Virtual Race Car Engineer 2020

Virtual Race Car Engineer 2020 is a tuning tool for adjusting setups in realistic auto racing software. You enter test results and describe how the car handles, then use its advice to refine an existing baseline setup for speed, comfort and reliability. It offers guidance for a full lap as well as individual corners, so you can tailor the setup to your preferences and the car’s behavior.

Testing and tuning

In Testing mode, report your test-run results and handling impressions. The Lap Wizard recommends changes to address the car’s condition, while the Corner Wizard helps you tune for speed through a particular corner. An improved Lap Wizard guides you through the setup process, and you can choose how severe the car’s condition is so the recommendations address the problem without over- or under-correcting it.

Advice comes either as text explaining each setup change or as an UP or DOWN arrow for each chassis subject. Sim selections customize setup subjects for different racing games. The adjustable Tire Delta lets you change the formula used to match setup to tire temperatures, and the tool also provides advice such as stagger for Sprint and Outlaw cars.

Qualifying and race sessions

Qualifying mode provides advice for single-lap and timed-session setups, helping you adapt a trusted setup for qualifying and return it to its race configuration afterward. On race day, Race Session and the Lap Wizard help you respond to changes in weather or track conditions. Race Session offers pit-lane-only solutions.

Cars and calculations

The tool includes default setup advice for Sprint-type cars and karts, with recommendations based on their specific chassis options. You can enter lap times in M:SS.000 format and use the Fuel Calculator to work out full-race or remaining fuel needs and pit stops.

Virtual Race Car Engineer can be used with realistic racing software that lets you adjust car setups, including Assetto Corsa, Automobilista, the Codemasters F1 series, iRacing, Project Cars, RaceRoom, rFactor, rFactor 2 and Stock Car Extreme. It also includes Tim McArthur’s “Learn to setup your race car” eBook and setup-tuning flowcharts. You can create language translations with a text editor and share them. The tool is intended for use on a second monitor, separate laptop or tablet.