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Trace View

Trace View Page

The Trace View is the primary interface for detailed analysis of simulation results. It displays per-point data channels — speed, g-force, ride heights, power, and more — as interactive line plots against distance, with a configurable grid of supporting visualisations including track maps, scatter plots, distribution plots, and correlation matrices.

Overview

While the Metrics page shows summary numbers, the Trace View shows the full picture — every data point across the entire lap or speed range. You can overlay multiple simulation results (or uploaded telemetry) to compare them visually, zoom into specific sections, and read off exact values with a synchronised cursor.

The Trace View is built around a configurable grid layout with five cell types:

Cell Type Description
Trace Line plots of data channels vs. distance (the main analysis tool)
Track Map 3D track visualisation with car position markers
Scatter X-Y scatter or line plots of any two channels (e.g., g-g diagram)
Distribution Histogram and density plots showing value distributions
Correlation Heatmap matrix showing Pearson correlation between selected channels

How Racing Teams Use It

  • Lap analysis — Overlay simulation speed traces against telemetry to validate the vehicle model corner by corner
  • Setup comparison — Load two configurations and compare ride heights, aero platform, or tyre loads across the lap
  • Corner-by-corner review — Zoom into individual corners to examine braking points, minimum speeds, and throttle application
  • Time delta analysis — Enable the time delta channel to see exactly where one configuration gains or loses time relative to another
  • Powertrain analysis — Plot engine RPM, power output, and gear against distance to check shift points and power deployment
  • Correlation discovery — Use the correlation matrix to identify which channels are most closely related, then plot them together

Getting Started

  1. Load one or more results onto the simulation desk from the File Viewer (double-click a file, or select and click Add to Desk)
  2. Switch to the Traces tab in the results area
  3. The default layout shows a trace plot with speed (vCar) against distance

Trace Plots

Trace Plot

Trace plots are the core of the Trace View. Each trace plot displays one or more data channels as line plots, with distance on the X axis and channel values on the Y axis. When multiple results are loaded, each result is drawn in a different colour.

Channels and Rows

A trace plot is organised into rows. Each row has its own Y axis and can display one or more channels. Channels within the same row share the Y axis scale, while different rows are stacked vertically with independent scales.

For example, a typical setup might have:

  • Row 1: Speed (vCar)
  • Row 2: Longitudinal g-force (gLong) and lateral g-force (gLat)
  • Row 3: Front and rear ride heights (hRideF, hRideR)

Dual Axis

When a row contains channels with different units or scales (e.g., speed and RPM), the trace plot can use dual axes — one Y axis on the left and one on the right. Axis colours match the channel colours when a single result is loaded, making it clear which axis belongs to which channel.

Editing Trace Channels

Edit Trace Channels

Click Edit Trace Channels in the toolbar to open the channel layout editor. From here you can:

  • Add or remove rows to control the vertical stacking
  • Add or remove channels within each row
  • Toggle channel visibility without removing them
  • Adjust row height weights (e.g., make the speed row taller than the g-force row)
  • Configure plot bounds — set manual min/max values for a channel's Y axis, or leave on auto-scale
  • Set decimal precision for cursor readout values

Cursor and Statistics

Cursor and Statistics

Move your mouse across the trace plot to activate the cursor. A vertical line follows the cursor position and the current values for each channel and result are displayed in a statistics overlay.

The statistics overlay shows:

  • Channel name and unit
  • Current value at the cursor position for each loaded result
  • Min, max, and mean values across the full distance range (toggle with the Show/Hide Stats button)

Zoom and Pan

Action Behaviour
Shift + Click and Drag Zoom into a rectangular region
Click and Drag Pan the view when zoomed in
Double-click Reset zoom to show the full distance range

Track Map

Track Map

The track map cell displays a 3D visualisation of the circuit layout with car position markers. As you move the cursor across the trace plot, the car markers update to show where on track each result is at that distance point.

Camera Controls

The track map includes a camera control panel for changing the viewing angle:

  • Top — Plan view (bird's eye)
  • Front / Left / Right — Side views
  • Isometric — 3D perspective view
  • Fit to Scene — Reset the camera to show the full track

Map Contour

The track line can be colour-coded by a map channel (e.g., speed, g-force, ride height) to visualise how a parameter varies around the circuit. Select the map channel from the contour panel on the track map cell.

Scatter Plots

Scatter Plot

Scatter plot cells display two channels plotted against each other as an X-Y scatter or connected line plot. The most common use is the g-g diagram (lateral acceleration vs. longitudinal acceleration), which shows the tyre usage envelope.

Configuring Axes

Click on the X axis or Y axis label to open the channel selector and change the plotted channel. An optional colour channel can map a third variable to point colour.

Plot Type

Toggle between scatter (individual points) and line (connected path) modes. Scatter mode is better for showing the overall envelope; line mode shows the sequence of points around the lap.

Cursor Synchronisation

The scatter plot cursor is synchronised with the trace plots. As you move the cursor across the trace, the corresponding point is highlighted on the scatter plot, and vice versa.

Distribution Plots

Distribution Plot

Distribution plot cells show a histogram of values for a single channel across the full lap. An optional kernel density estimation (KDE) overlay smooths the histogram into a continuous curve.

This is useful for understanding:

  • Speed distribution — How much time is spent at different speeds (helps characterise the circuit)
  • G-force usage — Whether the car is consistently near the grip limit or has untapped potential
  • Damper velocity distribution — Check how much time is spent in low-speed vs. high-speed damper regions

Configuration

  • Channel — Select which data channel to plot
  • Plot Type — Histogram bars, density curve, or both
  • Bin Count — Number of histogram bins (more bins = finer resolution)

Each loaded result is shown as a separate coloured distribution, with a togglable legend to show or hide individual results.

Correlation Matrix

Correlation Plot

The correlation matrix cell displays a heatmap of Pearson correlation coefficients between selected data channels. Each cell in the matrix is coloured on a red-blue scale:

  • Blue (+1) — Strong positive correlation (channels increase together)
  • White (0) — No linear correlation
  • Red (−1) — Strong negative correlation (one increases as the other decreases)

Configuration

Click anywhere on the correlation matrix to open the channel selector. Toggle channels on and off to control which variables are included in the matrix. When multiple results are loaded, the matrix analyses a single result — use the result selector to switch between them.

Interpretation

Typical correlations to look for in vehicle dynamics:

  • Speed vs. longitudinal g — Negative in braking zones, positive under acceleration
  • Ride height vs. speed — Strong negative correlation indicates aero platform sensitivity
  • Lateral g vs. steering angle — Reveals the relationship between driver input and grip

Toolbar

Toolbar

The toolbar along the top of the Trace View provides access to all configuration options:

Button Function
Layout Selector Switch between saved layouts (see Layout Management)
Layout Open the grid layout editor to configure rows, columns, and cell types
Edit Trace Channels Configure which channels appear in trace plots, their row grouping, and visibility
Laps Select which laps to display (for multi-lap simulation results)
Show/Hide Stats Toggle the statistics overlay on trace plots
Show/Hide Time Delta Add a time delta channel showing cumulative time difference between results
Settings Open the settings dialog for colours, line widths, grid opacity, and other visual properties
Help Hover to see a description of all toolbar controls and keyboard shortcuts

Layout Management

Layout Swapper

The Trace View uses the same layout management system as the Metrics page. You can:

  • Save the current layout (grid arrangement, cell types, channel configuration) for reuse
  • Switch between saved layouts using the layout selector dropdown
  • Create new layouts, rename existing ones, or delete layouts you no longer need
  • Search for layouts by name

Layouts persist across sessions. Common workflows include saving layouts for:

  • Speed and ride height — A two-row trace with speed on top and ride heights below, plus a track map
  • Powertrain — Engine RPM, power, torque, and gear in stacked rows
  • G-g analysis — A trace plot alongside a scatter plot configured as a g-g diagram
  • Full overview — A large trace plot with multiple rows, a track map, and a scatter plot

Time Delta

Time Delta

When comparing two or more results, enable Time Delta in the toolbar to add a channel showing the cumulative time difference between the first result and all other results. This reveals exactly where on the lap one configuration gains or loses time:

  • Positive values — The comparison result is slower than the reference
  • Negative values — The comparison result is faster than the reference
  • Flat sections — No time being gained or lost (similar performance)
  • Steep slopes — Large time differences (e.g., significant speed advantage on a straight or through a corner)

Reference Result

The first result loaded onto the desk is used as the reference for time delta. To change the reference, reorder the results on the desk.

Legend

When multiple results are loaded, a colour legend appears below the toolbar showing the name and colour of each result. Click the colour swatch to change a result's display colour.

When only a single result is loaded, the legend shows the result name without colour swatches.

Settings

Settings Dialog

The Settings dialog (gear icon in the toolbar) lets you customise the visual appearance of all plots:

  • Colours — Change the colour palette used for results and channels
  • Line Width — Adjust the thickness of trace lines
  • Grid Opacity — Control the visibility of background grid lines
  • Track Width — Adjust the line thickness on the track map
  • Car Radius / Halo — Control the size and glow of car position markers on the track map

Settings apply to all cells in the current layout and persist across sessions.

Tips & Best Practices

Start with Speed

Speed (vCar) is the most informative single channel. Start with a speed trace to understand the overall lap structure, then add channels to investigate specific sections.

Use Rows for Related Channels

Group related channels in the same row to share a Y axis — for example, front and rear ride heights together. Put unrelated channels in separate rows so they have independent scales.

Zoom for Detail

The full-lap view gives you the big picture, but most engineering insights come from zooming into specific corners or sections. Use Shift+drag to zoom into a braking zone or corner exit.

Save Purpose-Built Layouts

Create and save layouts for different analysis tasks. A "Quick Overview" layout with speed and g-force is different from a "Suspension Deep Dive" layout with damper velocities, spring travel, and ride heights.

Time Delta for Comparison

When comparing configurations, always enable Time Delta. It immediately shows where the lap time difference is coming from — a 0.3s improvement might come entirely from one corner complex, or be spread across the whole lap.

Overlay Telemetry

Upload telemetry from the Results Upload page and load it alongside simulation results. The trace view overlays them directly, making it easy to correlate simulation predictions with real-world data.