Merlin5, let me give you a few pointers I've learned whilst playing Shift with these guys.
I often am in the bottom half of the table. But it does not bother me, because I enjoy playing the game. Seeing the times the others get only helps me more and makes me believe that one day, just one day, I can just about match their time. But it's all about practice, practice and more practice.
This particular track/car combo started off rather bad for me. I found the car to be sliding all over the place and of course the gearing wasnt the best. So when it was suggested to use manual gearing, then I started to find my bearing more. Time went on and I could see the likes of NIKAZ and inam22 getting into the low 1.30s so I set myself a target of about 1.34-1.35. And I was in that limit. But then when I saw your time, I thought, if Merlin5 can get into the 1.33s then why not me?
And then I did what you did, took off stability left traction on low and you see the time I have achieved. Ask me at the start of the week if I was going to get that time and I would laughed. But I've done it and can leave it there on a high.
As danswan says, NEVER GIVE UP!