Project Motor Racing: Can It Compete With the Best in Sim Racing?

Project Motor Racing is set to release on PC and console on November 26, 2025. Aiming to compete with the likes of iRacing and Assetto Corsa Competizione, is this the next big sim racing title, or just another small-time player?

Development

GTR (2004) and GTR2 (2006) were highly successful racing games developed by SimBin Studios (now known as KW Studios), focused on bringing FIA GT racing to PC gamers. Co-founder Ian Bell later led the development of the Project CARS series under his studio, Slightly Mad Studios.

Having founded Straight4 Studios in 2022, Bell is back with another title, looking to expand on what’s possible in the pursuit of realism and the ultimate sim racing experience. Initially named GTR Revival, then GT Revival as a nod to previous titles, Project Motor Racing boasts a brand-new physics engine, Hadron, running alongside publisher GIANTS’ latest graphics engine. According to the Project Motor Racing website, the game will feature:

• First principle physics engine delivering unmatched handling realism at 720Hz
• A new open topology multi-body vehicle solver
• Internal combustion engine and turbocharger model using a one-dimensional compressible fluid dynamic simulation that allows for effects like turbo lag or backfires, and defects like dieseling or knocking, with exhaust gas that impairs the virtual airspace around the car
• More natural, non-linear throttle control due to torque response dynamically emerging from the fluid and combustion simulation
• Modular drivetrain, running at 7,200Hz, supporting all clutch, differential, and gearbox configurations
• Accurate FFB taken directly from the tie rod
• Piecewise aerodynamics model where wings, winglets, or the undertray can affect each other

Straight4 also reports the tyre physics as having "full elastic modelling," meaning they can closely replicate the finite changes tyres experience during a race session, reacting to elements such as surface and temperature.

With the importance tyre models play in accurately mimicking reality, it will be crucial for the title’s success that these physics are well engineered. Many content creators who have raced professionally champion iRacing as their preferred sim for two main reasons: braking simulation and tyre model accuracy. If Project Motor Racing can get these two things right, you may soon find some of your favourite YouTubers recommending it on their channels.

Content

When compared to major titles like iRacing, Project Motor Racing’s list of cars and tracks does seem a little light. Despite no longer featuring "GT" in its name, that’s still where the focus lies, with all classes of cars being sports cars. All current GT3 cars racing in WEC are included, aside from Ferrari and McLaren, though it also features the previously run Acura NSX GT3 EVO and the earlier Aston Martin Vantage GT3 from 2022. The Ferrari and McLaren are notable absences given the prominence of the brands, though the website still lists at least one GT3 car as "To Be Announced." In fact, nearly all the classes have cars waiting to be announced, with the exception of the single-car classes such as the MX-5, 964 Trophy, Porsche Cup (992 Trophy), and 70s Sports Cars.

That leads nicely into something exciting from the perspective of someone who primarily races on iRacing: the variety and breadth of classes in this game are fantastic, with some iconic cars included. Take the Mazda 787B, for example, a car I’ve seen doing demonstration runs in real life. The rotary engine produces a truly biblical sound, one to rival even the best-sounding F1 V10s and V12s, and the reliability was so impressive that it became the first Japanese car to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1991, despite not having the outright pace of some of the other entries.

Alongside it in the Group C class, you also have the Porsche 962C and the Mercedes C9, a car I had a slot car model of as a child, making this a fascinating race series and one I’m looking forward to.

Now, I’ll admit, I didn’t watch much GT racing as a child. But I did watch a lot of Top Gear, and that alone means the name Mosler means something to me (see the Britcar 24 Hours episode). So, for those of you with actual experience watching this car, you’ll be even more pleased than I am to see the MT900R line up in the N-GT class along with the Gillet Vertigo, Marcos Mantara LM600, and other similar cars.

The game features 18 tracks across 5 continents, although more than half are in Europe. It does feel rather limited, especially considering even iRacing includes 27 tracks with its subscription, and many of the included tracks only feature a single configuration.

It’s also clear that naming rights have been an issue for the developers, as "Northampton" and "Spielberg" (Silverstone and the Red Bull Ring) are just two examples of tracks that don’t feature their recognisable names. While this isn’t a major issue aside from some minor inconvenience in remembering the aliases, it’s a shame to see such an ambitious title fall short here. It gives off the impression of a small-time developer unable to front the money or secure the contacts necessary to get rights to the top names. If the game is great in all other aspects, this will be overlooked. If it’s a disaster, though, it’ll just add fuel to the fire.

Although I’m looking forward to trying a plethora of new cars and classes, it would be nice to see more tracks added in the months after release, even if it means DLC.

Modes

Fans of single-player games, or anyone who’s been through Turn 1 in an online lobby before, will be pleased to see that Project Motor Racing has a career mode, allowing you to race your way to the top, earning sponsorships to help your pursuit of trophies. Full details are scarce, but this could be a big pull for those who don’t fancy racing online all the time.

Don’t worry, there’s still online multiplayer. Plus, it’s no subscription. Yes, you read that right. To pre-purchase the game on Steam, it will cost you $59.99 USD, and there’s no extra cost to participate in ranked races online. Compared to other similar sims, this is going to be a big draw for users sick of paying through the roof each month to race, and then extra for cars and tracks. No doubt there’ll be paid DLC at some point, but that’s yet to be confirmed, aside from the pre-order bonus content.

Verdict

Project Motor Racing promises to be a strong competitor for Le Mans Ultimate, ACC, iRacing, and other mainstream sim racing titles. But to do so, it needs to get the basics right. It’s difficult for one title to cater to both single-player and multiplayer gamers, and even harder when starting from a clean slate. However, it’s not impossible, and with an arsenal of cars as impressive as PMR’s and its powerful backend engines, it could be the one to tackle the Goliaths of sim racing. Time will tell.