The Mazda Rev-It-Up Challenge cars (at least the Sixes) were all ATX, and that's exactly what they said to do...get it into second by the first turn and leave it there, although I do wish I'd managed to hit first gear coming out of the last turn when I got a little slow.

"Think of it, if you like, as a librarian with a G-string under the tweed." Clarkson on the Mondeo.