Hmmm… well, that is not at ALL what I was hoping to accomplish here 
First, three of rdo3’s points:
- “then that tune doesn’t fit your driving style, load different tunes until you get one that works for you.”
This is not the advice I’d offer. I started with gtFOOTw’s “Open Source” setup, using Worm’s tweaks. Ran a 2:07.192 with it, and felt I could do a little better. I then loaded your tune (Lou) from in-game, and that’s what I used to get the 2:06.198. Went back to the FOOT tune, and could clearly see that your tune was better suited to this track. Don’t know what you changed, but it was for the better.
At this point, you know that your tune is at least capable of a 2:06.198 (quicker, if one of the top guys went to work with it)… And, since you tweaked the original tune to your style, I don’t think I’d go off looking for a different tune. It’s not uncommon to hear “I’ve tried 8 different tunes, and I can’t find the one that will put me in the top …” In my view, sticking with one proven tune until you can drive the heck out of it is a much more productive way to go, and is much more likely to produce the desired results.
- “give the celica a go”
Ugh… personal opinion, of course, but taking that approach will leave you with ZERO improvement. Sure, you could move up positions on the LB, but then you’d be right back at “How can I improve my lap? I’m still being beaten by the same car, it’s just a different car.”
It doesn’t matter if you’re using a stock Mini or a race-prepped Ferrari — if you learn to drive ONE car fast, you’ll be able to drive ANY car fast.
- "don’t be afraid to take some breaks’
Now this sentiment I wholeheartedly agree with. It’s a video game - games should be fun. If I’m getting that frustrated trying to do something in a game, I should take a break for a bit. Plus it’s absolutely correct that your physical condition - stress, adrenalin, fatigue, etc - will affect your performance.
Let me offer another suggestion: Chase your OWN ghost for a while.
When you’re chasing someone who is a couple seconds quicker, you fall off the pace pretty early in the lap. From there on, you end up paying more attention to the ghost pulling farther and farther away instead of paying attention to your own driving.
When you’re chasing someone who is just a bit quicker, you’re likely seeing him make mistakes (unless you’re up at the top of the board). It’s also not unusual to be ahead of him at certain points, and then fall behind at other points… and you have no way of knowing why - Did you catch him after that turn because you took it really, really well? Or because he took it poorly?
When you chase your own ghost, you know exactly where you’re improving (or messing up). If you run pretty even with your ghost for 3 turns, and then start pulling ahead after turn 4… well, you know you took turn 4 better that time. Experiment with braking a little earlier or later… adjust your turn-ins and track-outs… Suddenly, you find your ghost getting smaller and smaller in the mirror 
That’s exactly what I do when I’m hot-lapping.
- Don Ente