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Drag Racing Traction Control

HP Tuners CORE offers a drag-specific traction control system engineered to maximize performance at the drag strip. It works by adjusting ignition timing to keep driveshaft speed or engine speed within a target window.

Drag TC is built on the same neural network model as AI TC, combining reactive and predictive control to manage wheel slip more effectively. This enables faster response times and reduces the number of calibration parameters required compared to most competing systems, letting users fine-tune performance quickly based on grip conditions, in most cases with adjustments to a single table. The following steps outline the process for configuring and enabling drag TC.

Drag Racing Traction Control VCM Live Setup

  1. Download the latest version of VCM Live Beta here.

  2. Open VCM Live and click the drop down arrow in the group layout tab and select Race Functions.

  3. Locate the Traction Control Enabled parameter and select Yes.

  4. Select the Traction Control Setup tab in the top menu bar and locate the Traction Control Mode parameter and select Drag_TC.

  5. Once the traction control is enabled, two Drag TC tabs will appear, click these tabs to log and monitor your drag tc values.

    Note

    Launch Control must be enabled, refer to the Launch Control chapter to enable launch control.

  6. Locate the Drag Traction Control Target Mode parameter and select your preferred method for controlling the traction control target.

    Note

    Drag TC offers two options to control your target mode: DragTC_Driveshaft_RPM & DragTC_Enginespeed_RPM.

  7. Drag Traction Control is now enabled. Follow the tuning setup recommendations in the section below.

Drag Racing Traction Control Tuning Setup

Note

Your professional tuner is your first line of support for tuning questions. We strongly recommend having all vehicle calibrations performed by a professional tuner.

  1. Locate the DRAG TRACTION CONTROL DRIVESHAFT SPEED SETPOINT (RPM) or DRAG TRACTION CONTROL ENGINE SPEED SETPOINT (RPM) depending on the control method selected above and adjust accordingly.

    Note

    For best results, set these tables to follow the "Ideal" speed curve.

  2. Locate the DRAG TRACTION CONTROL DRIVESHAFT SPEED SETPOINT UPPER TOLERANCE (RPM) or DRAG TRACTION CONTROL ENGINE SPEED SETPOINT UPPER TOLERANCE (RPM) parameter, and set the upper tolerance for your preferred acceptable speed above the base speed setpoint as a function of the Launch Control Confirmed Time measurement parameter.

    Note

    • Drag TC maintains engine and driveshaft speed within the range defined by the Speed Setpoint and the Speed Setpoint plus Upper Tolerance.
    • If the upper tolerance is set too low, Traction Control will oscillate between maximum power reduction and no power reduction, resulting in inefficient speed control. If set too high, it can allow excessive wheelspin. A properly configured upper tolerance lets Drag TC make smooth ignition timing corrections without overshooting or undershooting the target speed window.

  3. Locate the *DRAG TRACTION CONTROL DRIVESHAFT SPEED MAXIMUM SPARK RETARD () or *DRAG TRACTION CONTROL ENGINE SPEED MAXIMUM SPARK RETARD () parameter, and adjust your maximum allowed spark retard.

    Three measurements are associated with Drag Racing TC's operation, listed below:

    • Drag Traction Control Allowed: Indicates if the drag TC activation conditions are met.
    • Drag Traction Control Active: Indicates if drag TC is actively retarding timing.
    • Drag Traction Control Ignition Retard: Indicates the amount of spark retard applied by drag TC.