Guide for actually racing with other cars?

This might sound really dumb, but is there any guides about the strategy for like overtaking cars on a track and things you need to consider when racing with other cars. There's loads of guides on techniques, like heel toe, and the physics but not a lot about setting up a overtake or other stuff I never consider about. I'm pretty dumb and a newb so I need to read a guide to prepare. I only hotlap right now and wanna improve. Or if anyone could give me some pointers?

I feel so dumb posting this because nobody talks about this. This must be like it's super obvious to other people but I'm pretty clueless. All I know is no divebombing.

 

Practice a lot, know the tracks, get smoother, faster and more stable, constant. If you are faster, you're gonna pass if not, stay behind and cash the points you've earned.

 

It's not a dumb question, but imo it's something that you need to figure out yourself, because it really depends on a lot of things.
e.g. track/corners, acceleration, top speed, braking performance, driving lines etc.

The only thing I think that can be pointed out in general is that there is a significant difference between real racing overtakings (which are often very borderline) and what is deemed fair in (online) simracing.
For the latter, it is always a good idea to indicate your moves early to prevent misunderstandings and thus crashes.

For example, if yesterday's F1 race would've been an online race, I would've kicked both Verstappen and Sainz for careless driving.
(Sainz obviously more than Verstappen.)

 

Hope it helps

 

I guess that you basically want to get the other guy off the racing line so they take corners less effectively. Professional racers would try to overtake while losing as little time as possible in the process.

 

Cheers guys. The advice has been good and humbling. The videos are perfect. Keep them coming please.

Oh for other people interested. Here's the only piece of info I've found that's good https://www.lfs.net/forum/thread/36818-Overtaking-Techniques post 10 is excellent.

 

I think everyone is different when it comes to overtakes. I try to overtake in safe places only, unless the guy ahead makes a clear mistake. Im probably not aggressive enough with my overtakes but id rather wait behind entering turns if I dont have a clear run early enough or if taking the inside line creates a massive problem for the other car, like corners where you have to commit and have to straighten the wheel and scrub off loads of speed if someone sticks it on your inside.

 

I'm trying to drive in such a way that first and foremost doesn't cause any contacts (some trading paint is ok ofc). Since I'm only sitting in front of a computer with a toy wheel in my hands and not in an actual F1 car, I'm not forcing people to let off to not go off the track. It's quite usual way of passing, you are slightly in front on the inside after making a move, you are going to the outside edge of the track, he has to back off, pass done. And that's what I simply don't do, it's just public racing after all. I rather leave him space and go 2 wide, if I'm fast enough I'll make a pass anyway.

 

It is very good to see the replays. Many times I thought I was right, and it was my fault, or both were guilty. And of course to learn from the mistakes, try not to repeat them. I have met few guys who are racing really badly, and they think it is ok, they aren't going to improve.

 

The first point I would make is......always respect the driver you are trying to overtake. If you are not sure that you can outbrake someone into a corner, don't do it. If you are side by side with another driver through a corner, don't drift to the outside and force him off the track. If you are close behind someone on the approach to a corner, make your decision early. Don't hug the rear bumper of someone else's car deep into the braking zone. Back off, and try to position your car so that you get a better exit from the corner.

In my opinion, 95% of public server racing is about respect. If you think like that, you will be just fine.

 

Consider where your best chance of overtaking is and make sure you take the previous corner appropriately. If you're faster through the corners there's no point being bumper-to-bumper on the entry, you need to time it so you've got the maximum speed advantage at the exit and can use that to pass on the straight.

 

My most basic tip for anyone racing is that you cant drive through the other car, you need to go around them. It seems fairly basic to me but its amazing how many dont seem to understand this.

To take it a step further it means if your trying to outbrake someone you wont be directly behind them as there is no room there, so pick a side. When passing in a corner you need enough room for your car to pass and for them also needing enough room as they wont simply dissapear once you start a move.

If there is no space for your car then wait til you can find one, racing isnt hotlapping there is no single ideal line when making a pass. Just because you caught someone it doesnt mean you can just get past at that moment as the car is likely in your way now and so you need to find a way around them.

 

QFT

Also, as @Christopher Low says, respect. Show some and earn some.

Study your opponents lines etc, work out where you are quicker and use the advantage to put yourself in a good overtaking position... plan ahead. Also, as @martcerv says, racing isn't hotlapping, brake points that you may have burned into your memory go out of the window when racing.

Good luck out there

 

I always try to follow four basic rules when racing:

1.) When being overtaken, I do not swerve, but keep a steady line. If I decide to defend I make my move to the inside early and in a way that clearly indicates to the the other guy that I will not give him the inside line. After having changed my line once, I keep it. This basically is by the book and it works very well.

2.) When overtaking, I also keep my line after passing. That keeps the line of travel of the other guy free, and avoids me being backended.

3.) When following a car closely into a corner, I will often go off the throttle a sec earlier, and marginally apply the brakes at the same time. Then when I see the brake lights of the leading car coming up I modulate the brakes accordingly. I dont feel like loosing too much time doing that, but having the brakes already primed really reduces my response time with regards to the car in front of me, so to stay close to his bumper and still not rear ending him.

4.) Use Helicorsa !

 

Over taking at the end of a straight as you come to the corner, close your eyes and whisper "there can be only one" to yourself.

 

When you go off, or loose huge amount of speed, never rush to rejoin.

 

I used to think that overtake = outbrake.

But if you brake comfortably and concentrate on your line you will have the better line/exit and easily overtake him right after the corner and gain a few tenths before the next turn. Much more effective and safe, it's a win-win approach.

Also accept that in many turns it's not smart to go side by side with a slower opponent. That means you'll have to lift and cruise a bit untill the first opportunity where you can overtake. It's completely normal in real racing but in simracing it seems a mortal sin and some people have to force themselves into any imaginary gap they perceive (and if you say something they'll bring that stupid Senna quote). By all means try it against the AI but have a bit more patience online please.

 

All these are awesome and will guide me to what mentality I want to be in. First I just wanna get use to being around cars, so how do you rank the AI in AC? I also have Automoblista too.

 

Since the last update ai is one of the best out there. They can put up a serious but fair fight.
IMO very good for your purposes.