Hello fellow racers! Excited to share my initial tuning setups for the legendary Mercedes Clk Lm in Gran Turismo. My aim isn’t about chasing unrealistic, twitchy performance, but creating tunes that are both fast and enjoyable to drive. These setups will give you a competitive edge while maintaining control on the track. Let’s dive into maximizing the potential of this iconic car.
First up, we have a PP800 tune designed for circuits like Sardegna and Spa, perfect for endurance grinding and consistent lap times.
This PP800 setup prioritizes balanced performance and fuel efficiency:
- Turbo: Low pressure turbo is the key here. It provides a significant power boost while improving fuel economy, crucial for longer races.
- Tires: Racing Hard tires are the default choice for Sardegna. For Spa, be prepared with Racing Intermediates and Racing Wet tires for variable conditions.
- Gearbox: Equip the Racing Gearbox for finer control over gear ratios.
- Power Restrictor & Ballast: While available, these aren’t used in this specific PP800 tune to maximize performance.
For the suspension and handling, the focus is on stability and predictable cornering:
- Ride Height: Increased ride height enhances stability, especially over kerbs and during weight transfer.
- Anti-roll Bars: Stiffening the front anti-roll bar helps reduce body roll and improve turn-in response.
- Downforce (DF): Lower front downforce and higher rear downforce promotes stability and reduces understeer, making the car more planted in corners.
- Gearbox: Set the gearbox to a top speed of 310 km/h. This provides a good balance for acceleration and top-end speed on most tracks.
Driving this PP800 tune is all about smooth inputs. Short shifting around the halfway point of the rev counter (in hood/bumper view) optimizes fuel consumption and keeps the engine in its peak torque range thanks to the low-pressure turbo. In a Sardegna race, you can comfortably run the first 8 laps on Fuel Map 2 (FM2), pit for tires and full fuel at the end of lap 8, and then finish the remaining 7 laps on Fuel Map 1 (FM1). Consistent low 1:34 lap times are easily achievable, and with a cleaner run, even faster times are possible. My initial run resulted in a 24:29 total time with some minor AI incidents and small errors.
Next, let’s move to the PP700 tune, specifically tailored for the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans grinding. This setup prioritizes fuel efficiency and consistent pace for long stints.
The PP700 Le Mans setup focuses on economy and reliability:
- Turbo: No turbo is used in this configuration. Naturally aspirated power delivery is smoother and more fuel-efficient for endurance racing.
- ECU, Power Restrictor & Ballast: Utilizing these to adjust the car to the PP700 limit while optimizing weight distribution and power delivery.
- Suspension Setup: Retains a similar suspension philosophy to the PP800 tune, focusing on stability and predictability.
- Gearbox: Gearbox is set to a lower top speed of 280 km/h, optimized for Le Mans’ straights and corners.
With this PP700 tune, you can effortlessly achieve 4:10 lap times at Le Mans while running full throttle on Fuel Map 1 (FM1) throughout your stint. The car is incredibly fuel-efficient, allowing for 4 laps on a single tank even when pushing hard. A single pit stop for fuel only (no tire change) after 4 laps will see you through the remaining 3 laps to victory. Keep an eye on weather conditions, but often slicks are viable even during light rain periods in the current game updates.
Overall, the Mercedes CLK LM is a remarkably driver-friendly car in Gran Turismo. Its cornering ability surpasses cars like the Sauber C9, and in PP800 trim, it boasts impressive power and straight-line speed. It’s a car that inspires confidence and delivers consistent performance.
Feel free to test out these tunes and share your feedback! If you have any suggestions for further refining the suspension or differential settings, or have developed your own superior setups, please share your insights. Let’s collaborate to unlock the ultimate potential of the Mercedes CLK LM!
Happy racing!
