Hi! First of all, I apologize for the awful quality of these photos I've linked and attached, but I did take these photos from the new Westhill and new Kyoto Ring top-down views so naturally the quality wouldn't be the best.
After it was revealed, that the new Kyoto will most likely have the Kart Indy track, I had mixed feelings about it. On one hand, I was really happy to see that there is a new track configuration, but on the other hand: when I saw the top-down view of the new Kyoto, I saw that the new Karting area could potentially have 2-3 different track configurations. But at the moment, it looks like it will only have one and we don't know yet what roads of that karting area it will use. If there really is just one karting track, it is possible that there will be just feeling among the players that this area could be used for lot more and therefore it has missed potential!
Then, I also remembred that Westhill too does have two karting areas. However, both of them only contain one track configuration (+ reverse). When looking the map, you can easily see that, both of those karting areas could have 2 additional track configurations each.
So, here's what I suggest. Devs are updating all those tracks anyway. Scawen did mention that Westhill doesn't get updated significantly: https://www.lfs.net/forum/post/2111404#post2111404 - however, Eric has mentioned, that it should be easy job for him to add both Westhill National with Chicane and Westhill International without Chicane. Here's post from Eric: https://www.lfs.net/forum/post/2047025#post2047025
So I assumed from these two posts, that it is possible to have additional track configurations, but only by using parts of the tracks, that already exist! It would be similar to Aston in 0.5S, where Grand Touring and North were added into that track environment. So, I was wondering, since these roads in the karting areas already do exist in the game, how easy it would be for Eric to add alternative track configurations for Karting areas?
Now, it is possible that Eric is already doing this, but in any case, here are examples. The red areas show the barriers/forbidden areas:
Westhill Karting (WE4):
- We have the one regular one, but we could also have:
Karting Short: it would only use the first half of the normal circuit. As you can see from the image, it would use that one currently unused short section in the middle of the track, and it would also not cause any harm for the pitlane area! This track would be so short though that it probably would be good idea to limit the player amount.
Track map: https://www.lfs.net/attachment/706602
Karting Extended: same as the normal one, but at the start/finish straight, it would use that chicane that is currently unused.
Track map: https://www.lfs.net/attachment/706606
And one thing, I did take a look that you could have the Karting Short but using the final chicane from the Karting Extended, but it wouldn't really be useful considering that extra corner would be very tight and difficult.
Westhill Karting National (WE5):
- The one we have is the normal length one
- But we can have two shorter ones. After T1, there are two openings.
Karting National Short 1: after T1, there would be quick left turn and it would use part of the track that is currently unused.
Track map: https://www.lfs.net/attachment/706608
Karting National Short 2: not really that useful compared to the Short 1, since it doesn't really use any unused parts of the track. But basically, after T1, there is another opening. You could make kinda like U-turn there and return to the normal track. Basically, a shorter version of the normal Karting National.
Track map: https://www.lfs.net/attachment/706609
Kyoto Ring Kart Indy (KY8?):
- First of all, we don't know what will be the normal track here. I also assume since the top-left carousel part is on different kind of tarmac, it's not part of the official race track. However, you could have couple alternative track configurations:
Kart Indy Short: basically, a speed version of the Kart Indy track. Doesn't take any detours!
Track map: https://www.lfs.net/attachment/706605
Kart Indy Long: basically, takes as many detours as possible. It would probably be the longest Kart track in LFS.
Track map: https://www.lfs.net/attachment/706603
It is possible that Eric's idea for official Kart Indy track would be something like between these two. You can barely see those red barriers at the bottom of the Kart Indy track area, which would probably prevent shortcutting. So, it is possible that the normal Kart Indy would take the extra route at the bottom of the track, but not from that road above it (nor from the carousel)!
I've also attached the normal Kyoto Ring Kart Indy track area. Just use your imagination for the possibilites that area can have!
And finally, yes I know, I can use open configurations for these additional track configurations, but there are two problems:
1) You load the entire circuit, which naturally requires more from your computer
2) Positions only update after every split, which may cause some confusion among players
After it was revealed, that the new Kyoto will most likely have the Kart Indy track, I had mixed feelings about it. On one hand, I was really happy to see that there is a new track configuration, but on the other hand: when I saw the top-down view of the new Kyoto, I saw that the new Karting area could potentially have 2-3 different track configurations. But at the moment, it looks like it will only have one and we don't know yet what roads of that karting area it will use. If there really is just one karting track, it is possible that there will be just feeling among the players that this area could be used for lot more and therefore it has missed potential!
Then, I also remembred that Westhill too does have two karting areas. However, both of them only contain one track configuration (+ reverse). When looking the map, you can easily see that, both of those karting areas could have 2 additional track configurations each.
So, here's what I suggest. Devs are updating all those tracks anyway. Scawen did mention that Westhill doesn't get updated significantly: https://www.lfs.net/forum/post/2111404#post2111404 - however, Eric has mentioned, that it should be easy job for him to add both Westhill National with Chicane and Westhill International without Chicane. Here's post from Eric: https://www.lfs.net/forum/post/2047025#post2047025
So I assumed from these two posts, that it is possible to have additional track configurations, but only by using parts of the tracks, that already exist! It would be similar to Aston in 0.5S, where Grand Touring and North were added into that track environment. So, I was wondering, since these roads in the karting areas already do exist in the game, how easy it would be for Eric to add alternative track configurations for Karting areas?
Now, it is possible that Eric is already doing this, but in any case, here are examples. The red areas show the barriers/forbidden areas:
Westhill Karting (WE4):
- We have the one regular one, but we could also have:
Karting Short: it would only use the first half of the normal circuit. As you can see from the image, it would use that one currently unused short section in the middle of the track, and it would also not cause any harm for the pitlane area! This track would be so short though that it probably would be good idea to limit the player amount.
Track map: https://www.lfs.net/attachment/706602
Karting Extended: same as the normal one, but at the start/finish straight, it would use that chicane that is currently unused.
Track map: https://www.lfs.net/attachment/706606
And one thing, I did take a look that you could have the Karting Short but using the final chicane from the Karting Extended, but it wouldn't really be useful considering that extra corner would be very tight and difficult.
Westhill Karting National (WE5):
- The one we have is the normal length one
- But we can have two shorter ones. After T1, there are two openings.
Karting National Short 1: after T1, there would be quick left turn and it would use part of the track that is currently unused.
Track map: https://www.lfs.net/attachment/706608
Karting National Short 2: not really that useful compared to the Short 1, since it doesn't really use any unused parts of the track. But basically, after T1, there is another opening. You could make kinda like U-turn there and return to the normal track. Basically, a shorter version of the normal Karting National.
Track map: https://www.lfs.net/attachment/706609
Kyoto Ring Kart Indy (KY8?):
- First of all, we don't know what will be the normal track here. I also assume since the top-left carousel part is on different kind of tarmac, it's not part of the official race track. However, you could have couple alternative track configurations:
Kart Indy Short: basically, a speed version of the Kart Indy track. Doesn't take any detours!
Track map: https://www.lfs.net/attachment/706605
Kart Indy Long: basically, takes as many detours as possible. It would probably be the longest Kart track in LFS.
Track map: https://www.lfs.net/attachment/706603
It is possible that Eric's idea for official Kart Indy track would be something like between these two. You can barely see those red barriers at the bottom of the Kart Indy track area, which would probably prevent shortcutting. So, it is possible that the normal Kart Indy would take the extra route at the bottom of the track, but not from that road above it (nor from the carousel)!
I've also attached the normal Kyoto Ring Kart Indy track area. Just use your imagination for the possibilites that area can have!
And finally, yes I know, I can use open configurations for these additional track configurations, but there are two problems:
1) You load the entire circuit, which naturally requires more from your computer
2) Positions only update after every split, which may cause some confusion among players