Lotus 79

Learn about Lotus 79

TL;DR – Rookie Quick Start

• Feels like a classic F1 car: light steering, big grip in fast corners, surprisingly slippery in slow ones.
• The single most important skill is a smooth brake release to keep the front tires and aero working.
• Most rookie spins start by braking too late, locking a tire, and sliding into understeer that snaps the rear.
• It’s moderately punishing: small mistakes cost time; big ones (curbs, lockups, early throttle) can bite hard.
• The car rewards smoothness and committed, steady inputs more than aggression.
• Mental cue: fast corners breathe the throttle; slow corners pause before power.

1. What This Car Is

• The Lotus 79 is a late‑1970s ground‑effect Formula One car: light, powerful, and built around venturi tunnels that create a lot of downforce at speed.
• In iRacing it typically runs as a mid‑license (Road C‑level) car, above beginner open‑wheel but below modern high‑downforce cars.
• It suits drivers who want a “classic” feel—manual gearbox, no driver aids—but still want to learn real aero driving.
• What makes it different: it has strong ground‑effect downforce that grows with speed, bias‑ply tires that like gentle slip, and a manual H‑pattern gearbox that demands clean brake‑and‑downshift technique.

2. Key Specifications (Beginner-Relevant)

• Engine/drivetrain: Mid‑mounted, naturally aspirated V8, rear‑wheel drive. Meaning: strong traction off apex but easy to overwhelm the rear if you stab the throttle.
• Power/weight: High power with very low mass. Meaning: explosive acceleration; tiny mistakes in throttle or brake pressure quickly upset the car.
• Tires: Period bias‑ply slicks. Meaning: they accept some slip angle and like smooth, rounded inputs; they don’t have the “snap” grip of modern radials.
• Downforce: High at speed via ground effect; modest at low speed. Meaning: fast corners are much easier than they look; slow corners behave like a light, mechanical‑grip car with little aero help.
• Gearbox: 5‑speed H‑pattern manual, no electronic aids. Meaning: learn heel‑toe and time downshifts—early or rushed shifts can destabilize the rear.
• Aids: No ABS, no traction control. Meaning: be precise with brake pressure; feed in throttle progressively.
• Series format: Most official series run open setups. Meaning: you can be competitive on a solid baseline, but small changes to ride height and wings can make a big difference.

3. Driving Tips for This Car Braking

• Start with firm, straight‑line braking, then smoothly bleed off pressure as you approach turn‑in; the release is more important than the initial hit.
• Trail brake gently just into the corner to keep the nose planted; if the front washes wide, you’re trailing too deep or releasing too quickly.
• Downshift later than you think and match revs; early downshifts or dumping the clutch will snap the rear.

Throttle and Corner Exit

• Roll into power progressively; think “squeeze” not “stab,” especially in slow corners where you have little aero help.
• In medium/fast corners, a small maintenance throttle can stabilize the aero and help the car stick.

Steering and Weight Transfer

• Make one clean steering input and hold it—sawing at the wheel overheats the fronts and stalls the tunnels.
• Avoid big, sharp curb strikes; bottoming or yaw on curbs can kill downforce and cause sudden spins.

Lap‑to‑Lap Stability

• First lap: bring tires up gently; the car gains a lot of grip after a lap or two.
• In dirty air (following another car), expect less front grip—brake a touch earlier and open your hands through turn‑in.

Repeatable habits to practice

• Count “one‑one‑thousand” between brake release and initial throttle at slow corners to avoid rushing the exit.
• Pick a downshift “beep point” (by ear or tach) and stick to it—consistency in downshifts equals a calmer rear axle.

4. Common Beginner Mistakes

• Braking too late and holding too much pressure into turn‑in: causes front lockups and push. Fix: brake a touch earlier and focus on a smooth release just before turn‑in.
• Rushed downshifts: over‑rev or engine braking snaps the rear. Fix: wait that extra beat, blip the throttle, and engage the gear only when revs match.
• Jumping or straddling tall curbs: stalls the aero and unsettles the car. Fix: flatten your line, clip only the shallow parts, and use exit curb more than entry sausage curbs.
• Stabbing the throttle on corner exit: spins the inside rear or kicks the rear out. Fix: squeeze the pedal; if it wiggles, hold throttle steady rather than lifting abruptly.
• Over‑driving slow corners like a high‑downforce car: expecting grip that isn’t there. Fix: approach slow corners like a light, low‑grip car—slightly slower entry, straighter exit.
• Following too closely in fast corners: sudden understeer and off‑track moments. Fix: offset your car half a lane for cleaner air and adjust your minimum speed.

5. Who Should Drive This Car

• You’ll enjoy the Lotus 79 if you like classic F1 feel, mechanical involvement, and learning how aero grip changes with speed.
• It builds core skills: smooth brake release, gentle trail braking, throttle progression, curb discipline, and high‑speed commitment.
• It prepares you well for faster aero cars like the Dallara F3 or modern high‑downforce machines, and it complements experience in the Lotus 49 or other vintage open‑wheelers.