How to move up the grid in GT Racing 2 - hints and tips

GT Racing 2 is a beautiful-looking, content-rich racer that largely manages to 'stand' toe to toe (or wheel to wheel) with the Real Racing series.

It's one of those serious racers, which means you have to have a modicum of driving talent to progress here.

Throw in a vast and challenging career mode where the bar for progression is set relatively high in order to encourage the buying of those IAPs, and you have one demanding game.

Starting out on this track can feel a bit like embarking on a lap of the Nürburgring on a push bike, so follow our tips for a turbocharged getaway.

Pick the right control option



The default control option may not be perfect, but we found it was pretty much the best. Accelerometer control isn't ideal, but it seems to be more stable than either of the touch-based ones.

In particular, you should avoid the one that enables you to tap the left and right side of the screen to steer at all costs. You'll have to take your hand off one of these directions to brake, leaving your manoeuvring options hopelessly lop-sided for a vital fraction of a second.

Turn off those assists



Not because it's more hardcore or more manly or any such nonsense, but because you'll be able to go faster.

When you take steering and particularly braking into your own hands, you can brake later than is technically advisable and can steer more severely in order to make those overtaking moves stick.

Leave them on and your speed will be governed by the same conservative AI that just instructed that competitor to brake 50 years before that gentle right turn. You don't want to be like him, do you?

Leading straight on from that...

The AI drives like Button, not Hamilton



And by that, we mean that the AI's all about smoothness, taking the optimal racing line, and cutting out all that squeaky tyre nonsense rather than risky positioning and outlandish overtaking moves.

This can work to your advantage, especially when your computer-controlled rivals are bunched up. Even if you're matched for straight-line speed, approach corners slightly wider or narrower than the pack and be prepared to hit the brakes later. You can often find yourself flying past two or three opponents in one go.

You might find yourself sliding and skidding a little, and even having to drive defensively as you accelerate out of the bend. But when you tuck back in, you'll be further up the pack.

Don't be afraid to use your elbows



Of course, cars don't have elbows. That would just be silly. But the point is - don't be afraid to get a little physical as you enter corners, as long as you're alongside and not behind your target.

This might sound a bit like Real Racing 3, but you don't get penalised for damaging your ride in the same way as you do in Firemonkeys's game. So, if you want to use a rival's front door to take a corner at a slightly unusual angle, do so.

As we say, though, don't bother shunting from behind. You won't disrupt the person in front, but you will suffer in terms of lost speed and momentum.

Don't be a saver



So, you really, really want that Ferrarri 599? Don't we all. You're not going to get it any time soon, though. And if you do, it will be because you spent a job lot of your own cash. Idiot.

Concentrate on souping up the humble hatchback with which you start out. It will help you to win early races, which has the knock-on effect of yielding you more stars and cash. This will carry you to your Maranello dreamland a little quicker than if you were scrimping and saving.

Linked to this point...

Don't be ashamed to buy another similar car



You don't have to step up to the next tier of racing in order to progress in GT Racing 2.

It might feel like a waste of money to buy a second underwhelming hatchback, but it's the cheapest and easiest way to accrue stars - and events are unlocked with stars, which make cars more attainable.

Spread out your upgrades



There is no 'best' upgrade type in GT Racing 2, largely because of the range of track types. On the oval course, you will benefit from a higher top speed (though you'll also need decent springs). Success on a tight street circuit, meanwhile, is predicated on handling and acceleration.

It's also worth noting that you can only unlock a new tier of (more lucrative) races when you apply a certain number of upgrades to your car, and those upgrades get more expensive as you level-up.

So, the ideal situation all around is to keep your upgrades evenly spaced.

Having said all that, if you're seeking the edge in a tight race, you can't really beat an injection of straight-line speed.

Got any tips to share? Let us and the rest of the PG community know them by leaving them in the comments section below.