Racing Line

[Robben]

I have this turned on... as a novice racer it helps to have a rough guide. However, I've noticed that this line doesn't necessarily follow the Apex to Apex rule.

Have any pro drivers played with the line on? Is it worth it, or should I switch off and follow the apexes?

 

[baldgye]

I used to use it all the time, because I found it hard to learn the tracks.
However I've found the GT Sport racing line to be worse than worthless. I has no value as it doesn't show you the actual line, breaking zones are a guess and it isn't dynamic.

My advice would be to turn off the racing line and turn on the cones. Cones give you an idea where the apexes are and show you the rough braking zones.

 

[zzz_pt]

Yeah, racing line is bad on the long run. Use the cones, as that way you'll have to figure out the best line by yourself and that's what matters.

 

[baldgye]

Yeah, racing line is bad on the long run. Use the cones, as that way you'll have to figure out the best line by yourself and that's what matters.

Also, I think it's better to learn the lines yourself and see what you can with your chosen car. In a lot of tracks no one single line is going to be the very best, different lines will suit different cars and drivers. So I don't think it's super helpful to try and religiously stick to a single line anyway

 

[Robben]

Cheers. Will turn it off and just focus on the cones/apex markers.

On a similar note... braking points. Do you use the cones as braking markers or, again, just work it out?

 

[baldgye]

Cheers. Will turn it off and just focus on the cones/apex markers.

On a similar note... braking points. Do you use the cones as braking markers or, again, just work it out?

I tend to do a few laps using the cones as the markers and then just braking later and later until I can't make the corner.
More often than not the cones are a pretty conservative braking point, and depending on the car you can brake a lot later

 

[Robben]

Good advice. Thanks.

Any more tips on how to work my way through the ranks (whilst also maintaining my SR)?

 

[Sean Renon]

Yeah, racing line is bad on the long run. Use the cones, as that way you'll have to figure out the best line by yourself and that's what matters.

This is accurate.
The cones are a good place to start, they give you something to use as a visual brake marker, or even a turn in mark. Also, we could go through every track in detail about where racing lines are, but until you've gotten to a certain level - racing lines are going to hinder more than help.

Any more tips on how to work my way through the ranks (whilst also maintaining my SR)?

Yes -
Circuit experience - and practice before racing.
All drivers except the very best - can get better at every track. Spend the time learning every track, doing lap after lap after lap - slowly taking off all the assists, watch the seconds drip away from your lap times, only when you're extremely comfortable on a track should you race it with other drivers.

You'll quickly find that learning to go fast is not some secret, it's simply practice and repetition, practice and repetition, over and over.

If you're serious about getting to higher ranks, spend the time offline - and learn the tracks.

 

[Robben]

I've golded all circuit experience... but was doing them quite early on so maybe will revisit and work through again, now I know the tracks better

 

[JacksHerer]

I switch the racing line and cones on till I know my way around new tracks. But still find myself looking at the track map at the top of the screen to remember what's coming next lol

I find that the cones are a nightmare, more often than not they have ended up on the track and caused me to fly in the air or crash trying to avoid them.

I prefer to find at least two cues on the static track, so that if the view to one is blocked by another car, I have the other to use as a crutch.

 

[Robben]

I switch the racing line and cones on till I know my way around new tracks. But still find myself looking at the track map at the top of the screen to remember what's coming next lol

I find that the cones are a nightmare, more often than not they have ended up on the track and caused me to fly in the air or crash trying to avoid them.

I prefer to find at least two cues on the static track, so that if the view to one is blocked by another car, I have the other to use as a crutch.

Good point about the cones ending up in the middle of the track!

Do you advocate the line which the racing line follows then?

 

[mikevillena]

My two cents......turn everything off except for the Apex markers. Get used to looking for just those. If you get used to looking for cones chances are they will get knocked out of position during a race and will really throw you off. The Apex Markers are always there. And just as in real life racing, TURN YOUR HEAD and keep your eyes on the exit before you even enter the corner.

 

[Sean Renon]

I've golded all circuit experience... but was doing them quite early on so maybe will revisit and work through again, now I know the tracks better

Gold is very very easy to achieve.
For example, there is a Canadian only event going on right now - 4 offline qualifying sessions using circuit experience.
So I've been lapping Dragons Trail exclusively last night and probably tonight as well.

Gold is 1:44.00 - I'm currently at 1:37.3 with optimal lap a 1:36.6 - my best before I started obsessing over Dragons Trail was 1:38.5 and I'm a DR.A driver.
So if I can make up more than a second on a track I was just mediocre at before, and potentially more - imagine what you can do.
I used to be happy being within 2 seconds of the #1 time on the leaderboard, I'm going to start setting a new goal of being within 1-1.5 seconds.

My two cents......turn everything off except for the Apex markers. Get used to looking for just those. If you get used to looking for cones chances are they will get knocked out of position during a race and will really throw you off. The Apex Markers are always there. And just as in real life racing, TURN YOUR HEAD and keep your eyes on the exit before you even enter the corner.

I used the cones for a couple months and have since turned them off, having them on for awhile actually got my brain used to where they should be, and now that I've spent a little time learning the tracks since I turned them off it's actually easy for me.
So to each there own.

 

[Robben]

Do you think it is best to practice the tracks in full laps (such as just using qualifying mode), or is it better to practice in sectors through Circuit Experience?

 

[JacksHerer]

Good point about the cones ending up in the middle of the track!

Do you advocate the line which the racing line follows then?

Nope, the driving line given by the game seems just a line to guide you around the track.

 

[baldgye]

Do you think it is best to practice the tracks in full laps (such as just using qualifying mode), or is it better to practice in sectors through Circuit Experience?

Full laps.
Even if you just focus on a single corner, getting the knowledge of a full track is massively important. You want to know a track like the back of your hand as that allows you to really push yours and the tracks limits

 

[Robben]

Line and cones off then... how about the blue apex markers?

Weirdly, I have already got better over the past week since even reading this site... I've gone from a low of 5681 points a week ago to 13900 today!

 

[JacksHerer]

Yeh I've not really used the circuit experience, I only did it to get the golds and complete it.
For the tracks I like, I prefer using lobbies to learn them better, then you are getting comfortable for racing at the same time as learning.

EDIT: I've not tried the blue floaty things, I think they would distract me.

 

[baldgye]

Line and cones off then... how about the blue apex markers?

I'd recommend cones on. If they are flying onto the track in practice sessions, you need to do better

 

[Robben]

Yeh I've not really used the circuit experience, I only did it to get the golds and complete it.
For the tracks I like, I prefer using lobbies to learn them better, then you are getting comfortable for racing at the same time as learning.

That's a good shout. The thing is with circuit experience, you can just repeat by sector ad infinitum... likely you (I) can fluke the gold at some point...

 

[VFOURMAX1]

Line and cones off then... how about the blue apex markers?

None of the above in game indicators actually will teach you what the actual fastest line is around the tracks being used online in this game.

The limits and the actual lines used vary greatly between the corners and the visual cues as given by the game do not go hand in hand at all.

If you are actually looking to try to be fast online learn the general track layout however you find the easiest for you.

Then spend time watching the lap replays of the top ten leader boards for the track you are trying to learn and try to find one that uses the car you want to use.

Those will be the best indicator you will find for the actual fast line used online. No sense spending hours learning approach angles, braking and acceleration points that the game shows you to only find out to be fast on many tracks and corners the actual lines used are totally different.

In this game the track boundaries shown by the game are really no where near the real boundaries allowed in many corners. May as well learn the right actual racing line to begin with. Watch the top 10 lap replays is the only advice I can offer if you want the actual fast lines for each circuit.

 

[JacksHerer]

They do help to get 'circuit experience' but once you know your way around a track, the hard bit comes and that is putting all the corners in all the sectors into one lap. I don't have the patience to try and get the personal perfect lap, let alone compete on the leaderboards for it.
I just try to get comfortable laps that I can do in a race, there is no point practicing a line close to the limit if you will miss it and crash 20% of the time.
I guess that's the difference where the aliens excel.

 

[Robben]

They do help to get 'circuit experience' but once you know your way around a track, the hard bit comes and that is putting all the corners in all the sectors into one lap. I don't have the patience to try and get the personal perfect lap, let alone compete on the leaderboards for it.
I just try to get comfortable laps that I can do in a race, there is no point practicing a line close to the limit if you will miss it and crash 20% of the time.
I guess that's the difference where the aliens excel.

This is it... I have done the experience and know all of the tracks now, but it's the knowing when you can really push. For example, Brands Hatch there is a long right hander after the straight at the back of the track, which I always seem to lose speed to other drivers through fear of over running and ending up in the sand.

 

[JacksHerer]

That bend is an ideal one for watching how the fast guys approach it, make sure to be watching a guy who uses the same aids/non aids and same car though,

 

[1MSC]

That bend is really fun when you start to get it right, im not very fast, (only DR B) but be smooth in there, you get a good exit speed and that will make a difference in your laptime. Touch the brakes, downshift and be carefull with the throttle until you clear the apex.
And also the long lefthander (T4) but thats a diffrent story

 

[Sean Renon]

This is it... I have done the experience and know all of the tracks now, but it's the knowing when you can really push. For example, Brands Hatch there is a long right hander after the straight at the back of the track, which I always seem to lose speed to other drivers through fear of over running and ending up in the sand.

There is knowing the track, then there is "knowing" the track.
Simply knowing how the track is laid out is not enough if you want to get better - knowing exactly where your brake points are, how fast you take them - how you trail brake into them etc etc all have a drastic impact on your ranking as a driver.

 

[Sven Jurgens]

Things I learned not to rely on as braking markers:
Shadow lines on the track, damn it's the overcast version...
Distance markers along the track, who knocked them all out of place...
Since I play in classic view the suggested gear indicator starts flashing when a corner comes up. Using that as timing reference always works. Yet distance to curb stones placement is more precise. Brake lights of the car in front of you are also a good indication you need to start braking

 

[Robben]

Well, thank you PSN for giving me a whole of evening of Circuit Experience!

I took the opportunity to revisit with your advice ringing in my ears, all driving indicators switched off (except blue floaty apex marker things). Knocked loads of time off previous sector records (0.5-1 seconds per sector) and several seconds of full laps. I realised the driving line is actually a massive distraction, subconsciously luring you along its path... one which you don't actually need

 

[Macboyilija]

I can give you one advice about Brands Hatch which is applicable to most track cornes:

Slow in, fast out.

Most of the times people do not understand that going slower means youre actually going faster. Exit speed is much much more important than hitting the corners fast. So try to brake a little bit more early and try building up the speed slowly on exit.

 

[demeaning pie]

Full laps.
Even if you just focus on a single corner, getting the knowledge of a full track is massively important. You want to know a track like the back of your hand as that allows you to really push yours and the tracks limits

This. 1000% this.

Practicing circuit experience is not bad, but the computer starts you off at the same speed every single time. That will rarely happen when you race. You need to be able to judge speed differences entering the same corner over different laps. If you got a monster drive out of turn one your brake marker will be slightly different for turn two than previous runs.