Our vehicle rankings use a sophisticated head-to-head comparison system powered by an Elo rating algorithm, similar to the system used in chess rankings. By comparing vehicles directly on tracks where both have recorded times, this approach provides a more accurate picture of relative performance than simple lap time averages.
1. Data Collection
We gather all qualifying lap times for each vehicle across multiple tracks. Laps must meet quality criteria: not flagged, not wet conditions, not novice driver, and not significantly slower than the track average (outlier laps more than 1% below average pace are excluded).
2. Head-to-Head Matchups
For each pair of vehicles, we compare their best lap times on tracks where both have recorded times. A vehicle "wins" a track matchup if it has the faster time. The overall matchup winner is determined by which vehicle wins more tracks.
3. Fair Comparisons
Matchups only count between vehicles with similar modification levels and treadwear ratings. Treadwear tiers (0-99, 100-140, 141-200, 201+) can match with adjacent tiers to allow reasonable comparisons while maintaining fairness.
4. Elo Rating Calculation
Each vehicle starts with a base rating of 1500. When two vehicles have a matchup result, ratings are adjusted using the Elo formula. Beating a higher-rated opponent yields more points than beating a lower-rated one. The margin of victory also influences the adjustment.
5. Win Rate Adjustment
Final ratings are adjusted based on win percentage. A vehicle with fewer losses relative to wins receives a boost, ensuring that consistency is rewarded alongside raw performance.
6. Margin Tiebreaker
For vehicles with identical win rates, the average victory margin (how much faster in percentage terms) serves as a tiebreaker. Larger margins indicate more dominant performance.
Why Elo Rankings?
Traditional lap time averages can be misleading because different tracks favor different vehicle characteristics. A car that's fast on one track may be slower on another due to power, weight, or handling differences. By using head-to-head comparisons across many tracks, the Elo system reveals which vehicles consistently outperform their competition regardless of track layout.