- Introduction
- System requirements
- The first start
- Main interface
- Technical support

 

Introduction

Welcome to the Ferrari Virtual Academy: for the latest news regarding this product please check the game's official website regularly at www.ferrarivirtualacademy.com

This manual will help you to configure your system and the driving options to exploit the software's characteristics. To guarantee you the best possible gaming experience and to avoid problems regarding software/hardware incompatibility, we suggest installing the latest Microsoft DirectX versions and the updated drivers for your audio and video cards.

You can download the latest DirectX Web Installer here.

Official ATI site
official NVIDIA site

Recommended system requirements

Operative system: Windows XP / Vista / Windows 7 - 32 / 64bit
Memory: 2 GB RAM
Processor: 2 GHz
Disc space: 1 GB
3D video card: Compatible Directx 9 - Geforce 7800GTX – ATI X1900 or similar
Integrated audio card
Internet connection

For the following external devices pre set profiles are available. All other external devices recognised by the Windows external device control panel can be set up in the CUSTOM panel of the Ferrari Virtual Academy configurator.

Fanatec Porsche 911 Turbo / Turbo S / GT3 RS Wheel
Logitech Driving Force Pro
Logitech Driving Force GT
Logitech G25 Racing Wheel
Logitech G27 Racing Wheel
Thrustmaster Ferrari 430 Force Feedback Racing Wheel
Thrustmaster Ferrari 430 Force Feedback Wireless
Thurstmaster Ferrari F1 Wireless Gamepad

The first start

Starting the software for the first time the game's configuration panel appears, to be used to fill in your login data and to configure the graphics and the type of controller used to drive the car.

Login

Here you can memorise your login data for this game. Insert your data correctly in the fields EMAIL and LICENSE CODE you received after purchasing the product.

Click "Configure" to proceed to the configuration options.

Language/Lingua

Choose the language (Italian or English) you want to use in the graphics interface.

Video

Risoluzione:
The higher the resolution, the better the definition, but the performance will drop: choose an adequate resolution for your display (4:3 or 16:9) and for the performance of your video card.

Fullscreen:
Enabling this option, the graphics will be full-screen, independently from the chosen resolution.

Antialias:
This function softens the lines. Higher value leads to a better quality, but also to lower performance. If an antialias level is chosen, which isn't supported by the computer's video card, the programme will automatically use the inferior antialias level.

Controller

Notes
We suggest you use pedals and a steering wheel with feedback, guaranteeing a total driving experience and better control of the car.

The Controller section includes a series of pre-set profiles for well-known external devices: if your external device is not listed, or you want to personalise your controls, please use the Custom Control / Controlli Custom panel.

Controller
Select one of the hardware profiles from the list and verify the paddles for the gear-change, the commands for the braking balance, the steering axle and that the acceleration and the brakes are working and calibrated correctly. If the pre-set profile of your external device does not satisfy you, you can configure it manually by using the "Custom Control" tab.

Personalizzazione controlli
Open the "Custom Controller" panel to manually configure your external device: here you can configure more than one device (so you can use more than one steering wheel or different brands).

To configure an external device, click on the control you want to set up (steering, acceleration, brakes, steering commands) and select the axle by clicking on "select".

To correctly calibrate the braking axle and the accelerator, select command: without pushing the pedal click on "Set min" to set up the pedal's minimum value. Then, pushing the pedal to the max, click on "set max" to set up the maximum level.

To configure the command keys for gear-change and brakes, press the key or the paddle you want to use to verify the number of the key on the panel at the bottom on the right. Then choose the command you want to configure (gear up / gear down) and click on the number corresponding to the key or paddle of the external device you want to use.

Note:
in an external device with analogical axles it isn't possible to assign a key to the commands steering, acceleration and brakes.

Main interface

The game's interface allows you to gain easy access to all of its functions, by clicking on the respective icon

Driving

Click on this icon to select one of the available circuits and start the training session or the hot lap.

Replay

Loads the replays registered by the Ferrari drivers and the replays you have previously saved during a training session or a hot lap.

Settings

Gets you back to the game's configuration panel

Leave

Closes the application and gets you back to Windows

Guida

Selezionando questo comando, accedi alla schermata di selezione del circuito.
Puoi selezionare uno dei circuiti installati, presenti nell'elenco e attivati al passaggio del mouse.

Driving options

This screen comes up before the selected circuit is loaded and allows to set up the type of session and the driving options.

Modes

Training
This mode allows you to train, select the load of petrol on board and change tyres when they are worn. The tyre wear and the petrol function are activated, so the car's dynamic behaviour takes this into account. The tyre wear and the consumption are determined by the distance and the driving style. When the petrol level reaches the minimum you have to come to the box to refuel.

Hotlap
This mode enables you to register your lap times in the online classification.

Every time you complete a valid lap the lap time will be inserted in the overall classification, showing you your position in real-time. Every time you cross the line the tyre wear and the petrol level wil be reset, guaranteeing an ideal set up for every lap. To drive a valid lap time you have to stay on the track, you are not allowed to cut corners, you are not allowed to have collisions or carry out any other manoeuvres, which could lead to an advantage in terms of the lap time. In case of multiple circuit configurations the racing line, valid for the hot lap, is the one outline by the traffic cones on the track and the ideal line you can activate in the driving option section.

Racing line

By activating this function the ideal racing line, suggested by the Ferrari instructors, is shown to improve your personal best lap time.
Green indicator: you can push the throttle
Red indicator: the start of the red line indicates the braking point; the red line can be seen on the sections of the track where you should not accelerate to much.

Assisted driving

The Ferrari F10 does not offer stability control systems regarding traction, the brakes or automatic gear-change. To enable you to gain confidence with the car and to get used to the controllers, you can activate this device according to your preferences.

NOTE: the assisted driving is exclusively available in training mode: during the hot lap the drivers have to drive under the same conditions.

Setup

The Scuderia Ferrari have predefined several set ups, with specific characteristics to find the best set up for your driving style. Every set ups characteristics are described in the set up selection section. In hot lap mode you can't modify the petrol quantity, which is enough to complete at least 2 laps on the track: in hot lap mode the petrol level and the tyre wear are reset every time the car crosses the line, to put the car in ideal conditions. In training mode petrol consumption and tyre wear are activated, while the tyre change and the refuelling will automatically be carried out when the cars comes to the box. An indicator (FUEL) on the right side of the screen indicates the petrol level.

Telemetric support

The Ferrari Virtual Academy offers you the exclusive opportunity to visualise the replay from the Ferrari drivers with the simulator and to analyse their best laps on the circuits included in the software, comparing it to your fastest lap.

There are 3 diagrams regarding speed, brakes and acceleration, while the lower part of the screen shows the numeric values regarding the brake and accelleration percentage, speed and the used gears.
The red graph indicates the best laps driven by the Ferrari drivers, while the white one is your session's best lap time. To visualise the telemetry of your fastest lap you have to drive at least one full valid lap.

 

 

Technical support

Before you contact the technical support please check the following:

Drivers update

Microsoft DirectX : download the latest versions of the Microsoft libraries on this site.

Nvidia video card: if your computer uses a Nvidia card download the latest driver version from the Nvidia website.

ATI video card: if your computer uses an ATI card download the latest driver version from the ATI website.

Technical support

Graphics won't start, not fluid		Check your PC's characteristics regarding the necessary requirements to use the Ferrari Virtual Academy. If your computer is set up for the FVA, check if you have installed the latest version of Microsoft DirectX and the latest driver versions on your video card. If your system is updated, but the problem has not been resolved you might have chosen a resolution or filters not adapted to your computer. To guarantee your hardware's adequate performance please check your configurations and reduce the resolution or deactivate the antialiasing filter, the vertical sync and deactivate real-time reflexes.
The graphics have a problems with the shade or the reproduction of the circuits/the car		Check if you have installed the latest Microsoft and the lasted DirectX latest driver versions on your video card.
Clicking on LOGIN the following message comes up: "No Internet connection"		Ferrari Virtual Academy needs an active Internet connection. Activate your connection before launching the programme and verify its correct performance.
Clicking on LOGIN the following message comes up: "unknown user"		To launch Ferrari Virtual Academy you need to be registered on the official website and purchase a user license.
Clicking on LOGIN the following message comes up: "Access denied"		You are registered on the website www.ferrarivirtualacademy.com, but you haven't completed the purchase of your license.
The steering wheel/joypad/joystick is accepted by Windows, but doesn't reply to commands.		Check if you have selected and configured your controller in the Ferrari Virtual Academy's configuration panel: if your external devices aren't included in the list of preset profiles please select the CUSTOM profile to configure the axle and the buttons you wish to use manually.
My steering wheel moves too much / not enough according to the movement of the steering wheel in the video		Note: some controllers don't support a sufficient rotation: the Ferrari F10's steering wheel ratio is 13:1 - 400° total rotation. If your controller does not rotate more than 200°, the rotation will be adequately multiplied. Check if you have selected the correct rotation angle of the steering wheel amongst those available (200-400-900°) and that the rotation angle of the steering wheel has been correctly configured in the section "game controller" in the control panel
The steering wheel is accepted by the game but the commands are different/changed		In some cases different external devices from the same producer aren't correctly identified by the operative system. It could be that you want to use a steering wheel configuration different from the pre-set configuration. In this case please select "CUSTOM" profile in the pre-set profiles und use the configurator's "custom control" panel to personalise the commands.
The steering wheel vibrates heavily even on the straights		Note: Ferrari Virtual Academy simulates the track's irregularities in case the front wheels have been blocked frequently. This generates vibrations of the steering wheel Check in the Windows control panel that the strength of your controller's feedback force is set at 100%: do not exceed this value so that the return remains and perceptible