How to Set Up Your Car for Various Motorsports

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How to Set Up Your Car for Various Motorsports

Words by Adam Gordon and

Motorsports of all kinds are a blast for all involved, and we know that lots of people in our audience are keen to get started on the track if they haven鈥檛 already. If you don鈥檛 know where to start, we鈥檝e put together a quick guide on the basics of setting up your vehicle for different motorsports. While the science behind maximizing performance in each can get pretty complex, this basic guide should give you everything you need to know to get started.

06 how to set up your car for various motorsports Time Attack pasmag PitlaneMedia

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Photo by Karl Nagel ()

Brakes:

  • High temperature brake fluid
  • Racing brake pads
  • Heat-dissipating rotors

Wheels/Tires:

  • Grippy tires possible on all corners (R-compound if possible).
  • Lightweight wheels help reduce unsprung weight which helps handling over bumps and corner speed, in addition to improving overall acceleration.

Suspension/Chassis:

  • Stiffer spring rates. With increased grip, higher spring rates will help control body roll.
  • Rigid chassis upgrades such as sway bars and strut braces. This helps with suspension tuning, as you want movement to come from  tunable suspension - not the chassis itself.

Engine/Drivetrain:

  • Power delivery focused on acceleration rather than top speed.
  • Constant full throttle can require a higher capacity cooling system. Additions such as a larger radiator, or external oil coolers will help manage temperatures.

Exterior/Aero:

  • Canards
  • Splitters
  • Diffusers
  • Spoilers for added downforce

Interior:

  • Roll cage


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