We preach the gospel of knowledge assortment and evaluation fairly usually round right here. We’ve by no means lived in an period the place information in your laps–whether or not you’re a pointy-end competitor or just an informal observe driver seeking to enhance your expertise–is less complicated to gather, log and analyze.
However even the only information system remains to be a devoted system. It’s one other piece of {hardware} …
Harry’s Laptimer
gps-laptimer.de
$4.99-$27.99
iOS and Android
Harry’s is among the hottest phone-based information apps for good motive: It’s simple to make use of, fairly intuitive and presents a full suite of options even within the lowest-cost possibility.
It additionally helps Bluetooth GPS and OBD sensors, which means you possibly can overlay OBD information onto your graphs. The $22.99 (Android)/$27.99 (iOS) Grand Prix version helps high-end GPS receivers, together with a number of digital camera inputs from GoPro and Sony motion cameras. The $16.99 (Android)/$19.99 (iOS) Petrolhead Version and the Grand Prix assist video from the onboard digital camera, which means you possibly can produce data-overlaid lap movies with a single gadget.
Favourite Characteristic: The observe view overlays the vital information, like lateral g, proper on the observe map for a fast digest. It’s nice for if you don’t have a lot time to drill deeply into each nook. Truthfully, it’s a show we want extra information packages would incorporate as a result of it captures a lot information in a single look and is extremely tunable to get the data you want.
Harry’s additionally options useful charts with extra information, together with yaw price, permitting you to investigate your corner-entry and -exit smoothness and aggression.
TrackAddict
racerender.com
Free-$8.99
iOS and Android
The parents at HP Tuners supply TrackAddict, a robust information instrument with just a few different helpful options: When coupled with an OBD dongle, it might probably additionally do code scanning and resets, whereas information recordsdata will be output to HP Tuners’ highly effective RaceRender information evaluation suite for a extra in-depth have a look at your information. Use is a little more advanced than different apps, however we rapidly obtained used to it and by no means needed to do something loopy like really learn the guide.
The paid model additionally options reside telemetry streaming through the RaceRender group, making it simple to maintain observe of your teammate on observe or to share your adventures in actual time. TrackAddict can be adaptable for autocross environments and customized tracks along with the 1000-plus database of present circuits.
The free model provides you entry to just about all of the performance of the paid model–the largest omission is the flexibility to avoid wasting a number of recordsdata–so it’s an distinctive method to dip your toe into phone-based information gathering with zero dedication.
Favourite Characteristic: TrackAddict options some useful coach-style information evaluation instruments, like one which reveals the place and the way a lot you is perhaps coasting. And when coupled with a superb, high-res GPS, the observe view has our favourite line evaluation view of the apps we sampled, providing you with a good suggestion of not simply your speeds by means of a nook however your exact line as properly.
RaceChrono
racechrono.com
$18.99 (Android)/$19.99 (iOS)
iOS and Android
Of the apps sampled right here, RaceChrono’s predictive lap timer is the best to make use of. This function yields the data that, with a fast look, can allow you to make choices on the fly. The again finish is a little more advanced, however the upside is a really excessive degree of customizability in your information evaluation choices.
RaceChrono might be probably the most advanced of the apps we tried, nevertheless it’s intuitive and straightforward to make use of–we nonetheless didn’t should sink to utilizing the guide like normals. RaceChrono jams a variety of information onto every display; this slows down the speed of digesting that information, nevertheless it additionally permits a critically deep dive. Like all of the apps we examined, it might probably even combine video from an onboard digital camera.
Its energy can be its weak spot on the subject of use on a cellphone. RaceChrono packs a lot information onto every display that it may be a bit overwhelming on a smaller gadget. As a heavy information evaluation instrument, it is perhaps higher suited to an iPad Mini, however the cellphone is an ideal dimension for an in-car show as a predictive timer, so we’ll lower it some slack. Truthfully, we’ll by no means complain too arduous about getting an excessive amount of information; we’ll simply get higher glasses.
Favourite Characteristic: Regardless of our grousing, in the event you’re prepared to squint somewhat, having all that data obtainable on a single display is a big plus. Our favourite show combines a observe map (with customizable colour highlights for information like pace or g) with graphics for pace/distance and a friction circle. You possibly can merely scroll by means of the lap and drink up all that candy, candy information–when you get accustomed to navigating the sophisticated display. Of all of the apps, RaceChrono feels probably the most like a pro-grade package deal–for higher (tons of knowledge on a single display) or worse (tons of knowledge on a single display).
TrackNinja
trackninja.app
Free-$9.99/mo
iOS and Android
Like the opposite apps we sampled, TrackNinja offers full-featured information acquisition, lap and predictive timing, video and group sharing. However its ace within the gap is the flexibility to simply combine and observe non-performance information.
TrackNinja has built-in options for monitoring setup information, pit information and the entire different notes that flip a observe weekend into a real improvement expertise. Then the app integrates that information proper into your data-acquisition package deal. It’s a intelligent method and a really great tool.
Other than that, we actually like the final workflow and management scheme of the app. It was clearly designed as an app, not a port from a desktop program or by somebody with out a good understanding of constructing a UX for a small kind issue like a cellphone. Controls and choices are intuitive, and nothing is hidden in menus.
Favourite Characteristic: The note-taking capability actually is that this app’s recreation changer, and it makes the value ($9.99 per thirty days for the complete model) a lot simpler to swallow. The free model provides you entry to all of the options however solely means that you can retailer a restricted quantity of knowledge–name it a well-rounded have a look at the obtainable options earlier than you resolve to make the leap.
However the capability to simply log and share setup and observe information is critical. In the end, all these apps are very related in operate: They might have completely different management schemes or menu choices, however they principally ship the identical operations. TrackNinja’s notes operate units it aside on this regard and provides one other layer to assist justify the additional value.
