Trust me I feel your pain. There was a time not very long ago, when I was in the same boat. Let me give you some context.....
I got this game in December of 2017. Didn't get a wheel until April. Before this game I hadn't played a single video game for more than a couple hours in over 15 years. I'm 36 now. I played GT1 and GT3 on controller only, never played any game online before, and I didn't even know about driver aids back then so I was probably using all of them. I used to just run over the AI and smash through my friends when playing multiplayer. Also for the first six months or so of having this game I only used Supersoft tires and tuned all my cars to the max using tunes found here on GTP. So once I started playing Sport Mode I was at a pretty big disadvantage but I quickly realized that's where all the fastest people are and using RH tires was the only way to go. So basically this is the first so-called "racing sim" I've ever taken seriously and it's still the only game my old butt ever plays. I fought my way up to DR-B and assumed I'd never reach DR-A. Did a lot of reading on here, practiced more, and made DR-A before too long. Then I thought for sure there would be no way I'd ever make it to A+. Not too much longer and I made it. Then I thought it was definitely a fluke and I was only taking advantage of my best combos. But here I am, still in A+ after racing a ton of combos and I only occasionally dip down below 50k, and it's been awhile since the last time I did that. At this point, I've had 2 qualy times in the Top 10 of Americas Region, and I still use Traction Control as well as auto-transmission. I've beaten a handful of aliens at combos that favor me, but they usually smoke me in other areas, and that's fine with me. Not bad for an old rusty dude who uses traction control, lol. If I can do it, you'll certainly get there. I still get demolished if I happen to join the FIA races at the right (or wrong?) time and it's filled with aliens. Bringing up the rear is still something I expect when the competition is stiff, it's all relative though. My suggestion to you is spend a good amount of time qualifying for awhile, and you'll get pretty good at it, even if you don't plan on racing that day or even that track, it will help you learn the nuances of all the tracks and cars. Eventually you'll get better at putting up great lap times without spending too much time trying, and that can make all the difference.
That's a good attitude to have, but not an easy one to adopt. I wasn't as positive when I first started getting matched with crazy fast guys, I was upset about it because everyone likes to win. But you're right, some of the best races and battles I've ever had have been from starting mid field or even near the back. Even now when I start on pole I'm happy because I have a better chance of winning, but I know the potential for a boring race is greater. The most fun I have is when I start in the top 5 but not on pole, because there are fast guys all around and I know I still have a chance to win but I have to work for it and have fun in the process.
Thanks for the compliment man. Which races were you watching replays of with me in them? And what's your psn? There's a chance I might have saved the replay too.