Today was going to be a day to practice the Lambo for the GT Academy/League races but quickly got bored so . . . I ran a few races (8 or 9) in cockpit mode vice bonnet like I always do. I had some very expected results.
I noticed my control of the cars was more precise - not even sure how that is possible. I found it possible to ride the curbstones where I wanted too and executed smoother turns where needed.
Lap times were with 2 seconds of where I normally run.
Now the problems I encountered . . . situational awareness is extremely hard to achieve. Rear view mirror view through the car is near useless, side view mirrors are useless, and the radar is only helpful if the cars are near you (as usual). I felt like I had no situational awareness and kept side bumping a lot of the AI cars around me.
Finding my braking points was a little hard (at first) but after a few laps I could easily pick them out and resolved missing my braking points.
I am asking for assistance on developing some situational awareness while in cockpit mode. Any help is appreciated.
Thanks in advance and enjoy your racing!
Ok first I think you need a good big screen. Many cars have 2 working mirrors from interior view, much better IMO than other views, but if the screen size is small then you can’t see. I’d say 55 and up. Then wheelbase should be close.
Once you got that covered, hop in a car like say the gr4 Megane, or gr4 GTR or gr3 vette.
Stop the car near a wall or something. Change views. Toggle through available views.You gain imo nothing from going bumper or bonnet EXCEPT that all cars appear the same and you don’t need to worry about LH drive vs RH.
If you got to options “advanced options” you can move forward and back in cockpit and up and down a bit too for fine tuning. I generally like back all the way.
Anyways if you sit there and toggle through available views the first thing you notice is peripheral wise cockpit sees MORE not less. Just viewing angle wise if you move seat back you see a TINY bit more to the sides. It’s almost nothing, not enough imo to really matter but it’s there...
Anyways improving situational awareness...Anytime you exit onto a straight of any length you should mirror check to see whether you are under a threat.
Towards ends of straights into braking same thing. BEFORE the cones you need to know if a guys there and if he’s close enough to try a lunge to inside.
So entering straight-check. Approaching braking-check.
The only thing imo you need to decide is to take the racing line or defend the inside.
NOW if in battle, if you have doubts about if he has your inside, if there’s any doubt about corner rights you leave a cars width.
So it’s simple- your decision is only whether to leave a cars width or not at any given point.
It’s the same in any view.
You should know well before any cornering where the cars around you are. If you lose track you gotta leave room.
Further once you have rights to a corner or section of technical turns you focus on your racing line.
Don’t drive the mirrors, if the screens large your peripheral vision will pickup movement in them. Some side mirrors become useful in turns where just sitting still you wonder what they are lookin at.
As always you have radar on as well.
Race starts etc can be hectic. Best to fill in gaps and go for inside. If you’re stuck outside you might get shafted all you can do is leave space.
The big thing is keeping things simple-think do I take racing line or am I compromised.
That’s really the only decision you need.
On overtaking, my advice would be ONLY overtake when you’ve CLEARLY earned the space, such as getting nose to nose by the two cone braking point.
If you are not 100 percent certain you have the move, do not overtake, stay behind in the racing line and try for the best exit and pressure on the straight, and try to get alongside on inside before braking.
Stay with this and as you gain experience you can begin to explore the grey area where you are maybe 75 percent certain you can overtake and so on...
When overtaking it’s important you want to lose as little time as possible and stay on the racing line as much as possible.
It’s not going to do you much good to dive in slam brakes for a stupid block pass with a compromised exit because you’re making yourself vulnerable.
Most players have no idea what to do if you patiently wait for a good opening, all the while getting good exits so on the straights you make them think.
Once you get more and more advanced you can be more aggressive but imotjats like once you are maybe mid high A on dr.
Before that level 90-95 percent don’t know how to do things right, on NA.
Lastly since your only decision is leave room or take racing line BE DECISIVE.
If you make a mistake and take someone out WAIT FOR A STRAIGHT to lift and give the spot back.
Don’t do like some scaredy cats and lift right on exit after hitting someone NO YOURE RIGHT IN EVERYONES WAY AND RUINING THEIR RACE TOO!
Get to safety then wait.
Always be decisive. You decide and drive not hesitate and lift and be unsure...
You need to decide and drive.
If you make the mistake you apologize...
That’s it. I hate it when two clean driving indecisive nerds are racing in front of me who are too scared to touch, because that’s horribly slow, the racing lines where you wanna be.
Side by side is slow. It’s faster to tuck in.
Anyways good luck hope these ideas help
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