Using Delta time to optimize your performance

Overview

When running sim-races I always need the comparison between my own performance and of those around me. If Ineed to close a gap to the next position how am I actually doing and is this mission doable with my speedcompared to the competitors? Also if I lead how little effort do I need to make in order to keep the gap how it isnow?This guide is about optimizing your performance during the racing with others. By measuring your performance against others your abilities will be clearer. Delta timing is the key for this optimization. I have developed three delta dashboards for free for the iRDDU environment (USB monitors, Android, iOS, external). This guide takes a look at the possibilities of the three dashes.

Summary

One smart racing driver once said that you only need to win by the smallest margin. If you win by a larger margin you have essentially overdriven the car and exposed yourself to more danger at some point during the race which in the end was a useless effort.

I need a solution to keep myself updated on my performance and I believe my three
dashes help me getting closer to that awareness. Maybe these dashes can help you as well.

Meet Delta Circle, Delta Graph and Delta Timer!

Download Delta Dashes for iRDDU

[z13.invisionfree.com]

Challenges and solutions

Challenge: Many use the smart phone as an extended monitor to unload additional info/data from iRacing. The challenge is that the screen is relatively small, and it can be hard to quickly find the info needed when you’re committed to driving.

Solution: Focus data and important information only and make this data easy and quick to view. Resolution 1280×720 as standard resolution in all dashes.

Challenge: Running longer races and with increasing number of dynamics varies the lap times. How your own general performance in these runs can be measured is a challenge.

Solution: Visualize the performance of yourself compared to your closets competitors on the track. Improving your own best lap time without factoring in the lap times of the competitors does not really tell how your performanceis. That’s why the delta lap time is vital to understanding your current performance. By comparing last lap times between you and your competitors, your performance depends on the pace of the competitors and this is visualized in different variants. Think of the Delta Timing (Tab key) in iRacing, just measuring the delta (difference) between your and your competitors’ lap times.

Features of the Delta Dashes

Delta Circle, Delta Graph and Delta Timer is the names of the dashes.

Circle is mainly for the driver who just need the basics which is happening just in front and behind (1 ahead and 1 behind).

Graph utilizes position and colors to easily display information for a quick view of the nearest cars (2 aheas and 2 behind).

Timer is heavier on data but does provide a great insight to the competition. This dash also suits crew chiefs in need of a better awareness of the cars close (4 ahead and 4 behind).

All three dashes display the lap time comparisons between your own lap time and those around you. I call it the delta lap time. All deltas and gap times will reflect a comparison to your own car because it’s what you need in the heat of the battle. Generally, red colors mean you are losing time to the cars ahead or competitors are closing in, while green colors mean that you are increasing the lead or closing in on the next cars. The colors are based on your perspective. Green is good for you. The three dashes display almost the same data but in variations, so you can choose what you prefer most.

Delta Circle dash displays the positions on the track of your closets competitors both ahead and behind. It always show the nearest cars behind you. The larger the circle icon the closer the car is in the standings. This gives an overview of the cars that may affect your driving. Nearest 4 cars ahead and behind, who are not in close relation to your position are also displayed. Other cars are not displayed.

Delta Timer has data for 4 drivers in front and 4 drivers behind your own car, which also is very suitable for crew chiefs. Own car is always in the center row coloured blue to distinguish from the competitors and to quick draw attention. Delta colors are gradually more green/red based on your performance vs competitors.

Delta Graph raises or lowers the driver “cards” based on the lap time deltas when the car crosses the S/F line. If your car was the fastest car overall on the last lap then your card (the orange in the center) will be the highest positioned card coloring the other cards green and lowering those. The Y-axis is a pace visualization fromyour POV. The relative higher a driver card is the quicker the driver is compared to the others. This makes it very quick to view your performance by simply looking at the card positions along with the colors. If in need of a bit more detail, the deltas are provided in each card as well.

Additional features of Delta Dashes

Apart from the delta time element I have also included additionalfeatures which enhance my performance:

A pedal sensor input display which clearly indicates when a pedal is not fully pressed or released. Both throttle and brake input is displayed in percent. This can unveil hanging pedals, which might not be discovered using iRacing only.

A Rev limiter blinking when RPM is at 99% or more of the maximum RPM in every car. This limiter also flashes when the pit speed limiter is activated which diminishes the risk of turning off the pit speed limiter while still being in pit lane or over-rev’ing the engine.

A proximity warning system for approaching cars behind. This warning system consists of 4 steps. If your car is waiting to get back onto the track from a standstill or is going less than about 50Km/h and another car is within 5 seconds behind of you, then the outer warning ring will warn you with a steady displayed warning. When running more than 50Km/h this warning appears at about 1.2 seconds behind you. Another warning appears at 0.6 seconds behind, another one at 0.3 seconds behind and the final circle at 0.1 seconds behind. The final two flashes to get slightly more attention than the first two.

Consider the last warning to be shown when a car is alongside your own. With the increasing size in the warning system it’s easy to sense how close a car is behind and when it’s time to take care of facilitating a safe pass. I find myself looking less and less on the relative tab (F3) as the warning system does the job for me in my peripheral vision. F3 should still be used but with this warning system you can be more safe on and offtrack.

Final thoughts

Here’s just a few things to be aware of before using these dashes.

Pro: Greater and quicker views of your performance. Faster response, more safe driving, more focus on what’s important – you taking the corners better 🙂

Con: Need to have you and other drivers running consistent laps. Therefore the dashes perform best in races, as practice contains a lot of heading in and out of garages, thus making delta lap times invalid.

Thanks to Paul Thurston for making iRDDU!
Visit him at his Shedsoft website[www.shedsoft.co.uk] and download iRDDU for yourself