheel drives on track (the last was a Camaro ZL1- 650hp/650 tq), including about 1200 laps at Road Atlanta, so it was quite the change for me and tough to overcome prior habits. In particular, I found I did better with a bit earlier braking zone, quicker transition to lighter brake pressure and a lighter trail brake pressure (maybe a 1 or 2). I kept trying to push deeper in the braking zone, but found that it was harder to get the car settled by turn in, and sometimes I overslowed the car which is maddening in entry speed corners. This is probably attributable to my failure to adjust to this car's dynamics rather than inherent performance of the Type R. I'll know better after another event.
I really enjoyed the camaro, but gotta say that I had more grins with this car. Even at lower speeds, I felt the G's and speed more acutely. In fact, I really had to start to ignore the G's in my seat and push until the tires started to talk or slip. In the camaro, G's in the seat and tire slip were pretty closely correlated. Given how tentative I was, I only got serious slip in Turns 1 & 6 (from trail braking) and 12 (speed induced slip). If I could left foot brake, I'd definitely use it in Turns 7 and 10b. With the camaro, early full throttle at exit on certain turns was problematic, but this car does very well with throttle at every not involving a severe turning radius. The nannies would sometimes bog at exit, but I mostly noticed it in the slower corners .
The brakes never gave me any issues. I did get the amber "brake system" light a couple of times towards the end of some hard sessions - almost certainly from heat. Within a 1/2 lap at 7/10, the light disappears. I also had to take a cool down lap after I noticed my oil temps at around 280. Stock oil. It quickly returned to normal in less than a 1/2 lap. Water temps did NOT get too high.
CAR MODS
In addition to the more important driver mods, I intend to add Spoon rigid collars, rear camber arms and a front camber kit. I have some inquiries out to manufacturers to see if they can confirm whether the FK8 camber parts will fit the FL5. I might also look into an oil cooler given my experience this last weekend, or just start short shifting at 6500 rpm. It gets hot in Atlanta!
First, everyone loved the car, especially the track crew. Second, they were laughing about hard it was running and pushing much faster cars. And it really was the car - I was pretty tentative gauging threshold braking, and entry and exit speed grip. In short, I was seriously underdriving the car. My best laps were generally in the low 1:45s. There is at least another 3-5 seconds in the stock car for your average track rat who's not looking to drive at 10/10, especially with a bit more confidence inspiring camber. I tend to drive more aggressively in the corners and lay back on the straights. For example, my high straight speed was only 128mph, and generally hung around mid-120s. There's more there if you want it. For some reason, the data log only compiled segments around the pits and on my way to a restaurant, but not around the track. User error I'm sure.
TIRES AND BRAKES.
The first day was wet and rainy all day, so I used the Michelin stock tires. The next day, I used Falken 660's on Apex EC-7s 18x9.5, and was trying to keep hot PSI around 36-37. Started both tires sets around 28, which worked for Falkens but I had to let out a couple of PSI in the Michelins. No pyrometer. Also, I had the Paragon discs and R5 front/P3 rear pads both days, with SRF fluid.
The Michelins were solid but the Falkens were at another level (for about 8-9 laps before fall off). Probably not an entirely fair comparison because of wet vs dry.
DRIVING IMPRESSIONS.
I drove the car in R+ mode, nannies on. Chose caution over speed for my first weekend out with the car.
I have always driven high horsepower rear wheel drives on track (the last was a Camaro ZL1- 650hp/650 tq), including about 1200 laps at Road Atlanta, so it was quite the change for me and tough to overcome prior habits. In particular, I found I did better with a bit earlier braking zone, quicker transition to lighter brake pressure and a lighter trail brake pressure (maybe a 1 or 2). I kept trying to push deeper in the braking zone, but found that it was harder to get the car settled by turn in, and sometimes I overslowed the car which is maddening in entry speed corners. This is probably attributable to my failure to adjust to this car's dynamics rather than inherent performance of the Type R. I'll know better after another event.
I really enjoyed the camaro, but gotta say that I had more grins with this car. Even at lower speeds, I felt the G's and speed more acutely. In fact, I really had to start to ignore the G's in my seat and push until the tires started to talk or slip. In the camaro, G's in the seat and tire slip were pretty closely correlated. Given how tentative I was, I only got serious slip in Turns 1 & 6 (from trail braking) and 12 (speed induced slip). If I could left foot brake, I'd definitely use it in Turns 7 and 10b. With the camaro, early full throttle at exit on certain turns was problematic, but this car does very well with throttle at every not involving a severe turning radius. The nannies would sometimes bog at exit, but I mostly noticed it in the slower corners .
The brakes never gave me any issues. I did get the amber "brake system" light a couple of times towards the end of some hard sessions - almost certainly from heat. Within a 1/2 lap at 7/10, the light disappears. I also had to take a cool down lap after I noticed my oil temps at around 280. Stock oil. It quickly returned to normal in less than a 1/2 lap. Water temps did NOT get too high.
CAR MODS
In addition to the more important driver mods, I intend to add Spoon rigid collars, rear camber arms and a front camber kit. I have some inquiries out to manufacturers to see if they can confirm whether the FK8 camber parts will fit the FL5. I might also look into an oil cooler given my experience this last weekend, or just start short shifting at 6500 rpm. It gets hot in Atlanta!
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