Can a Human BEAT Launch Control?

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Can launch control be beaten by a human? Launch control is amazing, it can use insane amounts of data and computing power to help you get the best start possible - and today I’m going to try to beat it.

I’ve done hundreds of competitive starts over my racing career - and I think I’m pretty good - so it’s going to be interesting to see if I can beat the car’s computer.

We have Scott, a professional racing driver who has done hundreds of race starts over his career - to go up against one Ferrari. Whoever wins is the best, I guess?

#LaunchControl #Ferrari #DrivenMedia

[ethanzait]

Couldn't heating the car up from the first couple tries be a factor as to why he was faster at the end? Honestly I think it would of been a good idea to use launch control again at the end just to make sure that heating up the engine or tyres didn't create an impact on the results.

[DrVort]

You should've did a launch control test right after you did your most successive manual test for data to be more worthwhile! Change may be caused simply with warmed up wheels for example. But in any case, awesome video, I can't tell how I love your new approach to the channel, keep it up!

[lasskinn]

launch control also has to be reactive to the road, typically. as a human you can learn to control the throttle in advance, you know it's the same road you just did etc.

[Olivyay]

This reminds me of Mika Häkkinen getting his best qualifying time at the 2001 Spanish GP, the first race electronic aids were allowed again, after turning traction control *off* because the McLaren's system was set up a bit too conservatively towards avoiding wheel spin and therefore left an amount of potential grip unused.

[gameboyterrorysta]

I think that "slip ratio vs longitudinal force" graph could help showing why you want certain amount of wheelspin during performance driving.

[spookypoopy]

“There’s is no such thing as too much power, only not enough traction”
- Carol Shelby

[richardkovacs]

I mean if things happened in the same chronological order as in the video, tyres might've been getting warmer, improving the time in the meanwhile. But still great video, just caught my attention

[PPedroFernandes]

Of course, we have to also take in consideration the consistency.
A driver can always absolutely screw up the launch.
The computer will probably bang on the launch time after time after time

[tavirosu]

Keep in mind certain car manufacturers also put a limit to the number of launch controls you can do with the car before you will need to change the clutch to reset it. Including cars with DCT gearboxes. My Clio 4 RS Trophy is software limited to about 3k runs.

[andrewmayes]

you can see it starts to spin at 2:12 then grips back up

[cynvs]

Depends on the car I'd say.
In a 911 Turbo S or BMW M4? Probably not.
My mk4 Focus ST on the other hand might have the most pathetic launch controll in the history of launch controls. Once I release the clutch the rpm drop a bit, I get shit loads of wheelspin.

[lukasmuursepp]

This has to be the best car channel on youtube. Interesting content and good humor. Absolutely love you guys.

[tristanderoo]

Amazing driving skills! I did not expect you to really outperform it so well.

[silvenshadow]

A little wheelspin is faster. So is being proactive instead of reactive. This is great to see. Cheers

[HexlGaming]

This was a cool video, what would’ve made this even better would’ve been a pedalcam and a last run with launchcontrol to confirm the results

[amogus]

would be interesting to see what would happen if it was a torque converter automatic.

[Vartazian]

probably just getting better and better because the tires are getting warmer lol

[maxtorque]

Oh, and generally the launch control mode that gets the publicised accel figures is not actually available on the normal settings, and is only accessable via a secret series of inputs! This is because the optimum launch requires so much clutch slip as to be potentially significantly damaging to the transmission. The launch control you access as a normal driver will always protect the clutch packs above getting an absolutely optimum launch because very few people use LC to do more than try to impress someone at the traffic lights, where the difference between an 11 sec qrtr and a 10 sec one is simply not When i set some 0-60 times for a famous japanese 4wd road "rally car" from the early 2000's, the best time was set and on the second attempt the output shaft of the transmission sheared clean off the gearbox. not many owners would be too chuffed with that ;-)

[kissgergo]

I feel like doing more runs and averaging between them would have been a more accurate display of the differences.

[chrisw]

It would be nice if the launch control allowed you to tune some of the parameters to optimize the acceleration. It is probably set somewhat conservatively for safety reasons.