You can start in whatever class you like. You can set up single races, do time trials, free practice, and compete online (testing this game prior to release, we cannot yet judge how good it is). There are lots of famous tracks like Laguna Seca, Imola and Silverstone, and they are all beautifully rendered. The cars available are good, though, with some classics, race cars and road cars too. Project CARS' vehicle list is not the biggest, yet, though more car packs will be made available in the future. I found the default gamepad setting a little too sensitive, and it's great that you can easily change them. You can finely tune every aspect of the game's controls to suit you. Again, if the casual 'follow car' camera is your thing, Project CARS is probably not your game. There's only one 'follow car' camera: the rest are either inside the car or further forward.

More evidence of Project CARS' serious nature is its camera options. Different cars handle distinctly, as they should, and the road surfaces also feel very different, track to track. You can almost feel your car on the track, the tires struggling for grip as you push their limits. The developers touted new tire physics, and it really makes a difference. The driving model in Project CARS is great.

Whatever you choose, winning means driving well - learning your car and the track. Beginner turns on lots of driving aids and the full set of displays like guideline and braking assists, whereas Pro takes that all away. When the game begins you pick a general setup, Beginner, Amateur or Pro. Cars handle realistically enough, and you can't just put your pedal to the metal and drift round corners like an arcade game. Project CARS isn't quite a pure simulator, but it's pretty close. The most important thing with a racing game is how it feels.

Download free project cars to buy