Ultimate Beginner's Guide To Formula Vee In iRacing | Top 15 Tips by a Vee World Champion (S2, 2024)

[@TravisHi_YT]

It still boggles my mind that such a high skill racer has 1k subs and is willing to share the secret sauce with the rest of us. Thanks as always man! I think I'll always be racing the Vee thanks to you

[@Sambo_iRacing]

Thanks mate. It’s a great car and when you get fast in it and know the tracks, you can always run races in it whilst still doing other classes and series. It’s like putting on a comfy pair of old shoes.

[@TravisHi_YT]

@@Sambo_iRacing yeah, I think it's a great car to learn the tracks, and because it's part of the free tracks & car, it's always going to have races going. So many cool tips in this video, I should probably practice using the clutch on my pedals rather than relying on autoblip. I have no idea where to start with using the clutch in a race car though :/ Testing track limits is fun, no way could it be considered a hack, I laugh like a maniac when I "cut" a corner and get no penalties. Rudskogen was hilarious on some of the track limits, it's very easy to see who's using the whole track and who isn't. I'd love to see your mod setups like Racelab etc. I only just set racelab up, but it's compulsory imo, it makes such a huge difference. Getting in the mind of a top 5 racer is something I'd be interested in!

[@wesd3370]

Yeah no joke… I was just watching his racecraft video and I feel like it should be mandatory watching for anyone who races… or at the very least mandatory for the guy who spun and then moved right into the racing line and took me out of first place.

[@mohzoheir]

Exactly my thought ! Thank you Samboracing

[@fullsendgolfsimulators]

Just letting you know your channel is massively underrated

[@Sambo_iRacing]

Thanks brother, nice of you to say.

[@joenotjim]

Hands-down the best iRacing channel. Thanks for putting in the work!

[@Sambo_iRacing]

Wow, thanks mate.

[@themattunger]

Thank you for all of the track guides this past season. I was able to utilize them to finish within the top 200. I was especially helped by your Charlotte guide. I went from 3 seconds off the pace to winning a race after practicing your lines. Congrats on the podium!

[@Sambo_iRacing]

Thanks matey and great work, that’s a lot of time to take off a lap 👏🏼

[@suphoman]

I'm on day 2 of iracing and am enjoying myself, but your tips are of significant help and made it more enjoyable. Thank you for your videos and very strong explanation of everything! Subbed to the channel!

[@Sambo_iRacing]

Thanks for lovely feedback bud

[@chrisharris2153]

Oh my god!!! I cannot tell you how many times I’ve wished I could practice a single corner over and over. I have always just made full laps until I saw this video!!! Life saver!!

[@Sambo_iRacing]

Music to my ears that I was able to help buddy. Good luck.

[@evangel1460]

Just coming back to the sim. I was sticking mainly to the 1600 but I wanted to do more races per hour. I tried this thing out and it felt pretty fun (if a little slow on the power) but I had enough fun and I'm dedicated enough to shredding times and getting some SR that I decided to start driving it more. It's great fun! Also helps it's a very "flow like car" and as a rally sim driver first that makes it very approachable! Great tips!

[@Feurixzon]

Just starting iRacing, been to a couple karting races at Paul Ricard and wanted to get into simracing. Your content is just absolute pure gold, extremely clear explanations and not just focusing on what to do, but *why* to do it. Thanks a lot mate.

[@Sambo_iRacing]

Awesome, thank you, that’s a lovely bit of feedback mate. Cheers.

[@mehmoregames]

I've done a few seasons in the Vee and this video was the refresher I needed on Vee-craft thanks again Sambo

[@SamuraiProgrammer]

You have helped my racing immensely. I hope you keep making these videos. Also, I would like to know more information about where you set brake bias on the Vee, if you change it mid race, and how it would affect driving decisions. If you already have a video for that, please mention it in upcoming weeks. THANKS!!!

[@Sambo_iRacing]

Mate!! Thank you so much. You’re very generous. For the Vee, unless there’s no braking (lime rock park - classic), I always go 4 clicks back to give me some extra braking power although it does make the rear very slightly more loose.

[@SamuraiProgrammer]

@@Sambo_iRacing Thanks for the reply!

[@85fastlane]

Thank you! Just joined iRacing a couple weeks ago after about 8 months of racing in a local league at a VR race sim shop. Wanted to get in the Vee to start and it's been a lot of fun, but I'm still a couple seconds off of the fastest drivers. Some of this info was reminders of things I need to work on and some of it was all new information. Thank you for sharing this! I've been researching load cell pedals because I am really struggling with locking up too easily and difficulty trailing off smoothly. I know from the VR race sim shop that it's much, much easier with a load cell brake pedal, and I'm making that a priority to be able to learn better braking. Thanks again!

[@Sambo_iRacing]

Load cells are the best thing you can buy to help improve your consistency for sure. Muscle memory is much easier with pressure.

[@TheAgent4125]

@@Sambo_iRacing what about hydraulic brake pedal? how does that compare?

[@Sambo_iRacing]

Yeah my load cells are hydraulic (P2000 by Simagic) and I love them.

[@TheAgent4125]

@@Sambo_iRacing ah cool, I have p1000

[@nofear04]

The active reset button was worth the price of admission alone. Been spinning at Turn 1 of Lime Rock and it was annoying to have to turn around or do the whole lap. Thanks so much.

[@Sambo_iRacing]

Glad you got it working. It’s an amazing help.

[@AkshaySakariya]

Do you have any videos on the clutch for the Vee? I don't think I've seen that - or heard of you talking about it. If not, can please make one...? Thanks anyway! Love your content!

[@Sambo_iRacing]

Just so we’re on the same wave length, can you give me a little more detail about what you mean buddy when you say “videos on the clutch” and I’ll try and help out where possible.

[@AkshaySakariya]

@@Sambo_iRacing on tip 10 you talk about using a manual clutch to blip. I wanted to know why and how this should be done.

[@Sambo_iRacing]

Ah right I see what you mean. I’ll try and do a little “Changing Gears In The Vee” video next week.

[@TravisHi_YT]

Ditto, I've never used the clutch in a race car, so I have no idea how to use it properly in that context.

[@bigpete14]

@@Sambo_iRacing hey Sam, big fan of your videos! i was just wondering how/when/if you're supposed to blip when using no brake assists. i have added a clutch button like you suggested but im not sure if i should still be blipping or not on my shifts. i'm watching your telemetry and seeing the clutch pedal (button) blip, but it looks like you don't blip on the throttle. but then other redditors say that you are meant to be blipping on a downshift. im a noob so its all still a big confusing, apologies. :) big fan from Canada!

[@kirkgould5075]

those tips made a huge difference thank you!!

[@Sambo_iRacing]

No problem at all. Glad they helped mate.

[@yodecaf]

Love your editing and video technique. My first season and i made my goal of top 500 using your guides as my only source. The practice different lines was the game changer for me! Tsukuba is my fav track.

[@Sambo_iRacing]

Thanks so much for the feedback matey, very kind of you to say.

[@genturgidson8948]

Congrats on your podium, Sam! I finished 4th in my division (5) by 5 points, and around 105th I think over all. Laguna kicked my ass, so I did not have a good week there. I've been slow on that track in simulations and games dating back to IndyCar Racing in 1994 so not entirely unexpected. Your guides have helped make me faster in the Vee specifically, as well as making me faster in other cars at those tracks that were in the Vee season. These are great tips! I have a few that I need to work on, like getting off the auto clutch. I've got a 3 pedal setup now. Likewise, I just need to practice more on using it as I have left foot braked for 30 years going back to a set of CH Products Pedals from the early 90s.

[@Sambo_iRacing]

105 overall is awesome work. Glad you find the guides useful. Thanks.

[@genturgidson8948]

@@Sambo_iRacing Now that IRacing is or was back up after maintenance and I can look at stats again, it now looks like I did get P3 in D5. I looked at the points right after I finished the last Week 12 Laguna race at 23:45 UTC so probably around 00:10 UTC, and I was a couple of points back of P3, but now I'm 16 points ahead of P4. And I'm now P103 in the global stats. I also spent some time and did Time Attack in the Vee as well last season. I think I finished P7 there out of 30 something people who finished the series. Pro level, but not World Champion level.

[@Sambo_iRacing]

Awesome work mate. Now go for a top 50!

[@mitchlewis535]

Thank you for this! Some good ones in there I didn't know. Any chance you can do a quick video on how to use your Ghost lap? I've downloaded it and can't seem to get it to work. I think it has something to do with cycling through the various settings pushing the TAB key over and over. I never did find the correct one though.

[@Sambo_iRacing]

That’s a good shout actually. I hadn’t thought of that. I’ll try and bang it out for Thursday/Friday.

[@mitchlewis535]

@@Sambo_iRacing No hurry, but it would be very helpful to many people. Thank you. 🙂

[@Sambo_iRacing]

It’s up matey

[@mitchlewis535]

@@Sambo_iRacing Awesome! Thank you! I will check it ou!

[@Jack96993]

I use racing gloves also, but the racing helmet has to go!! Now you tell me!! Just did VIR that I've been on many times in my Porsche 944TS track car But in the formula VEE I was spinning like a top everywhere as I was down sfiting into 2nd gear in all the wrong places 😅 After seeing your insightful tips on driving the VEE property. I'll give it another go Excellent tips by the way 👍

[@Sambo_iRacing]

Yes second gear will do that to you here! Only 3rd and 4th needed!

[@jasons4745]

Thank you for all of the tips and explaining everything so efficiently

[@Sambo_iRacing]

You are so welcome!

[@yuzezhang1159]

Thank you so much for the tips! They are extremely helpful for beginners!

[@Sambo_iRacing]

Glad it was helpful and thanks for the feedback.

[@robsmith3464]

This video is gold dust, thank you!

[@Sambo_iRacing]

Thanks matey. Glad you liked it.

[@francoisearouet9463]

how do you only have 1.35k subscribers? top notch videos..

[@Sambo_iRacing]

Thanks matey for the support but honestly, when I started to post videos last summer, I didn’t think I’d get even 100 subscribers so I’m very happy to be growing.

[@Sully-K]

Another great video, Sam. Really useful tips. Congrats on hitting 1k subscribers.

[@Sambo_iRacing]

Glad you enjoyed it and thanks mate.

[@85fastlane]

Wow, this comment is only 5 months old and he's almost at 3K subscribers now. I didn't realize how recent the growth was because I've just discovered him. For his sake, I hope he gets thousands more, because this is great content to make people faster. For my sake, I hope nobody else subscribes, because this is great content to make people faster.

[@Sully-K]

​@85fastlane totally agree. Brilliant content, which has helped me and many others immensely.

[@Nategreat923]

Great information, thank you so much for sharing, excited to implement this!

[@Sambo_iRacing]

Hope it helps

[@EricLancheres]

Thanks Sam! Kudos on the growth of the channel, I think it's going to double in size fairly soon! I agree with you that the racing line isn't something people should be using and personally never use it... so I'd like to vote to remove it in the future videos when you're doing your clean hot lap. I just find it distracting when you do the normal hot lap. That's just my vote ;)

[@Sambo_iRacing]

Yeah I totally understand but the majority of people (that watch my videos at any rate) do use the line and I obviously don’t want to make the videos too long or people close it down early (and then KZbin stops promoting the video on feeds etc) so it’s a tricky line I have to tread I’m afraid. I hope the three laps I show have something/enough for everyone.

[@luizcavalcanti104]

Hi, I'm glad I found your channel when looking for tips for FF1600 and Vee. I can be more competitive now. However, on Vee sometimes I have issues with upshifting. It's quite annoying, It gets stuck in neutral, and sometimes I'm causing crashes due to slowing down in the middle of an acceleration. Any tips for this? At first, I was lifting the throttle. Then now I'm upshifting with full throttle. In both cases, I have misshifts. It improved a little by adding some clutch pedal deadzone, but still happening in the worst possible moments during a race. Thanks in advance!

[@Sambo_iRacing]

What sort of shifter are you using buddy? And what type of clutch?

[@luizcavalcanti104]

@@Sambo_iRacing I was using a Logitech H-shifter and a regular pedal clutch. I sometimes hit the clutch too fast and the gear doesn't engage, sometimes all I have to do is to lift and then the gear change operations finishes. Other times the gearshifter is so stuck that you can't shift up and down. It probably simulates something that happens with the actual car, but with a sim shifter stick unfortunately we don't get a feedback that the gear didn't engage like in a real car, where you could feel the gear teeth scratching. I have just give it a try with auto blip now (it turns out auto blip also includes auto clutch) I then I drove the cars with no problems using paddle shifters, but it feels like cheating. On FF1600 i can shift fast using the H-shifter and pedal clutch without missing a single shift. But then I realized the ff1600 can be shifted even without clutch

[@dw2571]

@Sambo Racing you’re goated. Do you race in real life?

[@Sambo_iRacing]

Never had the opportunity I’m afraid and thanks for the feedback.

[@RshdNdr]

Active reset just blew my mind. TY!

[@Sambo_iRacing]

Ha. You’re welcome buddy.

[@Bogosity-sc3dn]

Thanks for all the great content! Looking forward to a new season in the formula Vee, participating from the start. Cheers, from a new iRacer!

[@Sambo_iRacing]

Great to hear and thanks.

[@bobblevins1715]

Such good info on the Vees, Thank you. I do have a question in regard to your cockpit view. When watching your view (Cockpit ) on KZbin, your dash, tires mirrors etc. are all on my center single screen for me (And I believe for everyone ? ). I have triple 27 inch monitor's and the tires and mirrors bleed over to the side monitors somewhat. I am trying to see if your view would help me knock a tenth off somewhere with possibly a better seat height and distance judging the apex etc.., I tried to duplicate what I'm seeing from your view on KZbin, but it seems a bit off actually near maxed out away from the front of the car in cockpit cam. Are you running triple monitors as well ? Is the view we see on KZbin from cockpit your actual view? Any suggestions appreciated. Thanks again for your helpful videos.

[@Sambo_iRacing]

I actually run VR but try and make my videos as easy to see as possible when running the replay files on my monitor

[@joeldavis8109]

Great guide for the vee.

[@Sambo_iRacing]

Glad you think so!

[@howiieb]

Looking at your SR fluctuate wildly throughout the video was initially funny, but of course, it makes total sense here - high licenses essentially cannot consistently gain SR in Vee races because even one 4x or less sends you flying down the order, but, of course, you're driving a rookie series - there's literally nothing to fear, the SR has no meaning at all, you'll never be unable to race your favourite series, so you're in the zen zone of literally never having to think about it at all - your consistency and results just speak for themselves, because you can't do that if you're not consistently safe. It was just funny to realise

[@thinkandrepent3175]

Ty so much for your coaching

[@Sambo_iRacing]

You are so welcome buddy.

[@TheGamingMemoriesArchive]

Tottaly noob here , just starting and i have a stupid question.Does the camera settings effect how you drive? My camera is totally different than yours (i dont even know how to change it rofl). Great channel btw keep it going

[@Sambo_iRacing]

Ha no, have yours however you feel comfortable although there are lots of videos on KZbin that explain what people perceive as the perfect field of view. I actually drive in VR so don’t see anything like what I clip from replays to make videos anyway bud.

[@TheGamingMemoriesArchive]

@@Sambo_iRacing thanks man i appriciate your reply

[@mandopepo]

Those are really great tips! Thanks mate!

[@Sambo_iRacing]

Cheers buddy!

[@birdseye2239]

Dude this video is super high quality. Keep it up and your gonna get some serious subs. What made you choose to focus on the formula vee? How did it become your favorite car (if it is such)

[@Sambo_iRacing]

Thanks for the feedback. I really like the Vee as it’s usually close racing as the draft means even the fastest people in the world can’t usually drive away from the pack so it’s great for race craft but whilst it’s one of my favourite cars to race, it’s not my favourite to drive/test/hotlap/make guides for.

[@itsmrmilo]

great video, when you say button clutch is it just one 100% clutch button or do you bind different amounts to multiple buttons?

[@Sambo_iRacing]

Yeah it’s just zero or 100 and I press it very briefly as I hit the up or down shirt mate.

[@rw3476]

Awesome tips! Thanks

[@kendallwillard4883]

Fantastic stuff, thank you sir

[@Sambo_iRacing]

Glad you like it.

[@dw2571]

Does anyone else have trouble finding the formula vee series after the update?

[@Sambo_iRacing]

Hiya mate, the Vee doesn’t have any races in week 13. It’s back at Rudskogen next week for week 1 of the new season.

[@JM-um3ql]

Awesome content! Can you do one for Formula 1600 too? Subbed

[@Sambo_iRacing]

Possibly next week 13 (the specials take a fair amount of time to clip and edit together) but honestly, 90% for the Ray would be the same as the Vee (minus maybe the start and cold tyres being fast) - but I’ll start saving my FF1600 replay files so I could do it next time.

[@JM-um3ql]

@@Sambo_iRacing Thanks! I realized how sensitive both the Vee and FF1600 are to balance. I'm new to iRacing so I am loving the content you are putting out. Also quick question, you mentioned using auto-blip/auto-clutch loses me speed, got any good tips (double clutch etc) to new racers like myself on avoiding certain driving aids?

[@cortezzz2007]

Tnx for the video! Whats the map overlay pls?

[@Sambo_iRacing]

RaceLabs bud. Should be a link in the description.

[@jarrydsheppard996]

Say if the track had an extremely short straight, where would you recommend trying the overtake? (The track im struggling with is Tsukuba)

[@Sambo_iRacing]

Yeah I hate Tsukuba in the Vee for that reason. Basically you need a massive delta (pace difference) to the driver ahead or you just sit on their gear box and pressure them and maybe do the odd fake but the only real safe way to overtake there in the Vee is to wait for a mistake. If being safe is less important then a lunge a T1 or T4 but next week will be better at Lime Rock GP.

[@aogsimracing5663]

Great Tips Thanks

[@Sambo_iRacing]

No problem!

[@aogsimracing5663]

@@Sambo_iRacing I've been driving the Ray more recently, and jumped back in a Vee which I raced a year or so ago. Now relearning driving and shifting. I noticed you use anti stall clutch, but curious if you're using an h pattern with heel and toe or paddles? I'm struggling with smooth downshifts. I've noticed antistall with clutch shifts is quicker for sure. Can't seem to blip downshift like the Ray

[@aogsimracing5663]

Actually listening to the background noise it sounds like you're using an H pattern.

[@Sambo_iRacing]

I manual clutch with dual clutch paddles and paddle shifters bud. The noise you can hear is my buttkicker.

[@wxyz2589]

are you able to use racelab's overlays in fullscreen ?

[@Sambo_iRacing]

How do you mean buddy?

[@benwatkins3794]

‘Sambo, it’s James, stop stealing my voice’

[@Sambo_iRacing]

Ha you’ve lost me as to who James is bud

[@JM-um3ql]

James Vowles from F1

[@Sambo_iRacing]

Ha - I just checked him out and that's not too bad at all. Cheers bud @@JM-um3ql

[@tacolv_55]

How do you get that telemetry graph?

[@Sambo_iRacing]

RaceLabs overlays mate

[@PR1NCETD0T]

i was in first in a race but my oil temps were getting too hot so i had to pit, and ended up 6th, is there a way to not overheat the oil when driving these cars?

[@Sambo_iRacing]

I’ve never experienced that, were you over revving by leaving it in 3rd on the straights?

[@PR1NCETD0T]

@@Sambo_iRacing i may have been rev limiting every shift 😂 but it doesnt explain why i had to pit at lap 6/10, if i went another lap the car would’ve blown up. Its blown up for me in practise due to high oil temps.

[@Devloup]

im currently running almost 70% circuit 4 gear and 30 in 3 gear, i get 1.03.100ish lap times and i dont see how some guys goes with times like 1.01.200ishh i feel like it might be cause my car is not fined tuned in garage but i dont know how to tune it..have you any video regarding this issue?

[@w1investmentgroup279]

One thing I can promise you is that it’s not the set up buddy as they’re all fixed (Vee and FF1600). But may I ask what track and car combo you’re talking about?

[@Devloup]

@@w1investmentgroup279 formula vee lima track

[@Sambo_iRacing]

Yeah there’s no setup hacks on the Vee buddy as it’s a fixed series. It’s just practice I’m afraid.

[@Devloup]

@@Sambo_iRacing well that is more good news than bad news... also i checked my habits with telemetry comparing with yours and i saw i release throttle while clutching and you dont do that, i guess thats cause i always drive manual cars so i got used to it, i'll try with this as well as full width trick cause i barely touch curbs with wheel border

[@kcbroncohater]

I run over guys guessing the green and never spin the tires. slip the clutch when see green, the car will launch and chase down the smoking the tires guys in front.

[@basicbins3751]

Slow in Fast out

[@Sambo_iRacing]

Ha. Too true.

[@altrox03]

ur name is a bit sus btw u might want to google what sambo means

[@Sambo_iRacing]

A type of martial arts. As I’ve mentioned before, I’ve also been called Sambo, if you want to associate it with something “suss”, please feel free to watch other guides.

[@altrox03]

@@Sambo_iRacing no i like ur guides, i am not trying to be mean its just that sambo is a bit of a racist term i get that you didn't know that.

[@Sambo_iRacing]

Not where I’m from buddy. Literally never heard it uttered with a racial connotation. Obviously my name is Sam and when I was little Rambo came out and everyone called me Sambo.

[@rw3476]

Awesome tips! Thanks