Optimum shifts

[Helge Wunderlich]

On Sat, 20 Apr 2002 19:22:12 +0200, Mihnea Cotet wrote:
>As for shifts, an engine builder that I know of taught me that revving an
>engine past its peak power RPM only makes you lose time...because past the
>peak power RPM power goes down so you don't get anything frm revving an
>engine till the redline.

But when you upshift, you end up way below power peak. It is a better
compromise to go a little above peak before you shift, so that you end
up a little less below peak after the shift. Since redline is usually
just above power peak, going to redline as a very good rule of thumb.

>From his experience, they put two MWBs with the
>same engine and drivetrain and suspension on a race track, one revving till
>the redline and the other only till the peak power RPM...  guess which was
>the one 1.5 secs faster on the Spa-Francorchamps race track?? The one whose
>driver shifted at the peak power RPM... now you all know why it's useless
>to rev till redline.

I think this guy should contact Michael Schumacher or Valentino Rossi
to teach them something about racing.