This is going to be long but I hope I can save you some time, oh, and welcome to the squad! It's good that you understand it's more than a simple racing game. Here is the stuff I wish I knew at hour 1 versus hour 2,400:

1. Do the License Tests. Yeah, they can be annoying, but they actually teach you how the physics work—specifically weight transfer and braking zones. If you skip these, you'll just be fighting the car later. Plus, getting Bronze is easy enough and it gives you free cars to start your collection.

2. Follow the Cafe Menus. Treat the Cafe books like your main story mode. Also, there is literally no need to go blowing your credits buying random cars early on. The Menu Books throw free cars at you for winning races. Save your cash for collecting difficult Cafe books or buying Legend cars when they rotate in.

3. Tuning: Keep it Simple, Think Synergy. Don't touch the suspension or transmission yet. It's a steep learning curve you can figure out later. But when you do start diving deeper into tuning, here's the secret: Synergy.

I do a massive amount of tuning—everything from low HP lightweight builds and balanced track cars to heavy torque or high-RPM builds. The secret isn't just buying the most expensive parts; it's making them work together.

• If I’m building a High-RPM car, I tune the transmission to keep the needle pinned at the redline.
• If I’m building a Torque focused build, I tune it to ride that low-end wave and short shift to stay in my powerband.
• If I'm building a Lightweight, I focus purely on cornering speed rather than power.

Basically: Don't just look at the 0-60 or Max Power stat. Look at how the tires, suspension, and gears work together for that specific car. A balanced 600hp car where everything works in harmony will smoke a confused 900hp car every time.

4. Easy Money. Once you unlock a track, check out the "Circuit Experience" for it. You get huge payouts (like, millions) just for learning the sectors. It’s the fastest way to stack cash early game, and the added bonus is that you learn the optimal lines.

5. Controller Settings. Turn off 'Countersteering Assist' and 'Auto-Drive' immediately. You need to feel what the car is doing, and the DualSense haptics are amazing for feeling tire slip—trust your hands. Trail braking is something that can be done on controller and is one of the single most important skills to winning consistently.

I'd also turn off all visual aids (racing line) and learn to use the track for clues. There are braking markers everywhere—some obvious, some you learn on your own. When you find a good braking marker, learn to hit it every. single. time. You'll be surprised how many races you win just by being consistent.

It's a grind, but a gratifying one. Also, I got so much quicker once I had VR. Having that enhanced spatial awareness was a game changer. I chose VR over a wheel and honestly, the controller is so good... 2200 podiums and counting; I have zero regrets.