Plan Your Fuel with Confidence
The Fuel Calculator ensures you start every race with the right amount of fuel. Whether your race is time-based or lap-based, this tool helps you calculate total fuel needs with safety margins, extra laps, and tank size checks. No more guessing or running dry.
How to Use:
Select Race Format: choose Time (minutes) or Laps.
Enter your Average Lap Time (e.g.,
1:45.300).Enter your Fuel per Lap (liters).
If time-based, input Race Length (minutes).
If lap-based, input Number of Laps.
Add a Safety Margin % (start with 5–10%).
Add Extra Laps for formation/cool-down.
(Optional) Enter Tank Size to confirm if it fits in one stint.
Press Calculate to see Total Fuel Needed.
Adjust if total exceeds tank capacity—plan pit stops if needed.
💡 Tip: A good default is +1 lap and 5–10% margin for most sprint races.
Never Run Out of Fuel Again - Master Your Race Strategy
The sim racing fuel calculator transforms guesswork into precision, giving competitive drivers the edge they need to succeed. Whether you're tackling endurance races in iRacing, Assetto Corsa Competizione sprint races, or F1 23 championships, accurate fuel planning is crucial for consistent performance.
Key Benefits:
Eliminate DNF Risk: Calculate exact fuel requirements with built-in safety margins to prevent running dry mid-race
Optimize Pit Strategy: Determine whether you can complete races in one stint or need strategic pit stops
Save Time: Instantly calculate fuel needs for any race format instead of manual calculations or trial-and-error testing
Improve Consistency: Focus on driving performance instead of worrying about fuel management
Multi-Format Support: Works for both time-based endurance races and lap-count sprint races
Tank Capacity Validation: Ensures your fuel requirements fit within your car's tank limitations
Avoid These Fuel Calculation Pitfalls
Even experienced sim racers make critical fuel calculation errors that can cost race victories. Here are the most common mistakes and how to avoid them:
Insufficient Safety Margins: Many drivers use minimal 2-3% safety margins, but track conditions, driving style changes, and race incidents often increase fuel consumption. Always use 5-10% minimum margins for sprint races and 10-15% for endurance events.
Forgetting Formation and Cool-Down Laps: Most drivers calculate fuel for race laps only, forgetting formation laps, warm-up laps, and victory celebrations. Always add 1-2 extra laps to your calculation.
Using Average Lap Times Without Context: Your practice lap times might not reflect race conditions. Factor in traffic, weather changes, and potential driving style variations during races.
Ignoring Game-Specific Fuel Systems: Each simulator handles fuel differently. iRacing's fuel consumption varies with setup changes, while ACC's consumption depends on driving aids and aggression settings.
Miscalculating Tank Capacity: Different car classes have varying tank sizes. Always verify your car's specific fuel capacity before finalizing strategy.
Platform-Specific Fuel Management Strategies
iRacing Fuel Optimization
Use the in-game fuel calculator as a baseline, then add 10% safety margin
Account for caution laps in oval racing - they consume less fuel but extend race time
Cold tires and setup changes affect fuel consumption significantly
Monitor fuel usage during practice sessions at different track temperatures
Assetto Corsa Competizione (ACC)
Fuel consumption varies with driving aids - TC and ABS off reduces consumption
Weather conditions dramatically impact fuel usage (rain increases consumption by 15-20%)
Aggressive driving style settings in car setup increase fuel burn
Use the MFD fuel calculator but verify with manual calculations for longer races
F1 23 and EA Sports WRC
Modern F1 games include sophisticated fuel management systems
Use ERS deployment strategically to reduce fuel consumption
Monitor fuel flow regulations in F1 games (maximum 100kg/hour)
Weather changes require fuel strategy adjustments mid-race
Automobilista 2 and rFactor 2
These sims offer the most realistic fuel consumption modeling
Temperature and altitude affect fuel density and consumption
Drafting significantly reduces fuel usage in these platforms
Use telemetry data to refine fuel consumption estimates