Formation Laps?

Just an idea i thought i would put up for the admins and all to discuss for the upcoming '88 ATCC series;

Some other leagues I have seen have a formation lap prior to the start of the race (i assume its an option you can select when setting up a server?). Basically, when the race screen is up and you click 'race' , you are put on the grid, but are sent off for a formation lap, at the completion of which you grid the car up yourself, and then the lights come on etc and the race starts. (i've also seen an instance where you must drive the car from the garage area, out onto the track, do a formation lap and then the race starts)

Given the longer 60min races next season, this would give everyone a chance to warm their tyres and brakes up a little, and also allow some of the nerves or jitters to be shaken off and be calm for the start.

Just thought i'd throw it out there, by the same token it could be a tedious exercise

I think its a good idea Formation laps are a big help. Just gotta make sure everyone knows about it, cos it can cause confusion. Driving out of the pits would also be cool Makes it feel more authentic and you'd have to make sure everything is set right before you leave rather than jumping too and fro from the garage to the start grid.

Yeh I'd be up for it. The majority of tracks aren't excessively long, so the additional time taken would be minimal I reckon.

elgibo wrote:I think its a good idea Formation laps are a big help. Just gotta make sure everyone knows about it, cos it can cause confusion. Driving out of the pits would also be cool Makes it feel more authentic and you'd have to make sure everything is set right before you leave rather than jumping too and fro from the garage to the start grid.

I like the idea of driving out of the pits. The realism angle & the chance to warm up the tyres/brakes.
Also if things aren't working properly (steering wheels etc), gives people a chance to correct these things rather
than finding out on the grid or turn 1!!!!
Sounds like a winner.

Would be especially good for F1 '79. They really don't like cold tyres.

sounds good.....what about a rolling start

its a good idea, cause the first lap on cold tyres is so dodgy lol.

how we gonna get people to come out of the pits in the correct order, and stay there, and line up on the grid in the right spots.

it sounds simple, but in practice i think it would take too long. Especially with 23 or so cars.

and thats if no one drops out, or has an accident on the warm up lap.


too much to go wrong i think.

When you come out of the pits, around to your grid position, it's got a red box around it, like in the pitlane, when you're pitting.

The hard part will be if the guy on pole comes out behind half the field, then he's gotta sneak up between the 2 rows of cars that have already gridded up.

wobblyone wrote:sounds good.....what about a rolling start

Interesting..... rolling starts aren't as 'exciting' as a standing start, but they do have their own skills required to get a good one, and were used a few times during 1986, 1987 and 1988 in the ATCC and the enduro's

warm up lap only i think

oh, well, if there's a red box to show you then thats a little better.

so do you start on the grid for the warmup lap? or come out of the pits?

if its from the grid then i think thats alright.

first guy leaves, second guy waits 2 seconds, so on and so on. just to keep some space to stop any rear enders. lol.

if its like that, then it sounds good.

Here's an 'interesting' rolling start for you Wobbly

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbVaM3aPEfA

shaynskyline wrote:

so do you start on the grid for the warmup lap? or come out of the pits?

From what i've seen, it is possible to do it both ways....

warm up from grid wont take to much time

[quote="racer69"]Here's an 'interesting' rolling start for you Wobbly

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbVaM3aPEfA


awesome

i did a couple of races in prep for the round at Wellington a bit earlier, and i had a look at the formation/warmup lap start.

Works pretty well, you start on the grid and drive off around the track to try and heat up your tyres. All you have to do is stay behind the person infront of you.

Once you get back, there's a pit marker/red box thingy where yur grid spot is. Once everybody is in place, the race goes ahead as normal.


Im sure most of you know all this lol, just incase some dont. I didnt know how it worked before.

Im all for it, as long as people follow the rules, it should work ok.

Well i'd say the formation lap was a success... Everyone agree??

I certainly do

The only thing i will say though is that we should mandate going round in single file and try not to overlap, as it sounded like there was a few coming-togethers on the warmup laps last night

yea mozza kept brake checking me

gotta be honest i didnt feel any advantage to it over our old system

Yeh was alright... although people *cough* WOBBLY *cough* need to stay in their grid position, not go up through the field. lol.

It's not brake checking when I'm not on the brakes either, nuff nuff. lol.


I thought it was good. Added something different to the series. Not fussed if it's used or not.... Do you wanna trial it again at Fuji, now everyone knows what the G-O is?

i reckon the formation lap goes okay, as long as people stay in their spots. it was a little dangerous at Welly cause its so tight.

On normal tracks i think it will be a good thing to have.

I think my tyres only warmed up like 10deg at Welly, and with the risk of damage, it wasnt really worth it. On bigger tracks it'l be fine.

I definitely think that it was an improvement - even though I managed to drive into a barrier trying to fit two cars through the first chicane......