Feeling ready to switch from GT3 to GTE?
Did you know that iRacing has got 5 GTE cars in its portfolio? And they’re planning to expand the list in the second half of 2022.
In this article we’re going to list them all, with the most famous ones at the top.
GTE cars are real beastsand will put your driving skills to the test.
But iRacing’s physics are so realistic that it will feel like driving a real race car!
It’s unbelieavable how good the car response is.
If you’re using a Thrustmaster, Fanatec or Logitech racing wheel, it’s even better!
Especially if your augmenting your driving experience with thehelp of AI.
Most iRacers are using the GT3 cars, but if you’re looking for a new interesting challenge, then GTEs are the right choice.
iRacing GTE list
Here’s a list of the 5 GTE cars you can get in iRacing:
- Ferrari 488 GTE
- Ford GT GTE
- BMW M8 GTE
- Porsche 911 RSR
- Corvette C8.R
We’re gonna have an in depth look into each and one of them, but first let’s take a closer look at what GTEs are all about for the begineers out there.
Are GTE cars faster than GT3?
Of course they are, and usually by 1.5 to 2 seconds depending on the track and grip level.
That’s because the cars are quite a bit different allowing GTE cars more room for development, more electronics, more Aerodynamics.
Though having less BOP and not being alowed the use of ABS as it is for GT3 cars (Traction control still allowed).
So without further ado, let’s now describe each and every car in detail:
Ferrari 488 GTE
The first one on our list is the Ferrari 488 GTE.
As you can imagine by just looking at it, this car is one of the best-looking cars in the entire GTE portfolio.
But let’s not get sidetracked, this car is also one of the strongest ones since it’s got quite an impressive list of victories on its shoulders.
You can drive this car around famous tracks like Le Mans, Laguna Seca, Sebring, Daytona and many more.
The high downforce as well as drag efficiency make it so fast through the corners and quick in the straights.
Ford GT GTE
The Ford GT GTE is probably the car that impresses you the most when it comes to looks.
It’s got a very nice design that makes you feel it’s ready for war. 😉
In terms of performance, it’s not as impressive as the Ferrari 488 GTE, but it’s still a real beast on some tracks.
Proably because Ford hasn’t been involved in GT3 races at all, thus not being as good with their aerodynamics development.
BMW M8 GTE
Next comes the BMW M8 with its incredible aggressive look.
In terms ofperformance you can expect great things from this car.
It’s very similar to the Ford GT, but it does feel more agile on some tracks.
Porsche 911 RSR
This car has been winning the WEC championship so many times in the last few years.
An there’s probably a reason for that…
As you probably know, Porsche has been involved in the GT3 class for quite some time now cross developing new technologies back to the GTE.
That’s why the 911 RSR is already a really well-developed car that can be tweaked to perfection in no time during the race weekend.
The 911 RSR is proven to be an extremely fast and reliable car for endurance races.
Corvette C8.R
Last but not least, we have the Chevrolet Corvette C8.R!
I’m not a big fan of this car to be honest since it hasn’t really proven much in the last few WEC races, though it can still be quite decent.
I’d surely never pick it over a Porsche 911 RSR or over a Ferrari 488.
Despite that, iRacing has done a great job on this car, so it’s worth giving it a lok or even a try.
What does GTE Mean?
GTE stands for “GT Endurance”.
That differentiates them from their GT3 siblings which are mostly about sprint races.
What’s the difference between the GTE and the GT3 cars?
These cars are specifically designed for endurance races thus allowing more room for development and being more reliable overall.
They compete in the WEC “World Endurance Championship” for a reason…
And for this very same reason they are loved by iRacers around the world.
These beasts are not like GT3 cars, they’re (except for Ford GT) more like prototypes with their powerful engines and huge wings.
Conclusion:
These 5 GTE cars are now a fundamental part of the iRacing cars portfolio and for a good reason.
People have been requesting this type of car for years on iRacing, and now they finally got what they were asking for.
It’s still relatively new so, we’ll likely see further developments and tweaks to the physics in the next few months.
Obviously this class will get more attention from all of us in the near future, so it’s best to get used to them now.
Make sure you take good care of these beasts when added to your garage, they can be really addictive. 😉
Remember that you will get some free cars on iRacing with the basic subscription so that will keep you busy for a while when getting started 😉
Hope that ws helpful.
Happy sim racing 🙂