DC_McGregor
02-22-2002, 12:16 PM
I just made a couple of posts at Speedsims. I thought they might be interesting, so I'm copying them here.
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In my experience, the ai drivers are easy to beat. By anywhere from 5 to 15 seconds a lap and more, depending on the circuit and the car.
At almost all tracks, the ai cars use an "early apex" line, which isn't the fastest but is a good passing line. "Late apex" is better. However, if you use the late apex line with an ai car close behind, you'll get punted off almost every time. Adopt the same line as the ai cars in that case. I've found that the ai cars will give way if you're blocking their line into a corner.
Briefly, a "late apex" is defined as the closest point to the inside of a corner - _after_ the midpoint of that corner. You brake earlier, turn in earlier and get a straighter shot out of the corner and can begin accelerating down the following straight earlier. An "early apex" (or late braking maneuver) is defined as taking a straighter line entering the corner allowing you to brake later. You'll be closest to the inside of the corner before the midpoint of that corner and your exit speed from the corner will be slower. This is the classic line for making an inside pass. There is a danger that you may run wide on the exit and the other car can repass on the exit of the corner - on your inside.
A blocking line is somewhere between the two. It won't deter the ai cars from passing you on the inside, but it will work against human drivers.
Another technique is the "counter pass" (my name for it).
Take your usual late apex line - perhaps even a little later apex. Let the other car pass on the inside (human or ai) then duck inside for a repass. You'll have a straight shot out of the corner and easily be able to out accelerate the other car. Be advised though. If the other car doesn't run at least a bit wide, your exit line may be blocked.
You can use this technique when you've neglected to take a proper blocking line early enough to avoid being punted off. Again, human or ai. If the other car has disappeared from your mirror, it's too late to take a blocking line. He (human or ai) has already began his passing maneuver. He won't be able to see you and you will make contact.
If you have a friend who's close to you in skill, you can practice these techniques on each other and have a lot of fun in close racing. Almost like the real thing. <grin>
Robert
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In my experience, the ai drivers are easy to beat. By anywhere from 5 to 15 seconds a lap and more, depending on the circuit and the car.
At almost all tracks, the ai cars use an "early apex" line, which isn't the fastest but is a good passing line. "Late apex" is better. However, if you use the late apex line with an ai car close behind, you'll get punted off almost every time. Adopt the same line as the ai cars in that case. I've found that the ai cars will give way if you're blocking their line into a corner.
Briefly, a "late apex" is defined as the closest point to the inside of a corner - _after_ the midpoint of that corner. You brake earlier, turn in earlier and get a straighter shot out of the corner and can begin accelerating down the following straight earlier. An "early apex" (or late braking maneuver) is defined as taking a straighter line entering the corner allowing you to brake later. You'll be closest to the inside of the corner before the midpoint of that corner and your exit speed from the corner will be slower. This is the classic line for making an inside pass. There is a danger that you may run wide on the exit and the other car can repass on the exit of the corner - on your inside.
A blocking line is somewhere between the two. It won't deter the ai cars from passing you on the inside, but it will work against human drivers.
Another technique is the "counter pass" (my name for it).
Take your usual late apex line - perhaps even a little later apex. Let the other car pass on the inside (human or ai) then duck inside for a repass. You'll have a straight shot out of the corner and easily be able to out accelerate the other car. Be advised though. If the other car doesn't run at least a bit wide, your exit line may be blocked.
You can use this technique when you've neglected to take a proper blocking line early enough to avoid being punted off. Again, human or ai. If the other car has disappeared from your mirror, it's too late to take a blocking line. He (human or ai) has already began his passing maneuver. He won't be able to see you and you will make contact.
If you have a friend who's close to you in skill, you can practice these techniques on each other and have a lot of fun in close racing. Almost like the real thing. <grin>
Robert