Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT3 COTA Hot Lap Analysis

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Let’s take a look at this hot lap of COTA in the Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT3 driven by HYMO.

The Track

Circuit of the Americas (COTA), located just outside Austin, Texas, is a modern motorsport facility that has quickly cemented its place in racing history. Officially opened in 2012, COTA was the first purpose-built Formula 1 circuit in the United States, designed to challenge drivers with its 5.513-kilometre length and 20 turns, including a signature uphill run into the tight Turn 1.

COTA's reputation is bolstered by hosting the United States Grand Prix, where the world's top F1 drivers navigate its mix of high-speed sections, tight hairpins, and challenging multi-apex turns. The track's versatile layout also accommodates various racing series, including MotoGP and the FIA World Endurance Championship, showcasing its adaptability and appeal.

Good news for you, the HYMO setup used in this hot lap video is available for you to try HERE.

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Analysis

The analysis below uses the Track Titan platform to compare a HYMO reference hotlap in blue to one of the Track Titan community drivers through Segment 4. Here we see the community driver going too fast into the first left-hander of this segment. This puts them wide out which makes the line tighter going into the next right. As a result we see the community driver having to hold the brakes a lot longer to rotate the car and bring the speed down enough. The minimum speed is therefore compromised and the throttle application is delayed on exit. The overall loss in this section is 0.2s, all because they went too fast into the start of the section and carried the error through.

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You can analyse every other turn in the Track Titan platform; see reference lap here.
You can also take it to the next level and compare it against your own driving, just sign up to Track Titan for FREE today here.

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Sim Racing Top Tips

In the realm of sim racing, various misconceptions can hinder the experience and progression of drivers. Addressing these can enhance understanding and performance:

1. "Sim Racing is Just a Game": While sim racing platforms like Assetto Corsa Competizione are accessible, they are sophisticated simulations that accurately replicate real-world physics and car behaviour. Treating them merely as games underestimates their complexity and the skill required to master them.
2. "You Need Expensive Equipment to Be Competitive": While high-quality gear can enhance the sim racing experience, it's not a prerequisite for success. Many skilled sim racers achieve competitive lap times using basic setups. Ultimately, practice and skill development are more crucial than hardware.
3. "More Aggressive Driving Equals Faster Laps": Overly aggressive driving often leads to mistakes, crashes, and tyre degradation. Smooth and controlled inputs, along with a strategic approach to overtaking and defending, typically yield better race results.
4. "Setup is Everything": While a well-tuned setup can significantly improve car performance, it's not a substitute for driving skill. Understanding racing lines, braking points, and how to adapt to varying track conditions is equally important.
5. "You Can't Learn Real-World Driving Skills from Sim Racing": Sim racing is an effective tool for developing and honing real-world driving skills. Many professional drivers use sim racing for training, citing its benefits for reaction times, track familiarisation, and understanding vehicle dynamics.

Recognising and moving beyond these misconceptions can lead to a more rewarding and realistic sim racing experience, whether competing virtually at COTA or any other circuit.

Don't know what you can do to go faster? Use the HYMO hotlap to find out.

To see full lap analysis of your own driving, you can sign up to Track Titan for FREE today here.

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