Manual Shifting Cheat - iRacing

Manual shifting can be difficult in sim racing. Errors made in shifting can have catastrophic consequences. So many drivers revert to using driving aids to prevent problems and in some cases the may cost them time on the track.

There is a not so secret trick in the hobby that can prevent those issues and practically guarantee perfect shifts. Shaun Cole of The Simpit shares this technique with you in this video.

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[fingergoat]

So the secret is, use the clutch paddles as clutches.

[seebarry]

As a motorcyclist this makes huge sense to me. I can feel it through the screen in my fingers. I will use this, it's instinctive.

[rampant]

A lot of "manual" race cars don't really need the clutch at all, including the Lotus 79 show in the video.

Upshifts can be achieved just by lifting off the throttle while changing gears (and in some cars, like the Nissan GTP ZX-T, you can change the gear on an h-pattern shifter at full throttle and iRacing WONT process the upshift until you lift off the throttle. I call this "preloading" a gear).

Downshifts are done by simply blipping the throttle when changing gears. It can be a bit tricky to find the exact amount to blip (and it changes a bit for each car) so that you don't give it too much or too little but it's not too hard. Again the clutch is not necessary for either of these.

One last tip, if you have an H pattern it could be useful to map it in a dogleg fashion. A lot of these older manual cars only have 5 gears, so you can map 1st gear where 2nd gear usually is, 2nd where 3rd is, 3rd where 4th is etc. and still have enough slots for all your gears. The logic behind this is you're going to be shifting between 2nd and 3rd more often than 1st and 2nd, and making this shift straight up or straight down on the H pattern can simplify it.

I too was scared of shifting issues when I was learning to drive the Nissan GTP, but once I learned these few tricks it became very simple

[joshuadaniels]

Reminds me of the Toca race driver days, clutching while shifting on a hand controller. Double clutching the old gt cars was priceless.

[jaytoppo]

Hey Shaun, being a right leg above knee amputee, I've been using this method for at least 3-4 years on a DD1 podium rim as some sim's require clutch work regardless of any aids ie: autoclutch. Assetto Corsa in particular... my lower left paddle is my clutch. Does take a bit of work away from your feet which for me is obviously a good thing lol.

[JonB]

This is a good thing for people that dont have legs.

[BGR_]

Using clutch paddles as the actual clutch? Who knew?! 😂

[tmoshamo]

How many people are out there screaming "he gave away my secret"😎 thank you for the video. Peace✌ (first😁)

[JonFestinger]

It’s just faster. Might not be more realistic - but will make you quicker around the track. Everyone is free to make their own choices depending on whether they see ultimate realism as the point, or whether they see simracing/e-sports as a separate discipline (as I tend to).

[jackadams]

I don’t see the extra paddles on my driving force gt wheel, is this a separate add on?

[CJBarry]

There is for sure a rhythm to this and when downshifting it can unsettle the car is you’re not timing and blipping a little.

At least in my daily driver, the Vee.

[cybertones]

Yeah I stopped using clutch on the mx5 because I could switch quicker. Same as chopping down I used to rev match but found for me it was easier to break and change gears without clutch. I did use a controller before using a wheel it was weird but easier to push the limits without spinning. Also felt easier to drive on the grass with controller because u can turn left and right quicker to drive straight

[darwinLee]

What were those Pedals you had in the Video? Tilton?

[terrydecker]

Since I’m new to this.
After, setting both paddles as you did. Can you basically just simultaneously pull both paddles on each side to shift?Or, do you have to use the subtle clutch paddle slightly before shifting paddle??

[brodeur]

I have never raced a car without matching the real way of driving the car since 2015. I understand having clutch or shifter or sequential shifter can be pricey tho…
Not racing any f1 90´s car because I don’t have my paddles anymore on my 270mm old school rim and not wanting to use a csx2 for those car 🥲

[TobiX]

for those who are too stingy to buy three pedals and an H-shifer, and too dumb to handle three pedals (disabilities barring), but on the other hand cry out for realism. 👏

[starfox_wr-e]

Shaun 'Secret Sauce' Cole
lol

[LyroLife]

i only use the clutch for drifting. i never used it when racing in iRacing.

[Itsthemafia]

Been playing with xbox remote and when i race it automatic anyone know how to remove this??? Plz help it was manual and now it's automatic and sucks

[MenniePlay]

I am on GT3 / 4 so not require any clutch.