Throttle Traces are graphical representations of how much throttle you apply throughout a lap. They show how you modulate the throttle from the moment you exit a corner until you lift off for the next braking zone.
You can learn a ton of useful information from this single data channel in Coach Dave Delta. The tools within Coach Dave Delta reveal areas of inconsistency or overdriving thanks to the fantastic UI and graphs that display this information in real time. By studying these traces, you can gain insights into your driving habits, such as how aggressively you accelerate, how smoothly you apply power, and how consistent you are across laps.
The key elements when comparing to your reference lap are;
- The time that the accelerator is pressed or released
- The slope of the curve of the trace, which can show how aggressively the throttle is being used
- The smoothness of the curve, which can show how efficiently the throttle is being used
Fortunately, this is easy with Coach Dave Delta. By examining your throttle trace data, you can answer some key questions about your driving.
Are You Getting The Most From Your Throttle?
It’s a simple thing to overlook, but often sim racers aren’t getting full throttle because they don’t have their pedals calibrated correctly. In Coach Dave Delta, you can easily compare a reference lap to ensure that you’re getting 100% throttle (and alternatively that you’re properly coming off the throttle 100%), which can lead to an easy loss of lap time, if your hardware is inappropriately calibrated.
Are You Getting On Throttle Too Early?
One technique that many sim racers struggle with is getting on the throttle too early, while they still have steering lock applied. This will imbalance the car (typically creating understeer) because the driver is lifting the weight off the nose of the car while the front wheels are not pointed straight towards the exit. This is easy to see in Coach Dave Delta, when comparing to a reference lap if the slope of your throttle trace increases before the reference lap, but the delta comparison time is also increasing.
The objective isn’t about getting to throttle the fastest. The goal is to get to full throttle as soon as possible, where you do not have to release the throttle again. If you see an acceleration trace that rises, dips, and then rises again, it’s a clear sign that you’re likely getting on power in the wrong phase of the corner.
Additionally, if you see interruptions in the slope of the throttle trace line, you could be triggering the car’s traction control, which is costing you lap time, depending on the amount of the interruption. All of which can be analysed with Delta’s telemetry tool.
Are You Getting On Throttle Too Late?
An easy thing to compare to a reference data lap is if you’re getting on the throttle too late. More importantly, you’ll want to see if you’re getting to full throttle too late. If you apply the throttle too late, it will be impossible to reach the maximum speed needed on long straights, which can cost key lap time. In Coach Dave Delta, you can easily highlight this information, such as maximum speeds, which can help align when the driver gets on the throttle to the maximum speed that is being attained.
Are You Lifting Off Throttle Too Early?
Depending on the corner type, some require a technique known as lift and coast, where you lift off the throttle before braking. This can also be done to save fuel over longer races, but here we’re just looking at it in terms of pure performance. Coach Dave Delta does provide the ability for drivers to easily see their fuel consumption, which is a key sign of how much the driver is using the throttle, as well as providing predictive fuel loads for races of different stint lengths.
If your throttle trace shows a gradual reduction before a braking zone, this could indicate that you’re coasting too much. Conversely, if the lift is too abrupt or too late before turning into the corner, you might be unsettling the car, which can cause significant lap time loss. Fine-tuning this technique by comparing it against a professional Coach Dave reference lap or downloading a friend’s lap can help you visualise where to maintain better balance and cornering speeds.
Are You Applying Throttle Inconsistently?
If your trace shows small, rapid throttle inputs (known as “throttle stabs”) during a corner, it likely indicates that you’re uncertain about the car’s balance or grip levels. Throttle stabs can upset the car’s stability, causing it to be less predictable and harder to control. To smooth out your driving, practice maintaining a steady throttle input through the corner and only applying more power as you exit.
What To Do With This Analysis
To make the most out of what you’ve learned with your throttle traces, consider the following steps:
Compare Laps Across A Session For Consistency
Compare throttle traces from various laps side by side to spot inconsistencies or areas where time is being lost. Identify patterns—do you tend to be overly aggressive in certain corners, or do you hold back too much in others? Work on improving your consistency on how you’re applying the throttle so that more of the traces look similar across multiple laps.
Focus On A Specific Corner To Work On And Set Goals
Use your throttle traces to set specific goals for improvement. For example, aim to smooth out your throttle application at a particular corner or maintain full throttle for longer on a straight. With the map zoom functionality on Coach Dave Delta, you can focus on a certain sector or corner of the lap for a deeper analysis of where and when you’re applying the throttle.
Experiment With Technique
Try different driving techniques and compare how they affect your throttle traces. For instance, experiment with earlier throttle application at a corner exit or adjust your lift and coast technique to find the most efficient way through a corner. You can also experiment with the various setups provided by Coach Dave Delta, to see if a particular setup change aligns better with your driving style.
Get Feedback
If possible, review your throttle traces with a coach or more experienced driver. They can provide valuable insights and help you interpret the data more effectively. Coach Dave Deltas’s professional reference laps are a great place to look when wanting to use a trusted reference lap and you can also book an online coaching session with us if needed.
Conclusion
Throttle traces are a window into your driving technique, offering a wealth of information on how you’re interacting with the car and the track. By carefully analysing these traces and making targeted adjustments, you can unlock hidden potential in your driving, find lap time that you didn’t know was there, and ultimately become a faster, more consistent driver. Whether you’re racing in the real world or a simulator, mastering the art of throttle application is key to achieving your best possible lap times.
