Yep, high speed on the controller is difficult, where on the wheel it is much easier. The opposite is true for low speed stuff. The controller has a kind of smoothing built into the inputs so helps stabilise the car at low speeds where it is removed or reduced for the high speed stuff. Also the higher gears slows down the rotation of the wheels, so if you get off line through a corner, but the time you exit the corner and need to turn the other way, the wheels won't turn fast enough. This can be a major issue in the last corners of the Porsche Curves at Circuit de la Sarthe.
The other thing with the 908 is, you are running such high speed through the Porsche Curves, you are exceeding the grip limits available to the rear tires. The faster you go, the more narrow the line becomes that is available to you. You step over that line and the rear end breaks and your into the barrier. On a racing wheel, you can be very precise and it is easier to run on the knife edge that it is requiring to go flat out. On a controller, you have to hit that same knife edge but you are doing it within the range of an analog stick, which isn't easy to do. Thankfully you don't need to take those corners flat out to achieve gold, so pulling a little back from max throttle gives you enough wiggle room for the analog controller. Still easier said than done.
It is something I achieved today! A total of 616km down to complete all sectors and lap, although the better part of 450km for the lap alone. I did it on a dual sense with no aids or HUD, and I messed up the entry to the Porsche curves! I loved the challenge, and coming out of it I have better awareness and car control than I did going in. I really felt I have learned a lot from this CE alone compared to the rest and kind of wish that the rest of them were more in line with the Circuit de la Sarthe difficulty for the Gold.
This was my first lap I actually completed today as I hadn't gotten past the exit of the Porsche Curves in the prior 350km today. Also the first lap I didn't lock my tires at any of the corners. I thought I had at Arnage, which is brilliantly tricky, but I must have been just on the limit with the tyre squeal I got.
A replay with the HUD for those that want to see my inputs.
