ive seen so many cars run slower when manual shifting an auto.
in my 06 n/a first would shift out at the normal time, but second would hold and bounce the limiter if manual shifting.
launch is all in the feel for me. ill break torque it up some, but not all that hard, then lay into the throttle and roll it into the floor. how much you lay into it tho, you just kinda have to know the car.