If you’re heading to a track day this weekend, you’re going to want to take Garmin’s all new Catalyst with you. The Garmin Catalyst is a track day companion that transforms your smartphone into a personalized coach.
This compact device boasts high-precision tracking and real-time audio coaching, guiding you towards faster lap times. The unit allows you to analyze driving data and pinpoint areas for improvement with post-session insights. Whether you’re a seasoned driver or a track day newbie, the Garmin Catalyst empowers you to shave seconds off your lap times and reach your full racing potential.
Gamin Catalyst
The Catalyst arrives in a sleek, compact box, housing the device itself, a sturdy magnetic mount, and a charging cable. The device feels surprisingly lightweight yet robust, constructed with a durable plastic build. The included mount uses strong magnets for secure attachment to your car’s interior, simplifying setup.
Despite its small size, the Catalyst packs a powerful punch. It boasts a 10 Hz multi-GNSS positioning system that precisely tracks your car’s movements on the track. This high-frequency data collection allows the Catalyst to create a virtual representation of your racing line, capturing every nuance of your driving style. Additionally, built-in accelerometers and a gyroscope measure acceleration, braking, and turning forces, providing a comprehensive picture of your performance.
Garmin keeps things user-friendly with a straightforward setup process. The Catalyst pairs seamlessly with your smartphone via Bluetooth using the dedicated Garmin Catalyst app. The app guides you through creating a driver profile, selecting a track from its extensive database (or manually adding a custom track), and calibrating the device for optimal performance on that specific circuit.
Real-Time Coaching: Your Virtual Instructor on the Track
Unlike traditional data loggers, the Catalyst shines with its real-time coaching capabilities. While driving, you can choose to receive audible instructions through your car’s stereo or a Bluetooth headset. The Catalyst analyzes your performance against a “True Optimal Lap,” which is a computer-generated lap based on your driving data and the ideal racing line for the track. Based on your deviations from the optimal lap, the Catalyst offers specific, actionable advice. It might suggest braking earlier into a corner or advising on a smoother throttle application for a faster exit.
Post-Session Analysis: Digging Deeper into Your Performance
The Garmin Catalyst app truly comes into its own after your track session. It provides a comprehensive breakdown of your lap times, sector times, and performance metrics. You can compare your laps against previous sessions, the “True Optimal Lap,” or even other drivers who have used the Catalyst on the same track. This detailed analysis allows you to pinpoint areas for improvement and focus your practice on specific aspects of your driving.
True Track Positioning: Demystifying Your Racing Line
One of the most impressive features of the Catalyst is its TrueTrack Positioning technology. While traditional GPS systems can struggle with pinpoint accuracy on a racetrack, the Catalyst uses its high-frequency data collection and sensor fusion to create a remarkably accurate representation of your actual racing line. This allows you to see precisely where you are deviating from the ideal line and identify areas for improvement.
Beyond the Basics: Additional Features That Enhance Training
The Garmin Catalyst offers features beyond its core coaching functionality. You can record video footage from your smartphone camera and synchronize it with your lap data. This allows you to visually analyze your driving and pinpoint areas where your actions may not be matching your intentions. Additionally, the Catalyst is compatible with OBD-II port adapters (sold separately), allowing you to access vehicle data like engine RPM and throttle position, further enriching your performance analysis.
Core Performance Analysis:
- High-Frequency Data Collection: Utilizes 10 Hz multi-GNSS positioning, accelerometers, and gyroscopes to precisely track your car’s movements and driving forces.
- Real-Time Coaching: Provides audible advice through your car’s stereo or headset, suggesting improvements based on deviations from a “True Optimal Lap.”
- Post-Session Analysis: Offers detailed lap time breakdowns, sector times, and performance metrics for analysis and comparison with previous sessions or other drivers.
- TrueTrack Positioning: Creates a highly accurate representation of your actual racing line, highlighting areas of deviation from the ideal line.
- Data Synchronization with Video: Allows you to record video footage and synchronize it with your lap data for visual analysis of your driving technique.
- OBD-II Compatibility (sold separately): Access additional vehicle data like engine RPM and throttle position for a more comprehensive performance picture.
- User-Friendly App: Guides you through setup, driver profile creation, track selection (extensive database or custom option), and device calibration.
- Magnetic Mount: Ensures secure attachment of the Catalyst to your car’s interior for easy setup.
- Smartphone Compatibility: Pairs seamlessly with your smartphone via Bluetooth for app functionality and data storage.
Final Thoughts
If you are a motorsports competitor and want to improve each time you practice, the Garmin Catalyst Driving Performance Optimiser might be what you need. You’ll be speeding out of apexes, cutting through curves, and going fast through straightaways like nobody’s business. And you’ll know exactly what times you’ll be getting and whether or not if you are going slower or faster than your personal best.
