US Standings Updated
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/14H3TkMwl1YGgJjX5TsUVmSu8c8FKgcLfs2zM6nNEZsw/pubhtml
This will probably be the last quickie track guide. There's a few more tenths here and there but it would require perfect drifting; I can't even begin to comprehend how Immortal does it through Bruxelles. However, if you're simply looking to get into the low 15 range, I can now run that relatively consistently.
General tips:
1. Learn trailbraking. Simplest I can explain how to make it work is a partial release of the brakes combined with a wheel turn. You'll get varying degrees of extra car rotation depending on execution and corner.
2. Know when to manage throttle and when to mash it. The GT-R can get tail happy, a useful tool but one that requires care. Just look at my bar and you'll see how I'm manipulating it throughout the track. If I'm not on the brake, I'll want to be on the gas, even if it's partial. That keeps the turbo spooled up.
3. The transmission is also a tool you can use. I'll point this out throughout.
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La Source - Braking point is right after the dip in the road. Depending on how well you trailbrake, you can start it early or further down the track. Ideally, you want to get really close to the inside curbs but don't touch them. They will try to spin you out. I would shift it down to 1st and then start applying power somewhere before you reach the apex. The best exit is when you can go WOT after shifting to 2nd. If you can't, then at least get three quarters.
The inclination is to aim for the outside curbs but I wouldn't do this. The grip's further inside than you think, so aim to have a V-line through La Source. I've had laps where I literally was all the way to the right exiting and lost no time at all.
I didn't quite get the trailbraking part on my fast lap; I made the front left mad because my turn-in was sloppy. Since I did get the car close to the apex, I had enough traction for a good exit nonetheless.
Eau Rouge - A great source of frustration for me, tbh.
I usually go with the 50m board on the left but I have done it later than that. The inside curbing on the left can be a bit finicky if you hit them at certain angles, so don't use too much of it if that's an issue. As for turn in to the right, it's right when I reach the cones. With regards to downshifting to 5th, I do it from time to time, especially if I detect understeer. You want to get close to the right rumbles but they make your car hop if you hit them.
If this section's particularly bad for you, depress the throttle pedal ever so slightly approaching the left cone and hold it there.
My flier was textbook. Only thing I could've done better was a quick 6th-5th-6th exchange for a scotch more speed.
Les Combes - Brake at the 100m board, downshift fast to 3rd. Right when the strips start on the right, start turning in but hold just a bit of brake. You can start getting back on the throttle when you approach the cones but do not go WOT. The GT-R gets tail happy quite easily if you are too aggressive when you start making the subsequent left. The goal is to line up the car right for the final bend. Approach the left curbs but don't even think of touching them because it's a guaranteed time loss if you do.
Usually, by the time you line up the car, you can immediately start turning for the final right without worrying about that pesky cone. How aggressive you can be here is all down to how well you're set up. If you feel like you may understeer at the exit, then keep it in 3rd longer. If you feel adventurous, you can go into 4th early, apply full throttle and aim for that cone. You'll just miss it and the rear kicking out will save you from going wide.
I was a little conservative through here but I kept my speed up. That's what matters here.
Bruxelles - You can attack Bruxelles either by braking at the start of the strips on the left or a little later than that. Honestly, this is a corner where I just can't get any trailbrake action going without slide the nose. Therefore, I attack it as a double apex. Aim for the first cone, let the car drift out a little and then aim back inside. Don't hold 2nd too long, though. Get to 3rd and straighten out that wheel. You want the car under control for the next piece.
T11 - The curbs on the right are not your friend. You can use a little bit of it but in my experience, any more than that and it makes any sort of consistency all but impossible. I really don't have a good braking references but I will say that I like jumping into 4th and right after, brake and downshift. Turn in right after that. If that cone gives you trouble, you'll have to delay your turn a bit more but it also means more aggressiveness on the gas. Upshift to 4th early if you're uncomfortable with oversteer.
Fairly good attempt on my lap. Could've gotten even more had I known I was going to clear the cone.
Pouhon - There's a black thing on the right. That's your braking spot. Stay away from the curbing; it upsets the car too much. You can brake moderate to hard but have a little pressure on the pedal as you turn in. Even if you make the fronts upset, you can get away with it with slight throttle modulation. The game is pretty generous about the run-off, so gun it. If you're continually going off, then coast it toward the apex. You won't lost that much time at all by doing so.
Fagnes/Campus - Much of time is gained/lost here. The key is getting tight to the right at the correct angle with the car under control. Because it's a rather long right bend, I usually wait all I can before turning into the corner. You can also steer into it off throttle while carrying speed and dab the brakes at the right time. Whatever you do, don't lose the rear or that will ruin your lap.
For the left bend, start going in after the prior turn ends. 3rd gear gives you more rotation, sometimes a little too much and you end up hitting that cone. If that's going to happen, drop the throttle a bit and upshift. You can induce a slide here which, if you can, I would recommend doing so. People that continually understeer at exit should keep it in 3rd for most of the turn. Just tiptoe with the gas a bit and you'll be fine.
I tried a drift here but I didn't get it. Subsequently, I understeered a bit. The rumbles actually gave me a bit of a boost on the exit. Strange but I was happy to take it.
Stavelot - Very tricky. You can follow the racing line but it's much harder to go full out. Subsequently, a later turn in is hampered by lower grip at initial turn-in. Hence, the need to jam it down to 2nd. You only need it enough to clear those cones. Then power out the best you can. Big time gainer if you get it right.
I got understeer during my run and yet, I was still aggressive on exit. Most of the time, I would've binned it thanks to the curbs.
Paul Frere - If you're understeering on the exit, start your turn in a little earlier. That's what I did and it was a non-issue.
Blanchimont - Line it up far right. There's a set of three trees that appear on the right. The moment you reach the first one, turn in a little and then give it some more. No need to lift with a good line. It's easy to understeer way off and if that's an issue, then the Eau Rouge tip works well here too. The slightest lift off the gas pedal and she'll turn just fine, sometimes with zero tire scrub at all.
This is a screw up turn for me but not on my flier. Exactly as I wanted it.
Chicane - Tidgney's reference point is the same one I use. Like he mentioned, you want to control the downshifts for good car control. That way, you can trailbrake right into the first bend in 1st gear. Now, it's tempting to go into 2nd but I actually recommend that you don't. The issue is that thanks to the cones, you're more likely to go too far left heading into the final bend. 1st gear helps mitigate that but you have to apply the right amount of gas to keep the car moving forward through the really short straight. The other reason why you don't want 2nd is because while it does aid in some extra grip off the corner, it's much better to save this for the final run to start/finish.
In my run, well, it was a little unorthodox. I braked later than usual and I meandered away from the curb on the way in. It did rotate fairly well and as I said, I kept it in 1st gear. No brake tap either. Just some gas, throttle off, turn and start at half throttle. Once I selected 2nd and went for more throttle, the car took off like a rocket ship. Before, I would've been already in 2nd and either fighting oversteer or have a bogged down engine.
I have had no improvement at all in the last 3 days and can barely keep up with my own ghost. It has become clear that my best time was just a fluke and nowhere near my skill level, which just proves to me that I have no business here trying to be a finalist. This has been a very humbling yet learning experience for me and just shows that I am miles away from even being close to realizing my dream. You all may see this as me giving up but that is not the case really. Common sense tells me that there is no way I am going to make up 2 seconds in the time we have left based off my performance so far. There comes a time when you just have to realize that certain things are just not possible, and this is one of those times. So, I will be going back to my weekly friendly competitions in the WRS TT's where I can further develop my skill set without the heavy pressure of competition. So, I bid the all a fond farewell and wish you all good luck in chasing down your goals, I really hope you all succeed. Even though it has been very frustrating this Academy, it has been a blast chasing down the top times and challenging myself....I have learned a lot from this. Good luck all.
Still another long week and more time to be gained!!!
I'll upload it here shortly so whenever you get the time to take a look, it will be here. Thanks again you guys, can't wait to get some feedback.
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