iRacing
5 Best Cars to Buy First in iRacing
With so many cars available in iRacing, deciding what to buy first can be tricky. This guide breaks down five of the best early purchases across open-wheel, GT4, GT3, Porsche Cup and GTP racing, helping you choose a car based on your experience level, racing goals and the series you want to compete in.
Which iRacing Cars Offer the Best Value for New Drivers?
Although iRacing currently offers 32 cars as base content, there are over 180 in total across the service.
This means that once you’ve served your iRacing apprenticeship in the rookie series and want to enjoy a greater variety of racing, you’ll have to purchase a few cars.
Thanks to their popularity and presence across several official championships, we’ve picked out five cars you should consider buying to help take your iRacing experience to the next level, offering the best bang-for-buck in the process.
If you're still building your pace before committing to a new series, our guide on how to get faster in iRacing is a good place to start.
Is the Porsche 911 Cup (992.2) Worth Buying?
Outside of base content, iRacing’s Porsche Cup cars are the most popular form of single-make racing on the service.
Unlike the two older Cup cars, which are now classed as legacy content, the 992.2 features anti-lock brakes and traction control, making it a slightly more approachable option than previous generations.
However, it still has a raspy flat-six naturally-aspirated engine, making it one of iRacing’s more pleasant-sounding vehicles, and there are plenty of championships to get stuck into too. The most popular is the iRacing Porsche Cup Fixed, with an Open setup equivalent also available (other series, like the multi-class Creventic Endurance Series, are also open to Porsche Cup cars).
Despite its driving aids, the 992.2 remains a handful thanks to its rear-wheel-drive layout and 512 bhp, making it a perfect launchpad towards GT3 racing. Its rear-engined layout is also a unique challenge in top-class sportscar racing, requiring a more nuanced driving style.
Is the FIA F4 Good for Beginners?
The FIA F4 is an entry-level introduction to ‘slicks and wings’ single-seater racing.
Based on the outgoing Formula iR-04, the FIA F4 was rebranded in 2023 after iRacing and the FIA announced a formal partnership. The FIA has since approved several esports championships using the car (including the British F4 Esports Championship, featuring several Formula 1 esports teams), and even packages it with a free 12-month iRacing subscription for new members.
Drivers progressing from the Ray FF1600 will find the FIA F4 an engaging challenge, with the FIA Formula 4 Challenge Fixed and Open series offering a gentle introduction to the more focused FIA Esports Regional Tour championships.
With only 160 bhp on tap, the FIA F4 won’t bite newcomers too hard, especially with high wing settings front and rear, and the lack of power helps promote close slipstreaming battles, making it a great car to learn open-wheel racecraft.
Which GT3 Car Should You Buy First in iRacing?
GT3 racing has become an almost ubiquitous presence in motorsport in recent years, and that has naturally carried over into sim racing. However, since no GT3 cars are included with an iRacing subscription, you will have to buy one to join the thousands of sim racers driving them on a daily basis.
There are 11 current GT3 cars to choose from in iRacing (several more outdated models are available as legacy content), all with similar performance levels, so making a choice mostly comes down to personal preference.
Generally, front-engined GT3 cars are a little more forgiving to drive than their mid-and rear-engine counterparts, so the Mercedes-AMG GT3, Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo and Ford Mustang GT3 are solid choices.
In terms of mid-engined cars, the Lamborghini Huracán GT3 and Ferrari 296 GT3 remain popular, while the rear-engined Porsche 911 GT3 R (992.1) is a perennial favourite, albeit a trickier proposition for the less-experienced driver.
Buying a GT3 opens up the popular GT3 Challenge Fixed and GT Sprint Series, with the category also being the headline class in the massively popular Bathurst 12 Hours and Nürburgring 24h Special Events.
Ultimately, for its versatility, our pick is the Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo, but with the Balance of Performance changing so often, it’s a close call.
Once you settle on a car, analysing your braking, throttle and steering traces can help you understand where you're losing time. Our iRacing telemetry guide explains how to get started.
Should You Buy the Ferrari 499P?
Speaking of BoP, the performance of cars in iRacing’s GTP class are also constantly subject to change, so choosing a favourite among its five-strong lineup is almost entirely subjective.
However, in terms of sound, it’s hard to beat the silky-smooth V6 of the Ferrari 499P so it’s our pick of the sim’s modern hybrid sports cars.
Thankfully (or mournfully, depending on your stance), the hybrid systems in iRacing’s GTP class require almost zero management, so they are perfectly usable for comparative newbies. With 670 bhp and no ABS, GTPs offer a stern driving challenge, but the increasing popularity of IMSA and WEC makes them an attractive choice.
The officially sanctioned IMSA iRacing Series (Open and Fixed) might be open only to those with an A licence and above, but the prospect of driving in authentic multi-class races with GT3/GTD and LMP2 cars will appeal to motorsport fans, even if the races are abridged 45-minute events.
GTPs are the headline class at the Daytona 24, Sebring 12 and Petit Le Mans Special Events, too, offering further incentives to buy into the category.
Cars such as the GT3s and GTPs also open the door to many of iRacing's biggest endurance races. See our 2026 iRacing Special Events calendar for the full schedule.
Is the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 a Good First Purchase?
A GT4 car should be one of your earliest iRacing purchases considering the popularity of the GT4 Falken Tyre Challenge, but the category also forms classes in the well-subscribed Falken Tyre Sports Car Challenge, IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge and Creventic Endurance Series, as well as numerous Special Events.
GT4 serves as a solid stepping stone toward GT3, featuring similar ABS and TC driver aids but with around 100bhp less. The cars also have more in common with their road-going counterparts, so they're generally a little more pliant over kerbs and more forgiving to drive overall.
The Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport MR is routinely heralded as one of the nimblest cars in the class thanks to its mid-engined layout; its 3.8-litre flat-six engine sounds pretty good, too.
If you prefer front-engined cars, which can be a little safer to drive for some, then the Mercedes-AMG GT4 or Ford Mustang GT4 are also generally good choices.
Which iRacing Car Should You Choose?
There's no single right answer, it depends entirely on where you want to race.
- If open-wheel racing is the goal, start with the FIA F4.
- For your first step into GT racing, the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 is the most forgiving entry point.
- Drivers ready to jump straight into GT3 will find the Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo one of the most versatile choices in the class.
- The Porsche 911 Cup suits those who want a tougher, more nuanced driving challenge in single-make competition.
- And if you're chasing the top of the grid in multiclass endurance racing, the Ferrari 499P is hard to beat.
Whichever car you choose, raw pace will matter as much as the equipment. If you want to improve in iRacing, why not sign up for trophi.ai coaching?
trophi.ai is an app that monitors your virtual driving and offers real-time suggestions to help you become a faster, more consistent sim racer.
Also available for Rocket League, Assetto Corsa Competizione, Le Mans Ultimate and F1 23/24/25, trophi.ai is offered via a tiered subscription system, with the cheapest giving you live telemetry and access to the MansellAI voice coach, voiced by former racing driver and Driver61 founder Scott Mansell.
For more information and to sign up for a free seven-day trial, please visit the trophi.ai website.
FAQs
What is the best first car to buy in iRacing?
For sports car racing, the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport MR is one of the best first purchases because GT4 cars are generally more forgiving than GT3 machinery while still giving you access to several popular series. For open-wheel racing, the FIA F4 is a strong first step beyond the Ray FF1600.
Which GT3 car should a beginner buy in iRacing?
Front-engined GT3 cars tend to be more approachable for less-experienced drivers. The Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo is our pick thanks to its versatility, although the Mercedes-AMG GT3 and Ford Mustang GT3 are also worth considering.
Should I buy a GT4 or GT3 car first in iRacing?
Most newer drivers will find GT4 a more approachable starting point. GT4 cars have less power than GT3 machinery and are generally more forgiving, while still using features such as ABS and traction control. This makes GT4 a useful stepping stone toward GT3 racing.
Is the FIA F4 good for beginners in iRacing?
Yes. The FIA F4 has relatively modest power and enough aerodynamic grip to introduce drivers to slicks-and-wings racing without being overwhelmingly fast. It is particularly suitable for drivers progressing from the Ray FF1600.
Is the Porsche 911 Cup difficult to drive in iRacing?
The Porsche 911 Cup is more demanding than many beginner-focused cars due to its rear-wheel-drive, rear-engined layout and high power output. However, the 992.2's ABS and traction control make it more approachable than earlier Porsche Cup cars.
Do I need to buy a GT3 car in iRacing?
You don't need a GT3 car to enjoy iRacing, but you'll need to purchase one if you want to compete in GT3-specific championships and many major multiclass endurance events.
Which iRacing car gives you access to the most races?
There isn't one universally best answer because schedules change, but GT3 and GT4 cars are particularly useful purchases due to the number of official championships, endurance series and Special Events in which these classes appear.
