Forza Motorsport 2 remains a favorite for its realistic driving physics and extensive tuning options. This guide provides a comprehensive approach to tuning your car for drifting in Forza Motorsport 2, covering everything from car selection to fine-tuning your suspension.
Choosing the Right Car for Drifting
While many Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD) cars can drift, Front-Engine RWD configurations are generally preferred for their balanced weight distribution. Mid-Engine and Rear-Engine cars can be tuned to drift effectively, but require more precise adjustments due to their inherent rear weight bias. Remember, some cars can be converted to RWD after purchase, opening up more options.
Essential Upgrades for Drifting
Maximizing your car’s drifting potential requires strategic upgrades. Here’s a breakdown of key areas:
Platform and Handling
While many drifters opt for full Race Platform and Handling upgrades, Weight Reduction, Roll Cage, and Anti-Roll Bars aren’t strictly necessary. However, maximizing these components generally improves performance.
Drivetrain
Upgrade all drivetrain components to Race specifications for optimal power delivery and durability.
Wheels and Tires
Avoid Racing Slicks as they are often prohibited in competitive drifting. Stick to Street or Sport tire compounds. Tire width is a matter of personal preference; some prefer wider rear tires for increased grip and speed, while others favor wider front tires. Experiment to find what suits your driving style. Rim choice and size are purely cosmetic.
Aspiration
Consider the pros and cons of each aspiration type: Single Turbo, Twin Turbo, Twin-Screw Supercharger, and Centrifugal Supercharger. Single Turbos are popular but can introduce “Turbo Lag,” a delay in power delivery that can be challenging to manage. Superchargers offer more immediate power but may impact overall handling.
Performance
A Sport Flywheel is crucial for improved engine response. Other performance upgrades are optional but remember to keep the horsepower within a reasonable range. Around 400hp is often sufficient for drifting, while exceeding 650hp might disqualify you from competitions. Crucially, stay within the S Class or lower, as R Class cars are usually banned in competitions.
Fine-Tuning Your Drift Setup
Tire Pressure
Optimal tire grip is generally achieved around 32 PSI (Pounds per Square Inch) when tires are hot. Start with 28 PSI and adjust incrementally after test laps, monitoring tire pressure via telemetry. Remember, tire pressure increases as tires heat up.
Alignment
Camber
Always use negative camber for both front and rear tires. Negative camber allows more of the tire surface to contact the road during drifts. Start with -5 degrees for the front and -2 degrees for the rear, then fine-tune based on telemetry data, aiming for camber as close to 0 as possible without going positive during drifts.
Toe
Use positive toe for the front tires to enhance steering angle during drifts. However, excessive positive toe can negatively impact drift speed. Experiment to find a balance. For the rear, 0 to -0.5 degrees of toe is a good starting point.
Caster
Caster angle affects steering stability and responsiveness. Higher caster increases stability but reduces responsiveness, while lower caster has the opposite effect. Adjust caster based on your preferred driving style.
Anti-Roll Bars, Springs, and Ride Height
Use the formula (A-B)C+B=X to calculate optimal settings for Anti-Roll Bars and Springs.
A= Stiffest SettingB= Softest SettingC= Weight Distribution (front or rear)
For Ride Height, it’s generally recommended to have the front slightly higher than the rear for improved braking stability.
Damping
Rebound and Bump Stiffness also utilize the (A-B)C+B=X formula. Bump Stiffness should be set to 50-75% of the Rebound Stiffness.
Brakes and Differentials
Brake Distribution and Pressure are largely personal preference. A 45% front Brake Distribution and 120% Brake Pressure are good starting points. For differentials, higher acceleration and deceleration rates will increase drift angle but also increase the risk of spinning out.
Gearing
Finding the right gear ratio is vital for maintaining optimal drift speed. Identify your “Money Gear” (usually 3rd or 4th) and adjust the final drive to ensure you have around 1000 RPM to spare before redlining in that gear while drifting. Fine-tune individual gears if necessary.
This guide provides a solid foundation for tuning your car for drifting in Forza Motorsport 2. Remember, consistent practice and experimentation are key to mastering the art of drifting. Good luck!
