I race single-player on a PC and a logitech G920. In pretty much every race it seems like the real goal is get to the head of the pack in the first few seconds because:
There’s an inevitable pile up of every drivatar (I guess) trying to take the same racing line through the first turn and they all smash themselves to pieces (with half of them hilariously pitting after one lap).
If you aren’t near the front of the pack it’s extremely difficult to overtake the leaders.
So basically, if the inevitable jam up on the first turn slows me down, I figure I’m screwed (at least on expert and higher level drivatar difficulty). I have the “limit aggression” setting turned OFF.
Is there any way to strategically avoid this or is this pretty much how it is in FM7? I don’t really follow real-life racing, but I also can’t imagine that real drivers will suicidally smash into each other all at once in the first turn.
Yeah, it’s totally idiotic and in no way represents real life racing. That’s one of my biggest complaints with the game. I’ve lowered the number of drivers to 12 and it helps a little bit, at least there’s not quite as much carnage to avoid! LOL
Lowering number of drivers sounds like a good start. I haven’t turned on “limit aggression” because I feel like the bumps and blocking are more realistic and I don’t want the NPC cars to be too numb and dumb, but the beginning turn pileup is bonkers.
Try to make your way to the outside of turn 1 on the opening straight. The Drivatars usually spread out a bit before the turn 1 crash-fest. They’ll all cluster around the apex and bump and smash each other through the turn.
Weave your way to the outside and you should be able to avoid most of the congestion. Watch your mirror for idiot Drivatars behind you who will punt you and you should be fine. Whatever time you lose by taking the extreme outside of the turn you will more than make up for by passing 2-6 Drivatards in the first corner.
Turn on “limit aggression” basically limits want i would call “unrealistic” dive bombing and aggressive defending.
Set difficultly to Pro or Unbeatable, slower tiers just seem to brake too early and mid corner. aarrrggh!
Set longer race distance, be patient on lap 1 and then move through the field once spread out.
Buy a starting position mod card, and pretend Forza has Qualifying.
For me (using a wheel), I tend to start a race complete 2 laps and then quit to restart menu, before doing test drive / tuning. This allows me compare the strengths and weaknesses of my car (and myself) to others and tune and/or reset difficulty before the actual race (pretend free practice). In race, i like to turn on sim damage and pit stops, this feels most realistic (for Forza) as your making risk / reward decisions through a “race weekend”.
I hope in FM8 we can actually have a legitimate race weekend option. i.e practice and qualifying (with sector times), data and tuning, tire strategy and animated pit-stops during race.