Ghost racing is the fastest way to translate practice laps into reliable personal bests on Polytrack. Instead of free-driving until instinct kicks in, you race against a recorded benchmark that keeps your pace honest and reveals invisible mistakes. This playbook walks you through six building blocks: segment goals, risk budgeting, replay diagnostics, rhythm drills, hardware setup, and race-day routines.
1. Define segment targets before you race
Break the run into two or three segments and set realistic split times for each. A common template is setup (0–20s) » commitment (20–45s) » execution (45s+). Use your current PB to establish a safe pace, then subtract 0.2–0.4 seconds per segment for the ghost you want to beat. Write the numbers down—Polytrack’s HUD will not remind you mid-run.
2. Budget risk like a speedrunner
Every Polytrack map has two or three “make-or-break” obstacles where time savings also amplify failure. Assign a risk label (free, controlled, commit) to each obstacle and stick to it across attempts. Only upgrade a section’s risk after you can beat the ghost five laps in a row at the current setting.
3. Use replays for forensic analysis
After every five attempts, open the replay viewer and scrub along the ghost’s path. Align the camera to eye level and check three things:
- Entry speed: Are you braking earlier than the ghost?
- Line overlap: Does your car leave the ideal trajectory at apex or exit?
- Stability cues: Look for steering flicks or hopping—signs of hidden bumps you can smooth out.
4. Drill rhythm with micro-sets
Build muscle memory with 3-lap micro-sets: two warm laps at 95% pace, then a committed lap where you chase the ghost aggressively. Log your lap times and note whether the ghost pulls away at the same corners each time. Consistency matters more than the occasional miracle lap.
5. Tune your hardware
Lag spikes ruin ghost sessions. Cap frame rate to a stable value, disable background recorders, and map restart to a nearby input (e.g., controller paddle or keyboard thumb key). For Analog players, calibrate dead zones weekly and mark your baseline sensitivity in case you need to revert.
6. Race-day checklist
- Warm up for five minutes on a low-pressure map to reclaim baseline control.
- Load your target ghost and run two scouting laps without resets—this locks the pacing rhythm in your head.
- Run focused batches of 8–10 attempts; break for two minutes after each batch to review replays.
- When you beat the ghost, save the replay and jot down what changed. Those notes compound over time.
Recommended ghosts to download
| Track | Difficulty | What it teaches | Suggested goal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Track 3 Shortcut | Intermediate | Shortcut line discipline | –0.80s vs default ghost |
| Summer 2 WR Ghost | Advanced | Speed preservation through banked turns | Stay within 0.25s by exit |
| Winter 2 WR Ghost | Advanced | Air control and landing angles | No wobble after the final drop |
Mastering ghost racing is less about grinding endless laps and more about disciplined review. Keep your notes tidy, respect your risk budget, and celebrate small deltas—stacking 0.1 second improvements is how world records fall.