Want to get ahead of your mates in the GTA multiplayer races? Sure, they can be chaotic and there's an element of luck involved, but you can maximise your chances of winning with our handy tips guide. You should find that most of these hints apply to most other online racing games too. So, ladies and gentlemen, start your engines.

1: The start

Want to emerge from the first corner at the front of the field every time? It's really rather simple. You see, no matter how many times you play, or the quality of opposition, there are always going to be some idiots who don't know how to play the game, or think it's funny to cause the biggest crash they can. So here's how to avoid the inevitable first-corner pile-up.