One of the challenges, but also a very fun aspect, of my job is when I get the opportunity to drive a brand-new car I have limited seat time in. I have to absorb the information about the car, then quickly relay my feedback to an engineering team or to the client who owns the car.
This is an extremely fun and unique challenge, and here are some of my tips for how to make that acclimation period easier when you’re driving a car that’s new to you.
I was recently at Road Atlanta, testing ahead of the upcoming Petit LeMans event at the end of this month. Specifically, we were preparing for Carrera Cup in the brand-new 992.2 Cup Car. This highly anticipated platform is an exciting update to the existing 992.1 chassis, which is so well-known throughout the world.
Increased front aerodynamic grip (thanks to a larger front splitter and louvers on the front fenders), traction control, improved driver ergonomics, and even air-conditioning are just some of the updates that this new platform offers.
Given these updates, especially with the increased performance, it was important for me to learn those changes quickly and efficiently, so I could relay my feedback to the team. Then they, in turn, could optimize the car’s setup, focusing on maintaining a good handling balance. Plus, I also needed to relay that information to the driver, who had his first outing with the new car at the test.
As a driver behind the wheel of a new car, you can exploit improvements to find better lap times. In the case of the 992.2, how much more trust you can put into the car at high speeds with the increased aerodynamics as well as better braking efficiency are two areas that help you do just that.
Plus, having all the other electronic advancements in the car helped us fine-tune driver comfort, providing a more confident experience. When you’re driving a new car, you’re not only thinking about the car’s optimal performance but also how you can gain confidence as a driver. For me, my goal is to discover those finer points, then implement them for the client.
Another really fun feature I found with the car was that not only does it provide tire pressures (with these newer cars, we’ve all come to appreciate that, since we get notification of a tire puncture), but, taking it one step further is tire temperature, which is read at the valve stem.
Live tire-temperature data opens up a whole new world of information that, up until now, has always been guesswork. Now, some of that guesswork has been taken out of knowing when the tire is ready to go after warming up, and you can use the information to manage your tires during the race. Monitoring and managing the front and rear temperatures helps you keep the car “under you” throughout the race.
This certainly puts more information to process on the driver, giving us some insight into what it must be like as a Formula 1 driver!
Overall, the two days of testing were a big success, and now, we’re ready to hit the ground running come Petit LeMans in just a few short weeks.