How to Race in GTA Online

However, regardless of whether or not you're using a bugged car, driving right on the raised sections on the sides of tracks, most often found in Stunt Races, will give you a constant speed boost that is most significant when accelerating. Though it pays to stick to the curb even at top speed.

Sure, you'll need some practice before benefiting from the second method, as the risk of going off course is increased. Higher speed makes the car more difficult to handle, and by driving on the edge of the track you don't exactly have much room for error. Curb boosting may shave a whole second off your lap times.

Traction Control

When you're still starting out as a racer and don't have a lot of practice, selecting cars that potentially sacrifice speed for handling is a good choice. A car with good handling will get you a lot further along than one that can hit higher speeds but suffers from over/under-steering or has poor traction, which will lead you to spin out.

Most experienced racers will tell you that pushing the pedal to the metal and never letting up is hardly a viable strategy when it comes to crossing the finish line first. You need to know when to break and how to take turns — something a car with good handling will make much easier. Once you are more experienced and can control a testier car, it will be time to upgrade.

Get familiar with the track

Knowing the racecourse is half the battle. You need to practice a lot — just race and race and race — so that the layout of the course will be as familiar to you as the palm of your hand. Once taking turns becomes muscle memory, your lap times will start decreasing steadily.

Avoid early collisions

While sparingly used, tactically deployed collisions in the late game can help you knock rivals out of the race, collisions early on will simply slow you down. A typical phenomenon is when racers bunch up into a large multi-car collision at the very beginning of the race. It's better to avoid this mess by hanging back if you see it about to happen, as getting mixed up in the crash will set you back a great deal.

Tailgating

Tailgating is a typical tactic that can get you a speed boost. When you go behind another racer and close the distance, you'll see streaks of air appear on the screen. This means you are in their slipstream, which will increase your speed while you stay right behind the other car. This might give you the necessary boost to overtake them too.

Choose the Right Vehicle Modifications

Choose a vehicle with good traction. This will help you make turns without slowing down. Do not use your handbrake if you are racing in a car. When you approach a corner, don't hug the inside but instead follow the outside to inside to outside racing line. Sharp turns cover less distance, but wider turns can be taken at a faster speed.

However, take turns more slowly if it is raining. The wet roads will make it more likely you'll spin out.

When racing on a motorbike, you should use your handbrake instead of the regular brake, in order to maintain stability and traction.

Sometimes Slow is Fast

Don't always race at full speed, especially when you first start. Instead, drive smoothly and carefully to avoid accidents. Once you're familiar with the tracks, you'll know when to speed up and when to slow down.

While it may be fun to fight other players, you might find it more beneficial if you concentrate on racing and let your opponents take each other out.

Bonus RP Strategies

If you're racing with NPC traffic, keep an eye out for oncoming vehicles. If possible, get an NPC vehicle in between you and the racer behind you, as extra protection. This is a particularly good idea if the other racers are using weapons. NPC traffic can act as a buffer.

Bonus RP for overtakes is based on the time it takes you to get to each checkpoint. Even if you aren't in first, you can earn a lot of RP by reaching checkpoints quickly.

You also get bonus RP if you ride in another player's slipstream for more than 5 seconds.

Another RP bonus is granted if you are in first place at the start of a new lap.

Therefore, the way to get the most bonus RP during a race is to hang back to stay in other players' slipstreams, pass them at the end to start the next lap in first place, fall back to ride in the slipstreams again, and overtake them as you near checkpoints.

If you have a friend willing to race with you, you can work together to max out your RP by taking turns riding in each other's slipstreams. Since the slipstream bonus gives you a burst of speed, you will lower your race time as well as earning the RP bonuses.

While riding in a slipstream, if it isn't safe to pass yet, slow down just slightly to remain in the slipstream.

The cars you choose to race with depend on your personal style, but if you plan to do a lot of racing, here are some lineups to consider customizing.

Two Car Garage

• 1 sports car (consider the Free Elegy)
• 1 motorbike (consider the Akuma or Bati 801)

Six Car Garage

• 1 sports car
• 1 motorbike
• 1 compact car
• 1 offroad vehicle (consider the Sanchez)
• 1 muscle car
• 1 coupe, sedan, or SUV

Ten Car Garage

• 1 sports car
• 1 motorbike
• 1 compact car
• 1 offroad vehicle (consider the Sanchez)
• 1 muscle car
• 2 from the following types: coupe, sedan, or SUV (ex. a coupe and a sedan, a coupe and an SUV)
• 1 super car
• 1 sports classics car

Once you have a ten car garage, you will be equipped to deal with almost every race. You will be missing either a coupe, a sedan, or an SUV, but those races are less common than the others.

Race Bets

Betting on races is another way to make money. While you're in the lobby, check the odds on the race. These odds change as players make bets, so the odds (and payout) will decrease the more players bet on that racer.

Bet on two different players per race, one of whom should be you. Either bet a large amount on yourself and a token amount on another player, or the other way around. By doing so, you can earn a lot of money even if you don't win the race—and maybe even earn more by losing.