There are some basic rules to racing online, known as racing etiquette. Here is our run-down of these rules and mantras, to help ease your passage while you practice and race in the V1 Championship:

To finish first, first you must finish
Many assume that being first into T1 (the first corner) is the only way to win the race. In fact this is not at all true. T1 is the scene of most accidents - in LFS, just as in real life - and for many drivers it is a very early end to their race. We recommend holding back a little, and driving carefully around the wreckage that is often to be found there.

Watch
Watch the drivers you are racing near. If they appear a little erratic, don't get too close to them. It seems obvious, but so often drivers find themselves in the tyres because they didn't pay close enough attention to the behaviour of the driver they were nearest to. The clues are there, but you must watch for them.

Listen
If you have a pair of headphones, it may be a good idea to wear them. LFS happens in stereo, your peripheral view is very limited (as in real life), the mirrors are tiny and almost useless (as in real life) and very often the only clue that another car is next to you is the sound of their engine. Using headphones you may be able to hear that car a little better, know where it is, and so avoid colliding with it.

Learn
Watch the fast drivers and learn how they approach corners. Note their entry speed, where they begin braking, where they begin accelerating and so on. There should be no reason why you can't drive as fast as they do if you do the same things they do. Drivers develop a sense for the car. Eventually they are able to know instinctively how hard they can push into and out of corners. Your mission is to develop that instinct.

Make friends
We cannot emphasise this enough. Although this is a competition, and you are competing with others, there should be no reason not to have fun in the process. Ask for advice if you need it, and share advice if you can. Be responsible with your personal information, of course, but remember that nobody else racing in this competition is your enemy. You may be competing with others, but you are fighting against your OWN limitations. V1 is watching you as an individual just as much as you in comparison with others. Challenge yourself, push yourself hard, strive to beat your own laptimes, but also be sure to have fun!