Author: Monica Clara Brand
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A few words about how you aproach a race.

Racing is a different animal compared to hotlaping so treat it seriously. You have people around you, some faster, some slower and if splits occur, hopefully some that are equal to you.

You have to be aware of the guy infront, the guy behind and what you have to do to be fast and consistent in a crowded environment.

First of all practice offline for at least one hour, trying different sets, different lines through the corners, braking late, braking early, changing direction while braking, basically covering all the track not just the ideal line.

After you've done that and found your safe setup, go to the most crowded online practice session and try to go for consistency with people around you. Try to pass the slower guys, keep your line for the faster guys and watch them making a pass at you, practice avoiding wrecks etc.

Practice sessions are good because iR and SR doesn't count so you can always make mistakes and not pay for them, but please treat the practice session in a profesional manner and don't just go there wrecking people "for fun".

If someone spins infront of you or there's a wreck,first try to avoid it cleanly, without inc's, if you can't, try going off track rather than hitting someone else because an off track inc is of a smaller importance than a contact inc, not to mention your car will behave the same afterwards. If you really cannot avoid contact, try to hit just one car and not all of them involved. Use the brakes as if your life depended on it, don't go for the "Days of Thunder" aproach. If there's a guy behind you and he hits you while you brake, it's his fault not yours.

If you spin, try not to hit anything or anybody and also try to stay still if you see a car or more aproaching. I know it's hard to do, but let them all go by and join the race when you have the space to do it safely.

Different people brake differently so if you're behind someone it's your responsability not to crash into them at the first braking zone, even if the guy brakes two markers earlier than your usual braking spot. Don't do the huge mistake of braking at your usual braking spot, try to adapt to the guy infront.

Also, don't just go for the inside if you're not sure that the other driver saw you and it's a safe move to make. Don't just assume the other driver will make way for you, because he doesn't have to if you're not at least with half of your car beside him.

If you're equal or just a little faster, it's better to stay behind him for a few corners, few laps even and try to observe his race lines, his braking spots, basically his strong points and his weaknesses.

If a faster driver or even an alien passes you, don't try to keep up with him following his lines, because you'll end up overdriving the car and most definetly spin or crash.

After you've done two, even three practice sessions,go qualify. Let me repeat that, go qualify! First of all we have to get rid of the "it's more fun to come from behind" mentality. Second of all, even if qualifying isn't the best sign, you'll have a better idea of how you compare to the others in the race.

Ok now it's time to race. Hopefully you joined a race with a lot of cars and the splits will put you with people with iRatings close to you. Even then, don't just assume that you're all equal or even worse, that you're faster. In the warmup, watch where you qualified and see the time differencies to the guy infront and to the guy behind.

You won't win the race in the first corner, so try not to make any passing moves unless you are safe doing it. Try to anticipate what the drivers infront will do and counteract precisely.

If there's a wreck infront coming to turn one and you cannot find a breach that will keep you on track, again it's better to go off track around the wreck rather than risking to hit someone or get hit.

Assuming you escaped the first turn safely and you have someone two or three car lenghts infront, don't just go racy on him, try to get your tyres up to temperature and get into a rythm. In the meantime, try to observe his style and see where he's weaker than you so you can try to make a pass. Also watch your mirrors because the driver behind you might've not read this post and tries to go racy on you. Do not try to block him but just try to keep your line. Don't alter your braking points or your line just because he's there behind you. You just have to be aware he's there. If he tries to squeeze his way through, it's better that you give him room and let him by rather then fight him and thus risking your race.

If somehow during the race the leader comes to lap you, don't panic and try to hold your line through the corners. I've seen so many situations when a lapped car tries to go to the outside to make way for the leader but ends up on the grass spinning back into the racing line and hitting the leader. I'm not saying that you need to block him or anything, but sometimes it's safer to just keep your line and let him pass you on the next straight.

Again try not to make mistakes or as few as posible, get into a rythm with all this around you and go for consistency. You will notice that once you're consistent and get into that rythm, your laptimes will get faster while at the same time being safe.

You cannot win races if you keep crashing, your fault or not.

Stirling Moss said "in order to finish first, first you have to finish" and, as I said in another thread, to me this is the best racing advice ever.

Good luck !

P.S. - this wasn't meant as lesson #3 but rather as an advice to race safer.