Yes - I recommend racing tin tops at first (not open-wheel cars like Champ Car, F1, etc). To me they are "twitch racing", which is a challenge but not as much fun as racing cars with fenders.

Just a suggestion. Top-level series open wheel cars are not for the beginner. You'll probably be more frustrated than if you start with sports cars (doors, roof, fenders, etc).

Good point! I was thinking exactly what you said, "man this thing is twitchy"! I'll stick with something with a roof and doors for now!
Thanks

rTrainer or Formula BMW can also be ok learning cars if you like the wind in your face. From them you can then graduate to F3.

In fact I'm having a harder time looking for the perfect starter tintop:
-Porsches are maybe too idiosyncratic. Sractch them, not begginer-friendly at all.
-Meganes or Superclios. OK but both can bite back.
-Lupos. Yeah, but a tad too slow.
In fact my #1 early rF tintop would be that hatchback FF thing that comes with the game, Rehz or whatever. Quite fun, definitely faster and better handling than the Lupos, and a tad tamer than the Renaults, which would be the next step.

Getting Race 07 might be a good way to jump into a current SimHQ series, without trying to jump in at the deep end right away.
(While you're at it, if you haven't already, I'd pick up GTR2 as well.)

In rFactor open-wheelers, a good primer for F1 might be the Formula Nippon mod. I think they're right about at the GP2 level. Not too slow, but nowhere near as frantic as F1.

rF3s in rFactor are great cars. We ran a great series with them.

Mini Challenge (Mini Coopers) is a good fun little car that's a blast to drive. Awesome fun at Toban Short.

For a beginner in-top car, it would really be best if it was RWD, to get used to the RWD effects of most other race cars.

Those Minis really are a blast, though... That mod has given me the highest fun:frustration ratio by far.

I've been running and modding the Hammer included with rFactor and enjoying it, I've always been a Mustang fan (my last name is Ford )

I also have GTR2 but haven't spent too much time in it. Some of the big boys in that title will bite you like the Saleen cause they are very fast and powerfull.

My wife thought I was nuts when I was hooked on Flight sims......now she thinks I've lost it altogether.

Welcome to my world dford...welcome to my world.

dford,

In GTR2, try driving the NGT class cars at first, or a few of the Proximus 24 hour cars, like the BMW M3. Pick a track that's fairly short, and easy to learn. Then, just start turning laps. Don't worry about the car's setup, worry more about learning what the sim is trying to communicate to you, and how it communicates. Learning to interpret the physics model is key.

Once you've done that, it's time for tweaking the car a bit, as it'll get you thinking about the physics model in a different way - how you can alter the car's handling to suit you.

And remember, each racing sim is it's own world, with its own physics. No two are alike. For example, rFactor and GTR2 use the same basic game engine, but rFactor offers much less tire grip, track for track.

And yes, I too am a flight sim convert - the racing games just offer a longer and more sustained adrenaline rush.

Thanks Chunx!

I was a bit overwhelmed by the number of cars and tracks and not really sure where to start in GTR2. My first reaction was to get in the fastest, sexiest hotrod and burn rubber only to be frustrated and dizzy from spinning out all the time!

Do you recommend practicing solo or turning on the AI while turning laps? I tried playing around with the OW Challenge in rFactor and found the AI and their far superior cars blowing me off the track a lot of the time.

I have to admit that it is hard to enter a new genre as a noob after all the years spent in front of a monitor sim'ing or RPG'ing. I will force patience with this and just concentrate on learning to drive and thanks again for your advice!