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Launch Control
The Optimum Start at Full Throttle
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The ideal start - Launch Control makes sure of it
Launch control (LC) gives you the ideal start. The launch control function is especially highly acclaimed in motorsport, where having a top performance at your fingertips at exactly the right moment couldn’t be more crucial. So we’ve put together all the information on the technology and the pros and cons.
What is launch control?
Launch control is a type of traction control most often used in fast cars (i.e. in racing). It makes the engine, transmission, and wheels work together as efficiently as possible when the vehicle sets off. It gives you optimum acceleration to top speeds in no time at all – but without the screeching tires. In short, it gets you off to the perfect start. Of course, it only works with automatic transmissions.
Intelligent launch control works by controlling optimum speed via the gears and clutch and maintains the best possible power transmission during the start. Depending on the software tuning, it also maxes out the gears, only changing up when you’re at the highest speed for the current gear. As you can imagine, it pushes the car to the limit. But in motorsport that’s par for the course – eco-driving is not the priority.
Technical details – here’s how launch control works
Launch control is also called traction control, as it delivers the ideal traction level. LC stops the car from exceeding the speed specified by the control unit, which means you can take off at the highest possible speed without wheelspin. In the process, it interrupts ignition (but not fuel supply). Sensors determine various parameters such as tire revolutions, and the LC controls the gearshifts, the transmission, the speed, and the clutch. It selects the ideal speed for the most efficient power transmission, performance and wheel revolutions. The result is a seamless start that less skilled drivers can’t screw up. You can floor it without a second thought, and your acceleration will be perfect. Once you’re moving, launch control also controls shifting. It doesn’t move up a gear until you hit the ideal engine speed, and the shifts are kept as brief as possible. In many cars, LC kicks in at between 3,000 and 4,000 rpm.
Fast and ruthless – the advantages of LC
The advantages of LC are obvious:
- Optimised take off – like a rocket!
- Suitable for any level of driver experience
So you can floor it and take off perfectly; no wheelspin. Which means you really don’t need much driving experience to use launch control. You don’t need a feel for how hard to hit the accelerator. LC saves you precious time, which is why it’s so popular in drag racing and other motorsport competitions.
Disadvantages – sadly, there are a few
Launch control has a few indisputable downsides when it comes to road driving because the meteoric take pushes the required components to the max: the clutch, drive, wheels, and engine suffer from the heavy stresses of a performance start. You’ll often see this pointed out in manufacturers’ driver manuals. But in racing, the rules are different: it’s not about making the components last longer. Anyway, let’s just say that if you want to use launch control on the road, then for the sake of your car, don’t do it too often. And remember that your fuel consumption will be high at those speeds. Since the ignition is interrupted – but the fuel supply often isn’t – fuel can sometimes get into the cat and damage it.
Launch control instructions
Launch control settings vary by manufacturer, but there are a few crucial points that always apply. The main one is warming up. For LC to work at all, all fluids first have to reach their operating temperature.
NB: For the specific steps to switch on launch control, you must refer to your own vehicle’s instructions (the steps below may be in a different order for different manufacturers).
- In some cases, after warming up, you need to switch off stability control and the like. (e.g. BMW DSC, Audi ESP.)
- Next, with lots of vehicle makes, you need to open the Handling or Drive Programme menu and select Sequential mode.
- Depending on the make of your car, you now need to press and hold the accelerator and the brake pedal (or the corresponding rocker switches on your steering wheel) at the same time. At this point a corresponding LC display often appears.
- When the speed has evened out, the message disappears. Now release the brake and let loose!
Do I need a hardware upgrade for LC?
The higher you tune your performance, the higher the stresses on your car’s components. But with launch control in particular, we’re talking about maximum efficiency, which does nothing to preserve the engine components. If for example you also adjust the launch control speed by chip tuning, at higher performance levels it’s a good idea to upgrade the components involved as well.
Conclusion
LC makes absolute sense in racing, where ultra-fast acceleration from a standing start is a must. On the road, priorities are different; you need to strike a balance between an adrenaline-fuelled drive and the life of your car. If you want to make more frequent use of LC, make sure you upgrade the hardware to suit. If you’re unsure about anything, always ask a pro. We’re happy to help! Just get in touch with us on chat.
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His first car was a Polo Mk1 with a 40 Weber twin carburetor and 129 PS (95 kW). His second was an Audi 50. Today Bartek tunes Lamborghinis to 1000 PS (735 kW). Even as a young boy, Bartek disassembled vehicles and put everything back together better. He wrote his high school diploma with oil on his fingers. The trained automotive mechanic with a focus on engines and gearboxes was determined to go into motorsports. In his 10 years in Formal 1, he supervised 73 races, including as engine mechanic for Ralf Schumacher at Toyota. Since 2010, he has dedicated himself fully to his company BAR-TEK® and helps his customers to bring VW and Audi engines to peak performance.
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