iRacing Beginner Guide 2020 Vol .1 | Basics and the first Race. Get out of Rookies fast!

Welcome to this new iRacing beginners guide series. This series is aimed to help you to start on iRacing. How to get out of rookies fast? Which mindset do you need for that? Which is the best progress path. What is the "cheapest" way to get the A License?

Want to try out iRacing by yourself? I'd be happy if you use my referral link:

If you have any questions feel free to post them in the comments and I'll try to cover those in the upcoming videos of this series! Giveaway is over :)

Timecode:
1:25 - Sign Up
2:13 - Navigating the website and wheel setup
4:38 - the first private test session and important options explained
16:35 - the first poublic practise session
24:45 - the first race
41:35 - start of the very first race

Equipment used:
Ascher Racing C26S with a Momo Mod27
Ascher Racing F64-USB
Simucube 2 Pro
Heusinkveld Pro Pedals
Sim-Lab GT1

[jae_nz]

Thank you for doing this, I really appreciate it. I studied this video and practiced the track for a couple of hours. Then I qualified 2nd and also finished 2nd in my first ever iRace with zero incidents.

[maciekbla]

Every time when you bang on the rev limiter on upshifts, kitten dies. Great informative video BTW. Thanks

[BallisticTech]

I pretty much followed this guide to finally do my Mazda Rookie race in Season 4. For the last 2 months I've just been mostly hooning around doing hotlaps, unranked/community races and AI races. So I have driven in iRacing quite a bit up to now. I'm not exactly an absolute beginner. I've also played quite a bit of games like Gran Tursimo and Forza.

My first races was week 1 at Tsukuba. I know the track pretty well from games like GT Sport. I practiced for about 20m in a test drive, another 20m in an official practice session and then registered for a race. The race was mostly Rookie drivers but there were 4 D drivers and a B driver. I qualified P2 but started from the grid.

I probably could have won the race because there was a lot of jockeying for position behind and even a spin. But I also could have gotten taken out. So I started from the pits. Definitely remember you can grid and then return to the pit to speed things up.

I picked up 2-3 positions in the first 2 laps from ppl spinning or crashing into each other. I also picked up a few more places by passing. Oddly enough in the last turn. I noticed some drivers take a really wide line and comeback to the apex later. I felt comfortable taking a tight line while maintaining speed and defended into T1.

I ended up finishing P6 with the fastest lap and fastest average lap time. I gained .29 SR so I'm at 2.79. According to the MPR I'm 1 race and .21 SR away from a D license. That's pretty encouraging.

Cheers Dan!

[tjwilliams]

I have been such a fun of all racing since I was a child. I am now on my 30’s and still going strong. I have always been so amazed with the sim racing world . I have researched and seen these wheels and have been wanting one so bad and to get started in sim racing. I am currently following your channel and finding your video very helpful . Thank you and keep up the great work

[michaelherman]

Man, your channel has come a long way since this video was made. I just started following the iRacing craze and it's a blast watching your videos. The production values have increased, the gear in which you use, and just overall the content is fantastic! Thanks for making these beginner guides for people who are starting off!

[Luke-tmoy]

I just starting playing Iracing with a borrowed g29 that my friend lent me. Im pretty broke and have some mental health issues that keep me from working atm. I don't make enough money to buy my own wheel or have many hobbys so I have to choose it carefully and I love cars. If I got my own wheel I could sim race every night to unwind. driving is the only thing that helps stop panic attacks dead in their tracks because I focus on the car and track instead of the racing thoughts of impending doom in my head. Right now when I have a panic attack I close my eyes and visualize driving silver stone if I had my own wheel It would be improve many aspects of my life.

[TheKruxed]

I'll be checking out this series of videos in multiple sessions. I had the misfortune of finding Jimmy Broadbent entertaining while I was drunk and now I've gone and bought a wheel and stand and looking at 60min long tutorial videos for Iracing lol. I saw the battle you guys had in the gt3 cup car so came over here to see a pro driver rather than a pro shed dweller ;-)

[robwise]

I have just started iracing and you have explained it better than others I’ve seen thank you for making this series can’t wait to see more

[ZachillesVII]

Very good tutorial! I finally made the plunge into iRacing after a few months in honing my skill in Assetto Corsa. It’s still intimidating, but this guide really explained what I need to be focusing on. I’d love to enter the for the race to win the G29. My wife and I take turns right now, competing for lap times. I recently bought a sim chassis for myself, but I already have the holes drilled in my desk for a G29 for her to set it up and race beside me!

[BallisticTech]

Thank you for this. It takes a lot of the mystery out of getting started with iRacing! Things I'd be interested in seeing are:
-Other controls worth putting on the steering wheel
-How to learn a new track (find braking points and not over braking, finding the right gear for corners, general racing line tips, corner prioritization)
-More on downshifting in the MX-5. Ideally I'd like to use an H-pattern for cars that have one but I think I'll start with paddles
-Vehicle dynamics in iRacing, how to keep the car stable
-Common mistakes

I already own a G29 so feel free to exclude me from the giveaway.

[JamieHamelSmith]

Excellent video Dan. I was looking for a video like this one when I started iRacing ~3 months ago. I learned a few things I didn't know from this one even though it's aimed at first timers. I'm excited for the next episode!


Seriously, no one else shows this stuff. From signing up all the way to the first race and you make it look so effortless. This will help many new folks. Starting the races (my first track was Laguna Seca) was the hardest part for me, as no matter how careful I was, turn 1 was always mayhem. If only I had known I could just start from pit lane, I'd have done that.

[mattfarrar]

Can confirm, I started with a G27 and they are a really good starter!
Biggest word of advice is don't rush - Practice alot! don't overdrive stay clean and have fun!

[rectangularcuboid]

Thanks for giving us all an opportunity to win this wheel. If I were to win, this G29 would be a perfect representation of how you spin me right 'round, baby right 'round like a record, baby right 'round, 'round, 'round.

[AWD_DSM_FTW]

I really liked the focus on FOV. I've gotten so used to the behind car views playing some games and started getting into drifting. Was struggling with the wheel until I went to a hood view, and now my eyes can catch the car sliding and correct much sooner. Thumbs up!

[wake]

I like the part where you are describing what you are watching ahead of you "Those guys are battling" and seeing how you react to what you see is great tips for everyone, not just beginners.

[kamikaze]

It's a good starting tutorial... I liked the way you said to gain safety rating you should stay at the back by 10 seconds and hotlap and then proceeded to charge through the Field ( in a safe manner of course )
Since you are making this into a series I thought I could suggest a few topics to discuss: car control, how to practice effectively ( not just logging laps), good racecraft, and lastly how to play iracing without making your wallet cry.😀
Btw I already own the glorious G29 so I don't need one unless having 2 makes you faster

[s_tholy.]

Just got IRacing and have been borrowing my roommate sim setup till I'm able to get my own. So my roommate is my IRacing Sponsor for now lol. Its such a blast for anyone hesitant to try it

[david_haas_]

Hi Dan, not here for the wheel but I'd like to add 2 things:
1) After setting the correct FOV you might also want to set the virtual mirror FOV to the same value. To me the default made the cars behind look too far away to make a move and then they always surprised me when they did. I got much more confident after lowering the mirror FOV.
2) For immediate promotion to D class I think you need a SR of 4.0 instead of 3.0. With 3.0 you'd only be promoted at the end of the season.
Other than that: great channel, keep it up! Cheers!

[BigSkyModelWorkshop]

I could sure use a wheel to get started. 25 years of the real deal, raising a young family means no more cars. This is the only way I'll ever get to race a Sprint Car, and I can't wait!

[TheRicardogto]

First of all thanks for giving everyone a oportunity to win a free steering wheel which is something that not much people can buy it which is my case. I watch people's racing in iRacing for almost 2 years now, always wanted to buy a wheel but since Im a student its hard to get the money to do it. I want the G29 since I dont have anyway to start SimRacing without it! Once again Dan! Thanks for this oportunity to everyone!