Class Spacing at the start

[davehenrie]

There have been repeated requests to increase the gap between the Protos and the GT cars when starting a race to avoid first turn mayhem. Looking at replays and comparing WEC to IMSA, the gap at the real WEC event is close to what LMU uses. However, the IMSA grids have a much larger separation. I'd guess it was nearly 30 seconds today at the start of the Petite Le Mans. Absolutely no chance of the GT cars piling into the Hypers/LMP2/3 when there is such a large separation.

 

[Keelan McAteer]

They could try something similar to the new iracing system with separate pace cars and green flags. But yh me your and others have been begging for changes to starts.

 

[Nectaria Coutayar]

Considering we're only racing our own class, a larger gap wouldn't hurt anybody.

 

[robevery1971]

The dumb thing is that in most series there is a far bigger split between proto and GT classes, I have no idea why that is not the case here, it seems logical, maybe that is the problem.

I rarely watch the start of WEC races live so cant really recall if there is a big gap.

 

[Nectaria Coutayar]

The dumb thing is that in most series there is a far bigger split between proto and GT classes, I have no idea why that is not the case here, it seems logical, maybe that is the problem.

I rarely watch the start of WEC races live so cant really recall if there is a big gap.

Nah the gap in LMU is pretty much on par with WEC/ELMS. In real life I can understand it for the camera POV but in simracing it would be better to be a bit wider.

 

[Keelan McAteer]

At cota this year, hypercars made it to t1 as gt3s arrive at the start finish straight. So less incidents between each class.

 

[AlanR_77]

I don't know whether it is track-dependent, or just the judgement of the SC drivers and their comms team, but it does seem to vary quite a lot. At Fuji there was not massive gap. But then it's a long run to the first corner, so no issue with the GT3 cars catching up before the HY are through (barring incidents). At Interlagos the gap was much larger. But maybe this was because the conditions were damp, so it was simply a safety measure by the race control team. Either way, I do feel in LMU it is a bit too close. I seem to recall the gap was increased around a year ago. But then with the current system you would have the race going live when GT3 cars are still in the penultimate corner at CotA, Le Mans, and maybe others.

 

[davehenrie]

Probably, as stated above, the only way to really keep them separate is for the GT cars to have their pace car and race start. That would allow all the Hypers to be through the first concentration point and on their merry way.

 

[Atomic Andi]

It feels like the individual car gaps in real life are smaller -> class gap gets larger
which makes sense, as they don't see red barriers in front of them

 

[Oblit0r]

Another point is that in real life drivers are professionals. Anybody with a controller can join a race in LMU.
Can't remember how many times I've overtaken half the field of the faster class in the first couple corners.

 

[Babylon]

Bit off subject, But better than starting another thread, Is this a thing at Long Beach, So had my first race at said track tonight, Before this I did a hosted race to get me up to speed so I don't look too silly.
So I never qualified great, But I never do, Start off like I always do, As you can imagine it all slows right down with cars getting round the last hair pin. Green,Green, Green, Followed by a drive through for going to slow, Me and another 3 cars, Is that normal at Long Beach.

 

[Keelan McAteer]

If you also had broken start procedures, your welcome to mention them. We know the game is in no way perfect. That's why we mention them

 

[Babylon]

If you also had broken start procedures, your welcome to mention them. We know the game is in no way perfect. That's why we mention them

Colour me confused.

Like Quote R

 

[Lit_K48]

It seems the staff are aware of the issue with the spacing between classes. But apparently, it’s not something that can be fixed in a jiffy by changing a few lines of code.




Spacing aside, I think the start timing should be set for each class. This clip is from the onboard footage of the Mustang LMGT3 at the 2025 24h of Le Mans, and as you can see, the green flag is already showing on the flag display. Even so, the LMGT3s don’t set off straight away; they start accelerating as they come out of the T33. It was the same with the LMP2s.

Wouldn’t that be better than starting the race in the wrong place and having everything go to shit before they even reach the start line?

 

[AlanR_77]

I alluded to this in my earlier post. Someone better versed than me would be able to say if this is the case on all tracks, or only Le Mans, or only tracks where it is necessary because of the location of the start and the relative location of the final corner(s).