The 9 Steps to (simulation) Race Mastery

Introduction

Think of race mastery as a stair function.  There are multiple, mostly sequential steps which a driver must achieve.  This scale is an attempt to quantize the skills that a driver must acquire in order to reach the level of mastery necessary to regularly compete for wins, in any series.  For each step, the skills associated with that milestone are described.  Also, an attempt is made to describe the kinds of things that a driver can do to assist their pursuit of each step - these are labeled as 'training'.  Also, the training techniques are intended to assist the driver's pursuit of legitimately achieving the next step, rather than simply 'faking' a capability or merely compensating for a skill level that is insufficient for the next step.

The first 7 steps represent a linear progression of the driver's ability to simply go fast.  The last two steps (8 & 9) are not strictly dependent on steps 1-7.  They could conceivably be pursued at any time, though they likely won't be of much interest (or have much effect) until the driver has at least achieved step 4 (99% pace).

The step labels are intended to be used as descriptors of a driver's capability, rather than their current goal.  I.e., a 'step 4' driver is one that is capable of 99% pace, rather than one that has reached step 3 (90% pace) and is pursuing step 4.

The scale is geared towards simulation racing, though there is obvious overlap with real-life racing for most of the skills and the techniques used to develop them.  Simulation racing is just more affordable.

Step 1: Gross indoctrination

Skills

• Understanding of racing fundamentals, basic concepts like traction, racing line, etc..

Training

• Watching racing on the telly.
• Casual study of racing fundamentals via literature or online material.

Notes

• You'd be surprised how many people don't have a decent grasp of the fundamental concepts involved in driving a car on a track, and that lack of knowledge handicaps their rate of improvement tremendously.  Do a little bit of homework and graduate from racing 101.

Step 2: Basic virtual mapping into a simulation

Skills

• Being comfortable using the pedals, shifters, and a wheel that (likely) doesn't spin more than 270 degrees.
• Choosing a camera angle. Reading the HUD.  Adjusting fuel.  Loading and saving setups (NOT tweaking them).
• Understanding the procedures for participating in qual, starting a race, pitting, etc..

Training

• A few uninterrupted, dedicated, practice sessions.
• A little guidance from a veteran.

Notes

• This skill generally carries over well from game to game, even radically different styles of racing games.  If you're comfortable driving in F1 Championship, for example, you'll acclimate quickly to rFactor.

Step 3: The 90% pace

Skills

• Basic management of the car on the track.
• Actually applying the skills of steps 1 & 2 in order to complete a non-aggressive clean lap -- i.e. no spins.

Training

• Observing other drivers (both faster and slower), and being observed by other (faster) drivers.
• Racing short tracks to aid memorization.  Track memorization is probably the biggest key to hitting 90%, since it's almost all in the brake points and eliminating the tendency to fly off corners.
• Approaching 90% pace from the +80% side instead of the +90% side will, I believe, reduce the time it takes you to reach 90%.   That is to say -- come at it from a consciously slow approach, rather than the seat-of-your-pants approach.  Yes, this is difficult to do, mentally.

Notes

• Some people may clear this step almost immediately.
• Rookie cars (i.e. gross vehicle assists like an 'anti-spin' drivetrain) will be of little or no benefit to the driver who struggles with this step.

Step 4: The 99% pace

Skills

• Aggressive track and car management, high level of consistency in execution.

Training

• Practice.
• More practice.
• Close observation of fast drivers, but with an understanding of what you're watching for - i.e. the differences between your own execution and the fast driver.  It can't just be an attempt at raw mimicry.
• Rookie cars!!  Finally, we get to the point where a boosted car and a driver's skillset are a good match for positive results.  A driver capable of 90% pace, who is now doing more clean laps than spin laps can benefit from a boosted car in order to get from 90% to within shouting distance of the lead.
• Again, approach 99% from the slow side, rather than the fast.  Completed clean laps are your best friend.  The more time you spend facing the wrong way on the shoulder or planted in the berm, the less time you spend giving your brain and muscles the chance to memorize successful speed.

Notes

• This is the key step where the racing itself generally becomes fun.  You may not be winning, but if you continue to execute the fundamentals, you'll get to jockey cleanly with other drivers and be racing in the pack.

Step 5: The 100% pace

Skills

• The ability to really relax and go fast at the same time.
• A deeper understanding of the race physics, allowing you to both recognize and exploit speed opportunities in both the track and the car.

Training

• Practice.  Practice.  Practice.
• Continued close observation of 100% pace drivers, specifically identifying differences in split times and their origin.  You should be able to recognize when and why you're not as fast as the driver that's faster than you.

Notes

• If you're not tweaking your own setup, then you need to be a parasite to another 100% pace driver -- using their setup on their car and following their habits.
• You probably need to pursue Step 6 at this point, if you want to continue to grow as a driver.
• This is the step with which many drivers struggle mightily.  They might regularly achieve 100% pace in practice, but be unable to execute consistently under race conditions.  It's entirely mental.

Step 6: Setup

Skills

• Understanding the garage options and the relationships between mechanical variables and vehicle behavior.

Training

• Reading and studying setup guides and motorsports tutorials.  A good understanding of physics (mechanical and aero) will definitely help.
• Collaborating with other league members.
• Controlled practice, being able to execute consistently enough that the effect of single variable changes can be perceived.

Notes

• This can be postponed almost indefinitely if you really don't care about setup, but in doing so you'll almost certainly have a glass ceiling over your head preventing you from being creative and setting new track records.

Step 7: Hot Shoe, or record pace

Skills

• The uncanny knack for chipping 10ths and 100ths off of track records.
• Good understanding not just of setup in general, but specifically how it is affecting the particular track you're on and the particular car you're in.
• Very consistent and smooth input, allowing the car to inch incredibly close to the 'physical' thresholds for grip, braking, and throttle/gear optimization, but without going past the threshold (at least for a whole lap).

Training

• Telemetry.
• rF replays.
• In-depth study.
• Real-life racing, if you can manage it.

Notes

• Yes this is difficult.  No, not everyone achieves it.  Luckily, it isn't required to win.  If racing was just about doing the fastest lap, why bother having  the race?

Step 8: Racecraft

Skills

• Knowing how to pass and block cleanly.
• How to use lap traffic, whether you're leading or chasing.
• Learning how to stay close for an extended time *without* passing or being passed, and without sabotaging your own position.

Training

• Experience under race conditions, i.e. trial by fire and lots of it.
• AI can be useful here.  Dial them up so that they're racing at your pace (whatever it is).  Driving at full pace with traffic is not the same as driving full pace by yourself, as the traffic will force you to control the car under non-optimal braking, accelerating, and turning.  The AI can help you develop those skills, though nothing compares to race laps with peer drivers.

Notes

• This step is parallel to Step 4 (99% pace) since you can win races without being the fastest if your traffic skills are good.  You need to be fast enough to be close to pole, but you don't need to be pole.  Similarly, you can easily and regularly lose races even if you're past Step 7, if your traffic skills are poor.

Step 9: Race strategy

Skills

• Understanding the variables and tradeoffs involved in strategic decisions for medium to long races.
• Formulating pit strategies and identifying their relationship to your own (possibly modified) driving style.
• Evaluating unforeseen race events midway and knowing how to turn them to your advantage.

Training

• Experience.
• Watch races of professional series on TV, with an eye for how drivers and teams develop and apply a plan for the execution of the race, and for how they react to unforeseen events that influence the effectiveness of that plan.

Notes

• Like step 8, this step is parallel to Step 4 (99% pace) since you can win races without being the fastest if your race strategy skills are good.  You need to be fast enough to be close to pole, but you don't need to be pole.  Similarly, you can easily and regularly lose races even if you're past Step 7, if your planning skills are poor, or you fail to execute your plan or adapt to the dynamic nature of race variables.