Shifting

[Phil Hopkins]

Okay, so this DP is not my favorite car, but it's interesting, and I'm looking forward to Mid-Ohio tomorrow.

I still haven't got my setup dialed in.

But the thing that's killing me in this car is downshifting. I'm a left-foot braker (okay, so shoot me!). I use auto-clutch, and I try to blip, but nothing I do, short of shoving in the clutch pedal, allows me to downshift smoothly. I usually have to click the paddle several times before she "takes." And it's not consistent. Sometimes, she drops right down, other times I'm sitting there trying to brake well for the turn and flippin' that flippin' paddle over and over and still have to look down to make sure I got into the right gear.

What's the trick/secret?

[Troy Dalton]

Okay, so this DP is not my favorite car, but it's interesting, and I'm looking forward to Mid-Ohio tomorrow.

I still haven't got my setup dialed in.

But the thing that's killing me in this car is downshifting. I'm a left-foot braker (okay, so shoot me!). I use auto-clutch, and I try to blip, but nothing I do, short of shoving in the clutch pedal, allows me to downshift smoothly. I usually have to click the paddle several times before she "takes." And it's not consistent. Sometimes, she drops right down, other times I'm sitting there trying to brake well for the turn and flippin' that flippin' paddle over and over and still have to look down to make sure I got into the right gear.

What's the trick/secret?

I wouldn't call it a trick, but the proper way to downshift in the DP is by rev matching.



It takes practice though. So, if you're not confident with rev matching or the even more difficult heel toe technique, you can always just turn on auto blip. Auto blip will slightly delay your upshift, but you'll be guaranteed not to miss a downshift.

[Phil Hopkins]

Thanks very much Troy. I was trying to blip to rev match, but I see from your video that it's more about just putting the revs in the right range. Very helpful to see it in action, and nice drive around VIR as well! :-)

[JMH714]

Yeah, I memorize what spot I downshift or when to upshift.

[Troy Dalton]

...Very helpful to see it in action, and nice drive around VIR as well! :-)

btw - it's Mark Winters driving, not me.

[Troy Dalton]

I forgot to mention...

Auto Blip does work very well, but it won't prevent you from over reving the engine, so take care that you don't blow an engine by downshifting too quickly.