ECU Widget Explained

Available with Update 2.0 is the Project Motor Racing real-time telemetry system that reveals the forces, power, and energy of your car instant-by-instant, lap-by-lap. The ECU Widget.

Fore more details on Update 2.0 read this article.

For a full breakdown, read the patch notes.

Modern racing machines generate huge amounts of data. In Project Motor Racing, the Electronic Control Unit (ECU) Widget transforms that data into a clear visual dashboard, helping you understand exactly what your car is doing while you’re on track.

From load distribution and tyre behaviour to power delivery and fuel usage, the ECU Widget offers a multifaceted look into the systems that define your performance.

Designed for drivers who want to understand the mechanics behind lap time, this widget provides a powerful diagnostic tool.

Because every car uses a slightly different electronic architecture, not every sensor will be available on every vehicle. Some indicators may therefore appear inactive depending on the car you’re driving. For example, vehicles without front‑wheel drive will not display power on the front drivetrain indicators.

The widget is disabled by default. To activate it on your HUD, go to the HUD settings in your Cockpit Setup and turn it on.

ECU Status

Let’s take a look at it and explain what it all does.

At the top of the widget is the ECU Status indicator, which shows whether the system is currently receiving sensor data.

Active: One or more sensor channels have been detected and are reporting live telemetry.

Not Connected: No sensors were found. While all official Straight4 Studios vehicles include sensor systems, modded cars may not implement them. In those cases, the widget data remains inactive.

Loads: Understanding Weight Transfer

The Loads section visualises how forces are distributed across the car. In this view, the left side represents the front of the car, while the right side represents the rear.

Tyre Load: A vertical bar above the reference line represents the total load acting on the tyres. The height shows how much load is present, while the position shows where that load is concentrated.

Aerodynamic Load: Below the reference line, another bar represents aerodynamic downforce. Its size indicates total downforce while its position shows the centre of pressure.

Centre of Gravity: A vertical line marks the car’s centre of gravity. This position may shift slightly during a race as fuel load decreases.

Scrub Bubble: The gold bar shows the rolling range of tyre slide while the black bubble shows the current balance between front and rear slip. Movement to the left indicates more front scrub (understeer), while movement to the right indicates more rear scrub (oversteer).

Power: Tracking Energy Through the Drivetrain

The Power section contains several indicators related to power delivery.

On the left side of the widget, four vertical bars show overall power flow from key drivetrain systems. Each bar represents a specific power channel and displays its output in kilowatts (kW).

The four power bars are:

• Front Half Shafts (F)

• Rear Half Shafts (R)

• Electrical Power (E)

• Auxiliary Power Sensor (X)

Each bar changes colour based on power direction:

• Green indicates positive power delivery.

• Red indicates negative power, such as braking or regeneration.

A numeric value in kW is also displayed to show the current power level.

On the right side are indicators showing power activity across specific drivetrain and power-delivery components within the vehicle.

Let’s take a look at the power bars and what they mean.

Power Bars Detail

To understand what