Seeing as quite a few people (mainly demoers!) are complaining about the FBM, I thought I'd put together a little guide to help you around the new config - I'm no expert, but hopefully this will help you. If you have any suggestions for improvements, just say!
I've attached my own setup, which is the basis for this guide.(I got it from a guy called Dave - and I used it for quali before changing it to a raceable condition - It'll do 5-8 laps on R1 tyres) I use a keyboard, and can do 1.16s easily, 1.15s at a push and a high 1.14 if I really go for it (and don't spin!) If you have a wheel, I think it would be capable of a 1.13 easily.
The tyres don't really need warming up that much, they'll be at operating temp after a couple of laps.
The Guide
Sector 1
You should just shift up into 5th gear on the S/F line, and unless there's a tailwind, just stuff the rev limiter and stick in 5th until you brake for T1, as it's uphill and you won't gain any extra speed by shifting into 6th. Slam on the anchors at the start of the blue kerb on the left hand side. The car will wobble a little, especially to the right. For the line into the corner, I tend to aim for the apex in a straight line. It's probably better if you stay to the left, and turn in onto the apex. Get the power on as early as you dare - there isn't too much oversteer on the exit - and then go into the chicane. Take as much of the first kerb as you dare, usually I just go for the centre of it. Let off the throttle slightly (later, you will find that you can go flat out through here, but not to start with!) as you turn into the left hander, then correct the oversteer and floor it. I usually take a massive amount out of the kerb on the right hand side, as it doesn't really damage your suspension much.
S1 times:
25 secs is quick
24 secs is v. quick
23 is uber-fast!
Sector 2
Floor it all the way down the straight (touch the apex of the kink, then go over to the left hand side), and again, brake at the kerb on the left. I can almost never get this corner perfect. One way of doing it is to throw your car into the apex a bit early, so the tyres have a change to grip, but this is a bit risky. I prefer to brake, let off the brakes then turn in fairly late, and take a bit of kerb. The setup of the car is so that you can fairly easily floor it as soon as you have hit the apex. Let the car drift out wide over the rumble strip onto the run off area. Go back onto the track and stay left and brake early for the next chicane. Turn in and clip the kerb. You can let it run out quite far and then floor it into the next corner - take loads of kerb and some grass too. You might get a little oversteer, but it's easy to correct.
S2 times:
55 secs: quick
54 secs: very quick
53 secs: uber-fast!
Sector 3
This, I think is the easiest sector. Brake quite late for the next corner, throw it in and clip the kerb. As soon as you have, floor the throttle and don't be afraid to use all the run off area. The final corner at Blackwood is actually the fastest in the FBM. You can take it surprisingly quickly as the downforce gives you extra grip. Floor it before the corner and use all the track on the right. Let off the throttle for a split second and throw the car into the corner – don’t be afraid to use both the inside kerb and all of the outside kerb (and a bit more). If you have a wheel, and warm tyres, then you might be able to take it flat out.
S3 times:
1.15: quick
1.14: very quick
1.13/: uber-fast!
I've attached my own setup, which is the basis for this guide.(I got it from a guy called Dave - and I used it for quali before changing it to a raceable condition - It'll do 5-8 laps on R1 tyres) I use a keyboard, and can do 1.16s easily, 1.15s at a push and a high 1.14 if I really go for it (and don't spin!) If you have a wheel, I think it would be capable of a 1.13 easily.
The tyres don't really need warming up that much, they'll be at operating temp after a couple of laps.
The Guide
Sector 1
You should just shift up into 5th gear on the S/F line, and unless there's a tailwind, just stuff the rev limiter and stick in 5th until you brake for T1, as it's uphill and you won't gain any extra speed by shifting into 6th. Slam on the anchors at the start of the blue kerb on the left hand side. The car will wobble a little, especially to the right. For the line into the corner, I tend to aim for the apex in a straight line. It's probably better if you stay to the left, and turn in onto the apex. Get the power on as early as you dare - there isn't too much oversteer on the exit - and then go into the chicane. Take as much of the first kerb as you dare, usually I just go for the centre of it. Let off the throttle slightly (later, you will find that you can go flat out through here, but not to start with!) as you turn into the left hander, then correct the oversteer and floor it. I usually take a massive amount out of the kerb on the right hand side, as it doesn't really damage your suspension much.
S1 times:
25 secs is quick
24 secs is v. quick
23 is uber-fast!
Sector 2
Floor it all the way down the straight (touch the apex of the kink, then go over to the left hand side), and again, brake at the kerb on the left. I can almost never get this corner perfect. One way of doing it is to throw your car into the apex a bit early, so the tyres have a change to grip, but this is a bit risky. I prefer to brake, let off the brakes then turn in fairly late, and take a bit of kerb. The setup of the car is so that you can fairly easily floor it as soon as you have hit the apex. Let the car drift out wide over the rumble strip onto the run off area. Go back onto the track and stay left and brake early for the next chicane. Turn in and clip the kerb. You can let it run out quite far and then floor it into the next corner - take loads of kerb and some grass too. You might get a little oversteer, but it's easy to correct.
S2 times:
55 secs: quick
54 secs: very quick
53 secs: uber-fast!
Sector 3
This, I think is the easiest sector. Brake quite late for the next corner, throw it in and clip the kerb. As soon as you have, floor the throttle and don't be afraid to use all the run off area. The final corner at Blackwood is actually the fastest in the FBM. You can take it surprisingly quickly as the downforce gives you extra grip. Floor it before the corner and use all the track on the right. Let off the throttle for a split second and throw the car into the corner – don’t be afraid to use both the inside kerb and all of the outside kerb (and a bit more). If you have a wheel, and warm tyres, then you might be able to take it flat out.
S3 times:
1.15: quick
1.14: very quick
1.13/: uber-fast!
) Good advice on the braking points as well -- I was playing too safe before.