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Free Cars in Iracing

New to iRacing? Learn which cars are free, how to find them fast, and the smartest way to practice and rank up. Clear steps and tips for iRacing beginners.

Opened iRacing, saw a wall of cars, and wondered what’s actually included? You’re not alone. The “what’s free vs. paid” question trips up tons of rookies. Here’s the simple version—so you can start turning laps today, not tomorrow. We’ll make free cars in iracing crystal clear.

Quick Answer: what are the free cars in iracing?

“Free” in iRacing means “included with your membership.” You get a rotating set of baseline cars at no extra cost—perfect for Rookie and early D-class racing. Think beginner-friendly road, oval, and dirt options like the Mazda MX-5 Cup, Formula Vee, Legends, Street Stock, and similar entry cars.

Simple Step-by-Step Guide

  1. Find them fast
  • In the iRacing UI, go to Cars and enable the “Included with Membership” filter.
  • Or open Go Racing → Series and look for Rookie series using included content.
  1. Try before you race
  • Click Test Drive on any included car to load a solo session. No safety rating risk.
  1. Start with the easiest path
  • Road: Mazda MX-5 Cup or Toyota GR86 (if included in your season).
  • Oval: Street Stock or Legends.
  • Dirt: Dirt Street Stock or Rookie Dirt options.
  1. Join an official Rookie series
  • Use the included cars on included tracks to build Safety Rating and learn how iRacing works.

Why This Matters for Beginners

iRacing beginners often think they must buy lots of content to compete. Not true. The included lineup is designed to teach race craft, car control, and incident-free driving. Focusing on one or two included cars keeps costs down, speeds up learning, and reduces overwhelm.

Small Practice Drill

  • 15-minute Focus Lap Drill (MX-5 or Legends)
  1. Warm up for 3 laps with no braking markers changed.
  2. Do 10 clean laps aiming for zero off-tracks and consistent lap times within 0.5s.
  3. Save the replay; watch just your braking points and corner exits. Adjust one thing next session.

Quick Pro Tips

  • Pick one included car and stick with it for a week. Depth beats variety.
  • Use auto-blip/auto-clutch at first; remove aids gradually.
  • Turn on the F3 relative box and learn traffic timing before drafting battles.
  • Practice starts and first laps in hosted or test sessions—lowest risk, highest gain.
  • Keep notes: gear, brake pressure, and exit speed targets. Small, steady improvements.

Common Mistakes

  • Buying cars too early: Master Rookie tools first; spend later with purpose.
  • Chasing setups: On beginner cars, consistent driving matters more than “pro” setups.
  • Skipping test sessions: A 10-minute test often saves a 12-lap race from avoidable spins.

When to Ask for Help

If you’re stuck on lines or setups, hop into friendly iRacing Discord communities or your series’ forum. A quick replay review from a C- or B-class driver can unlock weeks of progress.

FAQs

  • Which specific cars are included right now?
    The list can change by season. In the UI, filter Cars → Included with Membership. Expect staples like MX-5, Formula Vee, Legends, and Street Stock.

  • Can I reach D class using only included content?
    Yes. You can build Safety Rating and advance from Rookie using included cars and tracks.

  • Do included cars have good setups?
    Yes. The baseline setups are solid for learning. Tweak minimally (tire pressures, brake bias) as you improve.

  • Are the included cars “slow”?
    They’re slower than top-tier series, but perfect for learning fundamentals that make you faster everywhere.

Final Takeaways

Start simple: pick one included car, test on an included track, and join a Rookie series. Use these iRacing tips, keep it clean, and you’ll rank up faster—with fewer headaches and zero wasted spend. Your next step: filter for “Included,” load the MX-5 test session, and run the 15-minute drill today.