Project Motor Racing
A sim racing title that launched to widespread negative reception.
Project Motor Racing is a sim racing game released on 25 November 2025, developed by Straight4 Studios and published by GIANTS Software. The project was originally overseen by Ian Bell, who previously led the Project CARS series at Slightly Mad Studios, until his departure in 2026. The game launched to widespread negative feedback from both critics and players.
Within two weeks of release, following the poor reception, Straight4 Studios laid off an undisclosed number of staff, stating they had "explored every possible alternative" and needed to reduce the team's size.
The single-player career mode lets players start with a budget ranging from an amateur in low-cost cars to a professional with immediate access to high-end sports cars, plus a fourth option for historic motorsport. A sponsorship model rewards or penalizes players based on on-track performance. Payouts per race vary by region and car class. Both single-player and multiplayer support up to 31 AI opponents, though console versions cap AI at 15 in single-player to maintain stable 1440p/60fps performance. Several vehicle classes and circuits appear unlicensed but closely resemble real-world counterparts, such as Brianza (Monza), Lexington (Mid-Ohio), Northampton (Silverstone), San Marino (Imola), Takimiya (Okayama), and the JP1/JP2 class (Super GT GT500).
Development began in 2022 under the name GTR Revival, a nod to the GTR and GTR 2 games Bell worked on at SimBin. Bell stated the team included former SimBin and Slightly Mad Studios staff, and the game would have "zero publisher input." It was later renamed GT Revival, then Project Motor Racing in 2024. The game uses Straight4's proprietary Hadron physics engine alongside GIANTS Engine 10 (from the Farming Simulator series), after an early 2023 test build used Unreal Engine 5. An invite-only 'Factory Driver Program' beta test involved experienced sim racers and professional drivers. The studio also hired former Top Gear's The Stig, Ben Collins, as a consultant, and composer Stephen Baysted, both previously involved in Project CARS. Some Ferrari race cars teased in preview images did not appear in the final release, with no statement from the studio.
After launch, Straight4 acknowledged the game's issues and promised a roadmap. On 8 December 2025, the studio announced the team reduction but reaffirmed commitment to the Year 1 season pass DLC.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Project Motor Racing
- Developer
- Straight4 Studios
- Publisher
- GIANTS Software
- Engine
- GIANTS Engine 10
- Platforms
- PlayStation 5 · Windows · Xbox Series X/S
- Released
- 25 November 2025
- Genre
- Sim racing
- Modes
- Single-player, multiplayer
- Director
- Ian Bell (former) / Kevin Boland
- Composer
- Stephen Baysted
- Designer
- Doug Arnao / Austin Ogonoski
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Project Motor Racing was announced in 2022 under the name GTR Revival, a nod to GTR and GTR 2, games that Ian Bell was involved in developing as part of SimBin. According to Bell, much of the new team included previous staff from SimBin and Slightly Mad Studios that worked on the GTR and Project CARS series. The game was developed with 'zero publisher input'. It was later renamed GT Revival, and again as Project Motor Racing in 2024. The game uses Straight4 Studios' Hadron proprietary physics engine, which runs alongside GIANTS Engine 10, the engine used on the Farming Simulator series. It previously utilized Unreal Engine 5 in an early test build previewed by game designer Doug Arnao in 2023.
During development, Straight4 Studios introduced a 'Factory Driver Program', an invite-only beta test limited to experienced sim racers and professional racing drivers, used to gain development feedback. They also acquired professional racing driver and former The Stig on Top Gear, Ben Collins, as a consultant, and Stephen Baysted as a composer. Both were previously involved in the Project CARS series. Some vehicles teased in preview images, including a selection of Ferrari race cars, did not make the final release. No statement has been released by Straight4 Studios regarding their absence.
Less than two weeks after the game's release following poor reception, Straight4 Studios laid off an undisclosed amount of staff, citing a need to reduce the size of the team after 'exploring every possible alternative'. On 25 March 2026, Straight4 Studios released version 2.0 of the game, treating the update as a 'soft relaunch'. The update included an overhauled user interface, updates to the tire model, enhancements to graphics, bug fixes, and a preview of a new DLC featuring JGTC and Super GT race cars. Originally licensed content, the DLC was temporarily delisted and later re-released, with Straight4 Studios losing the rights to the 'GT500' name. On 18 May 2026, Aristotelis Vasilakos joined as Chief Creative Officer, having previously worked as a physics developer under Kunos Simulazioni. On 29 July 2026, Chief Development Officer Kevin Boland succeeded Ian Bell as Chief Executive Officer of Straight4 Studios.
Reader's Guide
Project Motor Racing is notable as a troubled sim racing title that attempted to revive the spirit of the GTR series under Ian Bell's direction, but launched to widespread negative reception. The game features a detailed driver career mode with options for amateur, professional, and historic motorsport starts, as well as a sponsorship model that rewards or punishes performance. It supports up to 31 AI opponents in single-player and multiplayer, though console versions are limited to 15 AI opponents to prioritize stable 1440p and 60 fps play. Some vehicle classes and circuits are unlicensed but directly resemble real-world counterparts, including Brianza (Monza), Lexington (Mid-Ohio), Northampton (Silverstone), San Marino (Imola), Takimiya (Okayama), and the JP1/JP2 class (Super GT GT500).
Critics and players were highly critical upon release, with IGN's Luke Reilly describing the game as 'an early access game that hasn’t actually been identified as such,' citing unfinished AI behavior, penalty system, career mode, and graphical fidelity. On Steam, the game received 'very negative' reviews. Straight4 Studios acknowledged the issues and promised a road map for updates. The post-release period saw staff layoffs, a version 2.0 'soft relaunch' in March 2026, and leadership changes including the appointment of Aristotelis Vasilakos as Chief Creative Officer and Kevin Boland as CEO. The game's legacy is one of a high-profile sim racing title that struggled with execution, yet the studio remained committed to delivering its Year 1 season pass DLC.
Did You Know?
- The game uses Straight4 Studios' Hadron proprietary physics engine alongside GIANTS Engine 10, the engine used in the Farming Simulator series.
- On 25 March 2026, Straight4 Studios released version 2.0 as a 'soft relaunch', which included an overhauled UI, tire model updates, and a preview of a DLC that later lost the rights to the 'GT500' name.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who developed and published Project Motor Racing?
Straight4 Studios handled development while GIANTS Software took on the publishing role. The project was helmed by Ian Bell, who had previously directed the Project CARS series at Slightly Mad Studios, before his departure in 2026.
What technology powers Project Motor Racing's simulation?
The title runs on a combination of the proprietary Hadron physics engine and GIANTS Engine 10, which together drive the sim racing experience. On console hardware, the game caps single-player at 15 AI opponents while rendering at 1440p and 60 fps.
When did Project Motor Racing release and what was the reception?
The game hit stores on 25 November 2025 and was met with broadly negative reviews from both critics and the player community. The poor launch window set the stage for significant internal turmoil at the studio shortly afterward.
What happened to Straight4 Studios after the launch?
Roughly two weeks after release, the studio announced an undisclosed round of layoffs, explaining that they had exhausted every other option before needing to shrink the team. The move came directly in the wake of the game's widely panned reception.
Why is Project Motor Racing notable in racing-game history?
It stands out as a high-profile sim racing launch that collapsed almost immediately, with both critical and player backlash followed by a rapid staff reduction. The episode is frequently cited in fan discussions as a cautionary tale about the pressures on mid-sized racing studios attempting to compete in the simulation space.
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