Project Motor Racing liveries expand your grid with authentic historical race paints, modern endurance designs, and community-created custom skins. Straight4 Studios and publisher GIANTS Software built the simulator on GIANTS Engine 10, featuring a cross-platform mod system where paint schemes can be installed directly through the in-game ModHub or manually managed on PC.
How to Get and Download Liveries via ModHub
The easiest way to obtain new paint schemes on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S is through the integrated ModHub. Unlike titles that lock liveries behind microtransactions, community liveries on the Project Motor Racing ModHub are free to download.
- Navigate to the downloadable content and mods section from the main menu, or open the UGC Portal.
- Browse available releases by category, top downloaded, or latest uploads. Liveries are available for classes including GT1, GT3, GTE, US V8, and Aussie V8 Supercars.
- Select the livery pack you want and press the download button. On consoles, the mod installs automatically to your system storage.
- Go to Single Player, Race Weekend, or Track Day, select the target vehicle, and scroll through the livery selection menu to pick your new paint scheme.
Console drivers should keep an eye on file sizes. Livery mods typically range from under 1 MB for single liveries up to 60–70 MB for large multi-car packages such as the GT1 Real Liveries Package or Australian V8 packs. Keeping track of storage ensures your console install remains responsive.
Installing Custom Liveries Manually on PC
If you download custom livery archives from external community creators or create your own files, you can place them directly into your local game directory.
- Open File Explorer on your PC.
- Head to the local mods directory located at: Documents/My Games/ProjectMotorRacing/mods
- Place the extracted mod folder or packed
.zipfile into this folder. - Ensure the folder contains the necessary
modDesc.xmlfile at its root so GIANTS Engine 10 recognizes the package. - Launch the game and confirm the livery displays in your vehicle selection screen.
How to Create Your Own Custom Livery
Creating a custom livery for Project Motor Racing involves editing texture layers and converting them into format profiles compatible with GIANTS Engine 10. Official UV templates are distributed through the GIANTS Developer Network (gdn.giants-software.com) and the ModHub.
Required Software and Tools
- 2D Image Editor: Affinity Photo, Adobe Photoshop, or any editor capable of exporting PNG or TGA files and managing channel masks.
- 3D Painting Software (Optional): Substance Painter for direct 3D painting across car body UV islands.
- NVIDIA Texture Tools Exporter: Standalone utility to inspect and export DDS texture formats.
- GIANTS Texture Tool (Version 901): Available on the GIANTS Developer Network to convert source images into compressed DDS textures using matching
.gimconfiguration files. - GIANTS Editor: Used for refreshing textures, inspecting materials, and previewing the 3D car model with clear-coat reflections.
- Code Editor: Visual Studio Code or any text editor to modify XML definition files.
Texture Channels and Layer Structure
Project Motor Racing car skins rely on two primary texture maps:
| Texture Map | Format | Description and Channel Breakdown |
|---|---|---|
Albedo (_alb) | 4K DDS / PNG / TGA | The visible color, decals, stripes, and primary paint design on the car body. |
Surface Mask (_arm) | 2K DDS / PNG | Alpha channel controls paint vs. exposed carbon fiber (white displays paint; black displays raw carbon fiber). |
| Surface Mask Green Channel | Roughness | Controls gloss and reflection (darker values provide high gloss; lighter gray values add matte roughness). |
| Surface Mask Blue Channel | Metallic | Determines metallic flake and reflectivity (pure black indicates non-metallic finishes). |
Step-by-Step Creation Workflow
- Obtain the Template: Download the car template archive from the GIANTS Developer Network or extract an existing livery mod from the ModHub.
- Paint the Albedo Map: Open the UV layout in your image editor. Paint your base colors, sponsors, and race numbers within the panel outlines.
- Configure the ARM Mask: Align your roughness and carbon fiber masks with your albedo design. If you want raw carbon panels, paint those areas black on the alpha channel.
- Convert Textures: Delete old compiled DDS files. Use GIANTS Texture Tool 901 alongside the accompanying
.gimfiles to convert your 4K albedo and 2K ARM images into the required DDS compression format. - Update Configuration Files: Open the livery's XML file inside
data/liveries/and confirm the texture paths point to your newly named DDS textures. UpdatemodDesc.xmlwith your author tag, title, and file references. - Test In-Game: Place your edited folder into the PC mods directory, start a test session, and verify the livery alignment, decals, and clear coat under track lighting.
Notable Livery Creators and Mod Packs
The Project Motor Racing community features dedicated modders releasing historical and real-world racing paints across the platform:
- FreeFlow: Creator of prominent IMSA, Le Mans, and endurance schemes, including the 1997 Le Mans F1-inspired GT1 pack, WeatherTech Trackhouse Corvette C8.R, Wayne Taylor Racing Le Mans Cadillac, and Penske Porsche 963 throwback schemes.
- Manx: Known for classic retro racing liveries, including Gulf-liveried Ford GT40s and Falken Tire Ford Mustang GT3 schemes.
- Ratty's Liveries / Brady's Liveries: Developer of street-style GTE packs, Corvette C6.R sets, Le Mans Ford GT schemes, and Aston Martin Valkyrie updates.
- Kater74 & Kmax1: Authors of the comprehensive GT1 Real Liveries Package, delivering 23 authentic designs from the 1997/1998 FIA GT Championship and 24 Hours of Le Mans alongside custom career mode events.
- Straight4 Studios: The development team frequently publishes official template packages, including the AusV8 Ford Falcon FG and Holden Commodore VF templates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are community liveries in Project Motor Racing free?
Yes. Community liveries distributed through the official ModHub and UGC Portal are free to download and use in both single-player and multiplayer sessions.
Can console players on PS5 and Xbox use custom liveries?
Yes. Console players can access and install custom livery mods directly from the in-game ModHub. Manual file manipulation via local directories is limited to the PC version.
What file formats does the game engine use for textures?
The engine reads compressed DirectDraw Surface (.dds) files for live rendering, accompanied by .gim setup files. Creators design textures using .png or .tga source files before compiling them with the GIANTS Texture Tool.
Can custom liveries include custom career events?
Yes. Advanced mod packs, such as the GT1 Real Liveries Package, package custom championships and driver rosters into their mod structure, allowing players to compete against specific historical fields in Authentic Career Mode.
