How To Learn Tracks Easily in Sim Racing

Always getting lost on tracks you've never driven before? Luckily, most of them have a consistent 'language' you can learn to read that'll help you out LOADS. Try my tips to help you rapidly navigate and memorise most circuits when driving and learning them for the first time, so you can switch off that visual racing line and feel awesome.
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#iracing #simracing #trackguide

[@garethwillis]

The signs on both sides at monza final turn are due to the pit entrance on the right hand side. Similarly with the pit exits when a braking zone or hard corner follows, laguna seca pit exit for example.

[@rukusmagtv]

If I'm not mistaken it also means the road turns at more than a 90 bend or essentially a U-turn... so, yes hard braking and low gearing.

[@fondu-design]

I wonder if (franked by Stowe) it's likely to be an overtaking (or lapping) zone, with two cars beside each other, one blocking the marker board on the outside for the car on the inside

[@logancorbin1643]

All sounds pretty valid. With a lot of Monza I've experienced that that corner has multiple lines depending on car and class. You can hold that hole outside on the corner and keep a lot of speed. You can also hold it in tight and sling shot out. Definitely a True test in a race

[@Gumston]

A big tip that I’ve learned is that in a large portion or corners without brake boards, there will very often be other “marks” such as permanent tire marks on track, wiggles in the track, or props off to the side of the track. Using a marker for every corner will make you faster than anything else.

[@dannyleeracing]

Definitely! Hopefully these tips help people get through the horrible initial stages much faster so they can dial into the track's unique features a bit better, like what you mention here

[@Sushi227]

Sometimes the props can even help set a more precise braking point on corners with brake boards. Pouhon at Spa comes to mind, for GT3s I'll use a hole in the fence as my braking marker and not the brake boards.

[@smithp573]

Absolutely. Brilliant instructional video@@dannyleeracing

[@milo154]

And then there’s Barcelona-Catalunya… I‘m yet to find any brakingpoints at some corners

[@msylcatac]

I don't understand break boards and what they mean in accordance to my cars performance. But! I have noticed there's almost always rubber on the track where I need to begin breaking. Noticing this has helped me more than anything else

[@noherczeg]

This should be the intro for every single sim game out there. Just perfect.

[@AFAR2809]

brake boards on both sides of the track = probable overtaking zone. the guy overtaking would be able to estimate the distance to the apex on the inside without having the distortion looking at the brake board on the outside.

[@Yanchi_YT]

What a great video! Another couple of useful tips that helped me to learn a lot of tracks relatively quickly: 1. Watch and follow the dark (rubbered) part of the track - oftentimes it gets much darker before a corner indicating start of the braking zone (when learning the track, brake initially a few meters before the darkest part of the track) 2. On a lot of tracks, end of a curb indicates a good turn-in point (this isn’t as consistent as the other tips tho)

[@eftubeyou77]

Definitely one of the best video i have seen, i wish i knew earlier - especially the bit about clues at corner entry signifying late apex

[@jerrylindgren7828]

All of this got infinitely easier once I switched to VR. Braking zones feel natural, and i can confidently approach a corner I have never seen before. So many tricks you need to rely on for flat screens are suddenly not as important because you have a better sense of speed and depth. Loved the tip about the apex curbing though, will be paying much more attention to that going forward. :)

[@ClioSport2016v]

So true, once I tried racing in VR bracking points, corner apex and everything else was just so much more natural. Especially since I was driving on race track in real life. I borrowed Quest 2 from a friend, after trying it out, I ordered Quest 3 and haven't raced on monitor ever since.

[@TheprodigyTrickShot]

yeah irl i feel more comfortable than when i do it in a sim

[@BLUE1LE]

@@ClioSport2016vcan you use a controller and the quest 3?

[@ClioSport2016v]

@@BLUE1LE If you mean controller for driving then no, I don't use it, I have simrig with Fanatec CSL DD. I don't even use it in game menu as I mapped everything needed to my wheel

[@GhostWriter_Music]

Vr and steering wheel got me really into sim racing. Some people think vr is a gimmick. They are missing out.

[@Josh23913]

I'm just starting out with sim racing and expecting my first cockpit to arrive soon. This has been one of the best videos I've watched so far. I feel way more prepared now and look forward to my learning experience. Thanks!

[@dannyleeracing]

So good to hear, I hope you find your feet quickly, but come back for help if you need it!

[@elbowsout6301]

OMG I have never heard these rules! This is such a great video. Thanks for putting this together. I have been sim racing now since 2019 mostly single player sometimes with the racing line on for new tracks but just watching this I feel I can go smash my lap times right now. I hope this gets a million views for you. I subbed for more :)

[@masonjar704]

I stumbled across your channel in the past couple of weeks and I've seen a significant improvement in my driving technique and my learning curve has shot up exponentially. As someone who's pursuing a career in Motorsports and enjoys Sim racing as a hobby, this helps me get a better respect for all the drivers and excites me even more to be in the pits one day. Keep up the hard work and keep pumping out these great videos!

[@davebrunton309]

Such a well produced video. Appreciate the effort that goes into these!

[@dannyleeracing]

Thanks man, it's the folks that take the time to comment that lets me know it's worth it!

[@o-SlickShady-o]

Absolutely brilliant for new to medium experience racers m8. Nicely done 😊

[@PeterBee911]

Amazing video! That's so logical, yet I've never even thought about those points. I'm sure I will struggle a lot less while learning a new track now. :)

[@jedwebb7967]

This was incredibly helpful. Thank you.

[@beancheung5682]

this is a big tip , thanks a lot! I have difficulties to know how much speed and how much brake you need on tracks since there's just so many tracks and im not a hardcore player and not playing routinely enough to remember it all, this help a lot for me to determine how to take those corners, much appreciated!

[@SpaceGravy]

This is a surprisingly excellent video with great advice for new sim racers. Well done to the author.

[@johnrenton3463]

Clear, concise and helpful - many thanks!

[@dannyleeracing]

Thank you!

[@darrenstevens7095]

These tips are ao good for a newbie like me, thankyou!!!

[@TheMineA7]

Good video, thanks. I knew the general concept but putting explicit words to it with this video helps out a ton. All of a sudden so many things just clicked

[@dibley1973]

Brilliant tips. Thank you for sharing.

[@dannyleeracing]

Cheers for watching and for the lovely comment!

[@theodorkonstantinidis7456]

Congrats for your video! Two things to mention: 1) Clear, concise, easy to understand and 2) 8:01-8:09 No pun intended 😂 Thanks again for the great video, keep it up!

[@radicallee744]

Really Helpful! Thanks for the vid😘😘

[@prothomasgaming]

Bro, after this video, i began to be able to use manual gearbox, not to automatic mode, and i was making 1 minute 40 seconds laptime while before i was making 2 minutes 10 seconds

[@dannyleeracing]

That's brilliant! Keep it up

[@rockman1942]

What sim are you running

[@prothomasgaming]

@@rockman1942right now i just began simracing, im using GTR2 and Raceroom, i'm getting asseto corsa soon, thought for some reason, all other simracing games i downloaded aint working, Asseto Corsa Competizione, Le Mans Ultimate, RFactor 2, all of them not working.

[@ssmupi]

@@prothomasgaming I know your comment is about 1 month old, but when you say they’re not working- what do you mean exactly? Do you mean they’re not working as intended or not starting at all? Crashes? Lag?

[@Tinwar0]

Very nice explanation, thank you !

[@Trekari]

You really deserve many more subs. Well done as always!

[@dannyleeracing]

Thanks man, it's because of folks like you watching and commenting that it would ever be possible

[@369darkknight]

Danny let me say, While I have been Sim racing for about three years now, I am still learning, but having fun learning and getting better and faster. But these tips are monumental for me. There are several tracks in ACC that I haven't driven because of uncertainty of turns, curbs or sufficient speed to maintain or decrease to apex correctly (COTA, Donington, Indianapolis and a few others). To the point that my SA suffers because I haven't driven them. But now, with this info, of which some I was aware of, but some info I was not. I think I can drive those tracks with a little more enthusiasm. Thank you. Going to check you channel for set-up help now 😉🤗

[@dannyleeracing]

Thanks man, I hope it helps a lot going forward! I try to make videos that I wish I'd watched back in the day, these tips would definitely have helped my past self

[@chapz8627]

Thank you, really helpful video. I was getting no where with racing line, this will help so much

[@dannyleeracing]

Glad it seems helpful, let me know if you still struggle!

[@simon_au]

Awesome, thanks for the tips mate!

[@karimahmed6342]

Thanks so much, man! This made my life easier.

[@jsanders299]

Excellent. Shared. Thank you!

[@toddfields9385217]

wow what an amazingly helpful video and so perfectly produced.. The real meat and potatoes without any confusion . I Have not even raced my first sim yet but have so many hours of you tube researching before I make the large purchase.. I was so wondering how the hell you can learn all the circuits .. Your tips are going to make my introduction and journey so much easier.

[@dannyleeracing]

Thank you! 100%, you are the kinda person I aim to reach with my sim racing guides. It's an amazing hobby/passion and I'm sure that you'll find it fascinating and rewarding, once you find your feet and find your place. My aim is to make sure newer racers don't give up!

[@MikeDustman]

Awesome video. Great information. The biggest issue that I have when learning a new track or driving a different car on a known track is finding my break markers. I would like to see a video of break markers.

[@user-hz6fm1uc5y]

Very helpful video. Thank you.

[@rolls7372]

Flipping brilliant...thank you!

[@LuigiXB]

Great video! Thank you! 👏

[@HolyOrangeJuice]

I've had my GT Omega ART cockpit and I'm quite happy with it. Solid even with a simucube DD wheel attached.

[@mikemike5004]

Great Tips!

[@VandelayyIndustries]

This was great, thank you!

[@paulhutchins2699]

Cracking video - I play mostly rally games and I'm reasonably good, but I really struggle with the likes of F1 2023. I'll be trying the tips here to try and improve my circuit racing. Thank you!

[@glennwebb9417]

nice content, don't no why I wasn't subscribed, good clear advice, no bullshit, and clearly spoken, Thank You, have a like and a sub.

[@DingbatToast]

Great stuff, many thanks ❤

[@brianwhitley]

Very much needed thanks a lot .

[@luiginobile9439]

😳😳 wow thank you for sharing this!

[@PhoenixKross]

This video was super helpful and I shared it with my Sim Racing league's Discord server.

[@foxbat8895]

Superb video full of useful info!

[@dannyleeracing]

Cheers, dude!

[@mbalazs_93]

Thank you Danny, you taught me a new approach to learn tracks!

[@dannyleeracing]

Thank you for watching, I hope this helps with learning!

[@AvgGamerGuy15]

Here from Gran Turismo 7, and I will say, these tips would be what I would say, but more in depth and understandable… I can confirm the downshifting count does go into subconscious after awhile. Great job explaining, you earned a sub, and I will recommend this to a few friends who are planning on picking up GT7

[@FlyingNuggetz]

Thanks Danny. These are poignant yet subtle rules that sometimes we just don’t employ. More confident to ditch the line.

[@stevejohnson6541]

I wonder if the distance signs on both sides of the track are because there is a lot of side by side racing in that area and both lanes need the signage. Great video btw. Subbed

[@ptcarino]

it's what i thought as well. that final turn at Monza usually has a lot of wheel-to-wheel racing happening.

[@kemuelsantiago1848]

Wow, these must be basic stuff for good racers, but geez, I didn't think about any of this. Amazing! Liked and subscribed

[@MaximumApocalypseGR]

Thank you for the great video and effort! I would add tyre marks as indication of breaking zone.

[@MattAnonymous]

Great tips! I feel like every beginner tutorial should have these!

[@dannyleeracing]

Thanks, man!

[@overthetopoperationsracing3199]

Great tip! Thanks!

[@whoisthecoppacnk]

I bought ACC last night and was feeling a bit overwhelmed. This video is exactly what I needed!

[@mattrickl06]

Thanks Danny, 4 weeks into my iRacing career and found this very useful

[@dannyleeracing]

Cheers, glad it seemed helpful - you're at the best point of your iRacing mission to benefit the most from it

[@pr0saic692]

Great vid!

[@matthews77750]

I started playing sim racing this year. Tried a lot of games looking for one that would have a nice career mode, and some tutorials in racing in general, racing line, tracks, braking, car setups, racecraft etc. I find it realy weird that sim racing games doesn't have tutotials and guides like this one. (Sorry for my english)

[@kara4956]

Back in the 90's there was Microsoft's "Kart Precision Racing". Had a full fledged racing school included in the game including videos, graphs, and pictures. All put together by Bobby Rahal

[@fondu-design]

I like that at Silverstone, the shorter sausage kerbs almost perfectly align with the apex as well.

[@FF3DMakes]

Awesome tips!

[@playerone82]

That is a great help. It seams quite obvious now but I never really noticed about the apex curbing before. 👍

[@dannyleeracing]

Some tracks just splatter kerbs everywhere and it doesn't apply very well, but many tracks do follow this logic and it can really help catalogue the track and commit it to memory easier!

[@mister_M.]

@@dannyleeracingthanks

[@HorizonAlso]

Love these rules! Especially the last one, I always turn in way to aggressive even with the racing line. Having a visual clue to help remember, and be thinking GEAR not "The racing line aid isn't red any more"

[@aliens8mybaby]

Fantastic video you got a new subscriber

[@overthetopoperationsracing3199]

I think the double markers are placed on the last turn of Monza so you run hard into the last corner. The last corner can be taken inside or outside (more aggressively on the last lap of course).

[@AlexNoheda]

Very helpful! Thanks

[@such1678]

the best way to learn a track for me is practising it for a while and then running a race while playing it safe. the fact that i am on a race makes me memorise the track 10x faster

[@EpicTyme]

very helpful information, new subscriber now.

[@ThatGuyJConroy]

Great information provided over a visually appealing presentation. Well done. Instant like and sub. Ps. First time I’ve ever heard the term “track furniture”… 👍

[@dannyleeracing]

Thanks, man

[@marcuskingstanley9522]

another tip for blind corners is to look for an aiming point that corresponds to the apex you cant see yet. eg a tree, a building, a part of a grandstand, whatever

[@nakobilly]

Great info!

[@jimmybobby9400]

In iracing you can also follow the rubbered in portion of the track as a sort of racing line. Good video.

[@dannyleeracing]

I contemplated including that, but didn't make the cut - definitely a good thing to use and you can see it clearly on some clips Cheers for watching!

[@JC-vc7tf]

Holy $hit, I can't believe how helpful this video was. I hate using the racing line, so my solution was just to drive the track very very slowly in practice session til memorised, this is 100x better!

[@dannyleeracing]

Thanks man, really hope you find it super helpful in practice!

[@johnhodgetts6617]

14:52 You can see three red apex markers on the right, so you can check if you hit the apex accurately. They are even more apparent in the aerial shot which follows. I never noticed them before. Some circuits have a single cone or some other marker at the apex.

[@kingbill22]

Fantastic video

[@edcadlick2650]

Love the video it all makes sense😉🙋👍

[@marcoschonenberger5295]

Nice one. thanks!

[@djsonicc]

All these tips apply to real life too. Thank you.

[@jsinnott5952]

Excellent content.. thank you

[@divinasi0n]

Wow, this is good. You're natural teacher.

[@dannyleeracing]

Thanks, mate

[@TheKing-vb2bw]

I've been sim racing for years and never knew this as a core fundamental. I learned by banging my head against the wall for most of these.

[@dannyleeracing]

That's how I learned, too!

[@jvd_rx]

Usually I know tracks pretty quickly, especially through gaming or watching races online. When I know a track, than basically i never forget. Where I have sometimes issues with are 'modern' tracks with strange flows. Like the Qatar Losail track which i basically only did in MotoGP games. So crappy with references, while I actually have no problem with f.e. Bahrain or Abu Dhabi. Even though I havent done the Nordschleife, Sepang, Curitiba and Macau tracks for maybe 5-10 years, they I know kinda exactly from my mind still. While I did Qatar much more recent, I know it a lot less. But yeah, i do a lot of different racing on a lot of different tracks which sometimes learn me knew tricks. From MXGP, MESX, MotoGP, DiRT Rally 2.0, Nascar HEAT, etc. One tip I would like to suggest is knowing the gearing for tracks. That you know you need to shift up and down at moments and you can create a nice flow for things. Other tip is just to turn of that racing line. It doesnt help at all using that.

[@theernest183]

After I learned trailbreaking with some cars its way easier to get a good exit and hit the apex ... thabks für this video hope it helps others

[@Zaqariyah]

Follow the darker lane+crash every time until you find ideal braking zone

[@Zaqariyah]

And always listen to tyres.

[@TracksideViews]

The plane flying over and laughing 😂

[@oogafoo]

i've learned to force myself to drive as i would irl i know most tracks, but with certain cars, or in rally games, i focus really hard on not hitting anything. i pretend like it's my homologated special that i don't want destroyed. then slowly push myself until i've figured out the cars limit. what point traction breaks, how the weight shifts, brake power etc it's way more enjoyable for me if i drive the car with skill. after a while you learn how to manipulate the car instinctually. rally games are the best for this anyway, this logic works on tracks too. pretend like someone handed you the keys to a gr3 but if you wreck it you buy it. run laps with that mindset and itll change your game

[@akpanjennings]

Best cornering explanation I’ve seen

[@dannyleeracing]

Thanks man, I appreciate it and cheers for watching

[@devinudy4616]

Glad the KZbin algorithm recommended this. I'm going to be referencing this next time I'm on the track, in sim racing and with friends

[@dannyleeracing]

Thank you very much, sharing really helps people find me! I hope it serves you well

[@RacersRushCars]

My preferred way of learning a new track is to watch quality onboards first and learn all the corners and approximate braking points and racing lines from the onboard before ever driving on the circuit. I find it a lot quicker that way to get up to speed. Trying to figure out the braking points, the racing line, where you can use the curb where you cant, the gears and everything else is extremely demanding and takes a long time for me. Learning from an onboard i can only focus on memorizing the track, I am not distracted by actually having to drive while learning it. Then when i get on the track, i can start already in correct gears, just do slightly more conservative braking points, but have correct lines everywhere and just focus on getting the car on the limit through each of the corners and push the braking points where they should be. Approach from this video and guessing where the next turn is going to go based on the braking boards would be very dangerous and very slow.

[@GhostWriter_Music]

I’ve just started sim racing more often now I have a better wheel, never really liked racing when I was using controller, but got a steering wheel years ago, and it has had some good use, though still only couple times a month. Adult life aye. But now got a dd wheel and now picking it up more so and haven’t really stopped in the last few weeks.

[@Kiwing827]

Would help alot when you are driving on those relatively unknown South American race track on AMS2

[@gmoney1115]

You're the man 👍🏻👍🏻

[@pkscarr]

It's defo a good tip to turn off the racing line after only a few laps on a new track before you become too reliant on it. for several reasons: if you rely on it, you end up tunnelvisioning that line and not reacting to what other cars around you are doing. good way to be losing safety rating. most racing lines are also very conservative in their estimate of where you should be braking, and early on you will probably be slamming those brakes on hard, and end up releasing and having that awkward coast the last bit into the corner. obviously, this is slow, and also not something you want to do in a pack of cars as it forces other drivers to react. bad for your speed and safety rating. lastly, if you're relying on that line, it'll take you much longer to understand why sometimes you're faster and sometimes slower through the same corner. the line doesn't care about weight transfer, aerowash, or whether traction control is on. sometimes, it can and will lie to you about when you should be back on the throttle, and the sooner you learn that feel, that faster you'll improve

[@StancedInertia9]

i turn off racing line and use the ai as sort of a guide to see what lines they are taking. This also helps with learning take overs and also how to defend. the racing line is more of a distraction than really looking at your markers and using track visuals ques.

[@dannyleeracing]

That's pretty clever

[@federicoeiriz42]

Im just a joystick amateur, but I have a possibly useful and surely fun to try tip. Buy yourself a good rally sim and put in a decent amount of hours from cockpit view without co-pilot's voice. Codemasters games have procedurally created tracks so you never repeat a curve, except when restarting a run. Of course, you will crash a lot at first. But if you compromise a bit of speed then you will give your eyes and brain enough time to seek for patterns and it eventually starts feeling easier. Then when you come back to circuit racing, learning a new track in just 5 laps will be easy

[@qamulek]

@ 4:20 that corner is relatively long and is a good place to dive bomb. Your unwary opponent gets to go the long way around while you sneak up the inside.

[@ThaJay]

What I personally find the easiest way to learn a track is to start practising on a rubbered in version, follow the black on the road en then find the brake markers that correspond. Slow down slightly early when the track is clean, but the markers are memorised.

[@slaphead90]

I've been sim racing for a few years now, and honestly with heinzsight I should have started following tips like these way earlier.

[@dannyleeracing]

You've bean wasting way too much time, before

[@NomadUniverse]

I'm gonna take a guess that the boards are on either side heading into parabolica because it's a passing spot, but different to turn one as it's much wider and you're more likely to get pushed to the right in defense.

[@Kalengo_Gaming]

Time to ditch the racing Line! Great Video!

[@dannyleeracing]

You can do it!

[@Arguyle20]

Great tip. What are the numbers on these markers representing? Meters? Or other units? Or is it arbitrary? I noticed it is always increments of 50, but I feel the actual distance actually varies slightly from one track to another. For example, are US tracks measured in feet while others are in metric, which could explain the variance i'm noticing?

[@dannyleeracing]

Usually metres, but it can vary, and some tracks don't use metres at all, opting for a number countdown instead

[@marksutherlandjr.2121]

I don't mind trying to learn a new circuit, but I know this. I turned it off for a few runs in practice on a track that I literally have ran thousands of laps on. And the fall off and the inconsistencies were SO BAD that I painfully hit esc and just put it back on and made peace with feeling like a loser.