Real Racing 3
Tips tricks and Cheats for android
Real Racing 3 by Firemonkeys and EA is one of the best racing games out there for iOS. The fact it comes as a free download with in-app purchases frustrates some – myself included – but it has at least opened up the opportunity to play to many, many more. That aside, it's a fantastic game, and if you're looking to get a little better, or learn some tricks to mastering the in-app purchases, then look no further. Here's our guide to getting the best from Real Racing 3.
Guide:
Real Racing 3, for the iPhone, iPad and Android devices, is one of the greatest racing games to ever come out for either platform, and if there is a greater racing game, then I’m not yet aware of it. It’s essentially the Gran Turismo or Forza of these platforms, as your goal is to race against real life people using an innovative staggered multiplayer that crosses a player’s performance with artificial intelligence, to collect R$ and Gold, and of course, to collect and upgrade cars as much as possible. Read on for some tips and tricks for Real Racing 3!
The game has many control schemes, from the Mario Kart veteran’s mix to the Gran Turismo veteran’s mix. Go to the options menu to change them. If you change it from auto to manual acceleration, and shut off the steering assist and the brake assist, then there will be a LOT of strategy required in driving – strategy that closely mirrors real life racing.
For example, you’ll need to learn the appropriate time to use the brakes, which, generally, is to use the brakes just before you start to go into a turn. How much to brake depends on how fast you are going and how tight the turn is. Use them lightly enough that you don’t slow yourself to a crawl, but heavily enough that you don’t skid into the dirt. Either slam the brakes before the turn, or start tapping the brakes before and into the turn, which is a technique known as trail braking.
You can also drift, which is done by using the accelerator more, the brakes less and sliding into the turn, or powerslide much the same way, which if done right, can help you keep more speed in and out of a turn, but you have to time it JUST right to avoid crashing into the dirt or spinning out. Drifting and sliding are impossible with the steering and brake assist on.
Either way, though, practice each course over and over, and finish out each course so that you can earn R$ and experience points. You’ll earn R$ and experience points no matter how you place in the race, so resist the temptation to quit a race. Even if you damage the car badly, you’ll win enough R$ to more than cover the cost of fixing it.
Tips
1. Always have the best car you can
Seems an odd statement, but it's the best way to progress through the game well. The game structure recently changed into a progress driven career mode, so getting the best car possible at the right time is even more crucial. Don't think about conserving credits – either pre-loaded or something you've bought – go for the best you can afford. At the beginning of the game you don't want to be thinking about upgrades, you need to hit the track, and the initial choice of car won't matter too much. I started out with the Ford Focus RS, which has proved to be highly upgradeable and an excellent all-rounder as the game has progressed. But as you progress now, you need to have certain performance ratings on your car to enter certain races. So if you can get something faster, then do.
2. Be smart with your upgrades
An increase in top speed isn't going to help on most tracks and challenges. Engine upgrades tend to offer better results in top speed, but less in terms of acceleration. In a lot of the races in RR3, lower 0-60 times will benefit much more than being able to go 195mph. The start is crucial, and getting away from the line and up to racing speed quicker will ultimately gain you more places in the early part of the race, and being able to pull away from corners quicker than your opponents will help you consolidate your position once you've passed them. So, look to upgrading the drivetrain before the engine, get that 0-60 time down. Also look at combining this with reducing the weight of your car.
3. Likewise, be smart with in-app purchases
It truly is possible to play RR3 without spending a penny, but you'll spend more time waiting around for things to happen. If you should feel you want to spend some money to help you out, be smart. Look at the packages you can purchase that combine gold and R$, and also the specific car related packages too. Don't blindly tap away to increase just your R$ or your gold, strike a good balance. And, if you have the currency available and a deal flashes up on a car such as 40% off, buy it. If you're in a position to buy it, and to use it at your current level of progression, then do it. I picked up a BMW Z4 GT3 for 40% below it's regular in-game price, which otherwise I probably wouldn't have done.
4. Know your circuits, and the different layouts of each
This comes with playing time, but as you become familiar with the circuits make sure you take note as to which layout you're racing on. This will affect your mindset, and possibly even your choice of car going into a race. For example, all Cup races at Laguna Seca will see you starting 22nd on the grid, which puts you the other side of the final turn. So you're already at a disadvantage, with a slow corner to negotiate before even hitting the start/finish straight. Here you'll want to be in the absolute fastest car you have for the race. Likewise at Silverstone, there are three different configurations, with two different start lines. Both see you starting a cup race on a turn, but the National layout sees you use a completely different part of the circuit to the International layout, while the Grand Prix layout combines both. Considering the track before the race is almost as important to success as the car you choose.
5. Horsepower isn't everything in a drag race
It isn't everything, but naturally it is important. What's going to win you drag races is timing. Since RR3 uses Time Shifted Multiplayer, your opponent is a real person who went down that same strip. You time your run to perfection and you stand a solid chance even if you're lacking a few horses over them. The launch is key, but remember that the delay between the red and green lights varies through rounds, so don't get caught out and false start. Once you're off the line, glue your eyes to the rev counter. Hit the sweet spot for each gear change just below the red line, and you're on for a good run. The counter will stop or bounce around just at the top of the red line depending on the car, but hit the gear changes at the right spot and you won't be caught. Well, not always, anyway.
6. Run wide (but not too wide), don't slide
Hitting the grass kills your momentum, a lot, but equally so does sliding round corners. While it looks cool, it isn't going to help you win your races one bit. If you go in a bit hot and you're not going to make your turn in for the apex of the corner, let it run wide and use all the track. It may cost you some lap time, but it's going to cost you a lot less than if you overcook it and get the tail out. If you're too late on the brakes, keep your turn in as smooth as you can, and you'll come out better in the long run.
7. Use the bonuses to your advantage
The latest update brought some additional ways to earn extra R$. Playing every day is one of those, so even if you don't feel like playing, fire it up, claim the reward, then close it again. Also, as hard as it is not to use brute force to knock your opponents out of the way some times, do whatever it takes to avoid them and claim that clean race cash. Also, stick at one particular series, and complete as much of it as you can before moving on. The new career style progression ladder will help, but hitting 25% complete in a series for example nets you free currency. And currency is good.
8. Spam your Facebook friends
OK, that's not really what you need to do, but you can earn extra gold by sharing your results with your friends on Facebook. You can also share to Sina Weibo if you're in a supported region. But, for five free gold, who cares what your friends think, right? Such a shame I don't use Facebook...
9. Get all over those kerbs
When I completed my race license test here in the UK, I was told that kerbs are generally bad, and that the fastest line around the track isn't to drive all over them. That doesn't apply at all in Real Racing 3, in fact some of the quickest lines I've found involve getting plenty of kerb into some of the turns. Take the image above, taken from the Brand Hatch track. Follow this line through this turn and you can carry a little extra speed, which ultimately works out as you hammer round the final turn and off down the start finish straight. I've also found a lot of the other cars generally stay away from them, so if you can keep that line tight and use the kerbs, you can often sneak up the inside. But only do this when you're confident you can get a good exit speed or you'll get burned on the other side.
10. Your best tips and tricks?
So, that's a few of my own tips and tricks to getting the most out of Real Racing 3, but I've only really scratched the surface. If you've got any others, be sure to drop into the comments below. I know I'm always trying to make my game better, as I'm sure a lot of you guys are!
11. Keep the Braking Assist Off
Automatic braking seems like a viable option for players who aren’t quite experienced yet, but seasoned players should use the manual braking option in due time. Either turn the braking assist option to a lower degree or turn it off completely. Once you’re in control of your own braking around those tight corners, then you’ll begin to come away from races with lower completion times. Your racing times/speed will see a huge, positive difference if you do all the braking yourself. Master your braking. Don’t let the game do all the work for you.
12. CUT THOSE CORNERS!
When you become a bit more knowledgeable about each track, then you’ll come to understand which corners you’ll need to cut in order to keep your steady speed going. When you’re ready to cut a corner, ease off the gas a bit but don’t let it fall down too much. Keep your speed at a steady level that won’t send your car flying all over the place if you bump into some barricade or rival racer. Cutting a corner means driving across a corner flatten out a curve. You’ll fly through that curve if you take our corner cutting advice to heart.
13. If You’re Lucky to Land in 1st Place, Cut Off Rival Racers Behind You
Once you take the 1st place position in a race, it’s pretty hard to keep it as time goes on. You’re gonna have to play a bit dirty if you’re willing to stay in the top position. Cut off any racers that get a tad too close to you by turning into their direction. If you’re driving on a straight pathway and someone’s tailing you, pull this lil’ stunt on them – let ‘em get close to you, then bump ‘em off the road. HA! Dirty DRIVING FTW!
14. Don’t Go Too Crazy on The Road, Though; This Isn’t Bumper Cars
Yeah, we know we just told you to knock off anyone on the track if you’re in first place. But if you’re in a lower pole position, play it safe by driving safe. Avoid scraping your ride against other rides and those roadside obstacles. If you play this game as if you’re a Burnout veteran, then you won’t get very far in this game. Your vehicle’s performance will noticeably take a huge dip if you drive a bit wild on the road.
15. Pick the Right Upgrades
An increase in top speed isn’t going to help on most tracks and challenges. Engine upgrades tend to offer better results in top speed, but less in terms of acceleration. In a lot of the races in RR3, lower 0-60 times will benefit much more than being able to go 195mph. The start is crucial, and getting away from the line and up to racing speed quicker will ultimately gain you more places in the early part of the race, and being able to pull away from corners quicker than your opponents will help you consolidate your position once you’ve passed them. So, look to upgrading the drivetrain before the engine, get that 0-60 time down. Also look at combining this with reducing the weight of your car.
16. Make Sure You’re Familiar With Each Race Circuit and Stage Layout
This comes with playing time, but as you become familiar with the circuits make sure you take note as to which layout you’re racing on. This will affect your mindset, and possibly even your choice of car going into a race. For example, all Cup races at Laguna Seca will see you starting 22nd on the grid, which puts you the other side of the final turn. So you’re already at a disadvantage, with a slow corner to negotiate before even hitting the start/finish straight. Here you’ll want to be in the absolute fastest car you have for the race. Likewise at Silverstone, there are three different configurations, with two different start lines. Both see you starting a cup race on a turn, but the National layout sees you use a completely different part of the circuit to the International layout, while the Grand Prix layout combines both. Considering the track before the race is almost as important to success as the car you choose.
17. So Which Ride Should You Put in Your Garage Immediately?
The ride you should have in your garage ASAP is the McLaren MP4-12C. This vehicle has some of the best stats of most of automobiles in the game. This ride is a one-way ticket to most of the racing circuit series that you’d normally wouldn’t have access to with your other rides. SPEND SOME GOLD ON THAT MP4-12C!
18. Start Off With the Nissan Silvia Instead of the Focus RS
On the subject of which of the starter cars to get, we agree with Xeyad: “Go for the Nissan Silvia, because it accelerates faster and brakes better than the Focus RS.” Additionally, when looking at what to get next your additional car purchases should be from the next tier of cars instead of merely saving up for the Focus RS to have two cars for the same class of races. While you totally can buy the Focus RS as your second car, you won’t be able to advance outside of the races that both those cars are eligible to compete in.
19. Don’t Worry Too Much About Competing in Races With Cars That Aren’t Fully Repaired
A few of the races that you’ll compete in don’t require your rides to be a full strength. If you’re low on cash and your driving skills are high enough, take a risk and use one of your non-fully repaired rides to compete. Sometimes you can just forgo the maintenance mechanics of the game and just take any of your decent rides into the fray. Don’t take a ride that’s on its last legs into a race. When your pockets are low though, use a ride that’s not fully prepared if you’re willing to.
20. Make Sure You Keep it Social With Your Real Racing 3 Buddies
GameCenter and Facebook are your friends, friends. As your friends race, they’ll leave some ghost data for you to compete against. You’ll net an extra 10% bonus money for every friend that you beat.
21. Drive better
It sounds simple, sure, but "drive better" really is the best piece of advice I can give. If you want to squeeze every last drop of play out of Real Racing 3, then you need to learn the rules of the Firemonkeys road... and fast.
If you're a racing veteran, then switch off all assists so you can exert maximum control over your car. However, if you're new to the series - maybe you're trying it for the first time due to it being F2P? - then keep them on.
Every knock and scrape against cars and trackside furniture; every time you veer off the course; every fleck of burnt rubber: all of this is taken into account by the Real Racing 3 game engine. And all of those errors and misjudgements will wear your vehicle down. Trust me.
Right from the off, overtake as many opponents as possible, and don't get caught in a pile-up at the first slow corner. If you're a few feet from the bumper of the person in front, keep a watchful eye on your rival's brake lights to avoid shunting into your competitor's motor.
Whatever you do, don't drive like you would in a Destruction Derby-esque smash-a-thon. It might help you improve your position, but you'll very quickly need to head to the repair shop as a result.
Now, all of this being said, if you know it's going to be your last race for a while, and it's absolutely crucial to your victory, a cheeky nudge of an opponent might just give you the winning edge.
22. Drive smarter
As discussed on last week's podcast, there's a meta-game to be played here. There are things you should be keeping track of and considering when you race and upgrade to ensure you get the most play time from your Real Racing 3 experience.
Your choice of starting car doesn't make much difference to your progress, so it's just a matter of personal preference. So, whether you choose the Ford Focus or not, you need to put any lingering or longing thoughts about those supercars in the Store to the back of your mind, and concentrate instead on upgrading the one you have.
Win a race or two, and you'll have enough for a couple of improvements, so splash the cash on what you think fits your play style best. I found that a balance of upgrades to raw speed and control worked best, so if you're going to get the engine improvement, put some money down for a new set of tyres, too.
The reasoning is simple: you won't earn enough money in your starting car to advance significantly without making any upgrades to it. And the only vehicles you'll be in a position to buy (without making any upgrades) will be eligible for the exact same set of races you already have access to - yet they won't be as fast as the car you already own. To put it bluntly: you're throwing money down the toilet by ignoring this advice.
The moment - and I do mean the VERY moment - that you can purchase a new vehicle from a different set of races, though, you should buy it. By having two cars in your garage, you can play the game for twice as long as you would with just one motor in your 'fleet', and you can potentially accrue twice as much money per play session.
If you don't mind dropping dollar, there are two very cheap Packs you can purchase for a total of £4.50. These packs are called Street Spec Booster and Supercar Booster. By purchasing these packs, you will gain another two cars, thus further extending the period of time you can race before your having to quit out to wait for repairs.
23. Drive dirtier
Then, of course, there are the couple of underhanded tricks you can employ. They're really just game exploits, but they do run counter somewhat to the phrase 'being a good sport'. Ah, well.
If you fancy a really easy time, block your device's access to the internet (by turning off the cellular data and wi-fi connectivity in your device's settings). Yes, that Time Shifted Multiplayer (TSM) component is neat, but it does mean the difficulty is amped up. This is because you'll be competing against your friends' times; not the AI's. And, yep, the AI is rubbish.
When I was racing against pals in TSM mode, I'd usually finish around the middle of the pack. When racing against just bots, though, I'd be continually getting onto the podium without breaking a sweat.
By actively steering clear of TSM-based contests, you won't get the R$ bonuses for each friend beaten. But if you're trying to see all of the game and need a top-three finish to unlock the next set of challenges, then this naughty 'cheat' works wonders.
Finally, if you're spending some time grinding for R$, then pick races with few or zero competitors. Oh, and ones you can win easily. It's not exactly sporting to pick the same race and win it over and over again, but it's a very easy way of lining your coffers. And if there aren't any other competitors on the track, you stand little chance of taking damage.
Tips and Tricks: How to Have Fun Racing Without Spending a Dime
How to get R$ and save R$
You can get R$ via the following methods:
- You get R$ by winning races (at least get into top 3)
- You get R$ by unlocking new events and/or series (which is through winning races, or at least get into top three)
- You get R$ by achieving 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% completion of series
- You can always pay for R$, but we try to avoid that.
However, you also get two special modifiers
- You can optionally double your race winnings by hiring manager (free or 1 Gold)
- You get a "daily bonus" for playing every day, up to 100% of race winnings, for your first race per day.
You spend R$ on
- New cars
- Maintenance when your car gets a bit beat up
RR3 promises extra R$ if you race friends who's online, and if you race every day you get a daily bonus of up to double your winnings in R$, though only for the first race that day. You can take advantage of both by finding your "money race".
A "money race" is a race you run in Real Racing 3 once a day, to make as much money as possible off that one single race, that earn a lot of money, but is not too demanding or too difficult to win. This exploits the "daily double", the 100% bonus you earn as the first race of the day if you race 5 days in a row, and the ability to hire the manager (either free, or 1 gold) to double your winnings. Both bonuses can be used together to quadruple your R$ winnings that one race.
Make sure your friends also raced that specific race (and you can beat them) so you get even more bonus.
I personally find endurance races pretty easy, and super speedways even more so. Your own preferences will vary.
My current favorite money race is V8 Naturals / Speedrush TV Epic Global Round 1 / Endurance @ Indianapolis Speedway. With Charger SRT8 I can do 15-18 miles easy. With the Lexus IS F I've done 21 miles. The winnings is about 11-14000, which, after quadrupling, is about R$ 44-56000. So if you use the IS F to make 56K, then use the Charger SRT8 to make another 22K, that's 78K, enough to buy a pretty good car, or do a LOT of repairs. Put both cars into maintenance for an hour and come back and really have fun with the rest of the day's races.
Another money race if you're higher up is the Performance Rumble / Speedrush TV Australasian Open / Endurance @ Indianapolis Speedway. You can use either Shelby GT500 or the BMW M3 GTS. I've done 19 miles with the BMW (with quadrupling, about 54000 in a single run) and 23 miles with Shelby (over 70000).
Find your own money race, do it every day, and you should never be short on R$.
If you are really really short on R$, buy a "starter pack"... that offers you a 30% bonus for $4.99. You get both extra gold and extra R$. If you downloaded your RR3 from Amazon you can use Amazon coins (which you get for trying apps and app purchases).
Saving R$... Watch for the special deals when vehicles become available for purchase. A car you just unlocked would usually go for 20% off, and RR3 often run sales on a particular high end vehicle for 40% off or more, but you need to be a pretty impressive driver to buy those.
You could try to save money on maintenance by not crashing much or going offroad much, but if you really want to beat opponents that may not be possible. The idea is ONLY send the car to repair when it starts showing degraded performance and not before.
Repair costs are low enough compared to winnings that you should not worry about car damage at all, esp. if you win.
If the car's half used up, and you're done for the day, you may as well send it to repairs.
How to get Gold and save Gold
Gold comes from the following methods:
- You get 3 Gold per driver level advancement
- You get extra gold and R$ for achieving 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% completing of series. Go to series, then go "left" to see the info panel telling you what bonus you can expect next.
- You can do the "free offers" for some gold, like watch ads, or try the trial offers. Go into "store", then "gold", and finally, "free".
- You can share your racing success via social network for 5 gold
- And you can always pay real money for Gold, which we try to avoid.
You can spend gold on almost anything, mainly to 'save time', such as:
- Spend gold on "VIP treatment", which cuts the maintenance wait time
- Spend gold on immediate car delivery instead of waiting X hours
- Spend gold on immediate maintenance rather than wait
- Spend gold on immediate upgrades instead of waiting X hours
- Spend gold on special premium upgrades (gold only)
- Spend gold on special cars (gold only... Cobra 427 is 240 gold!)
- Spend gold on additional mechanics (3rd one is 50 Gold!)
Frankly, I play every once in a while, not in long sessions, so I *never* hurry any repairs, delivery, and so on. If I need to wait, I'll go do something else, then come back.
And I don't get every upgrade for every car. If the car seems to be not getting much for the upgrade, save it and spend it on something else.
You can get free gold if you hit store, gold, then click on the free button. Simplest is watch a couple video ads for other games... You get 1 gold for like a 15 second video. And there are usually 2 per day. There are a bunch of other offers to try, but those would require more data entry.
Timer Tips
As a freemium game, RR3 depends on a lot of artificial delays. Here are some ways to deal with those timers.
- A car being delivered can be upgraded while in transit! So if that new car is going to take 4 hours to deliver, add some upgrades to them in the meanwhile!
- A car can be upgraded AND maintained at the same time. So do it together!
- You can race a car that is being upgraded! (However, you cannot race a car that is being maintained)
- Do your maintenance and upgrade just before you go to bed, so when you wake up you are all done, and ready for the daily bonus race (see "How get get more R$")
- Have patience. If you only have 2 mechanics and you have 2 cars getting maintained, go do a "money race" with a car in a different class, or go play something else for a little while
Car Selection
Get cars in multiple classes for multiple series. You want to race a 3rd or even a 4th car while your first two cars are in the shop.
The cars are always listed from left to right.. usually in the order of performance potential. Generally, it's going to be two "okay" cars and two "good" cars. Let's call them A, B, C, and D.
No matter how far you upgrade A or B, it'll NEVER match C and D. So you may not want to max upgrade A and B, but just enough to win their "showcase" races, and enough to unlock car C and D if it can be unlocked. Save the money to buy C and D and their upgrades, and use C and D for the earlier races.
For example, let's consider your first series: Pure Stock Challenge.
- Nissan Silvia S15 (Fully Upgraded) PR=14.9
- Ford Focus RS (Fully Upgraded) PR = 16.7
- Dodge Challenger RT (Fully Upgraded) PR = 23.4
- BMW 1 series M Coupe (Fully Upgraded) PR = 29.6
There is a significant gap between cars A and B with C and D.
Let's look at another example, Street Spec Skirmish
- Nissan Skyline GT-R V-Spec (R34) PR=15.4
- Nissan 350Z (Z33) PR=20.7
- BMW Z4 M Coupe PR = 24.5
- BMW Z4 SDRIVE35IS PR=30.7
How about another example: Performance Rumble?
- Dodge Challenger SRT8 PR=27.2
- Nissan 370Z (Z34) PR=29.7
- Ford Shelby GT500 PR=38.4
- BMW M3 GTS PR=37.1
The catch here is sometimes, cars can be used in multiple series. If you play through Pure Stock Challenge, the first series, you may want to play the minor "Road Car International" series, which unlocks Nissan 350Z and BMW Z4 M Coupe. Both cars can be used in the next major series "Street Spec Skirmish", probably already upgraded and ready to go. The "catch" is, of course, that these are "medium" cars, and not the top of the line car.
Play through the minor series will make you more money and make your main series racing easier. The trick is figure out how much to upgrade each car to win.
Upgrade Selection
Not all upgrades are worth their money. So what to choose?
- Only buy upgrades that you can afford, and still keep a reserve (enough to buy the next car that will unlock, so you can take advantage of that 20% off one time offer)
- Only buy upgrades that yield significant improvements in area you need. (Final 1-2 stages of engine upgrade is probably not needed, but drivetrain and tires are usually good)
- Generally, if there are 5 upgrade levels, level 5 is probably not worth the money. However, if there are only 3, then buy all 3.
- Generally you want upgrades that allow your car to pull more Gs (shaper turns without losing speed), then acceleration (shorter 0-60 times), then it's a toss-up between horsepower (top speed) and braking (distance).
Driving and Control Tips
Find a control scheme that works for you, with as little driving assist as possible.
Auto-brake should be left on low as you learn your braking points, then off altogether.
Traction control should probably be left on except super-speedways, where you lose a lot of speed if you start to lose traction in the turns.
Steering control... try different schemes and see how it works for you.
Try different viewpoints. I personally prefer the hood/bonnet view. I find bumper view too low and third-person too "distant". Cockpit is too... busy.
The idea is NOT to squeak the tires, brake just enough to make it around the curve without squeaking, but keep max speed around the curve.
Some cars tolerate hard braking better than others without locking up, so you should late brake into the corner. Other cars should brake early and accelerate faster out of the curve.
Use every inch of the track possible and make your turns as smooth as possible by cutting across corners, but keep at least two wheels on the tracks. Use as much of those rumble strips (blue and white or red and white) as markers on keeping two wheels on the road.
The rumble strips (sometimes called "kerbs") also serve as good braking point markers.
Look for braking point markers all over the place. Could be rumble strips, signs, bridges, posts, etc.
Look for places where you can cut 2 wheels off the road and gain a straight line through subtle curves. Mount Panorama has a good section like that before the sharp left and the downhill.
Drag Racing Tips
Drag Racing is simple, as it's all in the timing. Race 3 folks to the finish in a straight line.
Basically, hover your finger over the launch button, but ONLY PRESS it when it really goes green. You CANNOT anticipate the green, as the delay between the last red and green is RANDOM.
The idea is shift JUST BEFORE the RPM reaches red. And really, that's all there is.
Don't worry if that other car got ahead. Just shift at the right time.
Study the time scored. If you did not miss or fub any shifts, you should hit that time on every run. If you lost by a hair, try again. If you lost by more than 0.1 sec, you probably need a faster car, as you can't improve your shifting that much.
Endurance Tips
Rules: Endurance basically has you driving for as long as possible as you gain additional time by passing cars (10 seconds each) and completing laps (depending on lap length).
The trick is to pass carefully as you lose far more speed if you hit other cars. Go on the shoulder, pass on the outside... whatever it takes you need to make as much time as possible on the early laps as later overtake becomes virtually impossible.
Try not to go off the track as mileage off the track does NOT count toward your mileage.
When you run out of time, steer neutral to the middle of the road, and try to head "downhill" as much as possible. Until the car stops your mileage still counts. And if you are coasting to a stop from 100+ MPH you can go quite a bit before you come to a full stop.
Endurance makes good "money races" where you can stack the "daily double" plus the "manager double" to quadruple your winnings... if you win, of course. Consider going airplane mode (i.e. only go against AI) for money races.
Cup Race Tips
Cup Races are the typical race where up to 22 cars jockey for position on the course.
The trick basically is try to get up to the front as soon as possible, or at least in the top ten before the first lap ends. The leaders (first 6-8 cars) will pull away from the rest of the pack, and if you're stuck in traffic you will never catch up.
Pass on the outside, cut through some corners, shove other cars out of the way... PIT them... any way you can. Get near the front so you can catch up to the leaders of the race. And do it quickly.
If you can't get through the "gaggle", either you're not driving quite right... Or your car is simply too slow. (or the course is too narrow).
Head to Head Tips
Head to head race is pretty simple: one lap, one opponent, win at any cost.
Generally you can tell if you will win or lose by the first quarter mile. If he is able to just pull away from you from the start, you have virtually no chance of winning. Either bring a better car, or restart and hope the computer gives you a weaker opponent.
Autocross / Speed Snap Tips
Autocross and Speed Snap are the same except what it measures. Autocross measures overall time taken for the driving the challenging segment, while Speed Snap measures your speed as you cross the finish line driving the challenging segment.
Autocross and Speed snap can be done in short time (usually less than a minute), and basically has you driving your best, with your best cornering and accelerating car, accelerate hard out the final corner.
You can play with the Speed Snap event a little by testing where do you brake for the final turn so you can line up perfectly for the dash to the finish. If you are within a few MPH (like 3 or 4 MPH) You may be able to get that by doing that last turn faster.
Speed Record Tips
Speed Record event is achieving the top speed during a single lap, anywhere along the course. As most course have many long straights or nearly straights, this should not be hard by using your best car.
The trick usually is remembering which corner leads into the high speed segment, and how to retain as much speed as possible onto the segment.
You can cheat by turning off the auto-brake just before you get to that long straight, then just plow ahead and do NOT brake for the next turn, if you need that extra few MPH to win.
Guide:
Real Racing 3, for the iPhone, iPad and Android devices, is one of the greatest racing games to ever come out for either platform, and if there is a greater racing game, then I’m not yet aware of it. It’s essentially the Gran Turismo or Forza of these platforms, as your goal is to race against real life people using an innovative staggered multiplayer that crosses a player’s performance with artificial intelligence, to collect R$ and Gold, and of course, to collect and upgrade cars as much as possible. Read on for some tips and tricks for Real Racing 3!
The game has many control schemes, from the Mario Kart veteran’s mix to the Gran Turismo veteran’s mix. Go to the options menu to change them. If you change it from auto to manual acceleration, and shut off the steering assist and the brake assist, then there will be a LOT of strategy required in driving – strategy that closely mirrors real life racing.
For example, you’ll need to learn the appropriate time to use the brakes, which, generally, is to use the brakes just before you start to go into a turn. How much to brake depends on how fast you are going and how tight the turn is. Use them lightly enough that you don’t slow yourself to a crawl, but heavily enough that you don’t skid into the dirt. Either slam the brakes before the turn, or start tapping the brakes before and into the turn, which is a technique known as trail braking.
You can also drift, which is done by using the accelerator more, the brakes less and sliding into the turn, or powerslide much the same way, which if done right, can help you keep more speed in and out of a turn, but you have to time it JUST right to avoid crashing into the dirt or spinning out. Drifting and sliding are impossible with the steering and brake assist on.
Either way, though, practice each course over and over, and finish out each course so that you can earn R$ and experience points. You’ll earn R$ and experience points no matter how you place in the race, so resist the temptation to quit a race. Even if you damage the car badly, you’ll win enough R$ to more than cover the cost of fixing it.
Tips
1. Always have the best car you can
Seems an odd statement, but it's the best way to progress through the game well. The game structure recently changed into a progress driven career mode, so getting the best car possible at the right time is even more crucial. Don't think about conserving credits – either pre-loaded or something you've bought – go for the best you can afford. At the beginning of the game you don't want to be thinking about upgrades, you need to hit the track, and the initial choice of car won't matter too much. I started out with the Ford Focus RS, which has proved to be highly upgradeable and an excellent all-rounder as the game has progressed. But as you progress now, you need to have certain performance ratings on your car to enter certain races. So if you can get something faster, then do.
2. Be smart with your upgrades
An increase in top speed isn't going to help on most tracks and challenges. Engine upgrades tend to offer better results in top speed, but less in terms of acceleration. In a lot of the races in RR3, lower 0-60 times will benefit much more than being able to go 195mph. The start is crucial, and getting away from the line and up to racing speed quicker will ultimately gain you more places in the early part of the race, and being able to pull away from corners quicker than your opponents will help you consolidate your position once you've passed them. So, look to upgrading the drivetrain before the engine, get that 0-60 time down. Also look at combining this with reducing the weight of your car.
3. Likewise, be smart with in-app purchases
It truly is possible to play RR3 without spending a penny, but you'll spend more time waiting around for things to happen. If you should feel you want to spend some money to help you out, be smart. Look at the packages you can purchase that combine gold and R$, and also the specific car related packages too. Don't blindly tap away to increase just your R$ or your gold, strike a good balance. And, if you have the currency available and a deal flashes up on a car such as 40% off, buy it. If you're in a position to buy it, and to use it at your current level of progression, then do it. I picked up a BMW Z4 GT3 for 40% below it's regular in-game price, which otherwise I probably wouldn't have done.
4. Know your circuits, and the different layouts of each
This comes with playing time, but as you become familiar with the circuits make sure you take note as to which layout you're racing on. This will affect your mindset, and possibly even your choice of car going into a race. For example, all Cup races at Laguna Seca will see you starting 22nd on the grid, which puts you the other side of the final turn. So you're already at a disadvantage, with a slow corner to negotiate before even hitting the start/finish straight. Here you'll want to be in the absolute fastest car you have for the race. Likewise at Silverstone, there are three different configurations, with two different start lines. Both see you starting a cup race on a turn, but the National layout sees you use a completely different part of the circuit to the International layout, while the Grand Prix layout combines both. Considering the track before the race is almost as important to success as the car you choose.
5. Horsepower isn't everything in a drag race
It isn't everything, but naturally it is important. What's going to win you drag races is timing. Since RR3 uses Time Shifted Multiplayer, your opponent is a real person who went down that same strip. You time your run to perfection and you stand a solid chance even if you're lacking a few horses over them. The launch is key, but remember that the delay between the red and green lights varies through rounds, so don't get caught out and false start. Once you're off the line, glue your eyes to the rev counter. Hit the sweet spot for each gear change just below the red line, and you're on for a good run. The counter will stop or bounce around just at the top of the red line depending on the car, but hit the gear changes at the right spot and you won't be caught. Well, not always, anyway.
6. Run wide (but not too wide), don't slide
Hitting the grass kills your momentum, a lot, but equally so does sliding round corners. While it looks cool, it isn't going to help you win your races one bit. If you go in a bit hot and you're not going to make your turn in for the apex of the corner, let it run wide and use all the track. It may cost you some lap time, but it's going to cost you a lot less than if you overcook it and get the tail out. If you're too late on the brakes, keep your turn in as smooth as you can, and you'll come out better in the long run.
7. Use the bonuses to your advantage
The latest update brought some additional ways to earn extra R$. Playing every day is one of those, so even if you don't feel like playing, fire it up, claim the reward, then close it again. Also, as hard as it is not to use brute force to knock your opponents out of the way some times, do whatever it takes to avoid them and claim that clean race cash. Also, stick at one particular series, and complete as much of it as you can before moving on. The new career style progression ladder will help, but hitting 25% complete in a series for example nets you free currency. And currency is good.
8. Spam your Facebook friends
OK, that's not really what you need to do, but you can earn extra gold by sharing your results with your friends on Facebook. You can also share to Sina Weibo if you're in a supported region. But, for five free gold, who cares what your friends think, right? Such a shame I don't use Facebook...
9. Get all over those kerbs
When I completed my race license test here in the UK, I was told that kerbs are generally bad, and that the fastest line around the track isn't to drive all over them. That doesn't apply at all in Real Racing 3, in fact some of the quickest lines I've found involve getting plenty of kerb into some of the turns. Take the image above, taken from the Brand Hatch track. Follow this line through this turn and you can carry a little extra speed, which ultimately works out as you hammer round the final turn and off down the start finish straight. I've also found a lot of the other cars generally stay away from them, so if you can keep that line tight and use the kerbs, you can often sneak up the inside. But only do this when you're confident you can get a good exit speed or you'll get burned on the other side.
10. Your best tips and tricks?
So, that's a few of my own tips and tricks to getting the most out of Real Racing 3, but I've only really scratched the surface. If you've got any others, be sure to drop into the comments below. I know I'm always trying to make my game better, as I'm sure a lot of you guys are!
11. Keep the Braking Assist Off
Automatic braking seems like a viable option for players who aren’t quite experienced yet, but seasoned players should use the manual braking option in due time. Either turn the braking assist option to a lower degree or turn it off completely. Once you’re in control of your own braking around those tight corners, then you’ll begin to come away from races with lower completion times. Your racing times/speed will see a huge, positive difference if you do all the braking yourself. Master your braking. Don’t let the game do all the work for you.
12. CUT THOSE CORNERS!
When you become a bit more knowledgeable about each track, then you’ll come to understand which corners you’ll need to cut in order to keep your steady speed going. When you’re ready to cut a corner, ease off the gas a bit but don’t let it fall down too much. Keep your speed at a steady level that won’t send your car flying all over the place if you bump into some barricade or rival racer. Cutting a corner means driving across a corner flatten out a curve. You’ll fly through that curve if you take our corner cutting advice to heart.
13. If You’re Lucky to Land in 1st Place, Cut Off Rival Racers Behind You
Once you take the 1st place position in a race, it’s pretty hard to keep it as time goes on. You’re gonna have to play a bit dirty if you’re willing to stay in the top position. Cut off any racers that get a tad too close to you by turning into their direction. If you’re driving on a straight pathway and someone’s tailing you, pull this lil’ stunt on them – let ‘em get close to you, then bump ‘em off the road. HA! Dirty DRIVING FTW!
14. Don’t Go Too Crazy on The Road, Though; This Isn’t Bumper Cars
Yeah, we know we just told you to knock off anyone on the track if you’re in first place. But if you’re in a lower pole position, play it safe by driving safe. Avoid scraping your ride against other rides and those roadside obstacles. If you play this game as if you’re a Burnout veteran, then you won’t get very far in this game. Your vehicle’s performance will noticeably take a huge dip if you drive a bit wild on the road.
15. Pick the Right Upgrades
An increase in top speed isn’t going to help on most tracks and challenges. Engine upgrades tend to offer better results in top speed, but less in terms of acceleration. In a lot of the races in RR3, lower 0-60 times will benefit much more than being able to go 195mph. The start is crucial, and getting away from the line and up to racing speed quicker will ultimately gain you more places in the early part of the race, and being able to pull away from corners quicker than your opponents will help you consolidate your position once you’ve passed them. So, look to upgrading the drivetrain before the engine, get that 0-60 time down. Also look at combining this with reducing the weight of your car.
16. Make Sure You’re Familiar With Each Race Circuit and Stage Layout
This comes with playing time, but as you become familiar with the circuits make sure you take note as to which layout you’re racing on. This will affect your mindset, and possibly even your choice of car going into a race. For example, all Cup races at Laguna Seca will see you starting 22nd on the grid, which puts you the other side of the final turn. So you’re already at a disadvantage, with a slow corner to negotiate before even hitting the start/finish straight. Here you’ll want to be in the absolute fastest car you have for the race. Likewise at Silverstone, there are three different configurations, with two different start lines. Both see you starting a cup race on a turn, but the National layout sees you use a completely different part of the circuit to the International layout, while the Grand Prix layout combines both. Considering the track before the race is almost as important to success as the car you choose.
17. So Which Ride Should You Put in Your Garage Immediately?
The ride you should have in your garage ASAP is the McLaren MP4-12C. This vehicle has some of the best stats of most of automobiles in the game. This ride is a one-way ticket to most of the racing circuit series that you’d normally wouldn’t have access to with your other rides. SPEND SOME GOLD ON THAT MP4-12C!
18. Start Off With the Nissan Silvia Instead of the Focus RS
On the subject of which of the starter cars to get, we agree with Xeyad: “Go for the Nissan Silvia, because it accelerates faster and brakes better than the Focus RS.” Additionally, when looking at what to get next your additional car purchases should be from the next tier of cars instead of merely saving up for the Focus RS to have two cars for the same class of races. While you totally can buy the Focus RS as your second car, you won’t be able to advance outside of the races that both those cars are eligible to compete in.
19. Don’t Worry Too Much About Competing in Races With Cars That Aren’t Fully Repaired
A few of the races that you’ll compete in don’t require your rides to be a full strength. If you’re low on cash and your driving skills are high enough, take a risk and use one of your non-fully repaired rides to compete. Sometimes you can just forgo the maintenance mechanics of the game and just take any of your decent rides into the fray. Don’t take a ride that’s on its last legs into a race. When your pockets are low though, use a ride that’s not fully prepared if you’re willing to.
20. Make Sure You Keep it Social With Your Real Racing 3 Buddies
GameCenter and Facebook are your friends, friends. As your friends race, they’ll leave some ghost data for you to compete against. You’ll net an extra 10% bonus money for every friend that you beat.
21. Drive better
It sounds simple, sure, but "drive better" really is the best piece of advice I can give. If you want to squeeze every last drop of play out of Real Racing 3, then you need to learn the rules of the Firemonkeys road... and fast.
If you're a racing veteran, then switch off all assists so you can exert maximum control over your car. However, if you're new to the series - maybe you're trying it for the first time due to it being F2P? - then keep them on.
Every knock and scrape against cars and trackside furniture; every time you veer off the course; every fleck of burnt rubber: all of this is taken into account by the Real Racing 3 game engine. And all of those errors and misjudgements will wear your vehicle down. Trust me.
Right from the off, overtake as many opponents as possible, and don't get caught in a pile-up at the first slow corner. If you're a few feet from the bumper of the person in front, keep a watchful eye on your rival's brake lights to avoid shunting into your competitor's motor.
Whatever you do, don't drive like you would in a Destruction Derby-esque smash-a-thon. It might help you improve your position, but you'll very quickly need to head to the repair shop as a result.
Now, all of this being said, if you know it's going to be your last race for a while, and it's absolutely crucial to your victory, a cheeky nudge of an opponent might just give you the winning edge.
22. Drive smarter
As discussed on last week's podcast, there's a meta-game to be played here. There are things you should be keeping track of and considering when you race and upgrade to ensure you get the most play time from your Real Racing 3 experience.
Your choice of starting car doesn't make much difference to your progress, so it's just a matter of personal preference. So, whether you choose the Ford Focus or not, you need to put any lingering or longing thoughts about those supercars in the Store to the back of your mind, and concentrate instead on upgrading the one you have.
Win a race or two, and you'll have enough for a couple of improvements, so splash the cash on what you think fits your play style best. I found that a balance of upgrades to raw speed and control worked best, so if you're going to get the engine improvement, put some money down for a new set of tyres, too.
The reasoning is simple: you won't earn enough money in your starting car to advance significantly without making any upgrades to it. And the only vehicles you'll be in a position to buy (without making any upgrades) will be eligible for the exact same set of races you already have access to - yet they won't be as fast as the car you already own. To put it bluntly: you're throwing money down the toilet by ignoring this advice.
The moment - and I do mean the VERY moment - that you can purchase a new vehicle from a different set of races, though, you should buy it. By having two cars in your garage, you can play the game for twice as long as you would with just one motor in your 'fleet', and you can potentially accrue twice as much money per play session.
If you don't mind dropping dollar, there are two very cheap Packs you can purchase for a total of £4.50. These packs are called Street Spec Booster and Supercar Booster. By purchasing these packs, you will gain another two cars, thus further extending the period of time you can race before your having to quit out to wait for repairs.
23. Drive dirtier
Then, of course, there are the couple of underhanded tricks you can employ. They're really just game exploits, but they do run counter somewhat to the phrase 'being a good sport'. Ah, well.
If you fancy a really easy time, block your device's access to the internet (by turning off the cellular data and wi-fi connectivity in your device's settings). Yes, that Time Shifted Multiplayer (TSM) component is neat, but it does mean the difficulty is amped up. This is because you'll be competing against your friends' times; not the AI's. And, yep, the AI is rubbish.
When I was racing against pals in TSM mode, I'd usually finish around the middle of the pack. When racing against just bots, though, I'd be continually getting onto the podium without breaking a sweat.
By actively steering clear of TSM-based contests, you won't get the R$ bonuses for each friend beaten. But if you're trying to see all of the game and need a top-three finish to unlock the next set of challenges, then this naughty 'cheat' works wonders.
Finally, if you're spending some time grinding for R$, then pick races with few or zero competitors. Oh, and ones you can win easily. It's not exactly sporting to pick the same race and win it over and over again, but it's a very easy way of lining your coffers. And if there aren't any other competitors on the track, you stand little chance of taking damage.
Tips and Tricks: How to Have Fun Racing Without Spending a Dime
How to get R$ and save R$
You can get R$ via the following methods:
- You get R$ by winning races (at least get into top 3)
- You get R$ by unlocking new events and/or series (which is through winning races, or at least get into top three)
- You get R$ by achieving 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% completion of series
- You can always pay for R$, but we try to avoid that.
However, you also get two special modifiers
- You can optionally double your race winnings by hiring manager (free or 1 Gold)
- You get a "daily bonus" for playing every day, up to 100% of race winnings, for your first race per day.
You spend R$ on
- New cars
- Maintenance when your car gets a bit beat up
RR3 promises extra R$ if you race friends who's online, and if you race every day you get a daily bonus of up to double your winnings in R$, though only for the first race that day. You can take advantage of both by finding your "money race".
A "money race" is a race you run in Real Racing 3 once a day, to make as much money as possible off that one single race, that earn a lot of money, but is not too demanding or too difficult to win. This exploits the "daily double", the 100% bonus you earn as the first race of the day if you race 5 days in a row, and the ability to hire the manager (either free, or 1 gold) to double your winnings. Both bonuses can be used together to quadruple your R$ winnings that one race.
Make sure your friends also raced that specific race (and you can beat them) so you get even more bonus.
I personally find endurance races pretty easy, and super speedways even more so. Your own preferences will vary.
My current favorite money race is V8 Naturals / Speedrush TV Epic Global Round 1 / Endurance @ Indianapolis Speedway. With Charger SRT8 I can do 15-18 miles easy. With the Lexus IS F I've done 21 miles. The winnings is about 11-14000, which, after quadrupling, is about R$ 44-56000. So if you use the IS F to make 56K, then use the Charger SRT8 to make another 22K, that's 78K, enough to buy a pretty good car, or do a LOT of repairs. Put both cars into maintenance for an hour and come back and really have fun with the rest of the day's races.
Another money race if you're higher up is the Performance Rumble / Speedrush TV Australasian Open / Endurance @ Indianapolis Speedway. You can use either Shelby GT500 or the BMW M3 GTS. I've done 19 miles with the BMW (with quadrupling, about 54000 in a single run) and 23 miles with Shelby (over 70000).
Find your own money race, do it every day, and you should never be short on R$.
If you are really really short on R$, buy a "starter pack"... that offers you a 30% bonus for $4.99. You get both extra gold and extra R$. If you downloaded your RR3 from Amazon you can use Amazon coins (which you get for trying apps and app purchases).
Saving R$... Watch for the special deals when vehicles become available for purchase. A car you just unlocked would usually go for 20% off, and RR3 often run sales on a particular high end vehicle for 40% off or more, but you need to be a pretty impressive driver to buy those.
You could try to save money on maintenance by not crashing much or going offroad much, but if you really want to beat opponents that may not be possible. The idea is ONLY send the car to repair when it starts showing degraded performance and not before.
Repair costs are low enough compared to winnings that you should not worry about car damage at all, esp. if you win.
If the car's half used up, and you're done for the day, you may as well send it to repairs.
How to get Gold and save Gold
Gold comes from the following methods:
- You get 3 Gold per driver level advancement
- You get extra gold and R$ for achieving 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% completing of series. Go to series, then go "left" to see the info panel telling you what bonus you can expect next.
- You can do the "free offers" for some gold, like watch ads, or try the trial offers. Go into "store", then "gold", and finally, "free".
- You can share your racing success via social network for 5 gold
- And you can always pay real money for Gold, which we try to avoid.
You can spend gold on almost anything, mainly to 'save time', such as:
- Spend gold on "VIP treatment", which cuts the maintenance wait time
- Spend gold on immediate car delivery instead of waiting X hours
- Spend gold on immediate maintenance rather than wait
- Spend gold on immediate upgrades instead of waiting X hours
- Spend gold on special premium upgrades (gold only)
- Spend gold on special cars (gold only... Cobra 427 is 240 gold!)
- Spend gold on additional mechanics (3rd one is 50 Gold!)
Frankly, I play every once in a while, not in long sessions, so I *never* hurry any repairs, delivery, and so on. If I need to wait, I'll go do something else, then come back.
And I don't get every upgrade for every car. If the car seems to be not getting much for the upgrade, save it and spend it on something else.
You can get free gold if you hit store, gold, then click on the free button. Simplest is watch a couple video ads for other games... You get 1 gold for like a 15 second video. And there are usually 2 per day. There are a bunch of other offers to try, but those would require more data entry.
Timer Tips
As a freemium game, RR3 depends on a lot of artificial delays. Here are some ways to deal with those timers.
- A car being delivered can be upgraded while in transit! So if that new car is going to take 4 hours to deliver, add some upgrades to them in the meanwhile!
- A car can be upgraded AND maintained at the same time. So do it together!
- You can race a car that is being upgraded! (However, you cannot race a car that is being maintained)
- Do your maintenance and upgrade just before you go to bed, so when you wake up you are all done, and ready for the daily bonus race (see "How get get more R$")
- Have patience. If you only have 2 mechanics and you have 2 cars getting maintained, go do a "money race" with a car in a different class, or go play something else for a little while
Car Selection
Get cars in multiple classes for multiple series. You want to race a 3rd or even a 4th car while your first two cars are in the shop.
The cars are always listed from left to right.. usually in the order of performance potential. Generally, it's going to be two "okay" cars and two "good" cars. Let's call them A, B, C, and D.
No matter how far you upgrade A or B, it'll NEVER match C and D. So you may not want to max upgrade A and B, but just enough to win their "showcase" races, and enough to unlock car C and D if it can be unlocked. Save the money to buy C and D and their upgrades, and use C and D for the earlier races.
For example, let's consider your first series: Pure Stock Challenge.
- Nissan Silvia S15 (Fully Upgraded) PR=14.9
- Ford Focus RS (Fully Upgraded) PR = 16.7
- Dodge Challenger RT (Fully Upgraded) PR = 23.4
- BMW 1 series M Coupe (Fully Upgraded) PR = 29.6
There is a significant gap between cars A and B with C and D.
Let's look at another example, Street Spec Skirmish
- Nissan Skyline GT-R V-Spec (R34) PR=15.4
- Nissan 350Z (Z33) PR=20.7
- BMW Z4 M Coupe PR = 24.5
- BMW Z4 SDRIVE35IS PR=30.7
How about another example: Performance Rumble?
- Dodge Challenger SRT8 PR=27.2
- Nissan 370Z (Z34) PR=29.7
- Ford Shelby GT500 PR=38.4
- BMW M3 GTS PR=37.1
The catch here is sometimes, cars can be used in multiple series. If you play through Pure Stock Challenge, the first series, you may want to play the minor "Road Car International" series, which unlocks Nissan 350Z and BMW Z4 M Coupe. Both cars can be used in the next major series "Street Spec Skirmish", probably already upgraded and ready to go. The "catch" is, of course, that these are "medium" cars, and not the top of the line car.
Play through the minor series will make you more money and make your main series racing easier. The trick is figure out how much to upgrade each car to win.
Upgrade Selection
Not all upgrades are worth their money. So what to choose?
- Only buy upgrades that you can afford, and still keep a reserve (enough to buy the next car that will unlock, so you can take advantage of that 20% off one time offer)
- Only buy upgrades that yield significant improvements in area you need. (Final 1-2 stages of engine upgrade is probably not needed, but drivetrain and tires are usually good)
- Generally, if there are 5 upgrade levels, level 5 is probably not worth the money. However, if there are only 3, then buy all 3.
- Generally you want upgrades that allow your car to pull more Gs (shaper turns without losing speed), then acceleration (shorter 0-60 times), then it's a toss-up between horsepower (top speed) and braking (distance).
Driving and Control Tips
Find a control scheme that works for you, with as little driving assist as possible.
Auto-brake should be left on low as you learn your braking points, then off altogether.
Traction control should probably be left on except super-speedways, where you lose a lot of speed if you start to lose traction in the turns.
Steering control... try different schemes and see how it works for you.
Try different viewpoints. I personally prefer the hood/bonnet view. I find bumper view too low and third-person too "distant". Cockpit is too... busy.
The idea is NOT to squeak the tires, brake just enough to make it around the curve without squeaking, but keep max speed around the curve.
Some cars tolerate hard braking better than others without locking up, so you should late brake into the corner. Other cars should brake early and accelerate faster out of the curve.
Use every inch of the track possible and make your turns as smooth as possible by cutting across corners, but keep at least two wheels on the tracks. Use as much of those rumble strips (blue and white or red and white) as markers on keeping two wheels on the road.
The rumble strips (sometimes called "kerbs") also serve as good braking point markers.
Look for braking point markers all over the place. Could be rumble strips, signs, bridges, posts, etc.
Look for places where you can cut 2 wheels off the road and gain a straight line through subtle curves. Mount Panorama has a good section like that before the sharp left and the downhill.
Drag Racing Tips
Drag Racing is simple, as it's all in the timing. Race 3 folks to the finish in a straight line.
Basically, hover your finger over the launch button, but ONLY PRESS it when it really goes green. You CANNOT anticipate the green, as the delay between the last red and green is RANDOM.
The idea is shift JUST BEFORE the RPM reaches red. And really, that's all there is.
Don't worry if that other car got ahead. Just shift at the right time.
Study the time scored. If you did not miss or fub any shifts, you should hit that time on every run. If you lost by a hair, try again. If you lost by more than 0.1 sec, you probably need a faster car, as you can't improve your shifting that much.
Endurance Tips
Rules: Endurance basically has you driving for as long as possible as you gain additional time by passing cars (10 seconds each) and completing laps (depending on lap length).
The trick is to pass carefully as you lose far more speed if you hit other cars. Go on the shoulder, pass on the outside... whatever it takes you need to make as much time as possible on the early laps as later overtake becomes virtually impossible.
Try not to go off the track as mileage off the track does NOT count toward your mileage.
When you run out of time, steer neutral to the middle of the road, and try to head "downhill" as much as possible. Until the car stops your mileage still counts. And if you are coasting to a stop from 100+ MPH you can go quite a bit before you come to a full stop.
Endurance makes good "money races" where you can stack the "daily double" plus the "manager double" to quadruple your winnings... if you win, of course. Consider going airplane mode (i.e. only go against AI) for money races.
Cup Race Tips
Cup Races are the typical race where up to 22 cars jockey for position on the course.
The trick basically is try to get up to the front as soon as possible, or at least in the top ten before the first lap ends. The leaders (first 6-8 cars) will pull away from the rest of the pack, and if you're stuck in traffic you will never catch up.
Pass on the outside, cut through some corners, shove other cars out of the way... PIT them... any way you can. Get near the front so you can catch up to the leaders of the race. And do it quickly.
If you can't get through the "gaggle", either you're not driving quite right... Or your car is simply too slow. (or the course is too narrow).
Head to Head Tips
Head to head race is pretty simple: one lap, one opponent, win at any cost.
Generally you can tell if you will win or lose by the first quarter mile. If he is able to just pull away from you from the start, you have virtually no chance of winning. Either bring a better car, or restart and hope the computer gives you a weaker opponent.
Autocross / Speed Snap Tips
Autocross and Speed Snap are the same except what it measures. Autocross measures overall time taken for the driving the challenging segment, while Speed Snap measures your speed as you cross the finish line driving the challenging segment.
Autocross and Speed snap can be done in short time (usually less than a minute), and basically has you driving your best, with your best cornering and accelerating car, accelerate hard out the final corner.
You can play with the Speed Snap event a little by testing where do you brake for the final turn so you can line up perfectly for the dash to the finish. If you are within a few MPH (like 3 or 4 MPH) You may be able to get that by doing that last turn faster.
Speed Record Tips
Speed Record event is achieving the top speed during a single lap, anywhere along the course. As most course have many long straights or nearly straights, this should not be hard by using your best car.
The trick usually is remembering which corner leads into the high speed segment, and how to retain as much speed as possible onto the segment.
You can cheat by turning off the auto-brake just before you get to that long straight, then just plow ahead and do NOT brake for the next turn, if you need that extra few MPH to win.
Elimination Tips
Eight cars on the track, every 20 seconds last place is eliminated from the race.
There really is no trick... Get up front as soon as possible, using the best vehicle, and stay up front. Cut through corners on two wheels, bounce other cars out of the way... Any means necessary.
Hunter Tips
You need to chase down a wimpy car and beat it to the finish line with just one lap.
This can get tricky but basically you need to drive as fast as possible, pass the other car without hitting it and/or slow down too much, then rush to the finish line. The passing part is usually the most difficult, esp. on a very tight course.
Time Trial Tips
Do your fastest lap, with a rolling start, and do NOT go off track (2 wheels off okay, all 4 is bad) or your result will not be counted.
Time Trial is the most serious challenge in RR3. In fact, you are limited by the amount of "drive tokens" you have, and it's easy to waste them if you got all four wheels off the track even by an inch. There really is no tip other than drive your best, keep at least two wheels on track at all times.
You can race against someone else's ghost (or your own best lap ghost) and see how are they taking a particular line on the course vs. yours, and see if you can match their performance. Just tap on the racer whose ghost you wish to challenge.
If you are having problems getting a trophy for your time trial and having it count as your completion... Turn on airplane mode and play that way. Once you finish the race, you'll get your trophy, then you can get back online.
Dirty Tricks
Still can't win even though you have done all you can? Perhaps it's time to do a few dirty tricks.
Sideswipe
Outbrake your opponent into the corner, you on the inside. so you knock the other car aside with your flank. You will bounce off pointing into the turn... and he'll be pointing away from the turn. This is best done at a low speed corner (90 degree turn) or a hairpin turn as high speed turns give them a chance to pull out.
Airplane (Mode)
Are your friends wiping the floor with you and you can't get that 100% completion? The solution is go into airplane mode on your device. Yes, disconnect WiFi and data. Your game will still run, but now computer will assign some default AI guys for you to play against rather than "Time Shifted Multiplayer" (i.e. AI modeled after your friends' driving) and the default AI is much weaker.
PIT him!
PIT, or "Precision Immobilization Technique" is a move usually used by law enforcement on vehicle pursuits, where you basically spin the other vehicle around by turning into him and force a spin by hitting his rear wheel. You can use this in RR3, but it needs to be done right, to take advantage of a weird AI quirk: a AI car never revese. If you manage to spin an AI car so it has its nose touching the wall, it will be STUCK there. And this will force other AI cars to slow down near it... maybe. Obviously this only works on tracks with hard walls next to the track, like Indianapolis or Melbourne, or even some sections of Spa.
But basically, the idea is get between the car you want to PIT and the wall, then turn INTO him so he spins out. This works best on curves where the car's on the edge of traction. On straights the other car can probably pull away from you.
Track Guide: Mount Panorama
Mount Panorama is a high speed track with several 90 degree turns and S curves with some serious ups and downs.
First corner is called hell corner because there's a lot of "contact" there, esp. when the race starts. Go wide and go slow, instead of trying to cut through.
You can go full speed on Mountain Straight. Watch for the pole to start braking for Griffins Bend, and remember to brake into The Cutting as it's a rather sharp corner.
The left hander from Sulman Park to McPhillamy park may be handled without braking depending on your car's dynamics and how close you ride the curb on the left. Remember to cut right at the Skyline as you'll be facing some barrels at the Esses. Cut just right of the barrels, and you will aim straight into the corners and the Dipper with minimum braking. Though do hit the brakes as you make that sharp left to Forrest's Elbow.
Conrod Straight is the super high speed section though you need to brake for The Chase as you go into the final turns 21 and 22, and finally, carefully make that final Murray's Corner to the finish.
Track Guide: Hockenheimring
Hockenheimring appears in 3 separate configurations in RR3: Hockenheimring National, Hockenheimring Grand Prix, and Hockenheiming Short.
Right now I don't have a full description of all three variations. However, an educated guess would be:
Hockenheimring short: turn 1, cut off half way through to turn 11.
Hockenheimring National: full course, except cuts through from turn 5 to 7, instead of doing the hairpin in turn 6.
Track Guide; Suzuka
Suzuka circuit appears as three different configurations: Suzuka West, Suzuka East, and Suzuka Grand Prix.
I am working on the maps. I got a few driving tips:
- At the beginning, try to cut through on the right side. As long as you fit between the car and the wall, you can easily pass almost everybody. Then thread your way down the line, brake and put only two wheels on pavement as you continue. With proper braking you should get into the top ten, or even top five
- Slow to the right speed and you can take S-curves quite easily.
- Turn 8 and 9 can be taken quite fast by going slightly offroad and just keep two wheels on pavement.
- Hairpin (11) is a good passing spot if you can cut inside.
- Be very wary of turns 13 and 14. It is very easy to run off the track if you don't brake enough.However, if you cut inside across the grass SLIGHTLY, it's a good way to catch up or even to pass.
- Turn 15 can be tricky, as if you don't brake enough you may end up going offroad.
In the meanwhile, enjoy Sebastian Vettel driving the Suzuka Grand Prix circuit in the Red Bull Simulator
Track Guide: Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Indianapolis Motor Speedway appears in RR3 in two configurations: the speedway oval, and the road course. The map shows you both (road course is in red).
It is worth pointing out that the oval is run counter-clockwise (starting toward the right), while the road course is starting clockwise (toward the "left").
Drivethru for Speedway
You need to slow down for the corners if you reach your top speed on the straights. Generally, the cornering speed is about 20-30 MPH slower than your straight speed, if you're using an amateur or pro-am car like Shelby GT500, or Lexus IS F. Those can reach above 180 on the straights, but generally corner between 150 and 160.
AI Cars go high (right up against the wall) on the straights, but dives into a low line in the corners and brakes hard (usually they corner at 130-135). If you can dodge them moving between high and low you can usually pass them in the corners even if you can't overtake them on the straights.
Track Guide: Silverstone
Silverstone appears in RR3 in no less than FOUR configurations: Silverstone International, Silverstone National, Silverstone Bridge 2009 (the old Grand Prix config), and Silverstone Grand Prix (the current "Arena" config).
Track Guiide: Circuit de Spa Francorchamps
This Belgian track is famous for the big curves and high speed, and is actually based on several public roads linking the towns in the area.
Historical note: The most dangerous section is around turn 17 and 18, known as Blanchimont, but only in real life. In RR3 this section is quite safe. This section was made famous in 1992 when Erik Comas crashed and Ayrton Senna stopped and jumped out of his car to aid Comas while other cars are swerving around him at racing speeds. There were many crashes in this section over the years.
Drivethru: Start, go on the OUTSIDE of the "La Source" hairpin to avoid all the cars trying to cut the corner. Go slightly wide as you have a bit of room to maneuver down to Radillon Eau Rouge ("Red Water") where you have to do a slight S uphill, and you should be able to pass here. Try to cut through with only 2 wheels on the track. Continue uphill through Kemmel Straight, then slow down for the right / left / right combo known as "Les Combes". That takes you downhill toward a wide circle known as "Bruxelles". Slow down as you don't want to drift out. Make the left turn (good passing spot), then accelerate down the straight into the gentle left "Pouhon" then continue down to Campus and Stavelot, then right up to Courbe Paul Frere. Now you come to a long high speed known as Blanchimont, which has a very dangerous kink about 2/3rds way in, make sure you slow down so you don't fly off the track. Finally, you hit the chicane just before the finish line.
Track Guide: Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
Laguna Seca ("Dry Lagoon" in Spanish) is a famous racing course in the US... specifically, Monterey, California, near the Pebble Beach golf course.
Laguna Seca is probably best known for "the corkscrew", the blind S-turn that features a hefty drop in elevation, and there's almost no cue to indicate when to brake and steer, at turn 8 / 8A.
Start the race and you rush toward the Andretti Hairpin, which is actually two separate but close 90 degree turns. Cut through the corners to gain a few positions as you cut right to do turn 3, then 4 and 5. Slow down enough for turn 6 as you enter the Rahal Straight and climb for the corkscrew. The only warning is a slight kink of the road to right then the rapid left/right turn with the huge drop. That leads to the Rainey Curve, then turn 10, with a very sharp turn back to finish line.
Track Guide: Melbourne
Melbourne (sometimes called "Southbank") is an fictional (i.e. NOT REAL!) urban track in the middle of Melbourne's CBD (Central Business District) created by the developer Firemonkeys to showcase the city. If you look carefully you'll see various Melbourne downtown buildings, esp. in the third-person view in replays.
As a course, it is extremely difficult to do well in "cup" as it is extremely tight and you will take a LOT of damage. There is no shoulder to pass on at all. it's hard railing on both sides. The only overtake opportunities are in the corners, where you will just have to dive in and shove the other cars out of the way.
Drivethru: You start on 2 successive right jinks, leading to a tight left turn and a lot of collisions but if it's just you and other car there's a chance you can out brake him into the turn. That funnels you into a chicane. As you emerge from the chicane go wide right in order to make the next sharp left. Cut onto the rumble strips and make sure you miss the barriers. Next section is relatively high speed until you come to the overhead banner which is the sign for the next sharp left, then another left. You can try to pass at each corner here if you have sufficient overtake speed. That left leads to a right, then a quick left/right chicane which can be take almost straight through if you brake slightly, which leads up to a hard left (last chance to pass). Then you go into a right/left chicane as you reach the finish line.
Track Guide: Brands Hatch
Brands Hatch, a UK raceway, has two configurations: the short "indy" layout, (where turn 4 leads straight to 9) and a longer "grand prix" layout that uses the full track.
Drivethru (Indy): Start and try to drive half on grass on the right side, as you head toward turn one, which is also downhill. You should be able to pass virtually all the cars if you brake judiciously and only keep two wheels on the course. Brake as you pass the bridge for the loose hairpin, accelerate and cut across apex of turn 3, accelerate into turn 4, and brake for the large wide turn 9 back to finish line and uphill.