Ferrari 296 GT3 Hungaroring Hot Lap Analysis

‍

Let’s take a look at this hot lap of Hungaroring in the Ferrari 296 GT3 driven by HYMO.

The Track

Hungaroring, situated just outside of Budapest, Hungary, is a distinguished circuit known for its tight and twisting nature. Inaugurated in 1986, it has the distinction of being the first Formula 1 track behind the Iron Curtain. The circuit spans 4.381 kilometres and features 14 turns, encapsulating a series of slow corners that require maximum downforce and mechanical grip.

The track layout, resembling an arena, provides spectators with a comprehensive view of the racing action, contributing to its popularity. In GT3 and sim racing, such as in ACC, the Hungaroring tests driver skill with its lack of long straights, placing emphasis on car setup and driver finesse to perform precision overtakes and maintain consistent lap times.

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

‍

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. The data below reveals that the community driver slightly misses the apex after quickly flicking the car into the left-hander. Likely a result of an unstable balance or poor setup since they are not carrying excessive speed. The result means they cannot get on the power until they are sure they can avoid running wide. This costs the community driver over 0.1s in exit speed. The reference lap is able to get on the power much sooner - on the apex. They should review the HYMO setup for better results.

‍

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.

‍

Sim Racing Top Tips

The concept of the friction circle is fundamental to understanding vehicle dynamics in racing. It's a graphical representation of the maximum grip available from the tyres, illustrating the trade-off between lateral (cornering) and longitudinal (accelerating and braking) forces. At any given moment, the total force a tyre can generate is limited to the circumference of the circle, and demanding too much in either direction can lead to a loss of traction.

In practical terms, if you're braking or accelerating maximally, you can't also be turning maximally, as you would exceed the tyre's grip limit. This principle guides drivers in managing their input to keep within the bounds of the friction circle, ensuring they're not overloading the tyres and risking a slide or spin. Mastery of balancing these forces is crucial for fast lap times, especially in technical tracks like the Hungaroring, where the sequence of turns requires constant modulation of throttle and steering to maintain optimal grip.

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.

‍