RaceRoom Setup: A beginner’s guide to getting started

Sim racing and esports journalist. Occasional Motorsport photographer, eSports competitor and distinctly average cyclist.

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Featured Image: RaceRoom Race Experience

KW Studios’ RaceRoom Racing Experience was released way back in 2013, offering free-to-play driving thrills on PC amid the onset of competition from rFactor 2, Assetto Corsa and iRacing.

Formed from the ashes of SimBin, the studio behind classic sim racing titles such as GT Legends, GTR 2 and Race ‘07, RaceRoom has found its place among its peers but has slightly fallen back in terms of visual flair in recent times.

However, with a comprehensive graphics update and exciting classic DTM content on the horizon (4th September 2024), plus the addition of the McLaren 720S GT3 Evo and the Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 in a forthcoming DTM 2024 Car Pack, things are looking up for the beginner-friendly racer.

To help introduce new players to RaceRoom we’ve collated some handy information and tips below.

What is RaceRoom Racing Experience?

RaceRoom Racing Experience (normally known simply as RaceRoom) is a free-to-play racing sim from German developer Sector 3 Studios. It’s available on PC only and can be installed via Steam.

How much is RaceRoom?

As stated already, RaceRoom is free-to-play sim racing game but has optional DLC cars and tracks which are mostly reasonably priced compared to rival sims like iRacing and rFactor 2.

How do you install RaceRoom?

Installing RaceRoom is as simple as searching for it on Steam and clicking the ‘install’ key! You’ll need to sign up for an account, but it’s a painless process.

How do I buy content for RaceRoom?

Now, this is more complicated than it needs to be, in my opinion. To get the most bang for your buck from your RaceRoom content it’s best to purchase the sim’s in-race currency, virtual race points (VRP), in bulk.

From RaceRoomStor e.com, you can buy packages containing 500, 1,100, 2,000, 5,000, 7,500 or 10,000 VRP, with sales bringing the total cost down.

For reference, 10,000 VRP will buy you a huge chunk of the sim’s content, and, it currently retails for €69.99.

You can also buy undiscounted individual content from the main RaceRoom website.

Does RaceRoom ever go on sale?

Yes, and this is the best way to pick up all the sim’s content for around £50-60.

RaceRoom also offers free weekends where all content is free to try, while every car can be test-driven before purchase. iRacing could do with taking a leaf out of RaceRoom’s book here…

What types of cars and tracks are available in RaceRoom?

RaceRoom has a wide variety of cars and tracks to try, although online servers are typically choc-full of GT3s.

However, single-seaters, vintage sports cars, historic and modern touring cars and legendary GT cars all feature in its roster, with KW Studios also recently experimenting with drift content.

In terms of circuits, all the usual suspects are there: the Nordschleife, Spa-Francorchamps, Red Bull Ring and Paul Ricard, for example, but there are also a few wonderful outliers not seen in other sims. Take the upcoming Avus and Diepholz as shining examples of this.

RaceRoom has several real-world championship licences too, including multiple DTM eras, WTCC, WTCR and F4, as well as numerous multiplayer Special Events and official esports series, like the DTM Esports and ADAC GT Masters Esports championships.

Players can also participate in official online Ranked championships as well as regular casual races, with one or two events catered towards free-to-play content.

Which tracks are free in RaceRoom?

Lakeview Hillclimb
Portimao Circuit
RaceRoom Raceway
Sepang
Stowe Circuit

Which cars are free in RaceRoom?

134 Judd V8
Aquila CR1 Sports GT
Canhard R51
Canhard R52
Cougar C14-1
Cougar C14-2
DMD P20
DMD P21
Formula RaceRoom Junior
Lada Vesta
Mistral M530
Mistral M531
Saleen S7R

Can my PC run RaceRoom?

Even with the sim’s upcoming graphics upgrade, most mid-range PCs will be able to run RaceRoom at over 100 fps, making it a great sim for those with ageing systems.

Considering most sim racers are likely to own at least a modestly-specced gaming PC, it’s highly likely most players will be able to run RaceRoom on high detail settings.

Check out RaceRoom’s system requirements below.

RaceRoom’s system requirements

Minimum

OS *: Windows 7
Processor: Dual Core 2.4 GHz
Memory: 4 GB RAM
Graphics: VRAM 512MB
DirectX: Version 9.0c
Storage: 70 GB available space
VR Support: SteamVR. Keyboard or gamepad required

OS: Windows 11 64b
Processor: Quad Core 3.0 GHz
Memory: 16 GB RAM
Graphics: VRAM 8GB
Network: Broadband Internet connection
Storage: 70 GB available space
VR Support: SteamVR. Keyboard or gamepad required.
Additional Notes: To enhance your experience with the simulation aspect, we highly recommend using a steering wheel controller for optimal gameplay.

If you’re struggling to maintain a decent frame rate with a grid full of cars, then consider turning down the following graphics options, as these are the most resource-intensive:

Car Reflection Quality
Car Shadows
Rear View Mirror Quality
Visible Cars
Track Level Detail
Track Texture Quality
Shadows
MSAA

How do I set up VR in RaceRoom?

Thanks to its kind system requirements, RaceRoom is one of the best-performing sims in VR. However, these days the sim suffers slightly from CPU bottlenecks, so it may be necessary to reduce certain in-game graphics settings to achieve silky-smooth frame rates.

For Meta Quest headsets, for example, RaceRoom should be fairly plug-and-play. However, I had to take several steps before I could even get VR working with my Pimax Crystal Light.

RaceRoom: Settings for Pimax Crystal Light

To ensure you get your Pimax Crystal Light working in RaceRoom, first take the following steps:

Make sure RaceRoom is installed on the same drive as your main Steam installation folder.
Turn off Fixed Foveated Rendering (FFV) in the Pimax Play software.
Turn off VSYNC, Bloom, and Depth Of Field Effects.
If you have graphics stuttering issues, turn down your graphics details as per the list above. Car Shadows, Visible Vehicles and Car Reflection Quality will likely have the smallest impact on immersion, so turn these down first.

To start RaceRoom in VR, right-click on the RaceRoom icon in Steam and select ‘Play’, before picking the ‘Launch RaceRoom (64-bit) in Steam VR mode’ option.

Important RaceRoom key bindings for VR

Head to the controls menu and then the VR sub-menu. The two most important controls you need to map here are ‘Reset Position’ and ‘Toggle Monitor View.’ Map these to your steering wheel (if possible) to avoid taking your headset off.

‘Reset Position’ centres your view in VR while ‘Toggle Monitor View’ pipes your in-headset view directly to your monitor (RaceRoom will display a black screen by default, unusually). Doing this will allow you to record RaceRoom VR footage using OBS or Nvidia Game Capture software.

RaceRoom force feedback guide

Thankfully, RaceRoom’s force feedback is well-optimised straight out of the box, with a handy in-game tool helping eliminate and mitigate FFB ‘clipping’ issues.

As a general rule, if you own a wheelbase capable of 10 Nm or under of torque, set the in-game ‘FFB Strength’ to 100%. For wheelbases capable of over 10 Nm, it’s perhaps better to consider reducing FFB Strength.

This will cut off overly strong forces but may leave you devoid of nuanced feelings near the upper end of your wheel’s capabilities. Experiment with your wheelbase settings to find a good compromise.

RaceRoom’s beginner-friendly nature comes into play here, as the majority of entry-level sim racers are unlikely to own a wheel capable of over 10 Nm, with casual players catered for thanks to gamepad compatibility.

Setting up your FOV in RaceRoom

RaceRoom has a handy field-of-view guide built-in, describing and explaining how to set your FOV for best results, even when using a triple-screen setup.

By inputting your screen size and your eye-to-monitor distance, the game will automatically calculate your ideal FOV setting, with fine adjustments available for pitch and head height.

This tool is also available when you start a race or practice session, so you can get a proper look at your on-track view.