User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 605 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Negative: 63 out of 605
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  1. StasS
    Aug 22, 2009
    1
    I love racing games that's the only reason I give it 1 instead of 0. The game is simply impossible even if you have a racing wheel. Even on the basic difficulty. Don't buy it. That's my advice.
  2. PaulJ.
    Jun 12, 2008
    2
    I don't know what they were thinking. No car on Earth reacts the way these cars do. Cars will spin out at the slightest provocation and no matter what speed they were going. Since when do cars go into unending donuts when they drive over grass? Very frustrating game.
  3. Aug 7, 2011
    4
    I am a big fan of Codies, especially after having played their rally games. The original Dirt was an absolute masterpiece and outshines later titles like Dirt 2. The Collin McRae series before Dirt was also a lot of fun. I bought this game with high expectations, but what I have experienced is quite discouraging.

    To begin with, there is no qualifying mode - so you end up wherever the
    I am a big fan of Codies, especially after having played their rally games. The original Dirt was an absolute masterpiece and outshines later titles like Dirt 2. The Collin McRae series before Dirt was also a lot of fun. I bought this game with high expectations, but what I have experienced is quite discouraging.

    To begin with, there is no qualifying mode - so you end up wherever the game feels fit to place you. This means that you have to work your way up to first position from last (which can be as far back as 20th position for touring car races) - all in a span of 2 measly laps. This requires you to drive in a very aggressive manner to score points... let alone a victory. I'd accept this if Grid were an arcade racing title, but judging by the reactions of the competitor's AI, the game tries to punish you if you push too hard. If you blast inside an apex so as to overtake, expect the car next to you to plow directly into your flank. This is rarely recoverable, at least if your competitor hits you with their nose - however, if they hit you side on, you will definitely lose all steering and end up spun out or in a wall. Collisions generally result in your car being thrown off the track, whilst the car you collided with suffers absolutely no consequence.

    The game encourages you to turn up the difficulty level, so you generally feel compelled to play in 'Extreme'. At this difficulty, you notice that competitors in the same class (and even the same car) have much more grip in an apex than you do. I find that I reach the absolute maximum of understeer whilst the car in front of me (in many cases, my team-mate, who's supposedly in the exact same car) continues to accelerate and pull away through the apex. The only way to catch up is to cheat and cut through the apex. At the limit, even decelerating won't correct understeer - you are required to brake in order to get back in line. This poses another problem - cars behind you will dart past and maintain their line at much higher speeds than what you will find possible.

    Overall, I'm very glad that I didn't buy this game sooner. I was contemplating purchasing it at the start of the year, where it was priced in the $30+ bracket. Just manages to be worth the $6 dollars I spent on it now.
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  4. Apr 5, 2012
    4
    GRID
    Average User Score: 7.6 User Score 4 Terrible controls and tedious track design ruin what could have been a classic racer. It tries to be a serious simulation but fails because of the poor handling of the cars. The 'feel' is just all wrong and the tracks are a chore rather than fun to play. It's frustrating because the graphics are superb and it has many elements that could have
    GRID
    Average User Score: 7.6 User Score 4 Terrible controls and tedious track design ruin what could have been a classic racer. It tries to be a serious simulation but fails because of the poor handling of the cars. The 'feel' is just all wrong and the tracks are a chore rather than fun to play. It's frustrating because the graphics are superb and it has many elements that could have made it an excellent game. I don't know what the playtesters were on because the game's problems should have been picked up on and corrected. It's a game that makes you want to take a sledgehammer to your PC and it's a shame because it could have been up there with the best of the genre. Need For Speed Shift is a much better bet for this type of racer and I would advise going for that instead.â
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  5. MaxAnon
    Jul 7, 2008
    2
    Last night i bought this reading the reviews i was looking forward to this so much then i played it. Oh god what a living hell. Its hard to control and grass is deadly flashback is nice but you cant see the whole race and being on a pc with no controller i simply cant rotate
    Goood game not worth 40 dollars
  6. MaxiK
    Jan 4, 2010
    2
    Frustrating AI, always starting from behind (7-12 position) and you need to battle to get through. Even when you're doing well there will be a crash just in front of you which will smash your car and push you back till the end. Apart from this ridiculous idea and AI game is not bad, but it just kills it.
  7. Ervin
    Aug 20, 2009
    2
    The graphics are pretty nice if you're into eyecandy visuals rather than realism, and it doesn't bother me personally. It has some nice and original features, but for the most part the game is unplayable. The controls are simply brain damaged. One tap on the turn and the car veers off to the side, so there's basically no control what so ever. Most of the time I just watched The graphics are pretty nice if you're into eyecandy visuals rather than realism, and it doesn't bother me personally. It has some nice and original features, but for the most part the game is unplayable. The controls are simply brain damaged. One tap on the turn and the car veers off to the side, so there's basically no control what so ever. Most of the time I just watched my car jump from side to side on the track, and fly into the opposite wall at every other turn. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a crappy player. I've played numerous racing games before this, and they were all at least playable unlike Grid. It wont allow me increase the resolution to a proper amount for some ridiculous reason. The graphics settings are simplified to appeal to the mentally ill player population. All these problems I have found less than half an hour, and I quite honestly don't want to play any more than that. Expand
  8. BillA.
    Jul 21, 2008
    1
    The most beautiful driving game with the worst physics engine on earth. I was very excited to see famous cars and the inclusion of drifting and touge racing, but the bottom line is that it is just plain frustrating to play. The graphics tend to create different levels of lag as you drive which causes different reactions from the car. I wish the physics designers had known of a game called The most beautiful driving game with the worst physics engine on earth. I was very excited to see famous cars and the inclusion of drifting and touge racing, but the bottom line is that it is just plain frustrating to play. The graphics tend to create different levels of lag as you drive which causes different reactions from the car. I wish the physics designers had known of a game called Live For Speed before attempting to make a sort of simulation. I feel like I've been robbed of the retail price. I will stick to my Live For Speed and let this one rot on the shelf thank you. Expand
  9. BradJ
    Nov 26, 2009
    1
    Can't choose your own car. Can't tune your car. Can't paint your own car. Can't drive your own car. Can't do practice laps. Can't do qualifying. Can't do time trial. Can't have fun. Looks nice. There is no feedback from the car. You can't tell if you are near the limit so you always go over the limit and crash. The cars don't have a sense Can't choose your own car. Can't tune your car. Can't paint your own car. Can't drive your own car. Can't do practice laps. Can't do qualifying. Can't do time trial. Can't have fun. Looks nice. There is no feedback from the car. You can't tell if you are near the limit so you always go over the limit and crash. The cars don't have a sense of inertia. Speed is only relative to the cars you are raceing against which drive like the AI in Mario Kart. In a world were Grand Turismo exists, there is no point in GRID. Expand
  10. Gil
    Jul 9, 2008
    2
    Who´s paying the critics to write the reviews the game is getting? It´s a racing game that´s unplayable with a quality wheel (MOMO) and easier to control with the keyboard. The "AI" drives rubber tanks and follows a set line that is changed only by random events. Just try to stop in the middle of the track and look what the "AI" is doing - they keep ramming you untilWho´s paying the critics to write the reviews the game is getting? It´s a racing game that´s unplayable with a quality wheel (MOMO) and easier to control with the keyboard. The "AI" drives rubber tanks and follows a set line that is changed only by random events. Just try to stop in the middle of the track and look what the "AI" is doing - they keep ramming you until you´re pushed away. No trying to go around you, just following a set course... Pathetic.
    And - NO I don't suck at driving games. I really enjoy challenging racers like GTR2, RACE 07 etc. This is a joke.
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  11. PaulD.
    Jun 15, 2008
    4
    Gameplay is the worst ever to appear in a videogame. Cars are incredible twitchy, but never do what you want them to. Plus the game is full of junk you don't need, such as selecting your audio name. And the advisor speaking to you over the headset is full of sh*t as well. At one point, he mentioned I was in first place every 2 seconds or so. Graphics are decent, but nothing we Gameplay is the worst ever to appear in a videogame. Cars are incredible twitchy, but never do what you want them to. Plus the game is full of junk you don't need, such as selecting your audio name. And the advisor speaking to you over the headset is full of sh*t as well. At one point, he mentioned I was in first place every 2 seconds or so. Graphics are decent, but nothing we haven't seen before. Same for damage on cars. Music is so ten years ago. This game is trying so hard to be streetwise, but still be a serious racing game, just like ProStreet did. If you want streetwise, buy Midnight Club. If you want serious, buy DiRT. But don't buy this overrated wannabe-everyone. Expand
  12. MacS.
    Jun 28, 2008
    4
    A stunningly beautiful game that has an utterly idiotic AI code (they drive like kamikaze and NEVER adjust their line just driving into you at any possibility making all varieties of driving feel like demolition derby) and a completely wrecked and unfair collision physics (basically, on any contact with an AI car, you bounce off them without changing their line significantly and mostly A stunningly beautiful game that has an utterly idiotic AI code (they drive like kamikaze and NEVER adjust their line just driving into you at any possibility making all varieties of driving feel like demolition derby) and a completely wrecked and unfair collision physics (basically, on any contact with an AI car, you bounce off them without changing their line significantly and mostly land off the track). I would really want to like this game because it's so beautiful but right now it feels more frustrating then fun. Expand
  13. JohnD.
    May 30, 2008
    3
    Terrible, simply terrible... If you want to watch pretty graphics flash past as you attempt to navigate your bed on wheels then go right ahead.. do the developers even know what a car is ?
  14. PhilW.
    Jun 18, 2008
    3
    Thought the gameplay was poor and not what I expected - very disappointed.
  15. b0ib0ttroncon
    Sep 1, 2008
    1
    AWEFUL!!! Here is a chat I had with a friend about it.

    (5:33:08 PM) b0ib0t: just alt+f4'd out of one of the worst racing games ever (5:33:11 PM) b0ib0t: Grid (5:33:13 PM) b0ib0t: i HATE it (5:33:16 PM) b0ib0t: it totally blows (5:33:42 PM) MrX: what sucks about it? (5:34:44 PM) b0ib0t: physics are totally unrealistic, all the cars handle the same, you can use cars in one type
    AWEFUL!!! Here is a chat I had with a friend about it.

    (5:33:08 PM) b0ib0t: just alt+f4'd out of one of the worst racing games ever
    (5:33:11 PM) b0ib0t: Grid
    (5:33:13 PM) b0ib0t: i HATE it
    (5:33:16 PM) b0ib0t: it totally blows
    (5:33:42 PM) MrX: what sucks about it?
    (5:34:44 PM) b0ib0t: physics are totally unrealistic, all the cars handle the same, you can use cars in one type of even but not another (example, cant use 350z in drift events), you cant tune aspects of your car etc
    (5:34:48 PM) b0ib0t: just a rotten game all around
    (5:35:11 PM) b0ib0t: cant even change the tires
    (5:35:22 PM) MrX: wow
    (5:35:24 PM) b0ib0t: cant choose na vs turbo
    (5:35:27 PM) b0ib0t: just lame
    (5:35:31 PM) b0ib0t: 1 out of 10 stars

    That sums it up, lame physics, forced car choices for events, etc... The thing, remember that old race game for psone, you know the one, the "simulator". Well that game had paragraphs of data you could read about how you were tuning your car. Their was a learning element to it. You wont learn jack from this game. Also, the gfx SUCKS!!! Looks like a porno cam, with grease smeared on it, everything glows way to much. It just screams "look at me look at me!". Anyone wanna buy my old copy?
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  16. CRL
    Jul 25, 2011
    2
    I loved this game as a console game, and because of that I decided to buy it for PC. What I failed to realize is that if you don't feel like throwing away another twenty-five or thirty dollars on a Gamepad or an Xbox controller, this game is nearly impossible to play. Irony at it's finest: physics so well designed that it makes the game impossible to play. Or maybe it's just a way toI loved this game as a console game, and because of that I decided to buy it for PC. What I failed to realize is that if you don't feel like throwing away another twenty-five or thirty dollars on a Gamepad or an Xbox controller, this game is nearly impossible to play. Irony at it's finest: physics so well designed that it makes the game impossible to play. Or maybe it's just a way to make people buy overpriced controllers. Also, it's a total graphics leech. My processor is on par with the recommendations, and yet I still have to play it in 1024x768. Then to add to that, the official multiplayer servers were shut down and the single player isn't the greatest. So, if you want a racing game that doesn't need a controller and you don't have a quad-core processor, just buy NFS. Expand
  17. ChaseM.
    Jun 22, 2008
    1
    Utterly unrealistic, trying to be too many things at once, awful.
  18. Jan 4, 2012
    2
    To keep it short: Cars have no weight whatsoever, which doesn't allow you to "feel" the power under your butt (turned all driving assists off and pro-mode on). If you lose it's because you didn't dare to go through that sharp left corner with 150 mp/h.
  19. chad
    Jul 12, 2009
    2
    The controls for the cars are horrible. I'm using an Xbox360 controller, which is about all that is supported by the game. Spent 14.99 for this game on steam and feel like I was ripped off. Grahpics are good, but the cars just don't handle right. How the hell did this game get such good reviews?
  20. Apr 9, 2011
    3
    This is probably the last game by Codemasters I will ever have bought. What a load of c**p. Anyone who even mentions the 'excellent driving realism' of this toy-game is too young to have a drivers license. Not only is this game not about racing at all, it isn't even fun as an arcade-racer. Absolutely heartless and loveless product, built for the spoiled and shallow kids with ADD. Bah.
    And
    This is probably the last game by Codemasters I will ever have bought. What a load of c**p. Anyone who even mentions the 'excellent driving realism' of this toy-game is too young to have a drivers license. Not only is this game not about racing at all, it isn't even fun as an arcade-racer. Absolutely heartless and loveless product, built for the spoiled and shallow kids with ADD. Bah.
    And why is it so hard to retool a button on my G25 to something else?
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  21. Aug 1, 2011
    3
    This game has so much potential but falls way short. This is the most ridiculous racing game ever. It is almost impossible to keep your car on the track and it doesn't help that the AI drivers just drive over you if you are in their way. They only good thing about this game is the graphics. I really wanted to like this game but it just makes me want to throw my controller through the monitor.
  22. RacerD.
    Jun 3, 2008
    4
    If you like arcade its a 10. If you wanna drive a real car, pass on this title. The rewind feature is neat I must add.
  23. TarunB.
    Jan 7, 2009
    1
    Amazing graphics and Original flashback concept. But i gave this a bad rating because, it is almost impossible to play... very tough to master the controls.. I guess it is easier to go and drive on the race track than this game. Second, this game is incompatible with almost all gamepads out there except the xbox360 controller.
  24. LucaC.
    Jul 1, 2008
    4
    Grid is like a top fashion model without soul . Driving means to feel your car. Where is the car's phisic? Bah... Good looking graphic... like a beatiful saker cake.... but without any taste.
  25. bot
    Jun 10, 2013
    0
    This game disappointed me completely, I did not expect such a codemasters, pure arcade, regular arcade racing, style menu terribly pure single, compared with the first part of a complete failure of the Grid, which is very poorly cleaned view from the I do not argue that graphics bad she even very pretty, but for this arcade give money? No really sorry I'm not gonna pay for trash, veryThis game disappointed me completely, I did not expect such a codemasters, pure arcade, regular arcade racing, style menu terribly pure single, compared with the first part of a complete failure of the Grid, which is very poorly cleaned view from the I do not argue that graphics bad she even very pretty, but for this arcade give money? No really sorry I'm not gonna pay for trash, very few options to control, the only thing good here is the graphics so nothing more) Expand
  26. Nov 2, 2011
    3
    I have been a racing game fan for a long time, starting with Stunts and TD2 on an AT-286, completing the NFS series, starting serious simulation games with Grand Prix Legends and went on to GTR 2, Richard Burns Rally and Race 07. I both had lot of fun with arcade and simulation titles, top-sellers like Test Drive Unlimited and hardly-known ones such as World Racing 2.

    I am only writing
    I have been a racing game fan for a long time, starting with Stunts and TD2 on an AT-286, completing the NFS series, starting serious simulation games with Grand Prix Legends and went on to GTR 2, Richard Burns Rally and Race 07. I both had lot of fun with arcade and simulation titles, top-sellers like Test Drive Unlimited and hardly-known ones such as World Racing 2.

    I am only writing this to give some background to the fact that Racedriver: GRID is the VERY FIRST RACING GAME I DID NOT ENJOY AT ALL.

    Yes, the graphics is amazing. And the damage model, too. But the driving model combines the worst of arcade and simulation. I don't mind an unrealistic driving style as long as it's fun and has some consistency. In the NFS series (Underground, Most Wanted) it works out well: you have almost unlimited grip and easy control, but you can still use tricks like load transfer forcing the care to over-/understeer. In GRID, you can randomly lose control, the force-feedback does not work and the car gives you no information what's going on. Keyboard, game-pad, steering wheen - none of them works.

    I bought it on Steam for 3.49 EUR as a 75% discount. It was not worth it. I still think I was lucky not buying it for the original price.
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  27. Aug 20, 2013
    0
    If one game with all details turn on minimum can't stay at 30 fps with an HD5870, I'll not waste my time.
    What a shame for a such good gameplay ruined by design choises.
  28. Sep 13, 2013
    3
    Sorry Codemasters. I love your DiRT games, I like GRID 2, but this just isn't acceptable. Never have I come across a racing game (with the exception of Motorstorm) that gets handling so wrong. Even using an Xbox 360 controller and adjusting the advanced deadzone settings and taking off all assists, the game is barely playable. First of all, the interior view is THE WORST around. Not onlySorry Codemasters. I love your DiRT games, I like GRID 2, but this just isn't acceptable. Never have I come across a racing game (with the exception of Motorstorm) that gets handling so wrong. Even using an Xbox 360 controller and adjusting the advanced deadzone settings and taking off all assists, the game is barely playable. First of all, the interior view is THE WORST around. Not only can you not see anything because it's letterbox, but it looks bad too in terms of detail. The game starts you off with the fastest cars in the world, and you wonder if the speedometer is accurate or trolling you. There is an unbelievable amount of understeer, and the sense of speed is non-existent. The flashback system is very slow and clunky it's actually quicker to restart the race in some cases. Then there's drifting. If you thought Shift 2 was bad, it isn't it just takes a lot more skill to get used to. In GRID, drifting is unsatisfying and broken. The handbrake in this game is almost useless; although it's probably fairly realistic. There are some good points about this game however. It does away with things that don't really matter, such as customisation and having thousands of cars which nobody will ever use. There is a fair amount of variety in the events and tracks too. Also, you are rewarded for playing the game in a more hardcore manner. Everything from no assists and manual gears to only using interior view and even removing the ability to restart races. The difficulty can be set for each event individually, which is great. Codemasters have definitely understood what hardcore racing game fans care about, but have failed on the most crucial aspect of the game: the driving. It's just wrong and unnatural; whereas GRID 2's is practically perfect fit for everyone. I had high hopes for this game, but the horrible controls and interior view make this difficult to recommend. Expand
  29. Jan 4, 2014
    2
    This game is terrible, namely it's the controls for steering wheel. What's the point of steering wheels for racing games if it doesn't work well with it? I've been playing racing games with steering wheel support since the PS1 and in this day and age, the steering for this game is worse than Need for Speed on PS1. I'm only giving this game a 2 because as a racing sim, it falls behind GranThis game is terrible, namely it's the controls for steering wheel. What's the point of steering wheels for racing games if it doesn't work well with it? I've been playing racing games with steering wheel support since the PS1 and in this day and age, the steering for this game is worse than Need for Speed on PS1. I'm only giving this game a 2 because as a racing sim, it falls behind Gran Turismo, and as an arcade racer, it falls behind Need for Speed (PS1!! Seriously WTF!?). The 2 is just for the graphics and game stability which wasn't an issue for me.

    A racing game with bad steering wheel support gets no support from me.
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  30. Jul 15, 2013
    2
    I don't understand how this game got this good score. Game looks nice of course, but the gameplay is awful. Especially on PC.
    And this game has no support for my DFGT-wheel. The wheel works if you manually set everything but FFB still refuses to work.
  31. Mar 24, 2021
    4
    The crash physics are pretty awesome, the thrill of speed and the bumpiness of the car feel great, until you realize your car has no real weight to it and the slightest touch by another car will send you veering into a wall or spun completely out, topped off by the fact that the AI is massively aggressive and cheats as it always has more grip than you can possibly muster even with assistsThe crash physics are pretty awesome, the thrill of speed and the bumpiness of the car feel great, until you realize your car has no real weight to it and the slightest touch by another car will send you veering into a wall or spun completely out, topped off by the fact that the AI is massively aggressive and cheats as it always has more grip than you can possibly muster even with assists on through all corners even with the same car as the AI.

    It's an ok driving game for a brainless session but once you begin to really see it's problems, the game is kinda bad.
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  32. Sep 26, 2019
    4
    Flashback doesn't go far back enough.

    Can't turn off collision so you have to constantly restart the race due to people hitting you. They're also super aggressive and ram you constantly, even at the end of very long races, making you have to do the whole thing again. Weird game. The driving feels strange, unrealistic, and hard. Drifting feels artificial, not fun, and difficult.
    Flashback doesn't go far back enough.

    Can't turn off collision so you have to constantly restart the race due to people hitting you. They're also super aggressive and ram you constantly, even at the end of very long races, making you have to do the whole thing again.

    Weird game. The driving feels strange, unrealistic, and hard. Drifting feels artificial, not fun, and difficult. Drifting easier with "assists" on even though tutorials say not possible with it on. Saw that a guy was drifting perfectly with keyboard. Possible that manual transmission is a requirement. Because the keyboard guy was doing acceleration that would make me spin out.

    The force feedback with my G27 is so strong at the minimum settings that I had to turn it off. But with it off the middle is too loose. Seemed like there might be some bug. Definitely buggy. Sometimes changing it has no impact. Randomly turns completely off. Trying both applications (logitech & game) as "run as admin" - didn't work.

    Vsync-on seems to be helpful.

    Some of the races are ok, others are just too tedious/frustrating that the game is barely playable. Drifting is completely different from other games and seems ridiculously hard, unrealistic, floaty kind of like on ice.

    Became playable with vsync-on and the below tweaks I found:

    Logitech G27 Settings
    1. Open the Logitech Profiler
    2. Select New > Profile
    3. Add grid.exe as a new game.
    4. Select Edit > Specific Game Settings
    5. Tick > Use Special FF Device Settings
    overall effects 107-117%
    spring effect 0%
    damper effect 0%
    Enable Centering spring in force feedback games (ticked)
    Center Spring Strength 10% (increasing does nothing)
    Tick >Special Steering Wheel Settings
    6. Leave ‘Report Combined Pedals’ Unchecked
    Set Degrees of Rotation set to: 350 degrees
    7. Tick >‘Use Special Game Settings’
    9. Tick > ‘Allow Game to Adjust Settings’

    10. Start GRID from the Profiler, and go to (driving) Options > Controls > Choose Preset
    11. Select Custom (or G27 - if available!) and then Confirm

    12. Back to Main Menu > Option > Force Feedback
    FEEDBACK ON
    ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECT 10%
    FEEDBACK STRENGTH 50%
    WHEEL WEIGHT 30%
    (You should adjust these settings first to your liking if you find difficulty in controlling your car)
    13. Back to Main Menu > Option > Advanced

    Advanced Wheel Settings
    STEERING DEADZONE 0-5%
    STEERING SATURATION - can try 50-100%
    STEERING LINEARITY 4
    THROTTLE DEADZONE 0%
    THROTTLE SATURATION 100%
    BRAKE DEADZONE 5%
    BRAKE SATURATION 100%
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Metascore
87

Generally favorable reviews - based on 25 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 24 out of 25
  2. Negative: 0 out of 25
  1. Race Driver: GRID is tearing up the tarmac this summer without a challenger in site.
  2. 90
    While the game's focus is clearly on driving, managing sponsors right will double or triple the income of winning an event and is a fun minigame on its own; making lots of money is crucial to entering higher-level, ultra-costly racing series.
  3. Codemasters' racing studio know what they're doing and have again got the key elements right.