Super Formula Sf23 – Toyota

Learn about Super Formula Sf23 – Toyota

TL;DR – Rookie Quick Start

• Feels like a very light, very grippy rocket that rewards commitment at speed but is twitchy in slow corners.
• The single most important skill is brake release: smash the pedal in a straight line, then smoothly bleed off as you add steering.
• Most rookie spins come from mashing the throttle while still turning in slow corners or locking the inside front while trail braking.
• Mistakes are mildly forgiven at high speed (aero helps) but punished hard in low speed and over kerbs.
• It rewards smooth, decisive inputs—be calm with your hands and progressive with your feet.
• Mental cue: hard-brake straight, release while you turn, squeeze the throttle only as you unwind the wheel.

1. What This Car Is

• The Super Formula SF23 is Japan’s top-tier open-wheel car—modern aero, turbo power, and very strong brakes—sitting roughly between F3 and F1 in pace and grip.
• In iRacing it typically appears as a mid-to-upper license road series (think C/B-level territory).
• Best for drivers who love high-downforce precision and want F1-style technique without full F1 complexity.
• Different from other ladder cars because it has high downforce and a punchy turbo “overtake” system, so it drives more like a current top-level formula car than a junior formula.

2. Key Specifications (Beginner-Relevant)

• Engine/layout: Turbocharged 2.0L inline-4, mid-engine, rear-wheel drive. Mid-engine means quick rotation—great turn-in, but it will snap if you’re clumsy with weight transfer.
• Power/weight: About 550 hp in a very light chassis. Strong acceleration punishes poor throttle control; short-shifting can help on low-grip exits.
• Tires: Slick race tires. They need a lap to warm up; cold tires have much less grip—treat Lap 1 with respect.
• Downforce: High. Faster equals more grip; slow corners rely on mechanical grip, so be patient there and lean on aero in fast corners.
• Gearbox: 6-speed paddle-shift sequential. Upshift cleanly with the car settled; avoid shifting while heavily loaded in a corner.
• Driver aids: No ABS, no traction control. Expect lock-ups if you brake while turning and wheelspin if you rush the throttle.
• Overtake (push-to-pass): Short bursts of extra power for straights. Use when the wheel is straight to avoid wheelspin or instability.
• Setups/series: iRacing commonly offers both Open and Fixed setup series for this car (varies by season). Start in Fixed to learn the driving, then explore Open once consistent.

3. Driving Tips for This Car Braking

• Hit maximum brake pressure quickly in a straight line, then release smoothly as you add steering (trail braking). The release—not the initial stomp—controls rotation.
• Expect inside-front lock-ups if you hold too much brake while cranking steering; release 5–10% before turn-in to keep the front alive.
• In very fast corners, brake less than you think and keep speed; the aero will catch you if you’re smooth.

Throttle and Exits

• Squeeze the throttle; don’t stab it. Add power only as you unwind the wheel, especially in slow corners where aero isn’t helping.
• If the rear steps out, hold throttle steady or ease slightly—don’t snap shut—and unwind the wheel. Sudden lifts mid-corner can cause snap oversteer.

Steering and Weight Transfer

• Keep your hands calm with one clean input into the apex; sawing at the wheel overheats the fronts and kills aero stability.
• Avoid coasting. Either be gently on the brake (entering) or gently on the throttle (exiting) to keep the platform settled.

Full-Lap Stability

• Build energy into the tires: first lap, brake a touch earlier and avoid sliding. Sliding overheats and greases the tires.
• Respect kerbs. Flat kerbs are fine; tall or “sausage” kerbs can unsettle the floor and make the rear snap.
• In dirty air (following another car), expect understeer in fast corners—brake a fraction earlier and carry a touch less speed.

Repeatable Habits

• Habit 1: “Brake hard straight, bleed as you steer.” Say it out loud on the main straight before your braking zone.
• Habit 2: “Pause, then squeeze.” Count a half-beat at apex before adding throttle to avoid exit wheelspin.

4. Common Beginner Mistakes

• Over-slowing fast corners: Treating aero corners like mechanical corners and braking too much. Fix: Commit to entry speed and trust the downforce with a gentle, early brake release.
• Stabbing the throttle on exit: Wheel still turned, turbo spools, rear steps out. Fix: Start throttle at the apex with a progressive squeeze as you unwind the wheel.
• Trail braking too deep: Holding big brake pressure while turning, causing inside-front lock and understeer. Fix: Peak brake in a straight line, then taper off earlier before significant steering.
• Attacking tall kerbs: Launches the car and kills rear grip. Fix: Use flat kerbs sparingly and avoid tall “sausage” kerbs—straighten the car if you must cross them.
• Pushing on cold tires: Lap 1 spins from expecting full grip. Fix: Build temperature gradually—brake a touch early, reduce steering angle, and avoid big throttle spikes until the tires come in.
• Misusing Overtake: Pressing it mid-corner and lighting up the rears. Fix: Use Overtake only on straights or when the wheel is nearly straight.

5. Who Should Drive This Car

• You’ll enjoy it if you like precise, high-speed driving where smooth inputs are rewarded and you want a modern formula feel.
• It develops critical skills: brake release control, aero corner commitment, exit throttle discipline, and racecraft in dirty air.
• It prepares you for the next steps up the ladder: faster high-downforce cars like F1-style content or prototypes, and it makes stepping into F3/F4 feel easier thanks to better technique.