The Project Motor Racing ranked licence test is a mandatory qualification trial that players must pass before gaining access to the game's competitive Ranked Online mode. Serving as a competitive gatekeeper, this evaluation places you in an eight-lap race against AI opponents to gauge your baseline control, pace, and consistency. Passing the test assigns you an initial Driver Rating and Division placement, while also unlocking the "Online License" Steam achievement.
What Is the Ranked Licence Test in Project Motor Racing?
In Straight4 Studios and GIANTS Software's Project Motor Racing, the ranked licence test acts as a driver screening process inspired by real-world motorsport licensing. Instead of letting unverified drivers immediately join public ranked splits, the sim requires all participants to complete a standardized evaluation.
The test is designed to measure whether you can handle cold tires, respect track limits, and sustain competitive race pace across multiple consecutive laps without causing major incidents. Once unlocked, the ranked ecosystem operates without recurring subscription fees, placing drivers into skill-based matchmaking brackets and month-long championships.
Test Requirements and Target Times
The qualification takes place under strict parameters that cannot be adjusted via difficulty sliders. In-game settings enforce 100% AI difficulty for the computer-controlled opponents, and the car choice is locked to the 2017 Mazda MX-5 Spec (MX-5 Trophy).
| Parameter | Specification | Source Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle | 2017 Mazda MX-5 Spec (MX-5 Trophy) | Fixed spec car with 158 bhp |
| Track | Lime Rock Park | Short layout with chicane variations |
| Grid Size | 4 cars total (Player + 3 AI drivers) | AI locked at 100% difficulty |
| Race Format | 8 laps from a standing start | Standing start countdown (3-2-1 lights) |
| Target Lap Average | ~1:04.3 to 1:05 per lap | Varies based on launch lap delay |
| Target Total Time | 8:35 (Base game) / 8:20 (Official guide) | Adjusted in Update 2.0.0.0 patch notes |
| Retake Policy | Unlimited retries before confirming | Permanent lock once results are accepted |
Depending on your game version, target times may show slight variance. The base release build required players to finish eight laps within 8 minutes and 35 seconds (8:35), while official Straight4 beginner documentation lists an 8-minute and 20-second (8:20) threshold. Update 2.0.0.0 patch notes subsequently noted adjustments to ranked licence test times and layout configurations.
Step-by-Step Breakdown: Mazda MX-5 at Lime Rock Park
To complete the test efficiently, drivers must manage vehicle dynamics and avoid critical mistakes across the eight laps:
- Manage the Standing Start: PMR features a 5-second pre-stage period followed by a 3-2-1 light countdown. Keep the car fully stationary until green lights illuminate. Creeping or rolling early triggers a severe 15-second jump-start penalty.
- Survive Cold Tires on Laps 1 and 2: Tires begin cold out of the pit garage and offer minimal grip, behaving like hard plastic until operating temperatures reach roughly 80°C. Feed throttle smoothly on corner exits to prevent the rear end from stepping out at Big Bend.
- Ignore Aggressive AI Drivers: The three AI cars run at 100% difficulty and drive aggressively along the racing line. Racing wheel-to-wheel with them often causes contact or compromises corner exits. Finishing position does not dictate your rating—only your elapsed total time matters.
- Watch Track Limits at the Chicanes: Cutting corners or running wide triggers immediate 2-second time penalties that add directly to your overall time. Major corner cuts activate a slowdown instruction requiring you to drop to 60 km/h for 3 seconds.
- Optimize Shift Points on the Back Straight: With the MX-5's naturally aspirated engine, avoid short-shifting from second to third gear on the uphill climb out of the chicane. Carry second gear until roughly 115 km/h right before the rev limiter to maximize uphill momentum.
- Accept or Retry the Result: Upon crossing the finish line, PMR calculates your total elapsed time and presents your Driver Rating and Division. If you are dissatisfied, you can immediately choose to retake the test. If you click "Complete," the rating is permanently locked into your profile.
Setup Adjustments and Key Driving Tips
Although the vehicle model is fixed to the Mazda MX-5, the licence test allows players to modify setup parameters before clicking "Drive."
Reduce Onboard Fuel Load
By default, the car loads onto the grid carrying 23 liters of fuel. Across an 8-lap sprint at Lime Rock Park, the MX-5 consumes only 4 to 6 liters. Lowering your starting fuel load to between 7 and 11 liters sheds unneeded weight, drastically improving front-end turn-in, braking distance, and acceleration.
Prioritize Exit Speed Over Deep Braking
Late braking into Lime Rock's Big Bend (Turns 1 and 2) or The Left Hander (Turn 3) frequently pushes the Mazda wide onto slippery runoff. Brake slightly earlier, clip late apexes, and get back onto the throttle smoothly to carry momentum across the straights.
Steering and Force Feedback Mapping
Ensure your wheelbase driver rotation is set to 900 degrees globally to retain 1:1 steering mapping. Players on direct-drive and belt-driven wheels can adjust the in-game steering rack and force feedback strength sliders in the setup menu to eliminate notchiness and track tire scrub through the front tie-rods.
Driver Ratings, Divisions, and Ranked Progression
Passing the licence test assigns an initial Driver Rating ranging from 0 to 100, alongside a Division assignment. In player testing and media reviews, completing the 8 laps in roughly 8 minutes and 13 to 15 seconds assigned a rating of 67 in Division 3, regardless of whether the driver finished 1st or 4th. Times closer to the 8:21–8:35 mark produced baseline ratings around 52 in Division 4.
Ranked multiplayer features distinct rules and restrictions:
- Class-Specific Driver Ratings: Driver ratings are tracked independently per vehicle category. High ratings earned in GT3 or GT4 classes do not carry over when you enter Group C prototypes or LMDh events.
- Monthly Championships: Ranked races run on scheduled start times every 1 to 2 hours. Championships last four weeks with weekly track rotations, counting each driver's best two finishes per week toward the standings.
- Class Unlock Milestones: Winning a ranked race in any split unlocks the ability to enter competitive online events in Group C and LMDh prototype categories.
- License Points and Stewarding: Introduced in Update 1.7.0.0, every player receives 20 License Points as a safety reputation metric. Points recover by +1 daily at midnight GMT up to the 20-point cap. Players lose points if formal protests for intentional wrecking or malicious driving are upheld by the steward team, and dropping below zero excludes drivers from ranked splits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you retake the ranked licence test after accepting your score?
No. You may repeat the test as many times as you like while on the results screen by selecting the retry option. However, once you press "Complete" to enter the ranked online ecosystem, your initial baseline rating is locked permanently. Subsequent rating changes must be earned through official ranked races.
Do you need to win the licence test race against the AI?
No. Your finishing position against the three AI opponents has no direct bearing on passing. The system evaluates your total elapsed race time and clean driving. Finishing fourth while posting an elapsed time well under the cutoff awards the same rating tier as winning the race.
What happens if you get a track limits penalty during the test?
Minor off-track infractions add a 2-second penalty to your total race time, while major track cutting requires an on-track speed reduction to 60 km/h for 3 seconds. While minor penalties can still allow you to beat the target time if your raw pace is fast enough, frequent penalties will push your total time over the limit and cause you to fail.
Does Project Motor Racing require a paid subscription to race online?
No. Ranked Online, social races, Factory Driver time trials, and custom lobbies are all included with the base game on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S with cross-platform multiplayer support.
