Can't shoot stuff but you can wreck as much as you like. Then you'll get banned from every room you try it in.

A good trick if someone's arsing you about is to 'pit' them - squeeze them towards the pits entrance and if you time it right they'll cross the line and the automated pitting routine will play, losing them about 30 seconds.
That can, as well, get you banned unless it's in retaliation.
It's not all about time, it's about
racing! And there's no shame in using an auto gearbox, I do it all the time. A manual is probably quicker overall because you can run further into the red line but it can get tiresome in circuits with lots of corners.
Basically, the game is as arcady as you want it to be or as sim-like as you can manage. Honestly don't know what it's like using a controller because I've only used a wheel - GT5 Prologue, its predecessor, was fine though.
I can gift you cars as well - Down to my last 480.
Golg.... All I can say is "Good grief!"