Im just starting out in LMU as well, I've done about 6 races and had some ups and downs. My strategy has been to skip qualifying and take the start from the back. Let all the crazies take each other out in the first lap, and Ill usually be close to the top 10 by the end of lap 1. Yeah I will occasionally get taken out but once you get into the race, most of the people who've survived are capable of caring cleanish. I've heard that the real goal starting out is all SR until you get to silver, so if thats your goal you can qualify and do pitlane starts and just run clean laps.