I had a race where a laggy car was buzzing around me like a fly, leaving sparks and dust everywhere. Mega distraction, at least his car never hit me. Then another race where a 1 bar connection zoomed passed me each corner to reset behind me after the corner. Whatever netcode PD uses needs a rewrite.
I just started racing on PS5. First race I start on pole, however I'm still used to the DS4 controller. Travel is different in the Dualsense sticks and triggers so it takes half a lap to get dialed in again. The GT-R in second didn't have the patience for that of course. He got close enough to hit my inside right bumper at the sharp left towards Flugplatz. We tangle up and fall back to 4th and 5th. Have some patience FFS. GT-R has much better top speed, straight is coming right up, it's a 2 lap race, ugh. I make it back to 3rd but that's it. Second (WRX) is fast enough to block any attempt to pass.
Next race has an A+ GT-R on pole, and the same GT-R from the last race starting behind me. I'm dialed in now so stay ahead of 3rd, yet first simply runs off. I finish 14 seconds behind the A+ GT-R, 7 seconds in front of 3rd. My 7:11 lap is not up to the 7:04 lap from the A+ driver. Oh well, I had one chance lol.
Races on ps4 earlier were all very clean and very fast. There I was starting as low as 11th with my 7:08 qualifying time. Lot of A+ and other fast guys racing today, fun races. A 3rd place finish was the best I could do on ps4, so I guess I already have that beat with a time trial in 2nd on ps5
3rd race on ps5, this room has 6 A+ drivers. I start behind them in 7th. All GT-R except one Ferrari in 3rd. Another time trial race until 6 crashes in lap 2. I was slowly catching up to him but wasn't feeling it to attempt a pass after he already showed his true colors swerving on the straight in lap 1. I finish 6th, hmm ps5 racing is rather meh. Another difference is the sun reflecting in the shiny cars, blinding spots in front and in the mirror. PS4 is easier on the eyes!
4th race, same room... This time 4th or 5th crashes lap 2, I pass his ghosted wreck and finish 6th again. Another CRB after another time trial. I'm switching back to ps4. More fun people there, fewer GT-Rs.
Back on ps4 I'm starting 8th. Only 2 GT-Rs in front of me and another two further down the grid. Nicely mixed grid, fun! I get some pressure from 9th for the first half of lap 1 until he falls back. I'm closing in on 7th at the end of the lap but have to correct 2 turns before the straight and fall out of draft range doh. Lap 2 a car crashes in front and I get into 7th. I'm right behind 6th again and this time make it onto the straight just under 0.5 sec behind him, but it's one of the GT-Rs. My Lexus can't get an inch closer, no swerving, right in the slipstream, just enough to keep the same distance. I finish 7th with CRB. Fun race.
What is also weird, it feels faster on ps4? Times are the same, but I get a better sense of speed. No clue why. Maybe the unstable frame rate and slightly worse lighting/shadows make it more 'dramatic'? It feels smoother and slower on ps5, strange.
Another great race! I start 5th behind 2 GT-Rs. It's close all race. 3rd and 4th swap positions once then later swap back. I'm still 3rd in our 3-way race until 4th makes a slight mistake, goes a bit wide and I manage to move my Lexus into the gap contact free. He sees me, leaves room and I clear him next corner. Now I'm the monkey in the middle. I feel my toes biting the carpet while leaning through the corners (I'm standing while racing) 2nd bows out before the end, the car behind me messes up before the straight and I'm left drafting (the now) 2nd down the straight. I had a better exit onto the straight this time but still isn't enough to catch the GT-R. I finish right behind him in 3rd. This is sport mode at it's best, close, clean, no contact, fun!
Next, starting behind the same GT-R again, close race again. Then he decides to give me the position in lap 2 at Adenau. Probably wants to see how I do under pressure, as long as he keeps up the GT-R will win on the straight. (We're 3 and 4, 2nd is far ahead) I've done far too many races for pressure to get to me and let the Lexus rip, tearing up the 2nd half of the course. I get 1.5 sec ahead which might have got him a bit concerned as he started pushing hard. He brought it back down to 1.0 sec but over drove the mini karroussel and fell back to 4 sec behind. Another fun clean race, it's raining CRBs tonight.
It only keeps getting better, the last 2 races of the week, pure greatness. Everyone is dialed in and racing for fun. This is the Sunday night experience I always loved from GT Sport. I'm glad it's still alive in GT7
The final tally (just over half the graph is all from the Nordschleife)
Much easier to gain DR while qualifying
But also great clean racing helps a lot!