IFCA Relay Challenge Drivers Guide and Tips

It is here that you can possibly pick up a few new driving tips and bits to go faster or be more consistent.  A place to find that extra something that you know is probably making all the difference between you and your competitors.  

Each week I will highlight how to drive one of the Continental cars and give you the inside scoop on the best way to get them to perform at their maximum.  Of course, it will still be up to you to execute the advice.



2004 Porsche GT3 911

This is the oldest car of the entire series, and as such it happens to be at a cross-roads of sorts between today's ultra-sophisticated modern chassis design and suspension, and yester-years more old-school driving style relying on your head and your right foot to get the job done.

The key to driving the 911 is to stay within its limited performance window and not overdrive the car.   Easier said than done I know because the little Porsche loves to have its hair pulled and driven hard.  It begs you to give it more and more, but this is the wrong thing to do with her. lol  Instead you have to flip the script and make her beg you for mercy by not overdoing it.

To tune the 911 pay close attention to your spring rates, at Sebring you need softer springs to help absorb the bumps and stay planted and controlled. The 911 has excellent acceleration, handling, and speed due to her lightweight so there is no need to over-rev the engine.  However, she is not going to drive herself like her newer versions do.  You will need to peddle the throttle and steer a little bit with it just like back in the day.  Don't be afraid to let her drift slightly, but always try to keep your foot in the throttle and never let totally off of it to maintain smoother transitions.

Great Tip Don!

Rumor has it that this Porsche in this series is too slow.  And while this is debatable, our resident hot shoe was still able to run in the very low 2:09s in a 2000 level build.  Same for the 1900 build only about a tenth faster.  But the full race tire 1800 level car was deep into the 2:08.4s.  With the need to have a greater gap between the upper builds and less gap to the 1800 build we have decided to take some weight off the car resulting in 3 extra P.I. for the 1900 and 2000 builds.  The car isn't faster, but it is slightly quicker now which should help our boys over in team LOL Racing who are currently tied for 3rd with two other teams.

This latest 911 RS is the most talented 911 for the street ever built by Porsche and comes more track ready and race car-like than any of the cars in the class.  It might be the best handling car of the class too.  For this reason we didn't dare give it more hp as it will already dominate at all the tighter tracks guaranteed.  Even at the longish Homestead it is beginning to show its teeth.  It is the current lap record holder with a 1:25.421 in the new S776 1900 level build.  You can test your car against this on Rivals where the ghost is.

The key to a good balanced tune with the 2019 911 is again springs like almost all Porsches, adjusting the front sway bar, camber, and decel. 5.1 caster is good for better turn in, and less camber to smooth out the rumble strips is desired.  These tips will give you a nice variety of good driving responses with a car that already handles very well to begin with.  So well in fact that it almost drives itself, which is totally the opposite of its 2004 GT3 ancestor.

As for driving it, it can handle almost everything you can throw at it and wants you to try it.  It's smooth and the power is linear allowing you to get on it very early out of tight corners and squirt away from people.  It is easy to drive and predictable in slides.  It acts like it really doesn't need a driver and gives the impression that it is better than you anyway.  So try to manhandle it all you want, and she will respond with ever lower lap times I assure you.

Of the 4 Merc's offered in the series, the SLS is the oldest and least sophisticated.  It is also the most brutal and driver dependent.  Unlike its younger descendants which are well sorted out in the handling department from the start, the SLS needs some attention here.  On the other hand, the SLS might be the outright fastest of the Merc group. What it lacks in assisted handling, it seems to make up with power.  This means that you will have to drive the SLS with your foot and do some short shifting to go fast.  No need to spin the engine to high RPM's either, just let the torque do the motivating for you. 

At Indy GP, a flat course, the Merc likes a lot of camber, and a light decel on its diff.  Heavy springs in the front, lighter in the back with a strong anti-roll bar in the front.  Downforce is set to medium high.  Gears are best set with close ratios then you will have your pick to use 2nd or 3rd gear in slower corners.

As for the track itself, it's wide, and flat, but needs to be as the racing line itself is narrow.  The curbs are gentle and need to be used to get a quick lap.  Wide entry and late turn-in seems to work best.  Of critical importance are turns 1-3, and the last turn onto the straight.  You absolutely have to nail apexes here.  It's tough to do and threatens to dirty your lap when done right.

Currently the SLS holds the track lap record at 1:27.361 over on Rivals.  Tune is shared.