A Complete Guide To The iRacing Production Cars Challenge Series

The PCC is a series that includes a range of cars from the nimble Mazda MX-5 Cup to the mighty V8 Ford Mustang FR500S. Find out which cars are eligible, along with price comparisons and information on each car’s handling characteristics on track.

What is a Multiclass Race in iRacing?

Multiclass racing in iRacing can be a real test of skill strategy and adaptation, offering unique challenges right from the start line. As the name suggests, multiclass racing features a variety of car classes competing on the same track simultaneously.

However, you are only competing with other drivers in the same class as you. This creates an intense race atmosphere as you fight through the various car classes battling for the lead.

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What is the iRacing Production Cars Challenge Series (PCC)?

The iRacing Production Cars Challenge Series (PCC) is a short-form series. It allows beginner drivers to experience the thrill of multi-class racing at a slightly slower (arguably more fun) speed.

The series can be a great way for beginner iRacing drivers to improve their traffic management skills, overtaking lower-class cars and being overtaken by those faster on the track. Drivers can use this series to build upon key skills in track sense and driver awareness that will become invaluable in more advanced race series later on in your iRacing career.

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Which cars are eligible for the iRacing Production Cars Challenge

There are currently four cars to choose from for the iRacing Production Cars Challenge. These include;

• Mazda MX-5 Cup
• Toyota GR86
• Renault Clio
• Ford Mustang FR500S

In this guide, I’ll discuss each car’s pros and cons, and then you can decide which one you’d like to take onto the track first.

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How much does the iRacing Mazda MX-5 Cup cost?

The Mazda MX-5 Cup is a free car and included in the monthly iRacing subscription, so you can jump in and take the MX-5 Cup around the track at no extra cost!

Using the Mazda MX5 Cup in the iRacing Production Cars Challenge

The Mazda MX-5 is the lightest car available in the Production Cars Challenge series and, for the majority of iRacing rookies, is often the perfect starting point. The attractively small rear-wheeled roadster quickly introduces rookie drivers to the thrill of the track with its superbly balanced and quick-to-learn handling.

It’s an incredibly smooth and fun drive, swiftly transferring from corner apex to straight. However, if we dig a little deeper, the MX-5 can become a bit of a handful to master… Let me explain.

Mastering the MX5 Cup in iRacing

As a rookie the MX-5 is an excellent driving experience with very little to worry about. However, if you want to master the MX-5 and get it performing at its best, you need to get to grips with load transfer and momentum.

Due to the Mazda being so light, you can often find yourself losing rear traction on entry to the corners if you’ve got a heavy foot or lose it in over-rotation while braking. This can, however, be controlled by refining your inputs at the wheel and pedals while avoiding too many abrupt steering movements. 

The car has modest power and very little downforce, meaning you’ll want to keep it on the edge of its grip thresholds for the best lap times. Practising smooth inputs will allow you to carry your speed from the straights through the corners efficiently. 

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How much does the iRacing Renault Clio cost?

Unlike the Mazda MX-5, the Renault Clio is not included within the iRacing monthly subscription. Instead, it can be purchased separately for $11.95.

Using the Renault Clio in the iRacing PCC

The French’s hot-hatch answer to the Ford Fiesta and the VW Golf. This nippy 200bhp front-engined, front-wheel drive hatchback delivers impressive performance on the track. With bursts of power at all gear ranges, it’s another excellent car for rookie drivers to get to grips with Multiclass racing.

But be warned, it is prone to sudden oversteer if the driver isn’t careful with their throttle inputs, especially when entering corners. Like the Mazda MX-5 Cup, the Clio doesn’t have much downforce.

The car’s front-heavy weight distribution can quickly destabilise the car if the driver isn’t careful with smooth transitions on and off the throttle. You’ll want to focus on a ’slow in, fast out’ technique taking smooth lines and gentle throttle responses to assist with load transfer and minimise oversteer.

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How much does the iRacing Toyota GT86 cost?

The Toyota GT86 is free and included in the monthly iRacing subscription, making it a great place to start, along with the MX-5 Cup for beginners of the Production Cars Challenge series.

Using the Toyota GT86 in the iRacing PCC

The GT-86 can be compared to the MX-5 Cup in many regards. They are both free and included within the monthly iRacing subscription, incredibly fun to drive, and well suited for rookie drivers. So what makes them different? 

The GT-86 excels with its balance between excellent handling and power. It’s smooth in and out of the corners and has some improved downforce over the other cars within the series, making it slightly faster over a lap, too.

Due to its additional downforce, great corner ability, and power output, it can be driven really hard. It feels like a real driver’s car. In many instances, you may think you’ll be losing grip, but due to its wide slip angle, drivers can often bring the car back in line without losing precious time.

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How much does the iRacing Ford Mustang FR500S cost?

The Ford Mustang is not included in the iRacing monthly subscription. However, it can be purchased separately for $11.95.

Using the Ford Mustang FR500S in the iRacing PCC

The final car in our Production Car Challenge line-up is the V8-powered Ford Mustang FR500s. With a little over 325bhp, this car sounds amazing, and it can often be tempting to overdrive the engine, which is an RWD V8 with heaps of torque.

It’s a heavy beast, weighing over 1600kg, and can often feel sluggish if you are not careful with your gear changes and smooth inputs. So, your best approach will be to carry your speed into the corners smoothly, keep the gearbox in higher gears, and take advantage of all of that powerful V8 torque to carry you out the other side.

The Ford Mustang is a fun challenge to conquer and will give you a distinctly different driving experience from the other three car classes available; It’s worth a try just for the noise of that V8!

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Race format for the Production Cars Challenge

Now you’ve selected which car you want to race with, we’re ready to get stuck into the race format of the Production Cars Challenge. To enter the series, you must have obtained a D Class Licence and a safety rating of 4.0.

Each race is 25 minutes long, with a rolling start. Shorter qualifying sessions precede this to determine starting grid positions. The races themselves are nice and short, perfect for beginner drivers. Races kick off every hour at half past the hour, leading to start times of 1:30, 2:30, etc. throughout the day.

Being a multiclass race, you’ll only be competing against other drivers in the same car class as you. So, if you’re driving the Mazda MX-5 cup, you’ll only be competing with other Mazda drivers. However, other cars will be on the track at the same time, each competing against their own class, meaning it can be pretty hectic from the get-go.

Try not to get distracted by the other races unfolding around you. 25 minutes is ample time to work your way up the grid, so keep the racing clean, stay out of trouble and focus on your smooth inputs in and out of the corners as opposed to risky overtaking or erratic manoeuvres, and you’ll find yourself in a better position in no time.

Our Summary & What Makes it Such a Great Series to Race in?

As mentioned previously, the Production Cars Challenge is seen as an entry-level multi-class series and aims to teach you the ropes of racing with multiple classes on the same track.

You’ll want to absorb as much knowledge as you can while racing, trying out the different cars on offer, custom setups and tracks before participating in the more advanced series iRacing has to offer.

Here’s what the Production Cars Challenge Series can offer beginner drivers:

• Short-form 25-minute races are not too long, yet enough time to work your way up the grid and get a feel for multiclass racing.
• Throughout the series, you don’t need to worry about your tyre management, fuel consumption, or pit stops.
• There is a great selection of cars, each offering different challenges. Two of them are free: the Toyota GT86 and Mazda MX-5 Cup.
• Low entry requirements (D Class Licence & Safety rating of 4.0) mean you can get stuck into the action early into your iRacing career.
• Some of the tracks are part of the base iRacing content.
• If you are familiar with the MX-5 Cup car from your Rookie days, you can jump straight into the series with the same car – the seat’s still warm!

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Frequently asked questions