Jaguar F-Type Techniques for Best Launch and Lowest Drag Times
Here’s how the pros at Jaguar Forums launch their F-Type at the drag strip, down to the very last detail.
Extracting maximum performance from a car like the Jaguar F-Type is somewhat of an art form. Sure, most modern cars feature some sort of launch control, but that isn’t always the most effective way to get from point A to point B as quickly as possible. Sometimes, you just have play around with various techniques to figure it out. Or, you could just do what Jaguar Forums member Gibbo205 did. That is, post a thread asking other F-Type owners how they launch their cars!
“I own an F-Type SVR, absolutely loving it and shall be taking it quarter-mile racing in February. Was wondering if there is any particular mode or setting I should be in to get the best times. I assume that you just launch from idle, foot on the brake, release the brake and stomp the gas pedal? I’m also curious to hear what sort of times everyone is running in their F-Type.”
Fellow member Stohlen has a bit of experience with this, having run low to mid-11s in his F-Type.
“Launching off-idle seems to produce the quickest acceleration. Hold the brake, no gas, and then stomp the pedal when the light turns green. Drive mode matters less, but I always put it in dynamic/sport and shift myself.
If VMAX mode lowers the spoiler for better aero, absolutely do that. I do find that shifting myself helps, only because I can change the shift points based on how hot the car is or isn’t. Generally when the car is cooler, it will let you rev it out a little more before dumping fuel to cool the cats down. When it dumps fuel, you can really feel it lose power.”
SVT agrees with that assessment, though he has no actual proof that it works.
“Spoiler down should produce better results in theory, but I found it made no difference. However, letting the transmission shift on its own produces better results.”
RacerX goes into extreme detail with his techniques, which is quite fascinating.
“This is my 1320 checklist:
Pre-Stage
1. Helmet/Glasses – ON
2. Windows and Top – UP
3. Transmission – Sport (Hands off paddles!)
4. Traction Control – OFF (Short press 1 second, long press 5 seconds)
5. A/C – OFF
6. Lights – BRIGHTStaging
7. Burnout – MIN to clean-up differential traction
8. Traction Control – HALF (Short press 1 second to normal, short press 1 second to HALF)
Or, FULL OFF with a non-V8, V8 AWD, or RWD with street slicks or drag radialsIn-Place
9. Brake – HOLD (Left foot)
10. Pedal – HALF (Confirm 2,000 RPM)
11. Gauges – GREENALL SET, GAME TIME!
12. Last Yellow Light Off, Brake – RELEASE
13. After Strong Acceleration, Pedal – SMOOTHLY TO FLOOR THROUGH KICK-DOWN
Or, FLOORED with a non-V8, V8 AWD, or RWD with street slicks or drag radials
14. S MODE – CONFIRM SHIFTING OR SHIFTAfter 1320, On Rollout
15. BRAKES – CHECK
16. S MODE – CONFIRM DOWN SHIFTING
17. Gauges – GREEN
18. Signal”
Considering the fact that all of these F-Type owners have lots of experience at the drag strip and good times to show for it, this all seems like great advice. But we want to hear about your techniques as well. So head over here and tell us how you launch your F-Type and share your quarter-mile results!
Photos: Jaguar Forums
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