The world of racing games has always leaned toward two main directions: those that prioritize fun and speed without strict rules, and those that aim for the highest level of realism, mirroring real-world driving. Amidst fierce competition dominated by major titles such as iRacing, Assetto Corsa, and Gran Turismo, Project Motor Racing arrives—developed by Straight4 Studios and released in November 2025. Promising to deliver a modern racing simulation with advanced physics and a dynamic track system, this game immediately caught the attention of racing enthusiasts. But can it truly live up to those expectations? Let’s take an in-depth look, covering its concept, features, strengths, and weaknesses.
Getting to Know It Better: What Is Project Motor Racing?
Project Motor Racing (often abbreviated as PMR) represents a new entry in the professional racing simulation genre. Built using the GIANTS Engine 10 combined with a dedicated physics engine called Hadron, which operates at a frequency of 720 Hz, the developers set out to achieve a high standard of realism capable of replicating the behavior of vehicles and race tracks as accurately as possible.
In terms of design, PMR aims to be a home for all generations of motorsport—from legendary classic race cars, touring cars, and GT3 vehicles, all the way up to modern endurance racing prototypes. One of its key selling points is the True2Track™ system, a technology that changes track surface conditions over time: as more cars pass over the circuit, rubber builds up, increasing grip levels; if rain falls, puddles form naturally and gradually dry out based on water flow and ambient temperature.
The game is available for PC (Steam), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S, and it offers cross-platform play with no monthly subscription fees—a major advantage compared to its main competitor, iRacing.
Content: Cars, Tracks, and Game Modes
One of the first things players look at is the richness of the content on offer. PMR features more than 70 officially licensed vehicles, divided across 13 different classes. The selection is highly varied: from classic race cars such as the 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport, touring cars like the BMW 320 Group 5, flagship GT3 models from manufacturers including Porsche, Lamborghini, and Ferrari, to LMDh hypercars used in today’s Le Mans events. Each vehicle is claimed to be modeled using real-world technical data, resulting in distinct acceleration, braking, and handling characteristics.
As for circuits, there are 18 main tracks with a total of 28 layout variations. Iconic venues such as the Nürburgring Nordschleife, Spa-Francorchamps, Daytona, Silverstone, and Mount Panorama are included, scanned with precision to match their real-world dimensions exactly. Some tracks use slightly altered names due to licensing restrictions, but their layout and challenges remain identical to the original circuits.
When it comes to gameplay modes, PMR offers two main paths:
Single Player Mode
- Career Mode: This forms the core of the experience. Players can choose their career path based on their budget—starting as an amateur driver with limited funds, or jumping straight into professional racing categories. Here, you manage your own team, handle finances, secure sponsorships, and maintain and tune your car. A unique feature is that collision repair costs come out of your own budget, encouraging more careful driving.
- Quick Race & Practice: Ideal for improving lap times or learning track layouts without the pressure of competition.
- Endurance Events: Long-distance races that demand careful strategy regarding fuel management, tire wear, and pit stop timing.
Multiplayer Mode
One of its biggest advantages is the absence of recurring subscription fees. Players can join official championships, compete in ranked leaderboards, and race with up to 32 participants across all supported platforms. A driver rating system that is separated by vehicle class also ensures players are matched against opponents of similar skill levels.
Strengths of Project Motor Racing
Now that we have covered what the game offers, let’s look at its positive qualities that make it worth considering:
✅ Highly Realistic Physics and True2Track™ System
The Hadron physics engine and dynamic track system are its greatest assets. For players using a racing wheel, steering response, road surface feedback, and changes in grip feel extremely authentic. When rain falls, cars are more likely to slide over parts of the track that lack rubber buildup, while puddles shift naturally with wind and water flow—something rarely executed this well in other games.
✅ No Recurring Subscription Fees
Unlike the most popular racing simulators that require monthly payments, PMR is a one-time purchase. This makes it a more affordable choice for players who want to enjoy online racing without ongoing extra costs.
✅ Extensive Vehicle Tuning Options
For those who enjoy customizing their machines, there is a very detailed range of adjustments available: suspension settings, gear ratios, wheel alignment, tire pressure, and fuel mixture, among others. Every change has a noticeable effect on performance, allowing players to tailor their car to match their driving style and current track conditions.
✅ Wide Variety of Racing Classes
From older cars with high power but tricky handling, to modern vehicles that offer stability but require precise technique, every class presents its own unique challenges. This variety keeps the experience fresh and lets players learn different driving styles over time.
✅ Full Support for Simulation Hardware
Compatibility with various brands of racing wheels, pedals, and force feedback systems works very well right from launch. The feedback provided feels more immersive than in many competing titles, provided the settings are properly configured.
Noticeable Weaknesses
Despite its strong foundation, PMR is still far from perfect in its current state. Below are the main issues frequently raised by players:
❌ Poor Performance and Optimization
Although it uses the same engine as Farming Simulator 25, the implementation for racing has not been fully optimized. On mid-range computers, players often experience frame rate drops, stuttering, or need to enable upscaling features just to reach 60 FPS—at the cost of reduced visual quality. On consoles, the number of AI opponents is limited to just 15 to maintain stability, while PC versions can support up to 31.
❌ Very Weak Artificial Intelligence (AI)
This is the most common complaint. Opponent cars drive as if on fixed rails, failing to avoid collisions, ignoring the player’s position, and often crashing unintentionally. Worse still, if the player is hit by an AI car and goes off track, the penalty system still assigns the fault to the player, not the AI. This frequently ruins the flow of a race and leads to frustration.
❌ Less Responsive Controls for Standard Controllers
When played with a gamepad or console controller, the controls feel overly sensitive and difficult to manage. Even a slight movement of the analog stick can cause the car to spin out. It takes considerable time to adjust settings to make the game playable in this mode, which stands in stark contrast to the smooth experience when using a racing wheel.
❌ Visual Issues and Software Bugs
Visually, PMR looks less vibrant and detailed compared to its competitors. Colors appear somewhat washed out, lighting effects lack depth, and graphical glitches are common—especially on certain circuits such as Daytona. Additionally, system errors, sudden crashes, and features that do not work as intended still occur regularly.
❌ Lack of Guidance for New Players
The game throws players straight into the racing environment without sufficient explanation. There are no clear tutorials on how to tune a car, interpret track conditions, or understand racing regulations. For beginners, this can feel overwhelming and confusing, making the game less accessible to those new to the simulation genre.
Conclusion: Worth Buying, or Better to Wait?
Project Motor Racing is not a bad game—it is simply a product still in its development phase. It possesses a very solid foundation: realistic physics, a dynamic track system, a fair business model without subscriptions, and significant room for future improvement. For players who already own racing hardware and enjoy the challenge of a demanding simulation, PMR can be an interesting choice, one that will likely improve over time through regular updates.
However, for those who rely on standard controllers, want a smooth and stable experience from day one, or are just starting to explore the world of racing simulators, it is wiser to wait a few more months. The developers have promised ongoing work to improve AI behavior, optimize performance, and expand the game’s content. If these key issues can be resolved, Project Motor Racing has the potential to grow into one of the leading names in racing simulation.
For now, it remains a promising work in progress—full of potential, but still needing time to fully mature.