As I said before,

iRacing is a rather daunting game to get into.

Some do it for fun, others to learn how to race in real life (even though many of them shouldn’t get anywhere near a race car, certainly not until they learn to at least get through one corner without flying into the stratosphere), and others to take it too seriously and tell you that you should quit playing because you didn’t know how the safety rating worked.

This guide will give you 10 cars that I personally very much enjoy and think you would as well, whether because they’re helpful or because they’re just that damn fun to drive. 

10. Pro Mazda

Simple. Elegant. 

The Pro Mazda is the second step you’ll take into open-wheel racing. More powerful and faster than the Skip Barber car, boasting 240 horsepower giving a power to weight ratio of 1:5, this car is relatively easy to drive on most tracks, but is exceptionally fast for its size. You’ll feel you’re going much faster than you really are. Like in real life, this car will expand further on the ins and outs of open-wheel racing.

Why buy this car?

1. Fast but not too hard to drive, easing you into open-wheel racing further.

2. A lot of fun as well because of its small size and grip making it as nimble and slippery to race with.

3. Very simplistic with no electronic aids and a rudimentary design. It’s all about the driver with this car.

Price: $11.95

Link: https://members.iracing.com/membersite/member/CarDetail.do?carid=4

9. NASCAR Whelen Modified

Doesn't look like any stock car I've ever seen...

Cue the NASCAR jokes that no one who has at least mentally left middle school finds funny anymore. These cars are perhaps the most popular asphalt short track cars in the US, and for good reason. They’re really fast and not hard to drive thanks to the amount of downforce they have. These cars are popular on iRacing as well, so I suggest picking it up and giving it a spin. 

Why buy this car?

1, The fastest short track car, specifically made for that kind of racing.

2. Not hard to control making it ideal for up and coming drivers.

3. Not hard to set up either, good for teaching that aspect of driving. 

Price: $11.95 

Link: https://members.iracing.com/membersite/member/CarDetail.do?carid=31

8. Mercedes AMG GT3

GT3 racing is the most popular form of racing on the entire service. There are a few different choices, Porsche, Ferrari, McLaren, and this, the Mercedes AMG GT. With a 500 HP V8 engine and some electronic aids, this is the easiest to drive of the GT3 cars I’ve tried, so this is a good place to start. 

Why buy this car?

1. Limited grip and size makes it very fun to drive.

2. Probably the easiest GT3 car because of its aerodynamic body and large rear wing.

3. Usually very competitive in GT3 racing.

Price: $11.95 

Link: https://members.iracing.com/membersite/member/CarDetail.do?carid=72

7. Ford GT

The winner of Le Mans in 2016, the now iconic car will be retired after this season. It’s a lot of fun to drive as it has limited grip and few aids, making this is a good car to further your sports car racing after GT3.

Why buy this car?

1. Now an iconic sports car, a multiple time Le Mans winner.

2. Beautiful in design and the way to drive it. GTE cars are challenging but rewarding.

3. The next logical step after GT3 racing as you progress in sports car driving. 

Price: $11.95

Link: https://members.iracing.com/membersite/member/CarDetail.do?carid=92

6. Audi 90 GTO

This 80’s Trans Am champion was revolutionary in sports car racing with its genius four-wheel drive system. This alone makes the car utterly unique to drive and certainly challenging as well. It might help with modern day GT cars, but it’s still something I suggest you experience. It’s a quintessentially German experience, right along with Oktoberfest and losing to South Korea (football joke, hahaha, I understand sports).

Why buy this car?

1. An iconic and historic machine that you can experience at least on a basic level.

2. A completely different driving experience from anything in the game due to its four-wheel drive system.

3. The 4WD system can help with adaptability as you have to change your entire driving style to be able to control it.

Price: $11.95

Link: https://members.iracing.com/membersite/member/CarDetail.do?carid=76

5. Dirt Sprint Car

The cars (ranging from 305, 360 and 410 based on power) vary in difficulty but this new ladder of racing you can go into will teach you a lot about racecraft, as these are in my view the most difficult cars to race, because of their difficulty to drive, high speeds and short race distances, and having to deal with some of the worst drivers on Earth. Prepare to be taken out by someone who can’t stop themselves from spinning and stalling in the corner because I suppose they were busy yelling at the mother from the basement to get them more Mountain Dew.

Why buy this car?

1. The fastest dirt oval cars in the game as well as the most popular.

2. Extremely challenging to race and will teach you racecraft that can transfer anywhere.

3. Raw, unfiltered and pure driving. 900+ HP in the 410 cars and drifting through the corners. 

Price: $11.95

Link: https://members.iracing.com/membersite/member/CarDetail.do?carid=80

4. Non-Wing Dirt Sprint Car

This car is an exercise in duality. There can only be pleasure in it when there’s pain to put it into context, like getting iRacing to run on max on your computer before it melts into hot, black slime. These cars are the most difficult and challenging in the entire game. No downforce, no aids, and incredible power (700 HP in the 360 and 900 or more in the 410). When you get a good lap or a good finish racing them, God does it feel good. 

Why buy this car?

1. The absolute hardest cars to drive in the entire game without question.

2. While difficult, they are very rewarding when you get it right. 

3. This will teach you expert car and throttle control, which are necessary to be fast in any car, especially this one. 

Price: $11.95

Link: https://members.iracing.com/membersite/member/CarDetail.do?carid=87

3. Super Late Model

Yes, I know, turn left and all that, dumb rednecks, poor and stupid, har har. Leave your jokes that got old in 2009 aside for a minute. Limited aero and a focus on mechanical ability makes them a great jumping point for most blossoming drivers. They’re also a lot of fun to race, as you to be willing to use the bumper and stick the nose in where it shouldn’t in order to win. 

Why buy this car?

1. Will expand on the basics of stock car racing. 

2. Simple and easy to work on with lots of what you will learn transferring to higher categories of racing.

3. Fun to race with aggressive driving required in order to win. Bump and runs are common. 

Price: $11.95

Link: https://members.iracing.com/membersite/member/CarDetail.do?carid=54

2. Dallara IR18

The IndyCar is very versatile, able to raced on pretty much any asphalt track and put on a good show. The car also is rather simple, no ABS, traction control or power steering. It’s like a big go-kart, making it perfect for all open-wheel racers who may be tired of F1 cars being computers with wheels. Would be careful on the long ovals though, unless you like your car to double as an airplane.

Why buy this car?

1. Raw, untamed power and extremely fast, topping out at 240 mph. 

2. Can be raced on most tracks, ovals and road courses.

3. The ultimate open wheel car behind the Formula 1 cars. 

Price: $11.95

Link: https://members.iracing.com/membersite/member/CarDetail.do?carid=99

1. Dirt Midget

Once again, this car tops the list. I can’t get enough of this little monster. It’s so much fun to drive and race, all in a tiny package. It’s a car I want to race in real life someday, and the game makes it simple to learn how. The mechanics are simple and the car can be raced on any dirt track, weighing at just over a thousand pounds but with 400 HP, giving it a 2:5 power to weight ratio. 

Why buy this car?

1. Not too hard to drive, but not too easy. It will teach you lots about car control and throttle control. 

2. Very simple design and mechanics that most can easily understand. 

3. The most fun of all the cars to drive in my opinion. Driving the car with the throttle is something you don’t get in a lot of cars anymore, but it’s needed here.

Price: $11.95

Link: https://members.iracing.com/membersite/member/CarDetail.do?carid=96

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