First of all, everything has been calculated by me via the English standard system of measurements. This
means I use pounds (lbs.) instead of kilograms (kg). I grew up with standard, it makes more sense to me, and I find
it easiest to use. But I understand lots of people grew up with metric. Problem is, you'll wind up having to
convert the pound/horsepower ratios if you want to totally convert to metric. That's a lot of work.
To use this guide most conveniently (with the least math) it's best to convert a car's weight from
metric to standard. Do this by multiplying kg by 2.204. So if you've got a car which weighs 1,425 kg...
1,425 kg x 2.204 = 3,141 pounds
It is also possible to convert from standard to metric. Everything will still work.
Most of the ratios in this guide must be derived logarithmically. In other words, a car which weighs 1,800 pounds
will often need to have a different weight-to-power ratio than one which weighs 2,100 pounds. I have created these ratios
by racing a variety of cars of different weights over time. So to figure out a car's ratio, use the following guide.
Let's say you have a Mazda Demio, and you're wanting to run it in the 2nd FF Challenge.
The Mazda weighs 2,116 pounds. The ratios for this particular race currently
look like this:
Clubman Route 5--3 Laps
(1,700) 19.77 -- 86 hp
(2,500) 21.18 -- 118 hp
This means I have so far driven cars which weigh 1,700 pounds and cars that weigh 2,500 pounds. I have calculated
a pound-to-power ratio for both ends of this spectrum. Since the Demio falls somewhere in the middle of these ratios, let's
find out how much power it should have to be competitive in this race.
1). We have 2,500 pounds and 1,700 pounds. First, subtract 1,700
from 2,500. This leaves us with 800 pounds.
2). Look at the lower pound
number for the Clubman race. In this case, it is 1,700 pounds. How much over 1,700 pounds does the Demio weigh? Well
it weighs 2,116 pounds. Subtract 1700 from 2116. 2,116 - 1,700 = 416 pounds.
Write that number (416) down, unless you can remember it for a few seconds.
3). Now, let's subtract the horsepower (hp) figures. 118 hp - 86 hp
= 32. Leave this number on your calculator.
4). We must divide this number (32) by the weight difference from Step 1. 32
/ 800 = 0.0400448536. Just leave that on your calculator's screen.
5). Now retrieve that number you wrote down (or kept in your head) for the last 20 or 30 seconds, which
was 416 pounds.
6). Back to the calculator, which still has that huge fractional number on its screen. Multiply 416 by this
number. So 0.0400448536 x 416 = 16.64. Leave this number on you calculator.
7). 16.64
is added to the minimum horsepower for the Clubman race, which is 86 hp. So 16.64 + 86 =
102.64.
8). THAT
FINAL NUMBER (102.64) is how much horsepower the Clubman race requires, assuming we keep the Demio's weight of 2,116
pounds intact. We can round 102.64 up to 103.
The Mazda Demio, with its weight of 2,116 pounds, should have 103 hp to compete
in this race.
Does this guide actually work?
I find most of the time it does, although I also realize it's merely my way of challenging myself. ;-) Those
of you who slog through all that math and then head to the tracks may find it's perfect, or that it's too easy or too
hard, depending on your level of game mastery.
This guide is, therefore, more of a guideline than an absolute rule. It is a place to at least start each
race series. PD doesn't actually give us any guidelines as to what is fair and what isn't. A driver can enter a Honda
NSX into the Sunday Cup if they want to, putting on racing tires and using as much power as the game allows. My
racing guide will outlaw such a car! The Performance Point (PP) system PD added for this game is guesswork,
in my experience. You won't know where to zero in your power without lots of experimentation. Why not get a decent, workable
number right from the getgo? That's what I'm saying.
Anyways, good luck and keep going.