Now we’ll explain the 8 key areas you must work on to improve your performance and reach your goals in SimRacing.
The 8 Key Areas to Work on to Excel in Sim Racing
1. Driving Techniques
Driving Techniques are the first thing that matters.
If you want to improve, it's essential to understand that every aspect of driving affects your performance on the track.
In other articles, we've discussed how to refine these skills, but for now, let’s focus on the foundation of every great driver: driving technique.
Effective driving isn’t just about speed; it involves a range of skills from optimizing braking and using engine braking, to choosing the best racing lines and effectively using the accelerator.
Every detail, big or small, significantly impacts your lap time and your ability to compete at higher levels.
For example, braking isn’t just about slowing the car down.
It’s about knowing when to start braking, how much pressure to apply, and how to release the brakes optimally to maintain control and make a proper corner entry.
Also, engine braking, a technique where you use the engine’s resistance to slow down the car, can make a big difference in corner management.
Choosing the right racing lines is another crucial area.
How you approach a corner, where you enter, the line you follow, and where you exit can drastically reduce your lap time.
An optimal racing line (and it's definitely not the game’s suggested line, which we recommend turning off to go faster) allows you to maintain higher speeds through corners, reducing your overall lap time.
Effective use of the accelerator is equally crucial.
Knowing when and how much to accelerate can help maximize speed on corner exits and reduce the risk of losing control.
Throttle management requires a delicate balance: too little, and you lose speed; too much, and you might go off track or spin out.
In other blog articles, we've explored these techniques in more detail, offering practical tips and strategies to master them brilliantly.
For now, remember: if your goal is to improve on your simulator [iRacing, AC, ACC, rFactor 2, RaceRoom, Automobilista 2], the starting point is driving technique.
Without a solid foundation in this area, reaching high performance levels will be difficult.
So, get ready to dive into the world of driving techniques and discover how they can transform your racing experience.
2. Setup
While not the only factor, the setup plays a significant role in your performance.
A personalized setup, tailored to the track’s characteristics and your driving style, gives you that extra edge to drive with more confidence and naturally improve your performance.
3. Minimize Use of Assists
As mentioned earlier, excessive use of assists can "cripple" your car, leaving much of its performance untapped.
There are assists like ABS and TC that, in most cases, shouldn’t be completely removed but rather adjusted to be less intrusive, helping you avoid locking up or get the best traction.
On the other hand, there are assists that MUST BE REMOVED, including:
- Automatic Gearbox: It takes control away from you and slows you down.
- AutoDrive: Controls braking and steering, making driving too easy and less engaging. If you drive like AI, you’ll be as slow as AI. This assist brakes too early and, combined with the automatic gearbox, can significantly slow you down. Not fun being at the mercy of AI, right?
- Racing Line: It shows the safest lines through corners, but they’re definitely not the fastest. It doesn’t let you use the entire track, which is crucial for going fast in motorsport. It doesn’t let you aggressively attack curbs and bumps to shave off lap time.
So, rely less on driving assists if you want to reach your goals on the track!
4. Mentality
A Winning Mindset is as important as driving skills.
It’s the engine that drives every champion and can make the difference between an average and an exceptional driver.
Developing a winning mentality will help you not only in Sim Racing but also in real life, giving you the resilience and determination needed to achieve your goals.
"You must always be better than the previous day. Never stop, otherwise, you'll be overtaken. For every zero steps you take, your competitors will make four in four days, equating to four tenths gained over you."
That’s what the great Engineer Luigi Mazzola, 14-time F1 champion with Ferrari between 1988 and 2009 (8 Drivers and 6 Constructors titles), would say about having a winning mentality.
In upcoming articles, we’ll discuss this aspect in more detail and how to build a positive, winning mindset always aimed at improvement.
5. Managing Race Anxiety and Pressure
How many times has a driver (probably you too) experienced trembling hands or feet, started sweating, or got paranoid before a race?
We’re sure the answer is: Many times.
The strongest drivers use race anxiety to their advantage, turning it into a motivational tool that pushes them to do better.
Your ability to manage anxiety and pressure depends on your level of preparation.
More preparation = Less anxiety, and vice versa.
Proper preparation reduces anxiety, while effectively handling pressure in difficult situations is a skill that develops with experience.
6. Reading the Race
In the sophisticated world of simulators, the ability to read the race and adapt your strategy is key to success.
This requires a deep understanding of race dynamics and acute situational awareness.
It’s not just about driving fast: it’s about smart race management, requiring readiness, tactics, and foresight.
Learning to evaluate when to push hard or when to conserve tires is one of the most crucial skills.
During a race, conditions can change rapidly, and good tire management can be the difference between finishing on the podium or falling behind.
Understanding how tire degradation affects performance and adapting your driving style to preserve them can allow you to stay on track longer without losing valuable time.
Pitstop timing is also a critical factor.
Deciding when to pit can significantly affect your race position.
This decision can be influenced by various factors, like track traffic or tire wear.
A well-timed pitstop can give you a tactical advantage, allowing you to gain positions or rejoin the track with clear air ahead.
These skills, combined with the ability to read and react to your competitors' actions and race conditions, are essential to becoming a complete driver.
A driver with these skills not only excels in driving but also demonstrates tactical awareness, allowing them to exploit every situation to their advantage.
Whether you’re racing in career mode, online events, or competitions, these skills will be crucial for elevating your driving to a higher level.
Get ready to dive into a world where strategy combines with speed to create a rich and engaging virtual racing experience.
7. Training Method
As we’ve mentioned before, it’s not the quantity but the quality of training that makes the difference.
It's important HOW you train, not HOW MUCH you train!
With a well-thought-out training plan and focused practice, you can make significant progress, turning each gaming session into an opportunity to improve and enjoy the journey to mastering virtual driving.
Don’t worry, because soon we’ll reveal something crucial to building your growth path and training method.
8. Self-Analysis Ability
In the competitive world of simulators, the ability to self-analyze plays a crucial role in every virtual driver's growth journey.
This ability isn’t just about reviewing your on-track performance; it’s a broader process that covers every aspect of driving.
For drivers seriously aiming to improve, self-analysis is the key to unlocking a higher level of skill and race success.
Learning to review your laps isn’t just about watching a replay.
It’s a detailed examination of every aspect of your run: your driving line, braking, throttle use, and shifting.
Analyzing your laps helps you identify not only your strengths but, more importantly, the areas where you have room for improvement.
This process requires honesty and a genuine spirit of self-critique.
Building a spirit of self-critique doesn’t mean being overly harsh on yourself but rather developing the ability to objectively evaluate your performance.
This approach allows you to take responsibility for your actions on track and adopt a growth-oriented mindset.
Recognizing your mistakes is the first step to learning from them and becoming a stronger driver.
Remember, in Sim Racing, you are the main architect of your destiny.
While external factors like your steering wheel, car setup, or even environmental conditions can influence your performance, it’s your commitment and willingness to learn and improve that truly determine your success.
Don’t blame the tools or circumstances; instead, focus on what you can control: your approach, your preparation, and your attitude.
In summary, the road to becoming a champion is marked by your determination to reflect, learn, and continually improve.
It’s not the steering wheel, the setup, or external conditions, but your constant commitment and desire to grow that will lead you to success.
Keep your focus on your evolution as a driver, and you’ll see your track performance transform.
But... Learning to drive on simulators is not easy.
It’s a process that requires time, dedication, commitment, and, most importantly, an investment in yourself.
Once you have fully understood and applied this information, with any car or track you try, you’ll have the keys to achieve your goals on the track and beat your opponents.
There’s no other solution: YOU MUST MASTER THE DRIVING TECHNIQUES CORRECTLY.
We at Università del SimRacing will help you do this as quickly and effectively as possible.
We are professionals in the field and have already helped thousands of drivers significantly lower their lap times.
Keep reading our blog articles by clicking the button below.
See you soon!