‍The First Lap: Survive, Don't Attack

90% of incidents happen in the first three laps. Cold tyres, full fuel, pure adrenaline.

My first lap protocol:

• Start conservatively
• Expect divebombs at Turn 1
• Let aggressive drivers crash ahead
• Brake earlier, turn in gentler
• Pick up positions as others make mistakes

Cold tyres give you 20% less grip. Push too hard and you'll crash or destroy your tyres.

Overtaking: Patience Over Aggression

The setup lap - Study their braking points and weaknesses. Pressure them. Most drivers make mistakes under pressure.

The switchback - They divebomb you, run deep, you get better exit and re-pass on the straight. I've won positions without actually passing anyone.

Slipstream passes - Cleanest method. Draft on straights, pull out at the end, pass under braking. Using a Fanatec CSL DD or Moza R9 helps you feel grip when cars are inches apart.

Defending: One Move, Done Right

The one-move rule - You get one defensive move per straight. Wait until they commit, then take that line away.

Defend the inside line into heavy braking zones. That's everything.

Know when to concede. If they're significantly faster, let them go. I've salvaged podiums by letting faster cars past, then re-passing when they made mistakes later.

Traffic Management: Racing in a Pack

Spatial awareness - Check mirrors every 3 seconds. Know where every car around you is.

Multi-car battles - Sometimes staying in third while leaders fight each other is fastest. Patience wins positions.

Blue flags - Being lapped? Maintain your line, let them find space. Don't brake suddenly or change lines unpredictably.

Race Strategy: Think Five Laps Ahead

Tyre management - In 30-minute GT races, your pace lap 5 vs lap 25 can differ by 2 seconds. I start at 97% and build as others fade.

Fuel strategy - One less stop = 20 seconds saved. I calculate requirements pre-race using CrewChief.

Risk assessment - Leading with 3 laps to go? Drive conservatively. Running P8? Take calculated risks. Position determines strategy.

Mental Management Under Pressure

Incident recovery - Got punted? Breathe, assess damage, rejoin safely, focus on recovery. I've finished P6 after spinning lap 1.

Managing frustration - Someone dive bombs you unfairly. Letting anger affect your driving means they've beaten you twice.

Pressure situations - Someone faster is catching. Focus on your reference points. Drive your rhythm. Don't abandon technique.

Practice Racecraft Deliberately

• Join lower-stakes races for practice
• Watch your replays from multiple angles
• Study fast drivers on Twitch (I learned more from watching Max Benecke than 50 hours of my own racing)
• Post incidents to r/Simracingstewards for feedback

Now you have speed, consistency, and racecraft. In the final article, we'll cover entering your first online championship - where everything comes together.

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