Hard Left, Over Hill, Hard Right, Finish Line

Published June 21, 2007

DiRT for Xbox 360 is a radical change from classic asphalt racing, and as such, requires a unique perspective and different set of tactics for finding success. Consider the following tips though, and you'll be well on your way to tackling the rally-based challenges.

Turn, then accelerate.

Navigation Preparation
More than any other racing genre, rally racing really requires a tremendous knowledge of the track and its various obstacles. Whether it's anticipating a series of S-turns or blasting through a blind corner bordered by a sheer drop, preparing for the next turn in the track is crucial. Use your available navigation tools wisely.

The minimap near the top of the screen provides a good read on the most imminent twists and turns. Train yourself to look up every few seconds, so you can compare what you see with what your navigator is saying.

In rally racing, the navigator is just as important as the driver. Your navigator is filled with helpful advice, and while it can be easy to tune out his comments as you drive, that would be a very foolish move. The navigator keeps you apprised of the dangers of the course, from the severity of an upcoming turn to nearby jumps and the slope of the track.

Pre-emptive Restart
You can't do this in real rally racing, but if you're just too far behind in a race, take the novice's way out and hit Start to restart the event.

Easy does it.

This tactic is really only useful if you're already plenty familiar with the track, and just had a bad run. You don't want to be racing blind on these monster courses. It's better to lose horribly and familiarize yourself with the track, than to hastily restart if things don't go perfectly the first time.

Clean and Cautious
Flying off the side of the track will cost you precious seconds every time. Drive fast, but drive under control. Focus on clean lines and careful navigation before putting the pedal to the metal. Considerable seconds will be shaved off your time if you're not frantically reversing out of a ditch, or having your vehicle reset on the track.

Narration Education
Whether it's describing the various pitfalls on a track or the merits of tuning your car, the narration provided in DiRT is not only useful, but downright necessary. Try practicing a little patience, and read and listen to the various tooltips and helpful hints the game provides along the way. Preparation is key in all facets of rally racing.

Don't Panic
Rally racing is more marathon than a sprint, so don't sweat it if you're behind a few seconds at a split time checkpoint. Each checkpoint provides an opportunity to make up time, especially on longer endurance races. This isn't Forza Motorsport 2 or Project Gotham Racing® 3. Your patience will be rewarded.

Now this looks like fun.

Automatic is Fine
Typically, you'll find far greater control and acceleration in racing games when you switch over to manual transmission. This remains largely true in DiRT, but the benefit isn't quite as noticeable. With constant drifting, proper shifting is both harder to perfect and less rewarding than typical street racing games, so if you're comfortable with automatic, you may not have to switch to manual transmission.

Practice Online
Online races may take place simultaneously with other players, but like real rally racing, your competition isn't right next to you on the track. Rather, you're competing for the best time against the track instead of jostling for position. This makes online racing ideal for practicing tracks you're about to race in career mode. Not only do you get to actively compete against friends and strangers alike, but you can learn the track and prepare yourself for your offline race at the same time.

Move On
Though this tip is less concerned with gameplay or strategy, it's all too common to find players obsessed with beating a single race after losing time and time again. DiRT offers dozens of unique events, so unless you're battling through the last few races in single player mode, move on to something new and come back to your nemesis later. Taking a break with a different challenge can lessen the pressure, and there's no need to finish everything in order.

With these tips, we hope you will stay on the track, drive hard, avoid the big wreck, and get down and DiRTy.

Article by Ryan Treit