Rookie Guide to racing in the Atomic F1 championship
You will not win, do not try to win. Your goal is to drive cleanly and not ruin anyone’s day :)
Enable the track view and watch it like a radar. If you see fast cars coming up to pass or lap you, give them plenty of room. Most likely they're having a battle of their own and it's extremely bad form to ruin the race a car lapping you.
How to let cars past
Stay off the racing line, go slow, do not suddenly change ‘lanes’ or lines right when the other car is upon you. Be aware that you may be lapped/passed by a group of cars in quick sucession – watch the radar.
An approaching driver will usually let you know when he's about to pass you, slow down and pull off the racing line.
Map a wheel button to rear view and get used to doing snap views to check often.
Rejoining after an off
Please be very careful, be aware of where other cars are and wait even if it means waiting til they pass and losing position.
Qualifying
Qualifying is short, and with many cars on the track, a driver may often have just one or two clean laps to put in a time.
• If you’ve come off at some point or generally are doing a lap that won’t improve your grid position – take it easy when you see other cars. Let them past, and stay off the racing line as you do so.
• If you are on a hot lap and coming up on someone going slowly you may want to warn them you’re coming through on a hot one. You may wish to say something cool like "Blazer blazer blazer - I am hot, repeat, I am hot".
• Maintain distance. Never tail anyone or roadblock traffic. Qualy is not a race or a time to compare your pace or cornering line to others. Maintain at least 200-300 meters between cars ahead and behind. More is better.
The start
Unlike every vs AI race you’ve ever driven – races ARE NOT won on the first corner. Your only goal is to:
1. Not touch anyone.
2. Not impede anyone.
3. Not brake too early, too late, too softly or too hard.
Remember that:
1. Your tires and brakes are cold, you will have no grip.
2. The normal braking marker for turn 1 that you carefully memorised and practised does not apply on a start, because of: above, and, because the run to turn 1 is shorter from the grid so your speed will be different. Practise race starts against AI to have some idea.
3. You are surrounded by other cars, most of which you cannot see and may be alongside you. Drive smoothly, predictably and conservatively.
4. If you fuck up at the start and cause grief for anyone/everyone (most especially ruin a championship contender’s race) you will be vilified, abused, distrusted and looked down upon for many weeks.
Misc.
Please be on time. Race start is published well in advanced of the race and we don't and won't be wanting to wait around for a straggler to turn up.
Most of all, enjoy yourself. We’re all here to have fun.
Enable the track view and watch it like a radar. If you see fast cars coming up to pass or lap you, give them plenty of room. Most likely they're having a battle of their own and it's extremely bad form to ruin the race a car lapping you.
How to let cars past
Stay off the racing line, go slow, do not suddenly change ‘lanes’ or lines right when the other car is upon you. Be aware that you may be lapped/passed by a group of cars in quick sucession – watch the radar.
An approaching driver will usually let you know when he's about to pass you, slow down and pull off the racing line.
Map a wheel button to rear view and get used to doing snap views to check often.
Rejoining after an off
Please be very careful, be aware of where other cars are and wait even if it means waiting til they pass and losing position.
Qualifying
Qualifying is short, and with many cars on the track, a driver may often have just one or two clean laps to put in a time.
• If you’ve come off at some point or generally are doing a lap that won’t improve your grid position – take it easy when you see other cars. Let them past, and stay off the racing line as you do so.
• If you are on a hot lap and coming up on someone going slowly you may want to warn them you’re coming through on a hot one. You may wish to say something cool like "Blazer blazer blazer - I am hot, repeat, I am hot".
• Maintain distance. Never tail anyone or roadblock traffic. Qualy is not a race or a time to compare your pace or cornering line to others. Maintain at least 200-300 meters between cars ahead and behind. More is better.
The start
Unlike every vs AI race you’ve ever driven – races ARE NOT won on the first corner. Your only goal is to:
1. Not touch anyone.
2. Not impede anyone.
3. Not brake too early, too late, too softly or too hard.
Remember that:
1. Your tires and brakes are cold, you will have no grip.
2. The normal braking marker for turn 1 that you carefully memorised and practised does not apply on a start, because of: above, and, because the run to turn 1 is shorter from the grid so your speed will be different. Practise race starts against AI to have some idea.
3. You are surrounded by other cars, most of which you cannot see and may be alongside you. Drive smoothly, predictably and conservatively.
4. If you fuck up at the start and cause grief for anyone/everyone (most especially ruin a championship contender’s race) you will be vilified, abused, distrusted and looked down upon for many weeks.
Misc.
Please be on time. Race start is published well in advanced of the race and we don't and won't be wanting to wait around for a straggler to turn up.
Most of all, enjoy yourself. We’re all here to have fun.