Interested to get people's take on best set up for launch control/race start.

Obviously there is some mandatory settings that need to be applied...

But, ESP can be fully on, sport ESP, or fully off. Also, reading the manual it says we can adjust the RPM with the paddles up or down.

Anyone have a method/settings they've found that works best? I've tried it a few different ways, some get good results some times it bogs or short shifts.

Lastly, anyone know how accurate the track pace thing is with the 1/4 mile and 0-60 compared to other timing gear?

Cheers !

There isn't a mode/settings that works best. Race Start isn't designed to give you the perfect launch every time you use it. Race Start is modeled after Formula 1. The difference is in F1, the drivers release the clutch manually using paddles on the steering wheel, so it's up to driver skill to find the optimal rpm and clutch release strategy, and they don't have things like ESP, traction control etc. In our cars we can't manually release the clutch, so that's what Race Start is doing. It lets you rev the engine to the desired rpm and then the driver signals when it should engage the clutch. The rest, just like in F1, is up to you. Depending on the conditions at the time such as what's your tire temperature?, is it dry or wet?, are you on a prepared sticky track or the public road?, etc. you have to decide the best mode for ESP and the launch rpm that gets you off the line the quickest w/o bogging etc. That's the beauty of it. There's still driver skill involved, and if you launch repeatedly, you have to adjust the settings as your tires warm up. Don't expect Race Start to be a fire and forget system. Having said that, AWD makes the system somewhat less interesting as traction is less of an issue, but in the RWD models such as my C63S and previous generation GTs, you have to work for it to get a good launch. In addition, my C63S has the 9-stage traction control from the GT R, so that's an additional parameter I can play with for launching it. As a sort of general guidance, the instructors at the AMG Driving Academy recommended to lower the rpm by 3-400 on the C63S, otherwise it's mostly smoking tires, but even that has to be adjusted based on actual conditions. I have driven the GT63 on the track etc., but we didn't launch it so I haven't inquired about recommendations around what rpm one should start with etc. Enjoy the process of finding the optimal setup for the given conditions yourself.

There has to be a setting that gives optimal results. ESP off completely, on completely or sport which is kind of in the middle. If the RPMs are adjustable there will be different results depending how much boost is built, or how many RPMs you need to be at to not bog down with AWD. RPM not high enough and you let off the brake the tires grab , car kind of falls on its face until boost is rebuilt. Too high RPM youll get too much slippage. But with ESP on that negates the slippage. ESP Sport maybe a little slippage if the RPM is high enough.

According to MB the race start system even turns off if you let off the gas pedal at any time during the race start. So tells me not much regulation with my own foot to be done other than mash the gas.

I actually think it's literally designed to take all that guess work and skill out of the equation based on the fact that you have to floor it, and smash the brakes at the same time, then simply let off the brake to go. Skill would involve (if the car had a clutch) feathering or purposely slipping the clutch a little to find the best traction, in a 2WD application.

With this car, if you let off the gas to feather or try to regulate the gas a little it'll turn off race start immediately according to MB. So not sure what else could be done besides set it, mash the gas and brake at the same time, then let off the brake while still flooring the gas, keep flooring until you either finish the race or decide you've had enough.

I would imagine also, when Race Start is engaged there could be a slightly different engine map or shift points purposely programed specifically for launches.

I understand what you're saying with an F1 car, and other 2wd MB. But im specifically asking those who have 2024 + AMG GT63 owners what settings THEY have experienced best results. So an F1 car, or other 2WD GTs or other AMG cars will be completely different than this car.

My best 0-60 so far is 3.09 according to the timing screen in the screen. I wasn't unhappy with that, considering it was advertised at 3.2 0-60. But Im wondering if others with my same exact car have had better results, and if so, what their set up was to achieve that, so unfortunately other cars, C63s, F1 cars, aren't really relevant to what im asking. But I appreciate the information.

With that said, ive also had a few not so great launches doing the exact same process and settings, where its spun then bogged down, short shifted etc. So I am trying to figure out if there is an OPTIMAL set up people have had good luck with to achieve the best possible results each time. Of course it will vary a little from launch to launch based on temps, traction, boost, grade/slope involved in the road, tire condition, etc.

To my understanding the recommended process is to basically set it and forget it, let the car shift, let the car regulate the traction , RPM, and shift points. Which is the exact opposite of what you're saying here. If what youre mentioning is the best possible way to do it, whats the point of race start anyway ? If im manually doing it all to get the best results, should I then never use race start? Because using it and having it turn off right when I get moving isnt good either.

You are of course correct to a certain degree. You have no option to control the process via the throttle as you are correct, you have to keep flooring it. But other models are very relevant. Let's not forget, the GT63 also has Drift mode, so you can turn it into a full RWD. These two can be used in conjunction, so even with your car you can do a 2WD launch if you so choose. I've been driving AMGs for the past almost 7 years, including your model and other models all the way up to the GT Black Series and most of the AWD models. I've attended driving events with them etc., so I think I've a fairly good experience with them. You will simply not find one setting that works every time. In fact, it's indeed possible to get a faster launch w/o using Race Start. That's been demonstrated. Just depends on the specific conditions. Race Start may not give you the fastest or best launch. That's just how it is.

BTW, just a clarification around what you and I stated about not taking the foot off the throttle as described in the owner's manual. That's only while you are stationary before taking the foot off the brake. Once you are rolling, you can ease off the throttle as much as you want.

I also wanted to leave you with a concrete example of why there isn't one strategy for every situation. At one of the AMG events, we launched the GT63 4-door down a straight and then at the end of the straight we were supposed to do a quick 180 and race back to where we started and do another quick 180. So the best strategy for that bit of fun was to launch in AWD mode with ESP off. Why the latter is about to become clear. Then once we were off and overcame the initial traction challenge, we had to pull both shift paddles and confirm with the left shift paddle to yank in Drift mode mid-flight in order to do a power slide at the other end for a quick 180, and then race back and do another power slide. Drift mode as you may or may not know can only be engaged with ESP off, so in order to avoid having to do too many things while flying down the straight, starting out with ESP off was the best strategy.

And one more thing I just realized I forgot the mention. You can of course also launch with the transmission in M, so then it won't ever short shift on you as you are in charge of when you want it to shift and it will run into the rev limiter if you miss the upshift. I mostly drive in M myself, so that's one more twist to it.

Yes. Im aware of drift mode, my M5 had it also, and I know how to engage it on the GT63, and have used it several times just for fun. But using that to help feather throttle would be a massive waste of time, when RWD even with the best driver in the world will not be able to launch as well as race start with AWD. Probably at least a 1/2-1full second slower in 2WD 0-60 vs launch control AWD.

Im aware nothing will work everytime. Thats true with any car. Thats why im trying to find out the most OPTIMAL setting people have experienced on this specific car. Not other cars.

But thats also why im asking, has anyone had better results just brake boosting with no race start? If so, same questions apply, what settings, and process did you use?

No thats not true, if I let off the throttle during race start, even when moving it immediately turns off race start. Which in my experience has contributed to a short shift also. Immediately jumps to 2nd or 3rd gear.

Bud, im very very well aware of how to use the system, and i've done it in this car, and many other cars. But I definitely appreciate the information. Im simply only interested to find out what others with this specific car have done to be able to achieve the best results. And I know nothing will work every time for multiple reasons. pavement condition, tire and ambient air temps, slope, and several other variables can affect the results. But i'm interested in what people have done to achieve their best results. Mine was ESP OFF, Full Race Mode, and Automatic shifting. 3.09 second 0-60. But i've also had 3.2, 3.3, and 3.5 with the same process, so clearly there are variables that can affect the launch. With that said, has anyone gotten under 3.0? Or had more consistent results using different settings? Thats really all i'm interested in finding out.

FYI, Drift mode can ONLY be engaged on the 2024 GT63 c192 with: ESP off, Race settings, and manual mode only, it will not engage if those 3 things are not present. But its the same process, pull both paddles, except you pull right paddle to confirm, and left to cancel.

yes, i'm aware, which is why i'm asking others if they've had better results from doing things such as using manual mode, or ESP on. Or ESP sport. Higher or lower RPM etc. Only issue with this car, and same with my M5, is first gear rev limiter comes quick, and with the slight delay, you almost have to shift immediately after you get moving in order to not hit the rev limiter in first gear.

I prefer the car do that for me so I can focus on the road, and not slam the rev limiter and have a less than optimal launch.

I definitely appreciate all the info and details. So thank you for that.

Yes, right paddle to confirm. That was my brain fart, and I know the required conditions to engage Drift mode. They keep this consistent across all models. Understood, you are only interested in a narrow bit of info. I'll bug out.

I certainly appreciate the detail. Thank you for that, but yes, i'm only interested to find out what other users in my same position have experienced, and have achieved, as well as if they've achieved better results, what was the process they used.

last thing ill add , just as an FYI, according to the owners manual, for race start to even engage one requirement is that its in 'D' , so actually manual mode may cancel the race start also in this car. However i'm not sure on that. In the M5, launch control shifted for you regardless in manual or auto mode. In fact if I recall correctly, in the M5 it required manual to be selected, but you were not supposed to shift yourself. I think... But same thing, 1st gear came very quick, very easy to hit the rev limiter in first. Which actually happened to me a few times. Where I quickly thought I was in launch mode, but it didnt activate for whatever reason. Then I proceeded to slam the rev limiter in first gear several times because the car was in manual, and I was expecting it to shift for me and it didnt because launch didnt get activated. scared the **** out of me the first couple times that happened.

1/2 Tank gas / Tire pressure 32-33psi all 4 corners / ESP Sport // Without RT 2.99 // With RT 2.88. Tires warmed ambient temp was 48deg. Took multiple tries. There is a YouTube Video of someone with a 2026 Pro ran a 0-60 2.89...

Interesting. Good to know. Wonder if warmer than 48 deg could better that with traction. But nicely done. I haven't launched mine that many times yet, maybe 8 times total. But good to know. thanks.

Was this time recorded on the on board track pace thing? or a draggy or whatever it is.

Thank you sir.

I used draggy. I thought I read somewhere that the on board system accounts for a 1ft roll out?

Thanks, got it,

Im not sure on the roll out, but I was able to pull a 3.02 today, lowered tire pressure a bit, put in sport for ESP.

Did maybe 4 launches and that was the best one, had 2 others in the 3.1X range, then one like 3.24.

**edit** I ended up searching the website elsewhere and appears that some others (not gt63 owners) that have tried the track pace timing 0-60, it does not use 1 ft roll out. This is according to someone who did runs using both Vbox, and track pace in the car at the same time and the results matched. Not a draggy, but similar I guess. So hopefully that guy is correct, because using 1 ft roll out would shave another 2-3 tenths off ( I think)