That’s your first problem. You shouldnt be trying to keep up with people. Drive within your skill level, learn the car, learn the line, learn visual markers for braking, bumps in the track, curbing, pavement discolorations everything you can to make yourself faster. Do NOT worry about how fast other people are, or what you are “running” in comparison to them. Track days are points for learning, if you wanna do a Time Attack do so, but at your first track day with your first car getting competitive is a good way to have an off, damage your car, or worse someone elses.
Would’ve liked to attend and had watched the thread but I didnt get back in town in time for it. Maybe next time.