Maybe you need to overthink your approach to the game. Assuming that you can just jump in and push the car to the limit is purely arcade style and not possible in sim racing, which ac claims to be. Server 8 is a practice server for monday events, which means you get to the raw track and have to gain grip first, therefore the 90%. Over time and a fairly amount of laps, there will be more grip available due to many drivers burning rubber on the track. Also hotlapping on this server might be possible but i guess the purpose of this server is to give everybody a chance to get to know the car/track combo and prepare for monday, so we dont have as many crashes and cars/drivers out of control. Just get a couple of slow laps in first and get used to it and youll see grip wont matter anymore.
See you on track, cheers