Yeah, always noticed the "inspect time", but just never happened to try it. If used, I'd be able to replace the heavy damaged exhaust instead of a std fix. Might as well avoided leaving the gearbox unrepaired for the final stage -- so, quite happy knowing this new tool.
I have to use "Manual Override" (+manual seq.) which is same as auto clutch on a pad, but allowing to tap a button for override as a temp clutch kick (but you'd have your pedal/axis when set in this mode), much needed for laggy turbos. This variant or plain auto-clutch should produce slower shifting time than fully manual on H pattern cars, so to not give an unfair advantage.
If you can get used to this game's full manual quirks, it should be well worth it to use that to advantage. H3 RWD should be a good test to work it out
Auto-clutch didn't work great on this event, as I had to tap the override button often when the engine bogged down uphill, because auto-clutch was often releasing clutch too abruptly into 1st gear out of hairpins, instead of helping the engine for a bit longer. That was even with final ratio at a very low 1.25 to push 5th gear a couple of times. But in hindsight, the all the extra shifting (+under auto clutch) could have costed me extra time.
I also did a weird move and risked softs>no change>softs. Not sure if it paid off due to the accident on SS3. Anyway, this and the above, or going spareless, wouldn't alone close the current gap to 1st. So, see you on the next one!