Join hundreds of racers just like you! We love to help answer questions and race together.

How to Pick First Car in Iracing

Learn how to pick first car in iRacing with quick, practical steps for iRacing drivers. Choose a forgiving, common car and fix selection problems fast today.

If you’re asking how to pick first car in iracing, the short answer is: pick a forgiving, common car that fits the type of racing you want and shows up in a lot of official sessions. You’re in the right place—this guide explains why and gives simple steps to move forward fast.

how to pick first car in iracing (Quick Answer)

Pick a car that is easy to drive, used in rookie or entry-level official series, and available in your subscription or cheap to buy. That combination gives you more practice runs, more races, and fewer incidents—so your Safety Rating (SR) improves while you learn.

What’s Really Going On

iRacing offers many cars and series. New drivers often get stuck choosing because some cars are high-powered or rare in the schedule. You want a car that:

is forgiving (understeers rather than snaps oversteer),
appears frequently in official sessions (so you can race often),
and matches your hardware (wheel vs. gamepad). Safety Rating (SR) tracks clean driving; choosing the wrong car can lead to incidents and a low SR, which blocks you from better races.

Step-by-Step Fix

Decide the racing type: road, oval, or open-wheel. Pick one to focus your learning.
Open iRacing > Series or Race tab and filter by your license class (Rookie/D/C). Look for cars listed in those official series.
Check availability: confirm the car is included with your subscription or cost to buy. Avoid expensive cars until you’re sure.
Pick a forgiving option (examples commonly used by beginners: MX-5/Global Mazda, Skip Barber, or lower-power oval stock cars). If unsure, pick the car with the most official races.
Test in a private session: do 5–10 clean laps at a track you’ll race on. If it feels twitchy, try another car.
Enter a rookie or low-split official race and drive conservatively. Focus on finishing clean to build SR before pushing pace.

Extra Tips / Checklist

Prioritize cars with lots of official events—more chances to race and learn.
Prefer cars with available beginner setups and community tutorials.
Avoid high-downforce open-wheel/prototype cars first; they punish small mistakes.
Check that your wheel/pedals can handle the car (force feedback and pedals feel).
Don’t chase lap time immediately—finish races clean to grow SR and unlock better series.

FAQs

Q: Which car is best for beginners in iRacing?
A: There’s no single “best” car, but common beginner choices are MX-5/Global Mazda and Skip Barber for road, or entry-level oval stock cars. Pick what’s used most in rookie/entry series.

Q: Do I need to buy a car to race?
A: Some cars are included with your subscription; others cost extra. Check the car’s page in the iRacing store before choosing.

Q: Will picking an easy car improve my SR faster?
A: Yes. Easier cars reduce incidents, helping you finish races clean and raise SR, which unlocks more series.

Q: Can I switch cars later?
A: Absolutely. Start simple to learn racecraft, then move up once your SR and confidence improve.

Short Wrap-Up

Pick a forgiving, frequently-run car that fits the racing style you want and that you can practice often. Test it, race clean, and build SR—then upgrade. Next step: pick one car from the official rookie list and run three official races this week.