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Going to update this. I spent more time with the game and dialed in the G27 wheel and I have a new opinion.
There is more to be gained out of playing Project Cars than I gave credit for initially. Start chasing the time trial leader boards and it becomes really apparent.
In the GT86, I've managed to set the top time on the leader boards at Willow Springs International Raceway and I'm in the top 10 at Laguna Seca. There's still over 2 seconds between me and first place at Laguna Seca but I'm honestly mystified how they got the time they did. I might be able to get another second at Laguna but I'm satisfied to be in the top 10 so I've moved onto another track. I've started practicing Watkins Glen which is a track I might actually get to drive on one day.
Anyways, one of the things I complained about was the lack for need for car control. I have to take this back. Sure, it doesn't appear that torque can outdo traction so controlled drifts and donuts are nearly impossible in this game but chassis dynamics are alive and well and upsetting the car is a terrible thing to do. There have been plenty of times when I screw up and spun out. Turn 9 at Laguna Seca is my nemesis for ruining what would have been many great runs.
The next point is something I touched on previously that the game does well but at the time did not understand the importance of and sort of downplayed it as a transferable skill. As I started chasing the leader boards, it became apparent that braking and cornering are critical and both of these are transferable to the real world.
I will elaborate.
By the time I had a decent line and was able to follow it with some consistency I was still about 15 seconds behind the top of the leader boards. At this point, I started following ghosts and found small changes in braking and cornering that greatly affected the speeds onto straights which is where you actually make time. At a track like Big Willow where corner exit is paramount, a lot of my braking and lines placed emphasis on corner entry instead which is a huge mistake. As a novice, I related late braking to faster times but this isn't correct. It's more important to be at the correct speed to take the corner on time to get back on power early for a fast exit. Alternatively, Laguna Seca is highly technical though and some corners benefit from late and trail braking.
So yes, there is definitely plenty to be gained even from Project Cars.
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