IRacing Buying Guide: What To Buy First?

So, you're diving into the world of iRacing, huh? Awesome! But let's be real, the iRacing universe can seem a bit overwhelming at first. With all the cars, tracks, and series, figuring out where to start and what to buy can feel like trying to navigate a maze blindfolded. That's where this guide comes in! We're going to break down the essentials, help you prioritize your purchases, and get you racing without emptying your wallet. Think of this as your friendly pit crew, guiding you through the iRacing shop.

Understanding the iRacing Content Model

Before we jump into specific recommendations, it's crucial to understand how iRacing's content model works. Unlike many other racing games where you buy the game once and get access to everything, iRacing operates on a subscription-based system with additional purchases. You pay a subscription fee (monthly, yearly, etc.) for access to the core iRacing service, which includes a selection of free cars and tracks. This base content allows you to participate in rookie series and get a feel for the sim. However, to progress further and participate in more advanced series, you'll need to purchase additional cars and tracks. Each car and track has a one-time purchase price, and they're yours to keep and use as long as you maintain your iRacing subscription. The advantage of this system is that you only buy the content you're actually interested in using. Want to focus on GT racing? Then you only need to buy GT cars and tracks. Prefer oval racing? Then you can stick to ovals and stock cars. This allows you to tailor your iRacing experience to your specific interests and budget. However, it also means that the cost of iRacing can add up over time, especially if you want to participate in a variety of series. Therefore, it's important to plan your purchases carefully and prioritize the content that will give you the most value.

Why This Matters

Understanding the content model is absolutely key to not overspending early on. You don't want to buy a bunch of cars and tracks that you'll never use! The free content is designed to get you started and help you figure out what kind of racing you enjoy most. So, take your time, experiment with the different rookie series, and then strategically invest in the content that will allow you to progress in your chosen discipline. Also, keep an eye out for discounts and promotions. iRacing occasionally offers discounts on car and track bundles, especially around holidays or special events. Taking advantage of these offers can save you a significant amount of money in the long run. Finally, remember that you don't need to buy everything at once. iRacing is a marathon, not a sprint. You can gradually build your content library over time as you progress through the different series and discover new cars and tracks that you enjoy.

Essential Purchases for Beginners

Okay, let's get down to brass tacks. What should you buy first? This depends a bit on your racing preferences, but here's a general roadmap for beginners:

1. Focus on a Discipline

Before you start throwing money at every shiny car and track, take some time to figure out what kind of racing you enjoy the most. Are you a road racing fanatic? Do you dream of battling door-to-door in a stock car? Or maybe you prefer the controlled chaos of dirt oval or the rallycross? iRacing offers a wide variety of disciplines, each with its own unique cars, tracks, and racing styles. The best way to figure out your preference is to try out the free content in the rookie series. These series use free cars and tracks, allowing you to experience different types of racing without spending any money. Pay attention to which series you find yourself enjoying the most. Which cars feel the most comfortable to drive? Which tracks do you find the most challenging and rewarding? Once you have a good idea of your preferred discipline, you can start focusing your purchases on content that will allow you to progress in that area. This will help you avoid wasting money on content that you'll never use and ensure that you're always racing in series that you enjoy. Remember, the goal is to have fun and improve your skills, not to collect every car and track in the iRacing service.

2. The Skippy or the Vee?

For road racing, the Skip Barber Formula 2000 (aka the Skippy) and the Formula Vee are often recommended as excellent next steps after the rookie Mazda MX-5 Cup. Here's why:

• Skippy: This car teaches you a ton about momentum, car control, and racecraft. It's challenging but rewarding to drive, and the Skip Barber Race Series is incredibly popular and competitive.
• Formula Vee: A simpler, slower car, the Vee is all about precision and smooth inputs. It's a great way to learn the fundamentals of racing and develop consistency.

Both series have a good selection of tracks that are used frequently, so your initial investment will go a long way. Consider your driving style: if you like a challenge and want to learn advanced techniques, the Skippy might be for you. If you prefer a more forgiving car and want to focus on the basics, the Vee is a great choice.

3. For Oval Racers: The Street Stock

If oval racing is your thing, the Street Stock is a fantastic next step after the rookie Late Model. It's more powerful and challenging than the rookie car, and the Street Stock series is a great place to hone your oval racing skills. Plus, it's relatively inexpensive to run, making it a good option for beginners.

4. Tracks, Tracks, Tracks!

No matter which discipline you choose, you'll need to buy some tracks. Here's the strategy: Check the upcoming season schedule for the series you want to race in. Then, prioritize buying the tracks that are used most frequently. This will allow you to participate in the most races and get the most value out of your purchases. iRacing releases the season schedule a few weeks in advance, so you'll have plenty of time to plan your purchases.

Smart Buying Strategies

Okay, you know what to buy, but let's talk about how to buy smart. Here are a few tips to maximize your iRacing budget:

1. The iRacing Content Browser

Before making any purchases, make sure to utilize the iRacing Content Browser, which can be found on the iRacing website. This tool allows you to view all the cars and tracks available for purchase, as well as their prices and specifications. You can also filter the content by category (e.g., road cars, oval tracks) to narrow down your search. The Content Browser is a great way to explore the available content and make informed decisions about what to buy. In addition to the basic information about each car and track, the Content Browser also provides user reviews and ratings. This can be helpful in getting a sense of the quality and popularity of different content. Pay attention to the reviews and ratings, but also keep in mind that everyone has different preferences. What one person loves, another person might hate. Ultimately, the best way to decide whether or not to buy a particular car or track is to try it out for yourself. Unfortunately, iRacing doesn't offer a demo mode, but you can often find videos and streams of people driving the cars and tracks you're interested in. Watching these videos can give you a better sense of what the content is like and help you decide whether or not it's right for you.

2. Check the Series Schedule

Before buying a car or track, always check the series schedule. There's no point in buying a track that's only used once a season in your favorite series! Focus on tracks that appear frequently in the schedule to maximize your participation. And before the start of each season, check the forums of the series in which you participate, because many times users provide information about the tracks used during the championship, thus reducing errors in the purchase.

3. Bundle Up!

iRacing offers discounts when you buy multiple cars or tracks at the same time. Take advantage of these bundles to save money. The more content you buy at once, the bigger the discount. So, if you know you're going to need several tracks for a particular series, it's often cheaper to buy them all at once rather than individually.

4. The 40 for 3 Rule

Once you own 40 pieces of paid content you will receive a discount on all future purchases of 20%. This discount is automatically applied to your account. This is another way to save money on iRacing in the long run. If you plan to be a long-term iRacing user, it's worth considering buying enough content to reach the 40-item threshold and unlock the discount.

5. Membership Discounts

iRacing offers discounts for multi-year subscriptions. If you know you're going to be using iRacing for a while, consider signing up for a longer subscription to save money. The longer the subscription, the bigger the discount. For example, a two-year subscription is typically cheaper than buying two separate one-year subscriptions.

6. Wait for Sales

iRacing occasionally has sales and promotions, especially around holidays or special events. Keep an eye out for these sales and take advantage of them to save money on cars and tracks. iRacing usually announces sales on its website and social media channels, so be sure to follow them to stay informed.

Don't Forget the Gear!

While this guide focuses on iRacing content, it's important to remember that you'll also need some basic racing gear to get the most out of the sim. A good wheel and pedal set is essential for providing realistic feedback and control. A VR headset can also enhance the immersion and make you feel like you're really in the car. And a decent gaming PC is necessary to run iRacing smoothly. While you can start with basic gear, upgrading your equipment over time can significantly improve your iRacing experience.

Final Thoughts

Getting started with iRacing doesn't have to break the bank. By understanding the content model, focusing on a discipline, and using smart buying strategies, you can build a competitive iRacing setup without emptying your wallet. Remember to prioritize the content that you'll use the most, take advantage of discounts and promotions, and gradually build your content library over time. And most importantly, have fun and enjoy the thrill of virtual racing!