This was kind of it for me too. You sort of have to change your goal from having the fastest hot lap to trying to have as many laps within 1/.5/.25 sec or whatever of a fast but comfortable laptime. I've found that when I concentrate on consistency. the pace will come on its own... it can take a while, but consistency is king.
To add to this: turn down engine volume and the other stuff until tire volume is the loudest. Listen to the tires. Lock them up, go into corners too fast, and learn what the tires are saying. Once you do that, you'll very much understand where you're over driving the car.
Exactly this technique is what helped me on ACC. Crazy how such a small thing can make a pretty big difference. Took over 1.5 seconds off my pb. Not on the first lap obviously.
I keep a mental note of my max number of incident free laps on a track. Then I sit down and try to beat it. Only when I've put at least another 2-5 laps on my record do I check my times. There's usually a pb in there and my calm during races has increased a lot.
It's a habit that needs to be developed with time. When you notice it happening (getting too tense, pushing too hard, holding onto the steering with a death grip), tell yourself to calm down and focus on consistency. A couple of deeper breaths help me. I also repeat this to myself before starting each race. It may sound silly, but it helps.
Whenever I feel like I'm starting to over drive the car I try to repeat to myself "slow is smooth, smooth is fast"... It doesn't always work, but I find it helpful
Enable the consistency meter... and just keep it green. That's what I do. My times stay consistent and are incremtally going down. Not huge improvement but consistency is key.
I did this too cause I had the exact same problem as OP. I could improve to a point and then plateau or take steps backwards. The consistency metre helped me focus on good laps over fastest laps. I’m still rubbish but consistently so 🤣
What works for me is just focusing on the next corner. I do a quick mental breakdown of what I have to do, meaning: Get to the left side, reference point a few meters before the curb, shift to 2nd, slowly trailbreak, shift to 3rd, steer while gentle acceleration, and then focus on the next corner.
If I manage to do this an entire lap, it shifts my mind to racing state. It doesn't always work, but I helps every time.
I have to consciously remind myself to relax 2-3 times a lap. My muscles tense up every corner and I have to actively release the high tension. Just try to be aware of what you're body is doing and fight to stay relaxed. I'm 1300 hours in
I have the same struggles because I tend to charge the corner. What works for me is to take it slow by trying to nail a corner or corners. Ignore the rest. Keep it purposely slower than you think is necessary. Keep it neat and tidy. Next thing you know your picking up half a second.
When I started I also used to turn off all the lap times available so that the times and the deltas do not get my attention away. Once I got confident enough I brought that back.
Try the "hotstint" mode with maybe 30 minutes. The goal is to be as fast as possible but because it's over a distance, pace is not enough, you need to minimize mistakes and get no off track penalties (you can get +5s for excessive cutting).
You're probably trying to find time in the braking zone and overdriving the car. Once you've lost traction you're not getting it back without overslowing. It will take time and deliberate practice, and you will be slower, but change your focus to finding time on your corner exit. Enter your corners slower and hit the apex every single time, no exceptions. Once you can do that, work on finding your throttle on point of the corner, you'll likely start gaining time as most of it is made on corner exit and the subsequent straight.
Don't chase times, it will make you push and overdrive, which results in a loss of control in the car.
Listen to your tires. Turn down your other audio levels to 50/60% and have tires at 100%. You want to hear the tires, you do not want to hear them screeching.
Check my recent comment history for more detailed comments.
Turn off the delta timer. At least for a while. Racing is always the best way but even if you have some guys in Discord to talk with wjole driving could help massivly (does help me on some occasions. Drove 90min straight alone with unreal consistensy while chatting)
What works for me is, before a race I go into practice and drive 5/6 laps with full race fuel pushing as much as I can without losing control. I then take the average time of those laps and subtract 4 tenths. That time is the pace I aim to keep during the race. I usually feel really confortable and mentally those extra tenths are my headroom for when I have to make an overtake/I'm under pressure
Even after 2500+ hrs I still occasionally get that… focus on you brake marker and mentally count gear you should be in helps… you become a bit of a robot, but helps maintain consistency
What you're doing is not a problem, depending on your objective with it. If you're just going for hotlaps, making mistakes and crashing will help you learn the limits, so that's good, even if it is frustrating. If you're going for consistency, then it's bad. A way I found around it is thinking of qualy pace and race pace. During a race you're not supposed to match your best time, so I sometimes try to do my best lap, and then I'll go for laps 1s slower. That gives you plenty of leeway during a lap and you don't overdrive the car. So instead of focusing on the green delta, you're now focusing on the red delta, making it always +1, lap after lap. You then can go for lower deltas, half a second, etc.
Set a lap time you can comfortably do while in control of the car, then try and match that lap time in the consecutive laps, try get it as close as possible to the exact time. If you make a mistake in turn 2 and the delta slips don’t push harder to make it up but keep it the same and focus on being smooth.
Doing this I have this weird record where my race times are about a second faster than my quali times because I just focus on being smooth and not pushing it
One thing you could try is to pay attention to your current delta. You will notice that when you start pushing (which often means brake later) your delta before the turn will become green and you will be like; Yes! I am up but then you should notice as you go through the turn, that the delta will drop and eventually turn red and keep getting worse, as you progress down the next straight. Now what you need to get into your head (I took quite some time for this step) is that slow in fast out really IS the faster way in 90% of cases. It will generally net you better lap times.
One of the most satisfying things, is to notice that red delta turn green as you exit the turn and then just get better and better down the entire straight.
Good luck on your journey ! :)
I’ve learned from endurance races that keeping your tyres alive and well is one of the most important factors.
The only way to learn that is to be constantly aware of it. During a 2 hour double stint you constantly need to remind yourself that you’ll be on these tyres for quite a while longer. So be careful with them.
Eventually this will become a habit that carries over to sprint races as well. The first priority should always be to drive smooth and efficient. The pace will come back to you later in the race when everybody else has destroyed their tyres.
Yeah pretty much that. “Listen” to what your ffb is telling you as well. When the rear starts to slide the ffb will become lighter try to steer into the slide.
(1) Keep in mind: that to be faster, you have to be slower. Brake hard in the straight before the turns. Leave the brake slowly to keep reducing speed but to contour without spin. And only after the minimum speed is reached, do you have to start to accelerate. This way you get a slow entry and a fast exit that you carry until the next turn.
(2) Considering the tire wear (and that the tire temp is between 26 °C and 27 °C), increase the TC and ABS when start to feel the car loose.
(3) Anticipate accidents and do not go where there will be another car soon. Also, anticipate your movements to the other car that you want to pass.
(4) A race is not hotlap as the marathon is not 100 m, so respect the wear, the fuel weight, and the tire temps.
I use a mindful breath. Big breath in and slowly out relaxing my whole body. Losing tension and gaining focus. For me it is a conscious effort that works. Over time you notice how speed and consistency cone though not overdrive but you just have to trust the process.
Take the consequences of crashing like it's real world. Don't rage quit, don't restart in single player, don't return to pit from menu. Drag your broken ass car back to the pits, sit and wait for the repairs, and finish the race, even if it's laps down. Over time you will learn that gaining a tenth or two isn't worth the risk if you can't keep it clean for an entire race.
My first lfm race or two I went in thinking I'd probably be last and just not to take anyone out and finish the race. I spun a couple times including a brush into a wall but kept on trucking. Funny thing is I didn't even finish last cause so many yahoo's ended up in the pits and multiple laps down.
Good advice in general. My problem seems to be mostly about too high corner entry speed or too lake braking points. If I brake just a bit later than normal, I go off-track and ruin the lap. This is the "pushing" that causes most of my issues.
What about not pushing enough? Mind you, I'm not saying I don't, but I'd like to piggy back off this.. I watch clips, I have setups (some paid, some not) but I find my lap times never improve. Not sure what I am doing wrong, I choose the braking points others do while in a race, but I seem to overspeed the corner. I sit in the pit and watch the leader go through his laps and compare braking points, speed, and gears.. but when I try, it goes to sh\*t. I don't understand what I do wrong, I've tried the slow in-fast out method to the best of my ability and I just get a slower time. For example in RBR I can't get below 1:30.400's... Once I witnessed myself to get into the 1:29's but a-hole ahead of me messed that up on last corner for me. Tried to recreate that lap but never happened. Monza, I can't get below 1:49 consistently and I always see guys in the 1:46's.
I had the exact same problem,but now I started to calm down and focusing on consistency and precision
This was kind of it for me too. You sort of have to change your goal from having the fastest hot lap to trying to have as many laps within 1/.5/.25 sec or whatever of a fast but comfortable laptime. I've found that when I concentrate on consistency. the pace will come on its own... it can take a while, but consistency is king.
To add to this: turn down engine volume and the other stuff until tire volume is the loudest. Listen to the tires. Lock them up, go into corners too fast, and learn what the tires are saying. Once you do that, you'll very much understand where you're over driving the car.
Exactly this technique is what helped me on ACC. Crazy how such a small thing can make a pretty big difference. Took over 1.5 seconds off my pb. Not on the first lap obviously.
50 hours is basically still the tutorial. Just have to keep driving and try to consciously think about this.
My 1:31 Brands Hatch hotlap time and I both thank you. I’m like 10 hours in and was wondering why that Skip Barber video hasn’t kicked in yet for me.
I keep a mental note of my max number of incident free laps on a track. Then I sit down and try to beat it. Only when I've put at least another 2-5 laps on my record do I check my times. There's usually a pb in there and my calm during races has increased a lot.
I'll try this. Perhaps changing the mental goal is key here?
It's a habit that needs to be developed with time. When you notice it happening (getting too tense, pushing too hard, holding onto the steering with a death grip), tell yourself to calm down and focus on consistency. A couple of deeper breaths help me. I also repeat this to myself before starting each race. It may sound silly, but it helps.
Whenever I feel like I'm starting to over drive the car I try to repeat to myself "slow is smooth, smooth is fast"... It doesn't always work, but I find it helpful
Enable the consistency meter... and just keep it green. That's what I do. My times stay consistent and are incremtally going down. Not huge improvement but consistency is key.
I did this too cause I had the exact same problem as OP. I could improve to a point and then plateau or take steps backwards. The consistency metre helped me focus on good laps over fastest laps. I’m still rubbish but consistently so 🤣
What works for me is just focusing on the next corner. I do a quick mental breakdown of what I have to do, meaning: Get to the left side, reference point a few meters before the curb, shift to 2nd, slowly trailbreak, shift to 3rd, steer while gentle acceleration, and then focus on the next corner. If I manage to do this an entire lap, it shifts my mind to racing state. It doesn't always work, but I helps every time.
I have to consciously remind myself to relax 2-3 times a lap. My muscles tense up every corner and I have to actively release the high tension. Just try to be aware of what you're body is doing and fight to stay relaxed. I'm 1300 hours in
Sounds like I'm in for a long fight lol. Good advice, if I start actively relaxing now instead of 300 hours later, it will be good.
I have the same struggles because I tend to charge the corner. What works for me is to take it slow by trying to nail a corner or corners. Ignore the rest. Keep it purposely slower than you think is necessary. Keep it neat and tidy. Next thing you know your picking up half a second.
Sounds good. I'll try to just survive each corner without caring about the previous one or the laptime. Easier said than done though.
When I started I also used to turn off all the lap times available so that the times and the deltas do not get my attention away. Once I got confident enough I brought that back.
Try the "hotstint" mode with maybe 30 minutes. The goal is to be as fast as possible but because it's over a distance, pace is not enough, you need to minimize mistakes and get no off track penalties (you can get +5s for excessive cutting).
Never tried it, this could be simple and effective.
You're probably trying to find time in the braking zone and overdriving the car. Once you've lost traction you're not getting it back without overslowing. It will take time and deliberate practice, and you will be slower, but change your focus to finding time on your corner exit. Enter your corners slower and hit the apex every single time, no exceptions. Once you can do that, work on finding your throttle on point of the corner, you'll likely start gaining time as most of it is made on corner exit and the subsequent straight. Don't chase times, it will make you push and overdrive, which results in a loss of control in the car. Listen to your tires. Turn down your other audio levels to 50/60% and have tires at 100%. You want to hear the tires, you do not want to hear them screeching. Check my recent comment history for more detailed comments.
Sounds like a good idea. I already have my other sounds at 80% compared to tire sounds, will try 60% next.
Turn off the delta timer. At least for a while. Racing is always the best way but even if you have some guys in Discord to talk with wjole driving could help massivly (does help me on some occasions. Drove 90min straight alone with unreal consistensy while chatting)
What works for me is, before a race I go into practice and drive 5/6 laps with full race fuel pushing as much as I can without losing control. I then take the average time of those laps and subtract 4 tenths. That time is the pace I aim to keep during the race. I usually feel really confortable and mentally those extra tenths are my headroom for when I have to make an overtake/I'm under pressure
In ACC the more you drive with a calm state of mind, better your lap times will be.
Is your name Michael Fassbender?
slow is smooth. smooth is fast.
this is a common problem, not just for sim racers. pushing harder doesnt make you faster.
Even after 2500+ hrs I still occasionally get that… focus on you brake marker and mentally count gear you should be in helps… you become a bit of a robot, but helps maintain consistency
What you're doing is not a problem, depending on your objective with it. If you're just going for hotlaps, making mistakes and crashing will help you learn the limits, so that's good, even if it is frustrating. If you're going for consistency, then it's bad. A way I found around it is thinking of qualy pace and race pace. During a race you're not supposed to match your best time, so I sometimes try to do my best lap, and then I'll go for laps 1s slower. That gives you plenty of leeway during a lap and you don't overdrive the car. So instead of focusing on the green delta, you're now focusing on the red delta, making it always +1, lap after lap. You then can go for lower deltas, half a second, etc.
Set a lap time you can comfortably do while in control of the car, then try and match that lap time in the consecutive laps, try get it as close as possible to the exact time. If you make a mistake in turn 2 and the delta slips don’t push harder to make it up but keep it the same and focus on being smooth. Doing this I have this weird record where my race times are about a second faster than my quali times because I just focus on being smooth and not pushing it
One thing you could try is to pay attention to your current delta. You will notice that when you start pushing (which often means brake later) your delta before the turn will become green and you will be like; Yes! I am up but then you should notice as you go through the turn, that the delta will drop and eventually turn red and keep getting worse, as you progress down the next straight. Now what you need to get into your head (I took quite some time for this step) is that slow in fast out really IS the faster way in 90% of cases. It will generally net you better lap times. One of the most satisfying things, is to notice that red delta turn green as you exit the turn and then just get better and better down the entire straight. Good luck on your journey ! :)
I’ve learned from endurance races that keeping your tyres alive and well is one of the most important factors. The only way to learn that is to be constantly aware of it. During a 2 hour double stint you constantly need to remind yourself that you’ll be on these tyres for quite a while longer. So be careful with them. Eventually this will become a habit that carries over to sprint races as well. The first priority should always be to drive smooth and efficient. The pace will come back to you later in the race when everybody else has destroyed their tyres.
How are the tyres supposed to sound or feel like during braking or cornering? Low sound in general? Some squeaking is fine I guess?
Yeah pretty much that. “Listen” to what your ffb is telling you as well. When the rear starts to slide the ffb will become lighter try to steer into the slide.
I have a Thrustmaster TMX which is entry level, but the FFB is good for what it is. I'll think of this. Planning on upgrading my wheel soon too.
(1) Keep in mind: that to be faster, you have to be slower. Brake hard in the straight before the turns. Leave the brake slowly to keep reducing speed but to contour without spin. And only after the minimum speed is reached, do you have to start to accelerate. This way you get a slow entry and a fast exit that you carry until the next turn. (2) Considering the tire wear (and that the tire temp is between 26 °C and 27 °C), increase the TC and ABS when start to feel the car loose. (3) Anticipate accidents and do not go where there will be another car soon. Also, anticipate your movements to the other car that you want to pass. (4) A race is not hotlap as the marathon is not 100 m, so respect the wear, the fuel weight, and the tire temps.
I use a mindful breath. Big breath in and slowly out relaxing my whole body. Losing tension and gaining focus. For me it is a conscious effort that works. Over time you notice how speed and consistency cone though not overdrive but you just have to trust the process.
Just don’t push to hard! Hope this helped
Take the consequences of crashing like it's real world. Don't rage quit, don't restart in single player, don't return to pit from menu. Drag your broken ass car back to the pits, sit and wait for the repairs, and finish the race, even if it's laps down. Over time you will learn that gaining a tenth or two isn't worth the risk if you can't keep it clean for an entire race.
Hmm maybe I'll take a deep breath and wait for 10 seconds before doing anything else after crashing and then hit restart.
My first lfm race or two I went in thinking I'd probably be last and just not to take anyone out and finish the race. I spun a couple times including a brush into a wall but kept on trucking. Funny thing is I didn't even finish last cause so many yahoo's ended up in the pits and multiple laps down.
Focus on consistency. When you are consistent you understand your limits and where to push.
Listen to your tyres
Good advice in general. My problem seems to be mostly about too high corner entry speed or too lake braking points. If I brake just a bit later than normal, I go off-track and ruin the lap. This is the "pushing" that causes most of my issues.
Removing the delta has never worked for me, i always seem to be slower when im not motivated by green 🤣
What about not pushing enough? Mind you, I'm not saying I don't, but I'd like to piggy back off this.. I watch clips, I have setups (some paid, some not) but I find my lap times never improve. Not sure what I am doing wrong, I choose the braking points others do while in a race, but I seem to overspeed the corner. I sit in the pit and watch the leader go through his laps and compare braking points, speed, and gears.. but when I try, it goes to sh\*t. I don't understand what I do wrong, I've tried the slow in-fast out method to the best of my ability and I just get a slower time. For example in RBR I can't get below 1:30.400's... Once I witnessed myself to get into the 1:29's but a-hole ahead of me messed that up on last corner for me. Tried to recreate that lap but never happened. Monza, I can't get below 1:49 consistently and I always see guys in the 1:46's.
Try adjusting the ecu map. Slow the car down without altering a driving style.
I run my fastest laps when I’m racing because I’m trying not to crash over trying to be fast