Using the Controller:
I golded all stages and the full lap of the Nurburgring (& GP) in the Circuit Experience, and I received the following for my trouble:
And
It doesn't matter whether you use the controller or the wheel (do not think you need the wheel in order to gold any events)
I am evidence that you can still gold all events with the controller.
BUT You always have to keep in mind the car physics and driving Dynamics no matter the type of input used... The Nurburgring is the track that is UNFORGIVING for any of these sort of mistakes...
If you are just starting out with car games/sim, the ramp up and the getting used to either the controller or the wheel IS EXACTLY the same amount of effort and practice time...
Don't think it is easier with the wheel, especially if you don't apply the notion of car physics and Dynamics constantly in your mind, you would be bound to repeat and make the same mistakes...
Vehicle control needs to be top notch at the Nurb, and can only be achieved if you understand car physics/dynamic.
Here are my advices (applicable whether you are using the Controller or the wheel):
Do the Circuit Experience
- try to bronze each stage first
- do this for all the stages before you go and do the full lap
- the Green Hell does not forgive, so you have to be as good in any sector before you can finish the full lap on time
- repeat the same process for Silver and Gold if you wish... The whole point is to get better, beat your own ghost and SHAVE TIME to the point where you can no longer save time... It is totally doable! but you need to Shave Time bits by bits....
If this is still too hard, I highly advice you practice the whole thing by using a low power car, N100 or N200 first....
That is the best way to learn how to SHAVE TIME and to understand car physics/Dynamics... From there you can use high power car and step the challenge for yourself...
With the entire process, I highly advice you also learn driving with the least amount of aid as possible (to none):
Remove TC (or use 1 or 2 for hi power cars). Once Your driving skills are hooned, you will notice how much traction control sucks your time big time.
Remove the guidelines (colored line on track are terrible and DO NOT GIVE YOU an absolute point of reference, they are dynamics like rotating gps map, you ABSOLUTELY do NOt learn anything, it is similar to riding bicycle with the training wheels, or bowling with guarding rails)
You may leave the cones (these will teach you to look at your surrounding for reference point, similar to using a map with the North always pointed up)
And again, you do not need a wheel... (If you don't have the money to afford one). You are not penalized for using the controller (look at me).
The reason why so many people say it is easier with the wheel is because these people first used the controller, got good at driving with them, and finally upgraded and spent the money on the wheel setup (WITH ALREADY THE UNDERSTANDING OF CAR PHYSICS AND DYNAMICS in mind when they made the switch)...
My point is: you will always suck at driving, Even using the wheel, if you do not understand car physics and Dynamics.... I cannot stress that enough ...
But even more importantly, have fun with a small powered car. You will learn so much with a Miata or even the Type S of any kind...(The BMW M3 E30 is the best IMhO). Once you learn a track with a small car (pushing yourself to the Absolute limits), you can always apply that learning and understanding to ANY cars...
DONT EVER BLAME THE CAR, blame yourself !
Practice practice practice, like playing the guitar, that's the only way to know a track by heart ❤️.
Good Luck aND Have Fun.