After more than a decade in the Live for Speed community, I’ve gathered experiences, lessons, and techniques that I want to share with anyone looking to improve their driving in this simulator.
This isn’t a definitive bible or a set of infallible rules—it’s a practical, accessible guide built on perseverance, observation, and a real passion for virtual motorsport.
Inside, you’ll find everything from technical fundamentals to strategies I’ve applied and refined over time, along with clear examples to help you understand and apply them in your own sessions.
The goal is for you to read, practice, and refer back to this document as a reliable resource on your journey as a simracer, regardless of your current level.
Driving simulation goes beyond entertainment. It’s a discipline combining technique, strategy, perseverance, and a deep passion for motorsport. Every lap, adjustment, and mistake is part of a continuous learning process.
This manual doesn’t come from a pro driver or a globally renowned simracer, but from over a decade of experience within the Live for Speed community—countless hours of practice, analysis, and improvement.
Its aim isn’t to impose a style but to offer a clear, structured guide for the average simracer—someone who wants to improve, understand what they do on track, and enjoy each race with more technical insight.
The content combines practical experience with an accessible technical approach, designed to be a useful and reliable reference you can return to whenever you want to review concepts, refine techniques, or refocus your driving.
Fundamentals of simulation driving
Virtual driving shares many principles with real motorsports, although it has its own nuances that require adaptation and understanding of the simulated environment. Simulation requires precision, consistency, and analytical skills to achieve consistent performance.
Below are some fundamental pillars that every sim racer should keep in mind:
▪ Driving position
Regardless of the type of peripheral used (steering wheel, pedals, keyboard, mouse, etc.), ergonomics and comfort should be a priority. Correct posture helps minimize unnecessary movements and promotes precision in maneuvers, as well as reducing fatigue during long sessions.
▪ Reading the track
Memorizing sections of the circuit, identifying clear braking, turning, and acceleration points, and understanding the car's behavior on each section are essential skills. Familiarity with the track allows you to anticipate, reduce errors, and build a solid foundation for consistent laps.
▪ Race pace
It's not about finding the perfect lap every time. A good pace means maintaining consistent times, which preserves tires, controls mechanical wear (in simulators that model it), and, above all, better manages concentration and mental effort.
Practical example:
In a qualifying session, the goal is usually to squeeze the maximum potential out of the car and the driver, aiming for an ideal fast lap. In contrast, during a race, it is usually most effective to drive within a safe margin, avoiding mistakes that could cost more than a few tenths of a second per lap.
Chapter 1: Fundamentals of Simulation Driving
1.1 The concept of simulation
Driving in racing simulators is not just a video game: it is a digital representation of the real dynamics of a car. Every action taken by the driver—braking, turning, accelerating—generates a direct and consistent response in the vehicle's behavior.
Understanding this difference is essential. In simulation, you don't “play at driving”: you interpret virtual physics that respond under the same laws as real physics.
1.2 Basic principles of vehicle dynamics
Mastering any simulator requires understanding the physical fundamentals that govern a car's behavior:
• Weight transfer: When braking, the mass shifts to the front axle; when accelerating, it shifts to the rear. When cornering, lateral transfer loads the outer tires. This redistribution directly affects the available grip.
• Tire grip: Each tire has a traction limit. Exceeding it causes slippage, either in the form of understeer (loss of grip at the front) or oversteer (loss at the rear).
• Traction and axle type: A vehicle with rear-wheel drive (RWD), front-wheel drive (FWD), or all-wheel drive (AWD) reacts differently to acceleration, braking, and skidding. Understanding these differences allows you to anticipate their behavior.
• Suspension and weight distribution: These determine the stability of the car, the speed of weight transfer, and the ability to keep the tires in contact with the road surface. Poorly adjusted suspension can compromise the overall balance of the vehicle.
1.3 The importance of the simulator
Not all simulators offer the same level of fidelity. Some prioritize accessibility; others, physical accuracy. However, the principles of driving are transferable between serious platforms.
The driver must learn to read the simulator: interpret telemetry, understand the car's reactions, and transform those signals into conscious driving adjustments.
1.4 Positioning and ergonomics
An often underestimated aspect of simulation is the pilot's posture. Regardless of the hardware used—whether a professional steering wheel, joystick, or even a mouse—the position should promote comfort, control, and quick reactions.
• A stable position improves accuracy.
• Assigning buttons or keys logically allows for natural reflexes.
• Correctly adjusting the field of view (FOV) optimizes the perception of speed and distance.
An uncomfortable or poorly configured pilot loses consistency, precision, and concentration.
1.5 The learning mindset
The simulator is not just a means of competition, but a training tool. Every mistake, every poorly controlled skid, or every braking error is valuable information for improvement.
A driver committed to their development in simulation develops a learning mindset:
• They analyze their replays and telemetry.
• They adjust the setup according to their driving style.
• They learn to manage tires, fuel, and concentration throughout the race.
Improvement does not come by chance: it is built through observation, analysis, and conscious practice.
1.6 Practical examples
Below are real situations within Live for Speed where vehicle dynamics theory is directly applied.
________________________________________
Example 1 – Fern Bay Green (FE2) | Fast corners
In the fast corners at Fern Bay, the car undergoes sudden changes in lateral support.
• What happens: weight is transferred rapidly from one side to the other.
• Common mistake: turning too sharply → loss of grip on the rear axle.
• Application: smoothing out the steering and maintaining a small amount of constant throttle stabilizes the chassis.
👉 Here we see how the throttle is also a balancing tool, not just a speed tool.
Example 2 – Aston Grand Prix | Hairpin turn
In a tight hairpin turn after prolonged braking:
• What happens: Weight is concentrated on the front axle, lightening the rear.
• Risk: oversteer if the brake is released abruptly.
• Application: applying trail braking (progressive braking within the turn) allows for more precise turning without losing stability.
👉 This example illustrates how to manage longitudinal weight transfer.
Example 3 – Kyoto Ring | High-speed curve
With front-wheel drive cars such as the XFG:
• What happens: when entering too fast, the car tends to understeer.
• Risk: opening the trajectory too much and leaving the asphalt.
• Application: A light touch on the brakes, combined with constant throttle (brake-throttle modulation), transfers weight to the front axle and improves grip.
👉 This demonstrates how the driver can manipulate weight transfers to improve the car's response.
Example 4 – Blackwood | Slow corner exit with RWD
With rear-wheel drive vehicles such as the XR GT:
• What happens: premature acceleration causes loss of traction on the rear axle.
• Consequence: oversteer and loss of time.
• Application: modulate the throttle and gradually open the steering wheel until the direction is straightened.
👉 This is a classic example of how coordination between the throttle and steering wheel defines traction.
1.7 Conclusion
The physics of the car are not an obstacle: they are an ally.
Understanding grip, weight transfer, and axle balance allows the driver to make informed decisions: knowing when to brake later, when to keep the throttle open to stabilize, or even when to force a controlled skid.
In short, dynamics are the language of the car. And the driver must learn to speak it fluently.
Important note:
I used tools like ChatGPT to help organize and polish the writing, but all ideas, experiences, and examples come from my own time in Live for Speed—over 12 years of learning, experimenting, and racing. This isn’t auto-generated; it’s a personal project where I just used a tool to make things clearer and easier to follow. I’m not an expert—just someone trying to share something useful.
This isn’t a definitive bible or a set of infallible rules—it’s a practical, accessible guide built on perseverance, observation, and a real passion for virtual motorsport.
Inside, you’ll find everything from technical fundamentals to strategies I’ve applied and refined over time, along with clear examples to help you understand and apply them in your own sessions.
The goal is for you to read, practice, and refer back to this document as a reliable resource on your journey as a simracer, regardless of your current level.
Driving simulation goes beyond entertainment. It’s a discipline combining technique, strategy, perseverance, and a deep passion for motorsport. Every lap, adjustment, and mistake is part of a continuous learning process.
This manual doesn’t come from a pro driver or a globally renowned simracer, but from over a decade of experience within the Live for Speed community—countless hours of practice, analysis, and improvement.
Its aim isn’t to impose a style but to offer a clear, structured guide for the average simracer—someone who wants to improve, understand what they do on track, and enjoy each race with more technical insight.
The content combines practical experience with an accessible technical approach, designed to be a useful and reliable reference you can return to whenever you want to review concepts, refine techniques, or refocus your driving.
Fundamentals of simulation driving
Virtual driving shares many principles with real motorsports, although it has its own nuances that require adaptation and understanding of the simulated environment. Simulation requires precision, consistency, and analytical skills to achieve consistent performance.
Below are some fundamental pillars that every sim racer should keep in mind:
▪ Driving position
Regardless of the type of peripheral used (steering wheel, pedals, keyboard, mouse, etc.), ergonomics and comfort should be a priority. Correct posture helps minimize unnecessary movements and promotes precision in maneuvers, as well as reducing fatigue during long sessions.
▪ Reading the track
Memorizing sections of the circuit, identifying clear braking, turning, and acceleration points, and understanding the car's behavior on each section are essential skills. Familiarity with the track allows you to anticipate, reduce errors, and build a solid foundation for consistent laps.
▪ Race pace
It's not about finding the perfect lap every time. A good pace means maintaining consistent times, which preserves tires, controls mechanical wear (in simulators that model it), and, above all, better manages concentration and mental effort.
Practical example:
In a qualifying session, the goal is usually to squeeze the maximum potential out of the car and the driver, aiming for an ideal fast lap. In contrast, during a race, it is usually most effective to drive within a safe margin, avoiding mistakes that could cost more than a few tenths of a second per lap.
Chapter 1: Fundamentals of Simulation Driving
1.1 The concept of simulation
Driving in racing simulators is not just a video game: it is a digital representation of the real dynamics of a car. Every action taken by the driver—braking, turning, accelerating—generates a direct and consistent response in the vehicle's behavior.
Understanding this difference is essential. In simulation, you don't “play at driving”: you interpret virtual physics that respond under the same laws as real physics.
1.2 Basic principles of vehicle dynamics
Mastering any simulator requires understanding the physical fundamentals that govern a car's behavior:
• Weight transfer: When braking, the mass shifts to the front axle; when accelerating, it shifts to the rear. When cornering, lateral transfer loads the outer tires. This redistribution directly affects the available grip.
• Tire grip: Each tire has a traction limit. Exceeding it causes slippage, either in the form of understeer (loss of grip at the front) or oversteer (loss at the rear).
• Traction and axle type: A vehicle with rear-wheel drive (RWD), front-wheel drive (FWD), or all-wheel drive (AWD) reacts differently to acceleration, braking, and skidding. Understanding these differences allows you to anticipate their behavior.
• Suspension and weight distribution: These determine the stability of the car, the speed of weight transfer, and the ability to keep the tires in contact with the road surface. Poorly adjusted suspension can compromise the overall balance of the vehicle.
1.3 The importance of the simulator
Not all simulators offer the same level of fidelity. Some prioritize accessibility; others, physical accuracy. However, the principles of driving are transferable between serious platforms.
The driver must learn to read the simulator: interpret telemetry, understand the car's reactions, and transform those signals into conscious driving adjustments.
1.4 Positioning and ergonomics
An often underestimated aspect of simulation is the pilot's posture. Regardless of the hardware used—whether a professional steering wheel, joystick, or even a mouse—the position should promote comfort, control, and quick reactions.
• A stable position improves accuracy.
• Assigning buttons or keys logically allows for natural reflexes.
• Correctly adjusting the field of view (FOV) optimizes the perception of speed and distance.
An uncomfortable or poorly configured pilot loses consistency, precision, and concentration.
1.5 The learning mindset
The simulator is not just a means of competition, but a training tool. Every mistake, every poorly controlled skid, or every braking error is valuable information for improvement.
A driver committed to their development in simulation develops a learning mindset:
• They analyze their replays and telemetry.
• They adjust the setup according to their driving style.
• They learn to manage tires, fuel, and concentration throughout the race.
Improvement does not come by chance: it is built through observation, analysis, and conscious practice.
1.6 Practical examples
Below are real situations within Live for Speed where vehicle dynamics theory is directly applied.
________________________________________
Example 1 – Fern Bay Green (FE2) | Fast corners
In the fast corners at Fern Bay, the car undergoes sudden changes in lateral support.
• What happens: weight is transferred rapidly from one side to the other.
• Common mistake: turning too sharply → loss of grip on the rear axle.
• Application: smoothing out the steering and maintaining a small amount of constant throttle stabilizes the chassis.
👉 Here we see how the throttle is also a balancing tool, not just a speed tool.
Example 2 – Aston Grand Prix | Hairpin turn
In a tight hairpin turn after prolonged braking:
• What happens: Weight is concentrated on the front axle, lightening the rear.
• Risk: oversteer if the brake is released abruptly.
• Application: applying trail braking (progressive braking within the turn) allows for more precise turning without losing stability.
👉 This example illustrates how to manage longitudinal weight transfer.
Example 3 – Kyoto Ring | High-speed curve
With front-wheel drive cars such as the XFG:
• What happens: when entering too fast, the car tends to understeer.
• Risk: opening the trajectory too much and leaving the asphalt.
• Application: A light touch on the brakes, combined with constant throttle (brake-throttle modulation), transfers weight to the front axle and improves grip.
👉 This demonstrates how the driver can manipulate weight transfers to improve the car's response.
Example 4 – Blackwood | Slow corner exit with RWD
With rear-wheel drive vehicles such as the XR GT:
• What happens: premature acceleration causes loss of traction on the rear axle.
• Consequence: oversteer and loss of time.
• Application: modulate the throttle and gradually open the steering wheel until the direction is straightened.
👉 This is a classic example of how coordination between the throttle and steering wheel defines traction.
1.7 Conclusion
The physics of the car are not an obstacle: they are an ally.
Understanding grip, weight transfer, and axle balance allows the driver to make informed decisions: knowing when to brake later, when to keep the throttle open to stabilize, or even when to force a controlled skid.
In short, dynamics are the language of the car. And the driver must learn to speak it fluently.
Important note:
I used tools like ChatGPT to help organize and polish the writing, but all ideas, experiences, and examples come from my own time in Live for Speed—over 12 years of learning, experimenting, and racing. This isn’t auto-generated; it’s a personal project where I just used a tool to make things clearer and easier to follow. I’m not an expert—just someone trying to share something useful.