Races • Open Wheel
Open Wheel Races
A technical guide for 1–16-player lobbies covering tyre choice, wear, pit lane, KERS and the handling impact of damaged wings or wheels.
OPEN / WHEEL / RACESComplete activity guide
Start here
Open Wheel Races
Pause Menu → Online → Jobs → Play Job → Rockstar Created → Open Wheel Races. Choose a course and read the tyre-wear and weather settings.
The Job can provide an open-wheel car while the host sets laps and custom vehicles. Do not buy one only to complete a first race.
Check Rockstar Created and the full race list. One missing course does not mean the family is absent; choose another Open Wheel race rather than a Featured playlist.
Players
1–16
Car
Supplied or owned as configured by the lobby
Purchase
Not required for the first Job
01 • First completion, step by step
First completion, step by step
01 Check the format
- ACTION
- Review lap count, weather, wear and available cars before readying up.
- TIP
- Use a stable setup on the first run and avoid an aggressive pit strategy.
- RISK / FAILURE CONDITION
- A long race on the wrong compound forces an unplanned stop.
- HOW TO RECOVER THE RUN
- If the lobby offers no clear choice, use defaults and treat the run as reconnaissance.
02 Survive the start
- ACTION
- Hold a straight line into the first braking zone and avoid wheel-to-wheel contact.
- TIP
- Cold tyres reduce grip in the opening corners.
- RISK / FAILURE CONDITION
- Wing damage immediately hurts turning and braking.
- HOW TO RECOVER THE RUN
- If the car pulls or loses downforce, pit instead of fighting it for an entire stint.
03 Manage KERS
- ACTION
- Use energy on a straight corner exit or for defence, not while fully steering.
- TIP
- Keep some energy for the final lap.
- RISK / FAILURE CONDITION
- Spending all KERS early removes your passing tool.
- HOW TO RECOVER THE RUN
- If energy is gone, focus on line and slipstream rather than forcing a move.
04 Plan the pit stop
- ACTION
- Enter pit lane when tyres lose pace or the car is damaged; slow down before entry.
- TIP
- Pitting before grip collapses is cheaper than crashing.
- RISK / FAILURE CONDITION
- Missing or overshooting pit entry costs another lap.
- HOW TO RECOVER THE RUN
- Finish the lap carefully and pit next time; never reverse on the racing surface.
05 Close the stint
- ACTION
- Protect tyres and KERS near the end, then register the finish and result screen.
- TIP
- A clean finish matters more than one desperate final contact.
- RISK / FAILURE CONDITION
- Last-lap damage can prevent reaching the finish.
- HOW TO RECOVER THE RUN
- If the car still moves, reduce pace and bring it home; respawn only when completely immobilised.
02 • Variants and mechanics
Variants and mechanics
Tyre strategy
1–16Pre-race choice and pit-lane service.
- OBJECTIVE
- Maintain pace across the full distance.
- MECHANIC
- Compounds trade grip against durability.
- COMPLETION
- Finish after the planned stint or stints.
- HOW TO RECOVER THE RUN
- When pace drops sharply, pit early instead of waiting for a spin.
Damage and repair
1–16Depends on contact and lobby settings.
- OBJECTIVE
- Finish without losing critical car components.
- MECHANIC
- Wings and wheels directly change handling.
- COMPLETION
- Pit lane repairs the car before continuing.
- HOW TO RECOVER THE RUN
- After contact, assess the car on a straight and plan a stop immediately.
KERS and slipstream
1–16Available during the appropriate run.
- OBJECTIVE
- Save energy for a real attack or defence opportunity.
- MECHANIC
- Works best with a straight car and a good exit.
- COMPLETION
- Complete the pass without losing the next braking zone.
- HOW TO RECOVER THE RUN
- Abort when space disappears and rebuild the slipstream on the next straight.
03 • Real roles / Strategies
Real roles i Strategies
Host
Sets distance, contact, weather and vehicles; race length should justify tyre strategy.
Driver
Individually manages tyres, KERS, damage and pit stops; there are no artificial team roles.
Use a supplied car, avoid opening-lap contact and pit at the first clear handling deterioration.
Base tyre strategy on distance, save KERS for exits and combine tyre service with repairs in one stop.
04 • Reward and economic status
Informational — no universal base rate
Cash and RP depend on the result and Job configuration. Rockstar does not publish one current base table, so this activity is informational rather than rankable.
Observed range specific to this activity; variant, result, duration or completion condition selects the value within it. Event multipliers are excluded.
C • community-reportedThe formula and roles apply to the stated settlement unit; event multipliers are excluded.
C • community-reported05 • Common mistakes and recovery
Common mistakes and recovery
All KERS spent at the start
Split energy across key straights and the final lap.
Ignoring wing damage
Pit; lost downforce usually costs more than service.
Pitting too late
React to a clear grip drop, not only after spinning.
06 • Readiness checklist
Readiness checklist
- I know the lap count and wear setting
- I chose a stable car/tyre setup
- I save KERS for important straights
- I know the pit-lane entry
07 • What next
What next
VIDEO
Video walkthrough
Verified video · EN
GTA Online Guide To Open Wheel Racing! Everything You Need To Know!
Open Wheel access, pit strategy, tyres, ERS and race flow.
- Channel
- Tylarious
- Published
- 31 Jul 2023
- Checked
- 29 Aug 2026