Top Gear Test Track Lotus Challenge (2013 update)

[chuyler1]

Has anyone tried this event recently? I've started the game from scratch and have been ticking off gold trophies in rapid succession with my DFGT. Then I got to this event. I hated it 3 years ago but now it is really pissing me off.

I think updates to the track, A.I., and handling over the past 3 years have made this even more difficult. I've been experimenting with the on-the-fly settings like brake balance and TCS but haven't quite figured out how to get the car to handle well enough for me to be consistent. Every other attempt I either hit a car, a cone, or I go flying off the track trying to keep the car straight on the follow through.

It's nearly impossible to put power down without spinning the wheels. TCS=5 produces random snap oversteer. TCS=1 gives you a little warning but its tough to exit Chicago/Hammerhead at the same pace as the A.I.

Videos online are useless since the cars don't line up the same way anymore and a few gaps are closed by A.I. drivers trying to pass each other. Furthermore you cannot hit any cones. I've seen videos where the driver plows through certain cones but that isn't allowed anymore.

After spending over an hour last night the best I could do was 2nd but most of the time I didn't make it to Chicago before having issues. I'll try again tonight but I need to vent a little

 

[Dan]

Did you do the corner-cut cheat? When you are out of the hammerhead, you go directly to the corner where there are two sets of cones. Stay to the left, and do not turn right. You can basically go down the wrong way on the track, drive past the finish line, spin around, and you win.

 

[GTP_CargoRatt]

Did you do the corner-cut cheat? When you are out of the hammerhead, you go directly to the corner where there are two sets of cones. Stay to the left, and do not turn right. You can basically go down the wrong way on the track, drive past the finish line, spin around, and you win.

That's it, encourage him to cheat.

 

[Dan]

That's it, encourage him to cheat.

Whatever. I don't ruin people's races online because if they lose, they're going to be angry at me for that. But considering its a poorly designed challenge against even more poorly designed AIs, its not hurting anyone in my opinion.

 

[GTMail]

Can you still do that? I never did, personally, but I tried it again for fun a few months ago. The key is smoothness. I found that not braking for any turn but hammerhead and the last two really helped keep the car from spinning out. I didn't use traction control. Which is really a must if you want to feel how the car behaves instead of the traction control dictating that. Smooth and gradual steering inputs also kept the car controlled. I used the manual transmission and short shifted on corner exit for hammerhead. I also took advantage of the ridiculous OP drafting system that GT5 has. I hoped this helped.

 

[GTP_CargoRatt]

Whatever. I don't ruin people's races online because if they lose, they're going to be angry at me for that. But considering its a poorly designed challenge against even more poorly designed AIs, its not hurting anyone in my opinion.

Not sure what the part I have high-lighted has to do with anything. And you're right, its not hurting anyone but I just find it funny that whenever someone comes on here for help with something like that, a lot of peoples response is to cheat. Did you ever stop to think that maybe he wanted some honest help and not just told a way to cheat the event. And even if it may be a poorly designed challenge, that still doesn't make it ok to cheat. Furthermore, my response to you was meant to be light-hearted, (hence the smilie) didn't mean to offend you.

To the OP: I have not done this race in ages so I'm not sure what may have changed so about the only advice I can give you is try being a little smoother on the throttle. Try braking a bit earlier and then get back on the gas as smoothly as possible. Smoother inputs on your steering also may help. I wouldn't go much higher than 3 on the Traction Control, even if that aid is allowed. Maybe I'll go back to that event and give it another go so maybe I can give you more in-depth help. For now, just keep at it, you'll eventually get it. I remember there were a few of the challenges that gave me fits back in the day, but persistence eventually paid off. 👍

 

[Dan]

Not sure what the part I have high-lighted has to do with anything. And you're right, its not hurting anyone but I just find it funny that whenever someone comes on here for help with something like that, a lot of peoples response is to cheat. Did you ever stop to think that maybe he wanted some honest help and not just told a way to cheat the event. And even if it may be a poorly designed challenge, that still doesn't make it ok to cheat. Furthermore, my response to you was meant to be light-hearted, (hence the smilie) didn't mean to offend you.[/b]

Well, with your general serious tone in your posts when it comes to hot button topics (like cheating in GT5), I couldn't tell if you were being serious, light-hearted, or outright sarcastic.

 

[GTP_CargoRatt]

Well, with your general serious tone in your posts when it comes to hot button topics (like cheating in GT5), I couldn't tell if you were being serious, light-hearted, or outright sarcastic.

That's why I put the at the end, so you would know that I was just messing with you. 👍 Yes, I am against cheating but like you said, its his game and he can play it how he likes. The only problem I had is, the guy asked for help and the first response he got was to cheat. Anyway, no ill feelings towards you. Like I said, I was more or less just messing with you. Moving on....

 

[Dan]

That's why I put the at the end, so you would know that I was just messing with you. 👍 Yes, I am against cheating but like you said, its his game and he can play it how he likes. The only problem I had is, the guy asked for help and the first response he got was to cheat. Anyway, no ill feelings towards you. Like I said, I was more or less just messing with you. Moving on....

Okay then...

 

[archie_aileron]

I used SRF. I don't give a ****. Struggling with an Elise on comfort soft tires is not my idea of fun.

 

[Dan]

I used SRF. I don't give a ****. Struggling with an Elise on comfort soft tires is not my idea of fun.

I thought they were Comfort Hard tires.

 

[chuyler1]

Doh, forgot about Skid Recovery Force. I set traction control to 1 and SRF to on and was in first place at hammerhead of 2nd lap. I think the short cut still works too. I'd like to beat it without SRF but I'll save that for later.

 

[XS]

I admit I had to use SRF the first time, and I'm fairly positive if I tried the challenge again, I'd probably have to use it in order to gold.

 

[chuyler1]

Well it took me a good hour to get 2nd place last night but I swear that was sheer luck and lots of throttle modulation. Flipped on SRF and it didn't take more than 3 tries to get 1st place. It's probably possible to get gold without the aids, but not with my patience.