Automobilista 2: Basic Setup Tips To Reign In Power Oversteer

AMS2 Oversteer Setup.jpg
In Version 1.6, Automobilista 2's more modern machinery appears very loose on power. Here are some setup tips to eradicate the unstable nature so you can enjoy your time behind the wheel.

Following its most recent update, Automobilista 2 is becoming more and more of a modern racing simulator, going back on the historic focus the title had previously.

Where those more vintage cars in the game do now feel rather good in most cases thanks to the version 1.6 update, we find that more modern machinery - notably the LMDh and GT3 models - can suffer from overwhelming on-power oversteer. Get on the gas out of a corner and if you were struggling for rotation before, you certainly are not any longer.

AMS2 is an official IMSA game now.

AMS2 is an official IMSA game now.

Whilst many enjoy the on-edge feel that comes with these cars that we would compare to a modern-day Red Bull F1 car that Max Verstappen can tame but mere mortals like ourselves and Sergio Perez cannot, others prefer a safer driving experience. That is even more so the case when running endurance-oriented models such as these. With that in mind, here are a few setup tips to eradicating on-power oversteer in Automobilista 2 for a less stressful time.

It's all in the Diff​

Using the throttle to help turn the car is certainly not unrealistic. To an extent. In no case do you want the tail falling out of line and giving you something extra to think about, especially in an endurance race in which tyre life is crucial.

The first thing to look at if you are struggling with on-power traction is the rear differential. In fact, Automobilista 2's standard setups are far from optimal in this regard, generally it seems the LSD does not lock enough as you apply the power, and so we must change that.

Increase the Clutch number to your LSD in AMS2 GT3 cars.

Increase the Clutch number to your LSD in AMS2 GT3 cars.

On GT3 cars, the simple fix here is to increase the number of clutches in your LSD. This will create more locking force, ensuring greater traction out of corners and preventing one wheel spinning faster than the other, providing overwhelming rotation.

LMDh setup screens however get the added benefit of coast and power ramping effects. This means you can increase the clutch setting to your heart's content all whilst reducing turn-in understeer by increasing the Coast figure. If you like the way the car feels on entry from the standard settings, forget about the clutches and simply reduce the Power Ramp setting.

LMDh cars have more diff settings.

LMDh cars have more diff settings.

We do feel that in downforce prototypes such as these, the issues are not quite as prevalent as GT cars and you are best going for this next option aboard LMDh models.

Soft is Safe​

Indeed, the on-power oversteer is not quite as eye-widening on LMDh models as it is with the GTs. Instead, we get the feeling that the prototypes are simply a bit loose all together. Certainly nothing major and even something some players will enjoy, we prefer a safe, more neutral car.

Soften the rear ARB to reduce oversteer.

Soften the rear ARB to reduce oversteer.

A simple trick we have found to keeping all four wheels pointing in the right direction in IMSA's top class is softening the Rear Anti-Roll Bar. We would recommend setting it to five clicks less than the front to begin with and going from there.

Allowing the rear axle more freedom to mould into the ground in search of grip, you will immediately feel safer after this small tweak. Softening the Bump and Rebound settings on the rear dampers may also give you a more compliant experience, but make sure these changes suit the track you are on. A bumpy venue will reward you for this whereas a smooth F1-grade track may well bite you back.

What are some go-to setup changes you make in Automobilista 2 now in V1.6? Let us know in the comments below and join the discussion in our AMS2 forum!
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Angus Martin
Motorsport gets my blood pumping more than anything else. Be it physical or virtual, I'm down to bang doors.

Comments

First: use rates, not steps. Otherwise you don't know the stiffness ratios between front and rear.

Second: spring rates are the very first thing you set on any kind of car on any sim. If that's wrong, the setup will never be right.

Attached in screenshots is a baseline I recently did for the Lambo ST. It does not follow the principles stated here, because the situation regarding defaults on AMS2 is more complex than what's being diagnosed on this article.
 

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I had this feeling all the time in 1.6 beta circle development, it improved a lot, LMDh is the best indeed, but I said there, GT3 is not in the best shape yet, although 1.6 isn't the end of the development at all. It was a big scope 1.6, much of the things didn't hit the final version and were postponed for the next big update.
 
A bit of setup work might help, there is definetly something up with GT3s and LMDhs. Most of the rest of the content got rid of that happy tail syndrome. It almost seems as if TC does not help in any fashion (I even found that in some situation lower TC results in safer exit with less snap on LMDh, which is... weird ?), as if the TC got the rear axle locked.

Meanwhile the LMP2s are just as the rest of the content : good ! It is even arguable that LMP2s are currently the best driving experience in AMS2.
 
Since GP2 i've as per dummy reflexes adjusted ARB+Toe to my presumable values for my liking of the handful of 'snappy' cars to deal with. Even before first driveout. For the classic cars after the 1.6.3 setup overhaul, I just love the snappyness, and my 3 laps of time attack the other night in the combo standard Reiza setup of the Chevy C3.R @ Fontana SSC, raced the Ronnie Peterson way, could become a personal habit when I've time to let the houses out again.

For sure, it's snother story with the modern GTs and prototypes when linearity is not optimal and you weight senseless competivienesd over feel of authenticity. But that's not why I simrace.

Though I like to play with every single parameter, but in order to make the car more "alive" and trustworthy related to a sense of more authenticity, i.e. simulation.

I know the take is upside down for simmers racing modern cars and I fully acknowledge that.

Been there myself, especially during online series back in the 00's but now I'm fully going for the trustworthy authentic classic extra handful, and with Reiza's update I'm almost already there with just a few extra leg braces to add, of which is to me to date the most rewarding sim feeling within this sim.
 
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What about oldest trick in book by using FFB centre to control tank slappers :coffee:
Tank slappers are one of the laws of nature's best inventions - to keep you awake at the distance with a little shock therapy here and there, sent from heaven.

Add a little extra blind spot of dead angle, and you're almost sent back up there, out of nowhere.

Wonderful leg brace to my immense likings :inlove:
 
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Article suggestions worked well for me. It makes me wonder why the devs (not just in AMS2) don't put a little bit more thought into their default setups to make them more neutral to drive for the casual racer. People who like to play with the setups can then do so to their heart's content, while those of us with less time and inclination can just go out and race without binning it at the first corner.
 
I had this feeling all the time in 1.6 beta circle development, it improved a lot, LMDh is the best indeed, but I said there, GT3 is not in the best shape yet, although 1.6 isn't the end of the development at all. It was a big scope 1.6, much of the things didn't hit the final version and were postponed for the next big update.
I agree with you, we aim for perfection but we never quite reach it, we just get closer. It's a long journey and Reiza is a great example of that. I love AMS2, it's my favorite sim (even though I love them all), and I've been impressed since the beginning by the incredible drive of these talented Brazilians. Well done to them.
 
Well I appreciate the article but it still solves nothing on my side as far these classes are concerned. The more I play with the GT3 cars the more they feel like before v1.6. No ARB, spring or whatever can remove the unnatural slide of the car and loose back end. Such a shame. But this leaves the door wide open for LMU.
 
Yes, but be very careful with these, as they are 1-3 lap setups. Tyres and radiator opening will probably need adjusting at bare minimum.
I'm sure there's been more than a handful of folks in the midst of an offline endurance race wondering why their tires are shredded and engine/oil temps are through the roof 15 laps in after grabbing a TT setup. An expansive setup market would be a great in-sim addition to AMS2 though, quick point-and-click experimenting in search of a setup that clicks with that particular driver. A man can dream. I do enjoy spending an hour here and there in practice mode developing a setup though. Nice relaxing way to spend some rig time.
 
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I'm sure there's been more than a handful of folks in the midst of an offline endurance race wondering why their tires are shredded and engine/oil temps are through the roof 15 laps in after grabbing a TT setup. An expansive setup market would be a great in-sim addition to AMS2 though, quick point-and-click experimenting in search of a setup that clicks with that particular driver. A man can dream. I do enjoy spending an hour here and there in practice mode developing a setup though. Nice relaxing way to spend some rig time.
This does not exist yet because it's not possible to load setups on game via dropping files (a problem since the pCARS days that has not been solved yet). Some people are offering a set of setups at Reiza Forums, but it's the same as the sample I posted above: sets of screenshots that you have to manually adopt, and if there is a difference on units system or method of displaying stiffness, it's even trickier to adopt.

Time Trial remains the easiest way to get a setup (we have online sharing, but you need to be on the same session with somebody willing to share an useful file), but it's not just a problem of being a qualifying setup: they are built for extracting the most of 100% ideal conditions. Perfectly rubbered track, perfect temperatures, no wind, no damage. Which makes them an unbalanced wreck when dropping them on a "real" racing situation.
 
Premium
This does not exist yet because it's not possible to load setups on game via dropping files (a problem since the pCARS days that has not been solved yet). Some people are offering a set of setups at Reiza Forums, but it's the same as the sample I posted above: sets of screenshots that you have to manually adopt, and if there is a difference on units system or method of displaying stiffness, it's even trickier to adopt.

Time Trial remains the easiest way to get a setup (we have online sharing, but you need to be on the same session with somebody willing to share an useful file), but it's not just a problem of being a qualifying setup: they are built for extracting the most of 100% ideal conditions. Perfectly rubbered track, perfect temperatures, no wind, no damage. Which makes them an unbalanced wreck when dropping them on a "real" racing situation.
If AMS2 continues on its current trajectory and becomes more mainstream, ways around this will be found. You have seen the ecosystems that pop up around games like iRacing in particular, but also AC/ACC. I can see the beginnings of that with AMS2 now. Wether it goes anywhere, who knows.
 
Another tip : a custom FFB file (it's been published on Franconen and Gamermuscle channels, I don't know where they found the file, a certain "Alex" ; thank you man). It is a "simplified" FFB, ignoring many effects of the default FFB+. focusing on the steering rack forces (I think it is the same approach than rfactor2). Just copy paste the following lines in your custom FFB file (erasing every line) :

NAME: Rack_Force
(rack (/ arm_force M_max_force_at_rack))
(output rack)
(output (* output gain))
(histogram output)

Another youtuber, I didn't know before, stated that it was possible to make some abusive adjustments on the GT3s and LMP2s on camber to gain substantial time (he got 2 seconds faster).
 
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