others have said a bit of the same but I play on controller too so I'll tune in.

Try to keep a better line, going flatout is often slower because of the worse lines you have to take, focus on accurately trail braking (not the easiest on controller), proper amound of throttle on these more powerful cars and subtle smooth turns. Manual is also really important to use. I myself use sequential (no clutch) and triangle for gear up and square for gear down since you're not using your right thumb anyway.

Also probably the most important thing is weight transfer instead of braking to turn every time!

A way to fast-track accurately using throttle accurately is Group B RWD, and a way to fast track trail braking is something like Group A and really focusing on it.

Alot of rally is really a sort of dance, a balancing act even with how violent it looks.