Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to iRacing (Getting Started in 2025)

[@mohanedshiddo]

Literally started iRacing 2 days ago and this has been incredibly helpful. Thanks so much!

[@JACKZERYT]

@@mohanedshiddo ahh I'm delighted for you!!

[@JBrapp]

Dude, I’m building my 1st “real” sim rn & this video couldn’t have been better timing! Thank you, cuz I’ve been overwhelmed changing from console to PC & learning to navigate these new interfaces, like iracing 🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@dup12345678]

Fixing to get back into iRacing after being out for about 12 yrs so very helpful, thanks

[@Woopass90]

I've been on iRacing for 15 years and done over 2500 races. I just realised how much there is to learn for new guys that we all take for granted. My advice. Keep it simple and stick to one car to start with. Watch 'how to vids' like this and enjoy the journey.

[@rezanazari9687]

Great video thank you. Been racing ACC for several years, now I wanna get into iRacing. Really helpful.🙏🙏

[@jeroencloetJK]

Thanks for this video. Very good and informative video. My number 1 tip. When you enter the UI, change it to dark mode.

[@JACKZERYT]

I tried it lol, don't like it, though I know so many who love it! Odd thing is, everything else I use is in dark mode, Phones, tablets, laptops hahaha Funny that ay

[@maxsaint]

just got my new sim, new to iracing, exactly the video I was looking for! Please keep it up.

[@JACKZERYT]

I'm glad! Best of luck buddy!

[@maxsaint]

@@JACKZERYT Thank you. Hopefully, see you on iracing in a few months once my iRating goes up :) Amazing videos!!!!

[@robertmccarthy2770]

youre easily the most underrated sim racing content creator. really excited to watch this channel blow up soon!

[@JACKZERYT]

@robertmccarthy2770 You know how to gas up someone with lovely comments like that ay, respect bro, Here's to another year of gr8 content :)

[@DanSRYT]

Great video. Amazing timing for me. Built my first PC just before Christmas, been playing LMU which I love, just set up I racing today for some variety, This will be a great help. 👍

[@Bweeb0]

I was looking for a nice explained video cuz i'm considering to get started on iracing and this helped me a lot thtx man!🤘

[@JACKZERYT]

@@Bweeb0 💙

[@tom99soop]

Just started playing iracing , been in the ac scene a bit so just trying out some different sims , really helpful video 👍 today might be the day for my first live race 😎

[@lyntondell4882]

Love this channel. Broke this down so it was super easy to understand. Appreciate the video Jack !!!!

[@JACKZERYT]

@@lyntondell4882 really glad you enjoyed it!!!

[@markjs1234]

Tomorrow I'm picking up my very first sim wheel, Moza R5 Bundle along with a second hand GT Omega apex stand. Will be downloading iracing tomorrow night. This video is very informative and helpful. Much appreciated 🍻

[@JACKZERYT]

Oh my, how awesome my friend! Have alot of fun, make sure to join the discord for tips, tricks and friends!

[@marcodejesus4747]

Just got into iRacing and this is very timely! Thank you! Subscribed!

[@PFMirror]

Thank you! Have a rig and some load cell pedals coming this weekend and had no idea about a lot of this. Great vid

[@JonRacesCars]

Tip: For Enter/Exit/Tow Car you can set to when both paddle shifters are pulled. This is what I use. Frees up a button and easy to remember since I'm probably not moving anyways.

[@JACKZERYT]

Well Jon, that's an exceptional idea! And very creative! Awesome stuff, I never wouldve thought of that in a million years!

[@loopedchris2231]

Thanks for this! I'll be signing up in the next few days and this video has really helped. Thanks again and maybe see you out on track one day. 🏁

[@JACKZERYT]

Join the discord and shoot me a PM!

[@JoshShare]

Goooood morning from USA! I just recently figured out Super Formula and I’m hooked!

[@arturts987]

I just tried 2 practice races, and I'm amazed how much iRacing is ahead of any sim racing in terms of FFB and physics! I can't believe how much is it better! I have Simagic DD whill, I tried all the sim racings on the marked, and they all feel not close to real car physics, and that demotivated me to play sim racings at all. But now, I have such a releaf with iRacing. Still, can't believe that.

[@lolol5413]

Facts. iRacing is the only thing stopping me from selling my sim rig.

[@arturts987]

@@lolol5413 I'm also hearing from everywhere that rFactor 2 is even better, so I want to try that as well ...

[@Rodrigwayz1]

Good video, I just got into iracing. Not a stranger to racing, but was looking for something to optimize my settings, I feel I am spinning out way more than I should be.

[@JACKZERYT]

Ahhh dont worry about spinning out, the fun part is learning, try let the car do the driving, dont over turn the wheel, and , lightly grip the wheel, let the car tell you where it wants to go, all you gotta do is facilitate it! :) Good luck bro, and make sure to join the discord if you need help with anything!

[@Rodrigwayz1]

@@JACKZERYT what discord?

[@JACKZERYT]

@@Rodrigwayz1 link in the description :)

[@apexaviour]

Good on ya, loadsa value here. Quality vid 👍

[@JACKZERYT]

Glad you enjoyed it !!!

[@superryan-tf5rw]

hey man thanks for the guide I am getting my rig in Jan 3 2025 so I am going to get iracing soon.

[@connorpup3876]

Just as a side note I want you to know that you have a really patient, effective way of verbally sharing information. Thank you this was all very easy to keep track of!

[@JACKZERYT]

I'm glad you benefited from this guide, I tried my best to make it as relaxed and chilled as possible!

[@timmiles7814]

Thanks for the video....greatly appreciated!

[@JACKZERYT]

@@timmiles7814 I'm delighted you found it helpful 💙

[@Scorpion-yl7vb]

Newbie here, good breakdown because i was so lost after i installed the game, thx

[@gt40_nssinclair65]

This is awesome, Thanks Jack!

[@JACKZERYT]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Lando_Norris1]

As a fellow Irish man from NYC 🇺🇸 I am glad I found your channel and really enjoy your content. I am exactly the type of guy who you describe in this video, the type who is just starting out and as well find you quite informative. My one problem though is finding the right discipline that I want to focus my attention on, instead of being all over the place

[@JACKZERYT]

Thanks for the kind words, and have a good try of all the content, you'll find something you'll click with, and then race away with :)

[@nickreestearsofaclown4661]

Bought a profile rig,ready to upgrade from g.t.7 ,was ready to commit to an I racing package, then it hit me. I remembered I have to buy a separate p.c. Running windows. My p.c. runs I.o.s. Dohhhh !

[@chubbs6504]

Hello from SI NY +1

[@Lando_Norris1]

@ small world SI,NY as well

[@chubbs6504]

@@Lando_Norris1 wow thats crazy

[@lincolnwensley526]

What a legend

[@JACKZERYT]

Ayyyy

[@lincolnwensley526]

@@JACKZERYTgreat vid to watch over a couple days. I don’t do iracing (FM8, Xbox series s) but I find it interesting if I ever make the move to it

[@Mig.L]

The best vidéo for beginner's Big thanks !!!

[@kirill8893]

Excellent intro.

[@anthonytaylor3084]

great video mate

[@JACKZERYT]

@@anthonytaylor3084 thanks Anthony!!!

[@SpellracecarBackwards]

i'm watching to get hyped for iracing lol (i want to play iracing eventually in the future)

[@ris_harp]

in my 30s. new to gaming. definitely going pro though (only 1/16th kidding), so thanks for the video!

[@SmanEDITS]

I wish i saw this 4 days ago :D

[@SldgeHammr]

What are some first cars and tracks you'd recommend picking up?

[@iconcity]

nice work :)

[@mad-b264]

Nice one for doing this video bro, I use Sim Racing as a tool to help with Anxiety and mental issues that I suffer from..... I am an AMS 2 nerd at the moment, Because the VR is done so well on AMS 2, I only does VR Sim racing now, I can't go back to the watching the screen, In VR I am able to see far more, Plus my GPU is only a 12gb 3060 so triple screens not really a good idea so I been told, You needs a decent 40 series for triples to run smoothly, Is that actually true?. How ever I am going to do some iRacing in a few weeks, I will get the 12 months as I have been told that the VR in iRacing is actually pretty good, Is iRacing CPU and GPU intensive when it is in VR?... I am seeing more and more people over the last 6 months that is now doing VR sim racing with a Quest 3 or a Pimax Crystal lite, I am thinking of getting a refurbished Pimax crystal, If I can see a great deal I will defo think about it, But for now the Quest 3 is actually pretty bad ass on AMS 2, Like I said I ain't got a powerful PC, I got an i5 12600k with the 12gb 3060, I do have an MSI Z690 unify DDR5 motherboard with 32gb Ram, So it could be a lot worse, But then it could be a lot better lol, Can you let me know the i5 12600k and the 3060 will do iRacing in VR alright, I am not in a position where I am able to upgrade my GPU, And then I would have to step to an i7 if I got a better GPU, Bottle neck is a thing, And I think when your PC is doing VR it shows if you got a bottle neck, I gets stutter issues sometimes and my settings ain't even on high, I am still trying to find the best settings withing the nVidia GPU settings it self, I am sure I am doing something wrong, I seen people say I should be able to bust High settings with no issues, But I gets a nasty stuttering and freeze framing, Until I am off track and crashed, I am not sure if my internet is causing issues though, Either way my PC is struggling with Sim racing sometimes, It almost feels like every update that is introduced is a need to upgrade your PC, lol, I am hoping the 50 series GPU's will bring down the prices on the 4070 or even 4060 super, The 16gb 4060 I would be happy with, lol, Even though I am grateful that I have a PC and T300 GT-RS wheel and a cheap 100 pound rig that I can Sim race on, I do have TCLM pedals though, lol, Oh and the Quest 3, I got refurbished, I couldn't afford a brand new Quest 3, And refurbishments is a top way of recycling electronics when done right, And Amazon is fantastic for refurbished I can't lie, My Quest 3 come with not a scratch on it, Just like the brand new version, lol, But, Because if Sim racing is helping my brain and body stay away from taking pills because of how Anxiety effects my body, Restless legs sucks, Horrible tense pains in the top of my legs is like torture, For some reason Sim racing can help reduce that, I think it helps the brain try to forget the Anxiety, By putting your brain and body into concentration mode, I even wonder if Racing can be used as a tool for people who suffer with mental health, Like a form of therapy, Because I have CPTSD the VR games with guns isn't going to make me better, But Sim racing don't have guns, Or violence, That is why I have CPTSD, I even wonder if places that treats mental health illness, Actually use a Sim rig or even racing as a method of explaining how a person can be in control of the vehicle like being in control your own mental health so to speak, All I know is Sim racing have helped me stay away from pills that was making my mental health worse, For years an years I used chemicals as the tool so my body and brain wouldn't have the symptoms my body was getting, While not realizing the pills was just making my body sicker, I used addiction to escape or reduce how my body was reacting to certain things, I am not getting into why I have CPTSD but it ain't pretty, CPTSD is a horrible infliction on a person, I wouldn't wish CPTSD on nobody, But if Sim Racing helps me not use pills, Then it is far better that I stick to sim racing and what will help my brain not think about what makes my body react how it does, I got to go back into therapy in 2025, There is still a lot of problems I have, But I no longer have pills on my agenda, I am going to also get a membership for my local Karting center, It is a Team Sport place as well, I am broke so Karting will be a great option to at least get a few hours a month in a kart, Not F1 but hey, It is what it is, lol, Plus Karting is great exercise, lol..... On AMS 2 I can now do the 24hr Nurburgring in the Merc GT3 in 8.36 now, I was pretty chuffed with that, I am in the top 5 when I do the Nordsliefe in online lobbies on AMS 2, I think it would be different on iRacing though, lol, Brings me onto, Imagine a battle of Sim titles, lol, AMS 2 sim racers VS iRacing sim racers, Using coin toss to chose what sim title to use for said race, Or set up fastest lap time picks the sim title, AMS 2 nerds VS iRacing nerds, lol.... Still though I will be trying iRacing in a few weeks, Start my iRating in 2025, As long as my i5 12600k and 12gb 3060 will be enough PC power for the Quest 3, I can't do sim racing not in VR now, I am so much better in VR as well, I can control the car far better in VR, Weird but it is true, I am more consistent while in VR, Plus isn't Sim racing simulating racing, Being inside the actual game and car it self, Is more of what simulation actually means, lol, I loves VR Sim racing, I know some people hate VR, I don't understand that part, Being inside the actually game you is playing is always going to be better than watching a flat or curved screen, And I am seeing more people now doing sim racing in VR, The PCVR cable I use can have me doing VR sim racing for around 10-12 hours, A fan, And boom no sweating buckets, And the strap I have allows me to place the Quest 3 on my head with no pressure what so ever on my face, Like wearing half a helmet, lol, The Quest 3 is an amazing tool, Even if I don't like the people who brought VR to the home, I think VR is a fantastic tool for learning how to do all sorts, Even putting a car engine together can be done in VR, lol, So I don't understand why some people got a stink for VR, lol, I mentioned VR in on one channel, And it was like I swore at the dude, Why do some sim racers properly hate on VR, lol.... Yeah you will see me up in the iRacing lobbies in 2025, All I do is online sim racing now, So I think I should take the plunge and see what Iracing is all about, I am still an ASM 2 nerd though, lol...... At least now I know paying the yearly will give me some cars ect, So it don't sound all that bad, lol..... Happy sim racing bro, Soz for the long comment, But Sim racing can be used as a tool for mental health, If it can help me stay away from pills, Then maybe it can help another person.... Nice one for spending a few explaining how iRacing is.....

[@JACKZERYT]

@mad-b264 delighted you found the video useful!, and to answer your question i know a guy with a 3060 running 2k tripples 1440p so that's okay. Join my discord and shoot me a message, I'll give you something that will help you out!

[@TacticalWombat27]

Does the motorsport Uk deal only work for new accounts?

[@ammoisking]

iRacing is downloading now! How so I find these communities to join in ?

[@JACKZERYT]

Hey buddy! Awesome stuff! Check out the link in my discord to join my racing discord! Full of like minded simracers like yourself!

[@pintsizegeezer9783]

thanks for this video but i couldn't get the paint jobs to loaded :(

[@jibbestorm3524]

Thx mate for this video. I do have 1 question. What kind of pedals do you use?

[@JACKZERYT]

No worries! I use the Simagic P1000's

[@jibbestorm3524]

@ aah ok nice. I have one more question im sorry 🙈 do you know are heusinkveld ultimate pedals loadcell? Im sorry im just stupid haha

[@JACKZERYT]

@jibbestorm3524 they are yes, and your not stupid, it's all quite complicated when your getting started and the only way to learn is to ask

[@FordEntertainmentGroupFEG]

@@jibbestorm3524 yes they are.

[@googlreviews7813]

Not sure if I should be doing this or not... But during wheel calibration, where it asks to turn wheel to 90 degrees, I don't go to quite 90, I stop sooner assuming what this will do is I won't have to turn the wheel as far for full turn?

[@JACKZERYT]

@googlreviews7813 you can do this, but I wouldn't as your wheel won't turn the same as your wheel in game, I think a way you can sort this is by setting your wheel to 720degrees or 540degrees instead of 900 or 1080 in your *wheel software*, then in the iRacing calibrate it as it instructs, i believe this would be the way to make your wheel have "less turning" making it alot more 'positive'

[@googlreviews7813]

@JACKZERYT Are you referring to the wheel and hands in the game? I actually have that turned off, I find it distracting so all I see is the dash. If that's in fact what you're referring to...

[@JACKZERYT]

@@googlreviews7813 yes and no, I mean the wheel in the inputs steering when you press "p" in sim, Ideally youd want the pointing left when your real wheel is left, as I think it's better that way, but I guess its personal preference at the end of the day

[@googlreviews7813]

@JACKZERYT I'll try switching to 540 and see what it does also, currently it's set to 1080 Thank you for taking the time to respond, I appreciate it very much. Cheers! 🍻

[@JACKZERYT]

@@googlreviews7813 Any time buddy!

[@buddy5088]

I’ve been playing IRacing for 2 years. Had no idea you can refresh/sync the trading paints with IRacing. Did you say press Control while in IRacing UI to refresh?

[@justinklasens31]

You can also just do it while you're in sim. Ctrl+R (short for refresh) will automatically reload all the skins for all the cars in the race. So if a skin didn't load or nothing loaded, that would fix it. Has worked for me, and it still does :)

[@Infedelle]

Hello can i get that deal Being in portugal?

[@JACKZERYT]

Yes you can as far as Im aware

[@FordEntertainmentGroupFEG]

Love your videos. Most of them. Some good content and points in this one. But you really need to jot down a script. You’re all over the place. Also your webcam box was covering alot of the info you were talking about at times. I give your channel a 10/10. I give this specific video a 3/10.

[@JACKZERYT]

@FordEntertainmentGroupFEG yeah I did cover the few buttons on the page, but I guess this video was meant to be informal even if it took longer, like a friend sharing their screen on discord and showing someone the important bits, but thanks alot for the feedback!

[@FordEntertainmentGroupFEG]

@ I enjoy your channel. Thanks for looking at your fans feedback!

[@wickedmaine207]

so u only won 4 races?

[@JACKZERYT]

@@wickedmaine207 since the split yeah, before I had quiet alot more

[@wickedmaine207]

@ nice im just starting

[@birdseye2239]

Dude I've been having this problem where no external programs work in iRacing. I downloaded different spotters (swearing spotter) and didn't work when selected in iRacing settings, still just hear the british accent stock spotter. Downloaded crew chief, didn't work in the game and downloaded trading paints, selected paint design for car, car was not painted in iRacing. Any idea why?

[@birdseye2239]

btw what is cntrl-or?

[@sloth_energy]

@@birdseye2239 It's "control R" - it's Jackzer's Irish accent!

[@sloth_energy]

Re TradingPaints and Crew Chief, you need to have them running in the background. 32:34 Within iRacing you need to disable spotter so that only Crew Chief will be active.

[@birdseye2239]

@@sloth_energy thats what I thought at first but it didn't work

[@sloth_energy]

​@@birdseye2239 When you start Crew Chief (CC) do you hear it say "radio check"? If not, have a look at "Messages Playback Device" on the main screen and try other devices, press "stop" and then press "Start Crew Chief" and you hopefully will hear the message. DaveCam has a more detailed video showing how to set up the 2 programs you're struggling with here called "6 things all those NEW to iRacing should do!"

[@RedSliceGaming34]

Im here for the dirt oval and dirt road except Ive been a member since 2015 so kind of disappointed in this guide

[@thomasneit880]

If you didn't spend a lot of money or iracing already stay away from it and buy LMU.

[@jackishy1261]

Using list view is a violation, grid view all day every day

[@JACKZERYT]

@jackishy1261 style vs. Function ay lol, guess we all have our own taste XD

[@NWGJulian]

29:09 well actually no. dont use the driving line. not even as a beginner. it creates bad habits. you just dont need it. just let it off, please. we are racing, not following a stupid line.

[@_leymo]

exactly, watching hotlaps can help if someone has trouple finding the line though

[@lilibordei721]

Don't expect iracing to be a clean racing experience, more than 50% of your races will be ended by some idiot before you even get to t1