There's a great
article here that I think could help a number of folks from these parts
That is bloody epic advice and that article nails a lot of it.
So I'll chip in now.
Defensive driving to me is about staying whole, it's not about positions or lines it's about the race around you. There are bad techniques like "covering the inside line" they don't wash well when someone lines up the later line exit. Or "switcheroo"
There are good strategies likes being on the apex ahead but slower...the driver behind has to manage frustration; perfectly fine.
My take on defence racing echos what you guys have said, finish the race well first and foremost, concede positions where it makes no sense to fight or complicate things.
Think overall race time as that's what matters, it shows speed and control.
But most importantly don't trust the people around you, give them space or take the park it on the apex bump forward.
Defensive driving is bringing it home, defensive racing is exactly the same but it's the willingness to compromise a position for the greater good.
What it isn't is weaving "to break the slip stream" what it isn't is "being unpredictable"
And mostly it's about self preservation first.
There is a whole load of finite details on positioning and they make sense but really it boils down to 2 things:
Race forwards and take a position
Race to the position you have taken. If you take the inside you can't "run wide" that's not how it works. Take the line you choose.
Be assertive but aware of the cars around you. They may have taken the outside line so are just as fast, your compromised line doesn't give you the right to run wide.
Defensive driving is evasiveness, time and space. Not track position or lines but clean racing and exits.
Be predictable, be clear in your moves clear in your position and signal intent early and clearly.
Accept you will have to drive with muppets, accept you will be rear ended at the apex occasionally
Accept other people should be ahead.