Fuji... a very technical & tricky track especially last sector...  Get a correct Late apex is crucial...
U can download the ghost of the best lap time and learn from there...

I off everything except ABS1. Only manage to keep clocking 1:39.5 like that...  Which consider very slow lol

Frust ? then just off your PS3 and go to bed...    Gaming/Racing/Driving suppose to be an enjoyment... 

since you dont enjoy it anymore must well put it aside 1st 

Or

take your own sweet time, be patient and enjoy to shorten your lap time bit by bit    instead of pushing too hard and flying all over the track which cause more frust and more mistakes. 

Driving need SISU not GUNGHO 

Enjoy the game and...  LETS RACE TONIGHT !!!       

The Lotus is tough (at least to me n00bie) to Gold. I gave up after 2 hours.
Few months later, I retry and manage to Gold after another 2 hours.

My ways:
1) Get used to how the car slide. From there, I don't follow the driving-line aid, and also slightly different braking point at some corners.

2) When on medium speed, do not turn sharp and accelerate. Control accelerate to ensure no red-tyres. Tyres squealing is fine though, as long no red. Sometimes I do slight early braking from the driving line.

3) Brake in straight line only.

4) Full accelerate when clear to get out of corners only.

5) Since the car slide so easy, I set all aid Off, except TCS=1 or 0.

Tips: Minimum overtaking to achieve gold, I try to recall since quite a long while ago:
i) First left corner (Wilson), brake early on the inside line, slide and overtake 1 car. If done well, you can overtake 2nd car also. Otherwise, when power out from that corner, can easily overtake 2nd car. No red tyres, as it will slow down considerably.

ii) Late brake and slide a bit before going into Chicago. Overtake 1 car, depending on how fast on you going. You can go slightly out the line before that bunch of tyre-barrels.
When entering Chicago, early braking, overtake another 1 car from right also.
Power out from Chicago, overtake another 1 car, and you should draft another car in front.

iii) Brake on time, and slide in straight line (don't turn) before entering Hammerhead. You should overtake the car you draft here. Start to throw the car left, then sharp right.

iv) Hammerhead, sometimes you can overtake 1 car also, or when power out into the straights. Draft the next car.

(v) Full-throttle on follow-through. The car will slide out, so you need to turn early and let that slide (no red tyres) power you over the corner.

(vi) Straighten up and turn into Bentley, full power. I go right-most and not follow line. Unless there is a car here to draft.

(vii) Brake late in straight line, overtake 1 car before enter Bacharach. Sometimes if slow, will straight reach bumper and can overtake after enter Bacharach. This will be a fast power-slide and if done correctly, is a very fast maneuver to overtake, and at the same time catch up to draft next car.

(viii) Take the last Gambon corner and you will draft the next car. Which is the 2nd place car if I recall correctly. I'm in 3rd now.

(ix) Draft, and can overtake the 2nd car at Wilson during enter/exit corner. Otherwise, if overtake at Chicago, seems like not enough time to catch 1st car, better to restart (at least to me).

(x) Keep chase/draft 1st car along the straights. The 1st car is fast and far ahead. For my gold, I only manage to overtake 1st at the 2nd last corner, Bacharach.

During my time, it is so easy to DQ if bang opponent's car, or hit some specific cones, or out-of-line. Not sure if updates has simplified it or not.

The above are rough count on the cars where I overtake. Hope it helps.