iRacing has hundreds of cars to choose from. Buying all of them would cost a fortune, and most drivers only race a fraction of what’s available. The smart approach is to buy a small number of cars that unlock the maximum amount of racing across different classes, series, and licence levels.
That’s what this guide is for. We’ve picked six cars that together give you access to single-make series, tin-top racing, GT racing, formula racing, multiclass endurance events, and everything in between aloowing you to go from Rookie licence all the way to A class. Buy these six cars, a handful of tracks, and you’ll have more racing available than you could ever fill alongside the base content.
If you want professionally developed setups for every car on this list, a Delta subscription covers the full iRacing roster – setups install automatically when you load into a session, with Auto Insights AI coaching, Video Analysis, and telemetry included.
- Sports, Formula & Oval iRacing Setups
- Race Telemetry - Brake, Throttle & Racing Lines
- Corner by Corner AI Coaching To Gain Seconds
- Challenge Racers on the Delta Leaderboards
The Quick Answer
| Car | Class | Min Licence required | Why buy it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mercedes-AMG GT4 | GT4 | D | Best all-round GT4, multiclass eligible |
| Ferrari 296 GT3 | GT3 | D | Dedicated single-make series + multiclass |
| Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO | GT3 | D | Best all-rounder for GT3 multiclass racing |
| Porsche 992 Cup Car | Cup | C | The pinnacle single-make car on iRacing |
| FIA Formula 4 | Single-seater | D | Most fun and popular entry-level open-wheeler |
| Dallara P217 | LMP2 | C | The backbone of prototype endurance racing |
Mercedes-AMG GT4
The Mercedes-AMG GT4 is the best all-round car in iRacing’s GT4 class. Its 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 gives it competitive straight-line speed, while the front-engine layout creates a neutral, forgiving balance that works well on both fixed and open setups. It’s the car we’d recommend to any driver entering GT4 racing for the first time.
The GT4 class has grown significantly in popularity over the past few seasons, and the Mercedes is eligible for multiple championships including the GT4 Falken Tyre Challenge (where GT4 is the slower class alongside LMP3), the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge (where GT4 is the faster class alongside TCR), and the dedicated GT4 Falken Tyre Challenge Fixed series. It’s also featured in several special events throughout the year.
The Mercedes handles kerbs better than most GT4 cars – a real advantage on circuits like Oulton Park, Donington, and Sebring. The front-engine layout gives it natural stability under braking and through high-speed corners. It doesn’t have one party trick, but it doesn’t have a major weakness either – and that consistency across different track types is what makes it the best GT4 to commit to for a full season.
Ferrari 296 GT3
The Ferrari 296 GT3 earns its place on this list for one reason no other GT3 car can match: it has its own dedicated single-make series. The Ferrari GT3 Challenge is a spec series exclusively for the 296 GT3, meaning no BoP debates, no setup chasing, and identical machinery across the entire grid. Results come down to the driver, not the car choice.
Beyond the spec series, the Ferrari 296 GT3 is eligible for the full range of GT3 championships – from the D licence GT3 series through to the A licence IMSA iRacing Series. GT3 cars also participate in many of iRacing’s biggest special events throughout the year, including the Daytona 24 Hours, Spa 24 Hours, and Bathurst 12 Hours.
The 296 GT3 itself is well-balanced and handles kerbs confidently on corner entry. The 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 delivers smooth power with minimal turbo lag, and the car is generally in a competitive spot within the BoP. It’s a strong choice both for its own series and for the wider GT3 calendar.
Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO
If the Ferrari earns its spot through the dedicated spec series, the Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO earns its spot by being one of the best all-rounders in the GT3 class. It’s forgiving, fast, and competitive at virtually every track on the calendar – making it the GT3 you want for multiclass racing and full-season commitments, especially if you are graduating from the Mercedes AMG GT4.
The front-engine layout with its naturally aspirated V8 gives the Mercedes excellent stability, strong kerb handling, and resilient performance even after minor contact – a tactical advantage in busy multiclass races where surviving the opening laps matters as much as outright pace. It excels at low and medium-speed circuits where mechanical grip matters most.
Having two GT3 cars gives you flexibility. Run the Ferrari when its spec series is on the calendar and you want pure single-make racing. Run the Mercedes when you’re entering GT3 multiclass events where all-round consistency matters more than any one-lap advantage. Between the two, you’re covered for every GT3 series iRacing offers.
Porsche 992 Cup Car
The Porsche 992 Cup Car is a rite of passage on iRacing. It has its own driving style – fundamentally different from any GT3, GT4, or prototype – and many drivers consider it the most rewarding single-make car on the platform. Be fast in the Porsche Cup and you’ll earn genuine respect.
The Porsche Cup sits at the top of iRacing’s single-make ladder. It’s the path to the exclusive Pro licence and the Porsche TAG Heuer Esports Supercup, where drivers compete for $250,000 in prize money. Both a fixed setup and open setup series are available at C licence, delivering consistently large grids and fierce competition. Because it’s a single-make series, there’s no BoP to worry about – everyone drives the same car.
Getting on top of the braking is the key to being fast in this car. The rear-engine layout means the car behaves completely differently from anything else on this list – trail braking, weight transfer management, and throttle precision all matter more than in a front or mid-engined car.
- Sports, Formula & Oval iRacing Setups
- Race Telemetry - Brake, Throttle & Racing Lines
- Corner by Corner AI Coaching To Gain Seconds
- Challenge Racers on the Delta Leaderboards
FIA Formula 4
The FIA Formula 4 is the most fun and popular entry-level single-seater on iRacing – and it’s the perfect introduction to open-wheel racing if you’ve been driving exclusively in GT or touring car classes, or graduating from the Rookie Formula-Vee.
Capped at 160 horsepower from an inline-four engine, the F4 isn’t about outright speed – it’s about learning how a downforce car works. Front and rear wings, lightweight construction, and responsive handling give you the fundamentals of single-seater driving without the intimidating speeds of an F3 or Formula 1 car. The car is forgiving enough to push hard but has enough bite to punish sloppy inputs, making it an excellent teacher.
The FIA F4 Challenge is available at D licence in both fixed and open setup formats, plus regional series for Europe, America, and Asia. Grids are consistently well populated and it’s one of the most active series on the platform, plus the sprint format (20-minute races with standing starts and qualifying) makes it perfect for a quick evening session. There’s no BoP to worry about since everyone drives the same car, and the short races mean you can fit multiple events into a single session.
For a deeper dive into the car’s handling and the series structure, read our FIA Formula 4 Challenge guide.
Dallara P217
The Dallara P217 is the backbone of prototype racing on iRacing and the gateway to the platform’s biggest multiclass events. If you want to race in the A licence IMSA iRacing Series – sharing the track with GT3 cars and GTP prototypes – the P217 is the car you need.
The LMP2 class sits between GT3 and the GTP Hypercars in terms of pace, making it an excellent introduction to multiclass racing from the prototype side. The P217 features significantly more downforce than any GT car, which fundamentally changes how you approach braking zones and corner speeds. Managing traffic while maintaining concentration over longer stints is a skill the P217 teaches better than almost any other car on the platform.
The P217 is eligible for dedicated LMP2 series and the major multiclass championships. It’s also a regular feature in iRacing’s biggest special events – including the Daytona 24 Hours, Sebring 12 Hours, and Petit Le Mans. If endurance racing is where you want to end up, the P217 is the car that gets you there.
What These Six Cars Unlock
Here’s what makes this collection so effective: six cars give you access to an enormous range of racing, covering every major format on iRacing.
Single-make racing: The Ferrari GT3 Challenge (296 GT3), the Porsche Cup series (992 Cup), and the FIA Formula 4 Challenge (F4) are all dedicated spec series with identical cars across the grid. No BoP, no meta, just driver skill.
GT racing: The Mercedes GT4 and both GT3 cars give you access to dedicated GT4 and GT3 series across multiple licence levels, from D class all the way to A class.
Formula racing: The FIA F4 is your entry into single-seater racing, with fixed and open setup formats plus regional series. It’s the first rung of iRacing’s open-wheel ladder.
Multiclass with IMSA: The A licence IMSA iRacing Series features GT3, LMP2, and GTP cars sharing the track simultaneously. With the Mercedes GT3 and the Dallara P217, you have two entry points into iRacing’s premier multiclass series.
Multiclass with the Falken Tyre Challenge: The Falken Tyre Sports Car Challenge pairs GT4 and LMP3 cars on the same track – and the Mercedes GT4 is eligible. The IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge pairs GT4 with TCR for another multiclass option.
Special events: GT3 cars and the P217 are regulars in iRacing’s biggest events of the year – the Daytona 24 Hours, Spa 24 Hours, Sebring 12 Hours, Bathurst 12 Hours, and Petit Le Mans. These are the events the community gets most excited about, and with these six cars you’re eligible for all of them.
From Rookie to A class: Combined with iRacing’s free content (the MX-5, Formula Vee, and free tracks), these six cars create a clear progression path through every licence level. Start with the free Rookie content, graduate to the GT4, F4, and Ferrari GT3 Challenge at D licence, move to the Porsche Cup and P217 at C licence, and work up through the GT3 and IMSA multiclass championships all the way to A class – without needing to buy any other car.
That’s tin-top racing, GT racing, formula racing, prototype racing, single-make series, and multiclass endurance events, all from six cars.
Get Setups for All Six Cars
With a Delta subscription, you get professionally developed setups for every car on this list at every track on the iRacing calendar – released weekly, installed automatically, and updated every season.
Delta also gives you Auto Insights AI coaching that analyses your driving, Video Analysis to review laps synced to telemetry, and reference laps from professional drivers.
Whether you’re learning the GT4 for the first time or pushing for a Pro licence in the Porsche Cup, Delta gives you the tools to improve faster.
- Sports, Formula & Oval iRacing Setups
- Race Telemetry - Brake, Throttle & Racing Lines
- Corner by Corner AI Coaching To Gain Seconds
- Challenge Racers on the Delta Leaderboards
