PTM track setting recommendation
Thread Starter
6th Gear
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 6
Likes: 1
PTM track setting recommendation
Recently purchased a 2017 C7 GS to do track days again. Came from a prepped S2000 which was low on torque but quick and tail happy but not too comfortable to and from the track. Did my first track day in the GS a couple weeks ago and found the PTM modes cutting power aggressively. Ran in Sport 1 and Sport 2 for most sessions. I inadvertently set the PTM wrong prior to one session and ran it in Tour. It felt quick and turned out I ran 6 sec a lap quicker in Tour based on PDR playback. Are Sport 1 & 2 just cutting too much power coming out of turns. Being new to the car I didn’t jump straight to Race but maybe that will be less intrusive in cutting power.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 15,344
Likes: 4,009
From: Texas
Recently purchased a 2017 C7 GS to do track days again. Came from a prepped S2000 which was low on torque but quick and tail happy but not too comfortable to and from the track. Did my first track day in the GS a couple weeks ago and found the PTM modes cutting power aggressively. Ran in Sport 1 and Sport 2 for most sessions. I inadvertently set the PTM wrong prior to one session and ran it in Tour. It felt quick and turned out I ran 6 sec a lap quicker in Tour based on PDR playback. Are Sport 1 & 2 just cutting too much power coming out of turns. Being new to the car I didn’t jump straight to Race but maybe that will be less intrusive in cutting power.
Post up your PDR video. It'll show if you're in Sport 1 or 2
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,058
Likes: 9,820
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
Sport 2 is definitely not that intrusive. Sounds like you selected "Track", went into the PTM modes by pressing twice, rotated the **** to "Sport 2 (or 1)" and then pressed the button again. As soon as you did that, you took it out of Sport 1 or 2. After you turn to the setting you want, don't press the button.
Post up your PDR video. It'll show if you're in Sport 1 or 2
Post up your PDR video. It'll show if you're in Sport 1 or 2
Bill
Last edited by Bill Dearborn; Jun 28, 2020 at 10:55 PM.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 686
Likes: 239
From: Houston TX
Best way to confirm the setting if your unsure is to just twist the mode dial. If you think your in Sport 2 and you twist it left and it goes into Sport 1 then you were in Sport 2 and you can just twist it back. I do this a lot right before I enter the track to ensure it is indeed in the mode I think it is in.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 4,303
Likes: 2,055
From: Margate, FL
I find Sport 1 to be perfect.
Tour would be way too soft (steering and suspension)
I started in just track mode (no PTM) and it had too much understeer, it was clearly limiting the car. Sport 1 frees things up enough to allow the back end to slide but still keeping stability control in effect to make up from my lack of talent. My previous track car was Nissan 350Z and its traction control was either on or off with nothing in between... and that was not fun.
Tour would be way too soft (steering and suspension)
I started in just track mode (no PTM) and it had too much understeer, it was clearly limiting the car. Sport 1 frees things up enough to allow the back end to slide but still keeping stability control in effect to make up from my lack of talent. My previous track car was Nissan 350Z and its traction control was either on or off with nothing in between... and that was not fun.
Last edited by JMII; Jun 29, 2020 at 10:36 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,590
Likes: 403
From: Nashville TN
St. Jude Donor '09
Big THANKS to OP for posting this. I've been having the exact same issue. I run Intermediate solo at HPDEs, but always felt the car was holding me back it would fall flat on it's face when coming out of a turn or when I was trying to transfer weight to the rear tires. I've managed to run some decent lap times for my skill group, but just couldn't figure out what I was doing wrong.
Well, when in PTM, I would turn the dial to Sport 1, THEN hit the center button to "select" it. Holy crap, I've just been running in track mode. I feel like an idiot, but great advice from the CF crew. Can't wait to get on track again in August. Thanks everyone!!!
Well, when in PTM, I would turn the dial to Sport 1, THEN hit the center button to "select" it. Holy crap, I've just been running in track mode. I feel like an idiot, but great advice from the CF crew. Can't wait to get on track again in August. Thanks everyone!!!
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 4,303
Likes: 2,055
From: Margate, FL
The interface works like the main drive mode selector - you just twist the **** and stop at the setting you want. There is nothing to click or select for confirm. I wish the dash displayed the PTM mode somewhere like the little W, T, S, or Tr at the bottom that indicates all the other modes. One way to confirm PTM is on is the StabiliTrack light (car with skid marks) will appear in the dash. In normal Track mode that light will not be on. I believe in Sport 2 and Race the Traction Control light (tire with TC slash) also comes on.
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