For me it was "World Circuit" by MIcroprose in 1992. I didn't have a wheel at the time so for a few months I played it with my Thrustmaster joystick! Once I had saved up the money (starving college student at the time) I bought myself a Momo racing wheel.

World Circuit was not licensed so all of the tracks and drivers had generic names but it supported multiplayer. My friend and I played several championship seasons via a Null modem connection.

Indy Car by Papyrus, 1993.

Nascar Racing by Papyrus followed the next year.

Indy Car 2 the year after that.

Then Grand Prix Legends and Grand Prix 2 in the late 90's.

Grand Prix Legends in 2001.

Came as free copy on a games magazine CD. Thought I could give it a try to play something different than the usual flight or miltary sims.

Got hooked and got into a long lasting, expensive cycle of upgrading my hardware (wheels, pedals, cockpit, etc.) to shave off some tenths. ;-)

Nowadays it´s back to a much simpler desk setup to play a rally sim or Gran Turismo on console from time to time.

GeneRally was my First Racing Sim! I made several tracks for it and a couple sound packs! It's still on the computer!


Christoper Tarana

Grand Turismo 2, and Colin McRae Rally 2.0 (and earlier).

For me, it was Indianapolis 500: The Simulation - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indianapolis_500:_The_Simulation

Formula One '99 by Psygnosis/Bizzare creations; was my first PC racing game. I only had a gamepad for both that and Janes WWII Fighters, my first flight sim. Needless to say the gamepad did not last long. The hobby has lasted much longer.

For me, it was Bill Elliott's NASCAR Challenge on DOS. It was not super, and when I bought Indianapolis 500 by Papyrus, never touched Bill Elliott's NASCAR Challenge again. Then came World Circuit etc., and on until the present day, where I use VR and a FFB wheel to play Raceroom. I might boot up Bill Elliott's old game in DosBox just to experience how far racing sims have come.

Nascar Racing by Papyrus. Still have all of my old discs and boxes for them in basement.

Test drive, 1989/90 ? Some friend's zearly PC. Ferrari testarossa or Porsche 959, open roads, time trial, keyboard only. Pretty hard AFAIR.

Some racing titles on ATARI, prior.

Some racing titles on Playstation, after.

Back on modern PC, maybe TOCA, or Sports Car GT, late 90s, early 00s.

Most remembered early sim rated games,GTR and Formula challenge 99 02. Prior to these I would rate the other titles I played as "simcade".

Biggest "WOW" effect, RBR (physics) and Project Cars (lighting, general atmosphere), Project Cars 2 (1st crash at 250kph in VR, terrifying).