Changing gear in a Sportscar?

[JAG]

Being into sim racing and wanting the most realistic experience I was wondering what techniques are used to change gear in a modern sportscar.

I've read about the megaline system used by Audi etc. that allows clutchless, full power upshifts and downshifts, but do all prototypes and GT's have similar systems?

[AU N EGL]

Depending on the class.

GT use the sequential gear box which only the clutch is needed to put the car into 1st or reverse.

Other then that it is pull back once for each upshift and push forward once for each downshift.

Sequential gear boxes: X-Trac in the US and Hewland in the UK.

Porsche 996 and 997s have the porsche sequential gear boxes as well

The LMP cars also have the sequentai gear boxes but are allowed the electronic or paddle shifter behind the steering wheel.

Pull the leaver on right side for upshift, pull the leaver on the left side for downshift.

However, not all classes allow sequential and electronic gear boxes.

I have a 6-speed "H" pattern manual in my car. Normally only use 3rd and 4th gears for events.

Here is a video of the old heel-n-toe downshift with a few double clutchs.

Click here to see Video

[Bramzel]

Originally Posted by AU N EGL

Depending on the class.

GT use the sequential gear box which only the clutch is needed to put the car into 1st or reverse.

Other then that it is pull back once for each upshift and push forward once for each downshift.

Sequential gear boxes: X-Trac in the US and Hewland in the UK.

Porsche 996 and 997s have the porsche sequential gear boxes as well

As far as I know they also use clutch on downshift a lot to save the gearbox, especially in the races longer than 3 hours. Plus that there are a lot of older RS's 996's that still run a 6-speed gearbox, especially in the national championships. These are dieing out rapidly though.

[canam]

For some long distance (24 hours) races, some teams prefer to use the H-pattern boxes as they are less stress-loading on the components--even in GT1. I remember Larbre using one such box in a Viper about three year ago at Spa 24 hours.

[AU N EGL]

Sequential gear boxes are very expesive for teams to put into cars. and with any equipment you need spares parts.

I saw a brand new Hewland GT1 5 speed sequential gear box for sale a few months ago. 25,000 pounds.

I think that may be why so many teams still use the traditional H manual gear boxes.


Here is a video of a Hewland sequental gear box on some DTM cars

Click here to see Video

[Audi R8R]

Anything in modern GT racing (GT1 or GT2) will be sequential and will more than likely (deifnatey in GT1 case) be fitted with a 'flat shift' system. That means they can keep their foot buried into the footwell and just grab another gear up the 'box.

On downshifts they will use the clutch, but with it being a sequential shift they can usually take a bunch of gears, meaning they can brake later and then drop it into the required gear for the corner. Going into a hairpin from a long straight for instance they'll probably drop four gears and be able to do that all at once rather than go down through each gear.

As has been said, LMPs have paddle shifts, usually for speed of change and its handy for the drivers to not need to take their hands off the wheel.

As far as I know, there aren't any GT cars that you can buy today that come with an H pattern gearbox, they just aren't fast enough anymore. Although, as has also been stated, maybe slightly less troublesome at times.

[bauble]

Changing gear in a sports car can be difficult especially if you wear tight trousers.

Oh! You mean changing................!

[hgb]

You mean changing the gear box... uh, ah... oily fingers...

[Wee]

Originally Posted by hgb

You mean changing the gear box... uh, ah... oily fingers...

Has anyone heard about the new gearbox just developed by X-trac? My boyfriend worked on the project and they just went public with it this week. No oil pans, external sump system. It's built for supercars and with turbo, etc., they'll be manufacturing cars with 1600bhp in no time! Now will someone out there PLEEZ tell me where they will drive a 1600bhp auto?! I think I hear someone muttering..."everywhere, Lass!"

Must be going for the world land speed record or something...jeez. No Rube Goldbergs on THIS project...

[AU N EGL]

Porshce GT3 One lap of Sebring. Classic double H gear shift pattern

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ag5suvvDF8A

( not dial up freindly)

[sportscarsRULE]

I seem to remember that, early in its life, the 360 paddle shift system was not a driver favorite. I think it was something to do with matching the rpms for the down-shifts. Risi reverted to an H-pattern for a while. Does anyone know anything more about this and what was up with the 360's paddle-shift back then?

[Erki]

Do drivers usually use right foot to brake or left? I have understood that in touring cars, some use left and I read from Aaron Scott's website that he also uses left foot to a degree.

[Suze]

Varies...

[Erki]

Originally Posted by Suze

Varies...

I guess that's why I get so many different answers all the time.

[Suze]

Yep, guess so

If it helps (don't think it does!) - Sam was driving an LMP3 this week, IMSA Lite - he right foot braked but only as he'd never driven the car otherwise may have left foot braked - next time may tell!

[AU N EGL]

Originally Posted by Erki

Do drivers usually use right foot to brake or left? I have understood that in touring cars, some use left and I read from Aaron Scott's website that he also uses left foot to a degree.

Left foot to 'tap' the brake or when you have to use both feet to modulate the brake AND the throttle at the same time.

Some times when you see cars flying down the long straights you see the brake lights just flash quickly, the drive uses their left foot to 'tap' the brake peddle and make sure they HAVE brakes before entering the hard braking zone

Hard braking is the right foot. Then the heel-n-toe downshifting is all right foot.

Heel-n-toe is not using the Heel and toe, but the right side and left side of the right foot. Right side on the throttle and left side of the right foot on the brake.

[Tone]

Couple of good vids\discussions on heel-n-toe..

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/t...p?h=0&t=306608

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/t...&f=48&t=283237

[Erki]

Dunno, some drivers only use the left foot to brake and blip the throttle with the right foot at the same time.

[Cynic]

I seem to remember that, early in its life, the 360 paddle shift system was not a driver favorite. I think it was something to do with matching the rpms for the down-shifts. Risi reverted to an H-pattern for a while. Does anyone know anything more about this and what was up with the 360's paddle-shift back then?

This hapened in the UK GT Championship. The Ferrari UK team (Now Scuderia Ecosse I think, but I could be wrong) ran with the paddle shift for a couple meetings before binning it. They never said exactly what the problem was but it kept botching the down-shifts so it may well have been the rpm matching problem.

BTW I could be wrong (I usually am) but don't the Saleens that are still running use H-Pattern boxes?

[Tone]

Saleen uses sequential box..
http://www.motorsport.com/photos/alm...ra-rs-0305.jpg