It’s getting close to race time, but first I wanted to share some of the inside assists and options I’ll be using in the races. I’ll be racing against the computer AI “drivatars.” I’ve set their skill level to “expert.” This makes the racing much tougher on me, but after experimenting with different skill levels, “expert” seemed the most realistic.
Each race will be a sprint, normally somewhere between 20-30 miles in length. My brakes will be set at ABS On, traction control and stability control will be off, steering will be normal, and the transmission will be manual without clutch.
Damage setting will be set at “simulation,” meaning full damage occurs, both cosmetic and mechanical damage. I struggled a bit with this decision. I want the race to be as realistic as possible, but I also know that the AI drivatars can be aggressive, unafraid to bang doors or use their bumper to move other cars out of the way. Even so, if I was to hit a wall or another car was to hit me in real life, damage would occur. “Simulation” seems to be the most realistic way to go. UPDATE: I backed off of my decision to set damage at “simulation.” I want the racing–as well as the damage–to be realistic, but I ran into a problem with “simulation.” Unfortunately, even minor shunts can result in engine and/or transmission damage that ends the race for the car. The more I used “simulation,” the more unrealistic it became. Minor mistakes had race-ending consequences. That’s no fun for anyone. So, I ended up going with “Tire and Fuel Only.” With this option, fuel will be burned, lightening the car as the fuel is used, and tires will wear out over the course of a run. It’s not absolutely realistic, but it’s probably the best choice for what I’m trying to accomplish.
There are several ways to set the grid. Unfortunately, qualifying is one of them. So, the next best way is just a random draw. Some races I’ll start up front, others all start in the back. It should all even out over time.
I won’t be using rewind. If I go off track or have contact with another car, I’ll just need to live with the consequences.
Finally, Forza Motorsports 7 introduced “Friction Assist” which equalizes all surfaces, regardless of weather. Obvioulsly, that’s unrealistic. In the real world, a wet track is more slippery than a dry one. Accordingly, I won’t be using friction assist.
There is one challenge I’m dealing with that is just going to take some time and patience to resolve. It’s so easy in virtual racing to have contact with another car. In real life, drivers do everything they can to avoid contact. It’s expensive to repair the damage and it can be dangerous. Not so in virtual racing. I’m going to do my best to keep the contact to a minimum, but it may take some time to figure out exactly how to do that.
I’m looking forward to getting out on the virtual track. I want the experience to be as realistic as possible. Thanks for following along.