Track learning / corners / colour-coded indicators

[Oxygen_z900]

I'm new to GT Sport and at a glance there isn't an option similar to Project Cars whereby coloured indicators on the track let you know the track layout by showing green / red etc. depending on speed, corner angle etc. With limited gaming time, this helps me race on tracks I've not memorised, and doesn't feel like cheating, more just like I've learned the track and know the tightness of the corners. The colouring isn't exact either, so if I slow too much on a red section, I'll lose lap time. So it's the perfect balance of track-learning assistance, without giving everything away.

I've turned off driving aids and from what I can see, I just need the corner indicators. However these won't help me know a bend is a tight one, correct? Is there any other option? I don't want to overdo the assistance by turning on cones and racing lines, the latter doesn't seem colour coded anyway. But I'm already finding that glancing at the map to gauge corners during the race isn't easy.

Edit: I've now read about the brake indicator, maybe I should use that? But given it's obviously for corners, what's different about that to using the corner markers (which I'm also confused about as there seems to be a second marker after I straighten up).

Should I use cones after all?

Also what options are available racing online, zero?

Apologies for the stupid questions, just trying to get going quickly! Hoping for some decent online racing as Project Cars seems full of morons (though hoping it's better now I've upgraded to PC2).

Any suggestions? Thanks!

 

[ARTAsean]

IMO the cones are the best way to learn a new track. Single cones for the line and double cones for braking points. I’m strictly opposed to AIDS, but I do use the cones for a few laps on new tracks. I’ve never used the racing line thingy, it’s worthless IMO.

 

[Oxygen_z900]

IMO the cones are the best way to learn a new track. Single cones for the line and double cones for braking points. I’m strictly opposed to AIDS, but I do use the cones for a few laps on new tracks. I’ve never used the racing line thingy, it’s worthless IMO.

Thanks for the quick reply, maybe I was too quick to dismiss cones (thought perhaps it was cheating too much). I will try that option..

 

[Woodybobs]

Funnily enough the cones were what I missed most when I was learning tracks on PC2. Brake at the double cones and turn in at the single. They don't feel intrusive as an aid at all. They're more of a guide of where to brake rather than an exact braking point - most road cars require braking earlier, while the GT race cars can be slightly before or after them. The biggest advantage is that they're easy to spot coming up. TBH I hope more games adopt them in future, at least in practice modes.

 

[Oxygen_z900]

Funnily enough the cones were what I missed most when I was learning tracks on PC2. Brake at the double cones and turn in at the single. They don't feel intrusive as an aid at all. They're more of a guide of where to brake rather than an exact braking point - most road cars require braking earlier, while the GT race cars can be slightly before or after them. The biggest advantage is that they're easy to spot coming up. TBH I hope more games adopt them in future, at least in practice modes.

Cheers Woodybobs, after these replies it's clear I should try cones then. I've only had time for a couple of races so far, so it's all new to me. It's too hot this evening, I'm roasting after a few minutes, playing with a G29.

 

[breeminator]

As someone who came to the game from Forza not that long ago, I also missed the colour coded driving line, which in Forza is a very powerful assist. It dynamically changes colour to reflect your speed and how much faster you could be going, or how much slower you should be going.

I would strongly advise against using cones in GTS. They're awful. In a race, other drivers can hit YOUR cones, even if they don't have cones on, and your cones will no longer be available to tell you when to brake. If you get a cone on the track, you can hit it, and it will slow you down. Not only that, they can be in completely the wrong place, depending on the car and track. On some tracks, e.g. Bathurst, they can be hard to spot, hidden behind distance boards.

So just turn them off, and use other reference points. Watch the #1 replay from the leaderboard and identify reference points for where they brake. Don't use destructible items as reference points, e.g. distance boards that are on the ground by the track can be taken out by other drivers during a race. Identify reference points that cannot be taken away from you by other drivers. It might seem painful to learn tracks this way, but it's the only truly reliable approach.

 

[Pigems]

But if you’re focused on the driving line you’re not looking at the road or cars around you as much. The cones are much better once you get used to them.

 

[ARTAsean]

As someone who came to the game from Forza not that long ago, I also missed the colour coded driving line, which in Forza is a very powerful assist. It dynamically changes colour to reflect your speed and how much faster you could be going, or how much slower you should be going.

I would strongly advise against using cones in GTS. They're awful. In a race, other drivers can hit YOUR cones, even if they don't have cones on, and your cones will no longer be available to tell you when to brake. If you get a cone on the track, you can hit it, and it will slow you down. Not only that, they can be in completely the wrong place, depending on the car and track. On some tracks, e.g. Bathurst, they can be hard to spot, hidden behind distance boards.

So just turn them off, and use other reference points. Watch the #1 replay from the leaderboard and identify reference points for where they brake. Don't use destructible items as reference points, e.g. distance boards that are on the ground by the track can be taken out by other drivers during a race. Identify reference points that cannot be taken away from you by other drivers. It might seem painful to learn tracks this way, but it's the only truly reliable approach.

This is why I said I use them for a few laps only, and definitely don’t race with them. They can be very troublesome - especially when you run them over and they send you flying into orbit.

Having them on for just a few laps allows the periphery of the track at the braking point to be memorized, to the point where you don’t need them anymore. There is almost always a visual aid in the background you can use instead.

 

[Oxygen_z900]

Cheers all, useful to get all these opinions..

@breeminator, I had Forza on Xbox / Xbox 360 and really liked it. Then on PS4 I've really loved PC1, but as the online was full of cretins I recently got PC2, and I've been dismayed at all the graphical glitches (which weren't there on PC1 - ludicrous!)....hence I thought **** this I'll try GT Sport for online racing.

I didn't realise the cones were real rather than virtual. I guess I'll try all these options.. Viewing #1 replay seems a cool idea, but I'm terrible at retaining any kind of info at all..

 

[Oxygen_z900]

I've finally had a number of arcade and custom races; I'm finding the brake alert working quite well. I like that it's not exact, so there's still leeway for error or optimisation rather than just braking whenever the alert is on.

Only had an hour or so, but it's so polished, love the historical cars and descriptions between games. Feels great, fun to play, cockpit view is nicely gauged. Yes, seems a bit more forgiving than PC1/2, but with the driving aids off it's still challenging. I like the bright colours and general appearance too.

A very high quality driving game!

 

[Groundfish]

The one thing about the indicated driving line is that 90 percent of the time it’s a very very good line to use in terms of making it next to impossible for someone to pass you if you do it pretty well without mistakes. It’s tough to even punt someone using it who is a good driver.
Sometimes people ask for trouble when they run wider lines with other cars too close.
So, I use it and cones like right now on Goodwood since I don’t know it. I turn it off though once I have it down.
I couldn’t imagine having it on a lot though.
I agree though with those who mentioned it’s really bad if it makes you look ten feet in front of the car.
The cones keep your eyes looking well ahead which is what a person needs to do.
I just wanted to mention the yellow line benefit of basically being almost impossible to pass on most tracks with equal cars.

 

[Oxygen_z900]

Cheers for that... there seems a lot of options for me to check-out, but yes maybe I should also try the driving line indicator for learning tracks. I just find it so hard for anything to stick, I'm the same in the office, totally useless memory.

I'm going to have to check out Goodwood, I love it how this (and Project Cars) have classic UK tracks..

 

[Groundfish]

Cheers for that... there seems a lot of options for me to check-out, but yes maybe I should also try the driving line indicator for learning tracks. I just find it so hard for anything to stick, I'm the same in the office, totally useless memory.

I'm going to have to check out Goodwood, I love it how this (and Project Cars) have classic UK tracks..

There was a one make race n100 356 speedster Porsche at Brands Hatch Indy. If you are on wheel and have that car I reccomended turning on the line and trying that combo.
The benefits of the lines are really felt when it’s followed right on that one and it’s a short track.
You can feel how the lines location with respect to track undulation stabilizes the car. It’s an expensive car, but that combo right there is deep. There’s so much more time in it than you might feel at first.
First try it without the line and feel how loose the car is. (Use bop sports hard tire)
Then try it with line and feel the ffb tighten and become stable.
You can really feel how under braking and then blending turn in stabilizes everything and makes you want to keep blending in more throttle.
That combo to me was super super addictive.

Cheers

 

[Veinz]

Cones are good for learning but they aren't always correct, especially when you start running softer tires.

 

[SpaceMaN47y0]

I've always used the driving line only. I don't try to stay EXACTLY on it but it helps me. After 4 or 5 laps I have most braking points figured out pretty well.

Edit: I guess I use the brake indicator as well. Didn't even think it was an aid as I've used it on GT since wayback.

 

[Oxygen_z900]

Cones are good for learning but they aren't always correct, especially when you start running softer tires.

I'll probably be like my first experience driving in the States - clobbered a cone / roadside barrier on my first drive (from airport to hotel, on a work trip!)

I've always used the driving line only. I don't try to stay EXACTLY on it but it helps me. After 4 or 5 laps I have most braking points figured out pretty well.

Edit: I guess I use the brake indicator as well. Didn't even think it was an aid as I've used it on GT since wayback.

I'm managing to notice the brake alert, it's good because I'm rubbish at glancing at the map.

 

[Oxygen_z900]

@Groundfish

Cheers, that sounds really cool, some way ahead for me yet but I'm intrigued by the idea of the car being stable / loose depending on the line. I guess that can be fun like tearing round a track with a lot of undulation such as Laguna Seca, I always enjoy that one on Project Cars. I guess the line in conjunction with camber is pretty important.

Regarding wheel (G29 in my case) I'm well pleased with how well it's configured on GTS right from the start.

 

[Groundfish]

Yeah if you want to build a solid foundation I recommend the book
ULTIMATE SPEED SECRETS
by Ross Bentley

 

[BallPtPenTheif]

Cones are good for learning but they aren't always correct, especially when you start running softer tires.

They're just relative reference points and they never directly correlate to an exact braking or turn in point. So they're not really correct or wrong, they just exist and you develop a braking point and turn in point relative to their placement.

My approach to learning a course:
1) Run a few laps braking at the double cone marker just to get a feel for the flow of the course.
2) Watch Lester's fastest lap (since he runs with cones on) and note his braking points and turn in markers relative to the cones and the kerbing.
3) Use Lester's line but braking half a car length earlier than Lester since I'm not as good as Lester.

 

[Oxygen_z900]

That Ultimate Speed Secrets book looks good, I don't know this Ross Bentley chap.

I'm OK with the braking alert.....except....it's disappeared and I can't seem to reactivate it.

Are you allowed such things in online races? I had a race earlier but it was a bit of a cruise round the park as I didn't know the track.

 

[Pigems]

Yeah if you want to build a solid foundation I recommend the book
ULTIMATE SPEED SECRETS
by Ross Bentley

That Ultimate Speed Secrets book looks good, I don't know this Ross Bentley chap.

I'm OK with the braking alert.....except....it's disappeared and I can't seem to reactivate it.

Are you allowed such things in online races? I had a race earlier but it was a bit of a cruise round the park as I didn't know the track.

I bought that book, it’s really good and it was only $12(CDN) on Apple Books. I’d definitely recommend it to anyone wanting to improve their racing, I learned a LOT.

And this is coming from a person who NEVER reads books.

 

[Oxygen_z900]

^Love the imagery, the hand-painted colours give it a vintage racing feel - well a 70s or 80s vintage, perhaps.

@BallPtPenTheif - ta for the cones explanation / advice.

Wow this forum's impressive. I mainly just race around for fun, I don't have a proper gearstick, or good knowledge of set-ups and things. That said, even at my level I love the feel of it with a G29 (I know there are all sorts of other wheel sets) - Project Cars very nice with the G29 too, though I fiddled about with settings for a bit.

I wish I had more time to really get into all this properly. Memories of staying up all night playing GT with friends on PS2, high as a kite on coke, seem like another lifetime!