Mygale M12 - Formula Ford Ecoboost
Discussion
andylaurence said:
We didn't go that fast before Quarry. Data suggests the front tyres are slipping under braking, so it's likely the excessive camber is reducing straight line grip. We were bottoming out over Avon Rise on the test day and I had a rather hairy moment as a result. That was in the forefront of my mind when I dabbed the brakes before the rise. Better to lose a few tenths than a few corners. Having said that, I took a corner off anyway on the last run.
I missed that....are you OK?https://youtu.be/3oxeAnbml3I
Check for yourself
Coincidence that we put the camera on in reverse for the last run of the day
Check for yourself
Coincidence that we put the camera on in reverse for the last run of the day
Whilst I went home with a trophy from Bristol Motor Club's Dick Mayo Sprint at Castle Combe Circuit, I didn't achieve the performance I really wanted. The final run was a disaster with a missed shift at Quarry and then clipping the cone at Bobbies. Despite that, the timesheets showed it was only 0.13 seconds slower, so it must have been a faster lap, but why?
I've used wheel speed to determine the start of the run and due to the low resolution of the front wheel speed sensors, there's about half a second of difference in the start times. As a result and also because they're slightly misaligned, a pinch of salt is required here! The green/yellow traces show the run with the cone, whilst the blue/purple is the datum run of 59.99.
The start was similar for both, but a missed shift into 2nd gear on the datum run cost 0.25 seconds before Quarry.
I was earlier on the brakes into Quarry on the second run, dropping 12mph before the braking point of the first timed run, but this is likely to be the offset between the two runs. I was earlier on the brakes after the rise and harder too, but this is again likely to be offset slightly and a missed downshift left me in neutral. I dabbed the brake before clutching to select third gear, dropping 9mph at the apex. It cost 0.7 seconds mid-corner and this grew to 0.8 seconds down the Farm straight.
Into The Esses and the offset again makes it tricky to see, but I was harder on the brakes on the second run and applied throttle between the apexes on the second run. There were two stabs at the throttle on exit of the first timed run. A huge lift into Old Paddock didn't help on the first run and the net result was 0.6 seconds won on the second timed run through this sequence.
Coming into the final part of the lap, a higher entry speed and later braking led to a higher apex speed and 0.6 seconds gained. Bobbies was taken in a similar manner in both runs, but the lifting of the throttle on the second run shows the moment of impact and the time lost as a result. Without that indiscretion and the missed gear at Quarry, a 58 second run was on the cards. Next year...
Here's the video...
I've used wheel speed to determine the start of the run and due to the low resolution of the front wheel speed sensors, there's about half a second of difference in the start times. As a result and also because they're slightly misaligned, a pinch of salt is required here! The green/yellow traces show the run with the cone, whilst the blue/purple is the datum run of 59.99.
The start was similar for both, but a missed shift into 2nd gear on the datum run cost 0.25 seconds before Quarry.
I was earlier on the brakes into Quarry on the second run, dropping 12mph before the braking point of the first timed run, but this is likely to be the offset between the two runs. I was earlier on the brakes after the rise and harder too, but this is again likely to be offset slightly and a missed downshift left me in neutral. I dabbed the brake before clutching to select third gear, dropping 9mph at the apex. It cost 0.7 seconds mid-corner and this grew to 0.8 seconds down the Farm straight.
Into The Esses and the offset again makes it tricky to see, but I was harder on the brakes on the second run and applied throttle between the apexes on the second run. There were two stabs at the throttle on exit of the first timed run. A huge lift into Old Paddock didn't help on the first run and the net result was 0.6 seconds won on the second timed run through this sequence.
Coming into the final part of the lap, a higher entry speed and later braking led to a higher apex speed and 0.6 seconds gained. Bobbies was taken in a similar manner in both runs, but the lifting of the throttle on the second run shows the moment of impact and the time lost as a result. Without that indiscretion and the missed gear at Quarry, a 58 second run was on the cards. Next year...
Here's the video...
At the Dick Mayo Sprint, we experimented with boost to see if we could get a bit more power. The base map was the original 200bhp map and we tweaked boost up between each run. Looking at the boost vs RPM over the whole run, you can see that the boost was a lot more consistent at the original boost target than later on, which suggests the turbo is unable to flow enough. We know the car's fitted with a restrictor and also the intercooler is a limitation.
Base map in first practice:
Timed Run 1:
Timed Run 2:
Looking at this more closely, let's take a peek at the data down the Farm Straight on each run. In first practice, the actual boost follows the target quite well.
In second practice with a little boost added the correlation is still quite good but there are a few wobbles on the purple boost trace versus the light blue target trace. This is more pronounced than the trace in first practice.
Over lunch, we brought boost targets up further and clearly this was more than the turbo could supply to the engine as there is a significant difference between the target and actual boost levels.
Despite this, we pushed for more boost in the next run and the delta remained in the final timed run.
Next task is to remove the restrictor or machine it out. Whilst it could simply be removed, the intake pipe would then foul the radiator pipe.
Before that though, I needed to replace the broken bodywork receptacles.
Base map in first practice:
Timed Run 1:
Timed Run 2:
Looking at this more closely, let's take a peek at the data down the Farm Straight on each run. In first practice, the actual boost follows the target quite well.
In second practice with a little boost added the correlation is still quite good but there are a few wobbles on the purple boost trace versus the light blue target trace. This is more pronounced than the trace in first practice.
Over lunch, we brought boost targets up further and clearly this was more than the turbo could supply to the engine as there is a significant difference between the target and actual boost levels.
Despite this, we pushed for more boost in the next run and the delta remained in the final timed run.
Next task is to remove the restrictor or machine it out. Whilst it could simply be removed, the intake pipe would then foul the radiator pipe.
Before that though, I needed to replace the broken bodywork receptacles.
Andy and I were competing in the Curborough Sprint on Saturday. I was pipped to my first trophy by 0.04s in an exciting battle between the two of us.
We always said, when buying the car, that if we were able to get so close that it was a matter of hundredths then we'd be very happy.
Anyway, here is my video from my fastest timed run. I can see room for improvement but I'm much more comfortable in the car now, it's no longer alien to me.
YouTube Linky
We always said, when buying the car, that if we were able to get so close that it was a matter of hundredths then we'd be very happy.
Anyway, here is my video from my fastest timed run. I can see room for improvement but I'm much more comfortable in the car now, it's no longer alien to me.
YouTube Linky
No, just Andy 
We expect to be in a class of our own for quite some time, we knew this when we bought the car. As we develop the car then we hope to be seeing how close we compare to cars in other classes.
I'm not sure what the situation is with the F4 cars (the 'MSA Formula' cars are carbon tubs as opposed to what we have). Is the series changing AGAIN next year or are they using the same cars?
I did hear, from a good source, that the new cars are built a bit more to a budget so the quality isn't quite there.
We expect to be in a class of our own for quite some time, we knew this when we bought the car. As we develop the car then we hope to be seeing how close we compare to cars in other classes.
I'm not sure what the situation is with the F4 cars (the 'MSA Formula' cars are carbon tubs as opposed to what we have). Is the series changing AGAIN next year or are they using the same cars?
I did hear, from a good source, that the new cars are built a bit more to a budget so the quality isn't quite there.
Another video. I've put Andy's run alongside mine. My data is slightly ahead but I can't be bothered to rectify that just now
YouTube Linky
YouTube Linky
Winter upgrades are starting.
We need to improve the aero on the car, it's lacking downforce so we've started, today, with a new carbon rear wing
The original wing was 6.8kg but this is 10.1kg. We were surprised at the weight of the original, we were expecting it to be much heavier.
However, this new one is a 4 element wing with a 270mm chord length, which is huge! The wing profile is also significantly more aggressive than the old one.
This of course leads to an imbalance, we'll under steer like crazy with just this wing do we need to start trying to improve the front as well.
We're also looking it improve the floor with a bigger aero floor, but that's going to cost £££!
We need to improve the aero on the car, it's lacking downforce so we've started, today, with a new carbon rear wing
The original wing was 6.8kg but this is 10.1kg. We were surprised at the weight of the original, we were expecting it to be much heavier.
However, this new one is a 4 element wing with a 270mm chord length, which is huge! The wing profile is also significantly more aggressive than the old one.
This of course leads to an imbalance, we'll under steer like crazy with just this wing do we need to start trying to improve the front as well.
We're also looking it improve the floor with a bigger aero floor, but that's going to cost £££!
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