About letting off on the gas for corners, that's one of the cardinal rules of roadracing (I'm one of the fastest racers in PS2's Tourist Trophy). The saying is "go slow to go fast." A tighter but slower line is equivalent (sometimes superior) to a wider but faster one. The key is to ensure your velocity is moving as forward as possible when exiting turns rather than sideways. You can make up a lot of time that way. It's tough to believe but it's very true.

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