Your First Online Race Your First Online Race
  1. Le Mans Ultimate
  2. Gameplay
  3. Online

Your First Online Race

Ready to race online for the first time? This guide walks you through everything from setup to the chequered flag.

Before You Start

  • Make sure your PC meets the minimum requirements and the game is up to date via Steam.
  • A wired internet connection is strongly recommended. Wi-Fi can cause disconnections and lag that affect both you and other drivers. See Connection Issues if you're having trouble.
  • Check your Windows time zone is set to automatic (Settings > Time & Language > Date & Time). Incorrect time zones prevent you from joining servers.
  • Set up your wheel, pedals or controller before your first session: How to set up your wheel and pedals / How to configure your controller

Creating Your RaceControl Account

Online play requires a free RaceControl Lite account.

  1. From the main menu, select Profile then click the pencil icon.
  2. Follow the prompts to create or link your account and accept the competition rules.
  3. Until you accept the rules, the Online section will appear greyed out.

Not sure which subscription level you need? See Which Subscription Do I Need? For account help, visit support.racecontrol.gg.

Understanding Driver Rank (DR) and Safety Rank (SR)

  • Driver Rank (DR) reflects your pace relative to other drivers in the same session. It finds its level naturally over time - don't chase it. How DR works
  • Safety Rank (SR) measures how cleanly you race. Causing incidents, cutting corners, or disconnecting mid-race will reduce it. SR runs from Bronze through Silver, Gold, and Platinum - a higher SR unlocks cleaner lobbies and more event types. What SR means

As a new driver, focus on SR first. Clean laps in a midfield position are worth more than fast laps that end in contact.

Choosing Your First Event

Head to Online > Daily Races. Daily Races have three tiers based on your SR:

  • Beginner - Open to all players. Runs every hour. High assists, fixed setups, single class. Start here.
  • Intermediate - Requires Silver SR. Runs every 2 hours. Longer races, multiclass introduced.
  • Advanced - Requires Gold SR. Runs every 3 hours. Low/no assists, full multiclass.

As a new player, Beginner is where you start. GT3 cars are generally the most forgiving class. Practice the track in a Solo session first if it's unfamiliar - even a handful of clean laps makes a real difference. See What are Daily Races? and Weekly and Special Events for the full range of available formats.

When you're ready to sign up for a specific event, see Registering for an Online Race.

Pre-Race: Practice and Qualifying

  • Use the Practice session to learn braking points and let tyres reach temperature before pushing.
  • In Qualifying, aim for a consistent lap over your fastest possible time. A clean lap from mid-grid beats pole position followed by a turn 1 incident.
  • Check your Driving Assists settings before qualifying - some events restrict them.

Race Etiquette

  • Blue flags mean move over. If a faster car in a different class is catching you, give them a predictable and safe line.
  • Don't defend aggressively on the first lap. Give extra space and focus on getting through cleanly rather than gaining positions.
  • Leave space on the outside. If a car is alongside entering a corner, they have a right to the track.
  • Brake early when unsure. An incident in someone else's race costs both of you SR.
  • If you need to leave, finish the lap and retire from the pits if possible. Disconnecting mid-race counts against your SR.

After the Race

  • Check the results screen to see how your DR and SR changed. A clean race with a small SR gain is a good result regardless of finishing position.
  • DR and SR both take a few races to stabilise. Online racing gets significantly better as your SR improves and you're matched with cleaner drivers.
  • Once you're comfortable, consider Online Championships - structured multi-round series with professional stewarding and manual protest reviews for every incident raised.

Useful Links

beginner driver rank safety rank daily races first online race online DR SR race etiquette new player

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