Garmin Catalyst 2 – your personal driving coach at the racetrack
Garmin Catalyst 2 combines lap timing, 1440p video and real-time coaching. We explain how it works and who it suits for track days and circuit driving
Driving quickly on a circuit is not only about engine power. The biggest improvements are often found in the racing line, braking points and the ability to drive consistently lap after lap. Garmin Catalyst 2 is designed to help drivers identify exactly those improvements.
It is more than a conventional lap timer. Catalyst 2 records how the car moves around the circuit, analyses the driving and identifies where time can be gained. It can also provide spoken instructions while you drive, rather like having a driving coach in the passenger seat.
This makes it relevant both to drivers attending track days in a Porsche, BMW or another sports car and to those driving a dedicated race car.
Garmin Catalyst 2 at a glance
- Real-time coaching with spoken driving instructions
- Built-in camera recording 1440p video
- 25 Hz multi-GNSS for accurate positioning on the circuit
- 3-inch touchscreen
- Analysis of lap times, racing lines, acceleration and braking
- True Optimal Lap creates a realistic target lap
- Analysis and comparisons in the Garmin Catalyst app
What is Garmin Catalyst 2?
Garmin Catalyst 2 is a compact driving performance analyser with GPS, motion sensors, a camera and a touchscreen. It mounts inside the car and automatically records your driving during a track session.
The new generation is considerably more compact than its predecessor. The camera and analysis unit are now combined in a single device, resulting in fewer cables and a simpler installation.
The built-in camera records in 1440p and combines the video with information including lap times, speed, racing line and vehicle movement. The unit uses 25 Hz multi-GNSS together with accelerometers, gyroscopes and image processing to calculate the car's position on the circuit with high accuracy.
How to use Catalyst 2 at a track day
- Mount the unit in the car. Fit it to the windscreen with the supplied magnetic mount and aim the camera forwards. The camera needs a clear view of the circuit without obstructing the driver's field of vision. Always check the organiser's rules regarding mounting and any secondary safety tether.
- Select the driver, vehicle and circuit. Before driving, select the driver, car and current circuit. If the circuit is not already available, you can create it and define the start and finish line.
- Drive a few representative laps. During the first laps, Catalyst 2 collects information about your line, speed and vehicle movement. Controlled, consistent laps provide better data for analysis than immediately attempting to set the fastest time of the day.
- Receive coaching while driving. Once the system has analysed your driving, it can provide spoken instructions through earphones or the car's audio system. The screen simultaneously displays lap information against a red or green background, allowing you to see at a glance whether you are ahead of or behind the comparison time.
- Analyse the session. After driving, open the Garmin Catalyst app on a compatible phone or tablet to review lap times, video, racing lines and selected opportunities for improvement.
Post-session analysis is its greatest strength
After the session, you can study your driving in the Garmin Catalyst app. The video is combined with driving data, making it easier to understand why one lap was faster than another.
- Lap and sector times
- The racing line through different corners
- Speed around different parts of the circuit
- Acceleration and braking
- Differences between multiple laps
- Differences between drivers
- Video with driving-data overlays
- The areas where the system believes the most time can be gained
The combination of video and driving data makes the analysis significantly more accessible than many traditional data-logging systems. You do not need to be a data engineer to see the difference between a quick lap and a slow one.
True Optimal Lap – a realistic target lap
One of the most interesting features is Garmin's patented True Optimal Lap technology.
Many traditional systems calculate a theoretical best lap by adding together the fastest sectors from different laps. The problem is that the result does not always represent a lap that can actually be completed.
True Optimal Lap instead analyses lines and driving that the driver has already shown can be repeated. The system then combines these sections into a video of a realistic optimal lap. You can see what your best achievable lap could look like and what needs to improve in order to reach it.
Suitable for both beginners and experienced drivers
For a less experienced track-day driver, Catalyst 2 can provide structure to the learning process. Instead of simply chasing a lower lap time, the driver can work on a small number of clearly defined improvements at a time.
A more experienced driver can use the system to analyse small differences between laps, compare driving with other drivers and quickly identify where time is being lost.
- A first track day in a normal road car
- Regular circuit driving in a Porsche or another sports car
- Driver development in a race car
- Comparing multiple drivers in the same car
- Instructor-led driving followed by video analysis
- Drag racing with times including 0–60 mph, 1/8 mile and 1/4 mile
What has changed from the original Garmin Catalyst?
| Garmin Catalyst | Garmin Catalyst 2 |
|---|---|
| Separate camera and display unit | Camera and unit combined in one compact device |
| 1080p camera | Built-in 1440p camera |
| Larger 7-inch display | Smaller 3-inch display |
| More separate parts and cables | Simpler all-in-one installation |
| Analysis directly on the larger unit | Detailed analysis in the Catalyst app |
| Earlier positioning system | 25 Hz multi-GNSS and refined True Track Positioning |
Catalyst 2 is easier to install and move between different cars. At the same time, the smaller display means that detailed analysis is now performed primarily on a phone or tablet after the session.
Limitations to be aware of
Catalyst 2 is primarily a driving coach and performance analyser. It does not replace a complete professional motorsport data logger.
It does not have a built-in connection to the car's OBD-II port or CAN bus. It therefore does not normally record engine speed, gear selection, throttle position, brake pressure, engine temperature, oil pressure, steering angle or data from the engine management system.
For professional teams that need to analyse the car's technical data, a dedicated motorsport system may be more appropriate. For track days, club racing and driver development, Garmin's advantage is that the system is easier to install and understand.
Is a subscription required?
You can use the core functions, analyse your driving and transfer your own videos without storing everything in Garmin's cloud service.
A Garmin Vault plan adds automatic video storage, sharing and access to videos from other drivers and leaderboard information. App, cloud and subscription features can change, so always check current availability and compatibility before purchasing.
Who is Garmin Catalyst 2 best suited to?
- Track-day drivers who want to understand why one lap was faster
- Porsche and sports-car owners who regularly drive on circuit
- Club racers who want a more structured approach to improvement
- Drivers sharing a car who want to compare their driving
- Instructors and driver coaches
- Drivers wanting lap timing, analysis and video in one system
Conclusion – more coach than lap timer
Garmin Catalyst 2 should not be viewed as just another GPS lap timer. Its real strength is its ability to turn collected information into advice that the driver can use.
The compact design, 1440p camera, accurate positioning and analysis in the Garmin Catalyst app make it particularly interesting for track-day drivers. Spoken coaching and True Optimal Lap also help the driver focus on specific, realistic improvements.
More advanced data-logging systems are available for drivers who need engine, pedal and chassis data. But for someone who wants to mount one unit in the car, drive a session and then clearly see where time can be gained, Garmin Catalyst 2 is a well-considered complete solution.
Would you like to improve your driving?
See Garmin Catalyst 2 and accessories at Radne Motor.
