Why I Almost Threw My Wheel Through the Window (And Why I’m Still Playing Le Mans Ultimate)

It was a Saturday night. I’d just upgraded my rig (a Fanatec DD Pro with load cell pedals) and I was ready for a proper race in Le Mans Ultimate.

Twenty minutes of qualifying. A clean start. A flawless hour-long stint. Then… crash. Back to desktop. No error. Nothing.

I was close. Real close.

But here I am, a week later, back in the same game. Why? Because Le Mans Ultimate, for all its flaws, has something other sims don’t.

What Is Le Mans Ultimate, Anyway?

For those living under a rock: Le Mans Ultimate is the official game of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC). Developed by Studio 397, the same folks behind rFactor 2. It’s the only place where you can race the real Hypercars and LMP2s from the actual WEC season.

No Forza. No Gran Turismo. This is pure, unfiltered sim racing.

And it’s been in Early Access since February 2024.

Why Early Access Is a Double-Edged Sword

Early Access means: you’re paying for an unfinished product. Period.

Some games nail it (Baldur’s Gate 3, anyone?). Others stay in Early Access forever, like a bad Tinder date that won’t take the hint.

Le Mans Ultimate sits somewhere in the middle.

The Good Stuff (Yes, It Exists)

The physics. Man, the physics are good. Studio 397 took the rFactor 2 engine and gave it a serious upgrade. The tire models are detailed, the weight transfer feels natural, and the FFB, when dialed in, is downright sublime.

The cars. The Hypercars are a joy to drive. The Toyota GR010, the Ferrari 499P, the Peugeot 9X8, they all feel different. The LMP2s are more forgiving, but still challenging.

The multiplayer. When it works? It’s fantastic. The ranked system uses Safety Rating and Driver Rating, just like iRacing. But without the monthly subscription fees.

The atmosphere. Le Mans at night? With the lights on, rain hammering your windshield, and the roar of a V8 echoing through the corners? Chills. Every time.

The Bad Stuff (And There’s Plenty)

Bugs. Oh, the bugs. I’m not talking about minor glitches. I’m talking about game crashes, frozen menus, and AI that drives like it’s had one too many.

Content. Right now, it’s just Hypercars and LMP2s. No GT3s. No LMP3s. The 2023 WEC season is complete, but that’s it.

Singleplayer. The AI is inconsistent. Sometimes they drive like pros, sometimes like toddlers. And the career mode? It’s not here yet. Just standalone races and championships.

Optimization. My RTX 4080 runs it on Ultra, but friends with RTX 3070s struggle to hit 60 fps on Medium. Not exactly optimized.

Who Is Le Mans Ultimate For?

This is the big question.

Buy it if:

• You’re a seasoned sim racer who values physics and FFB
• You’re a WEC fan who wants to experience the Hypercars
• You’re willing to tolerate bugs for the potential
• You have a decent PC (at least an RTX 3060)

Don’t buy it if:

• You’re a casual gamer who just wants to race without hassle
• You only want to drive GT3s (stick with ACC)
• You have no patience for crashes and glitches
• You expect an Early Access game to be finished

How Does It Perform on Different Hardware?

I tested Le Mans Ultimate on three setups:

Setup 1: Budget (€800)

• CPU: Ryzen 5 5600
• GPU: RTX 3060
• RAM: 16GB
• Resolution: 1080p
• Result: Medium settings, 50-60 fps. Playable, but not smooth.

Setup 2: Mid-range (€1500)

• CPU: Ryzen 7 5800X3D
• GPU: RTX 4070
• RAM: 32GB
• Resolution: 1440p
• Result: High settings, 70-80 fps. Very playable.

Setup 3: High-end (€3000+)

• CPU: Intel i9-13900K
• GPU: RTX 4090
• RAM: 64GB
• Resolution: 4K
• Result: Ultra settings, 90-100 fps. Buttery smooth.

What’s Coming Next?

Studio 397 has published a roadmap. It looks promising:

• 2024 Season: New cars, new tracks
• Career Mode: Finally, a proper single-player experience
• GT3s: Likely, but not confirmed
• VR Support: Currently shaky, but they’re working on it
• Day/Night Cycles: Partially there, needs improvement

But let’s be real: roadmaps are promises. And promises in Early Access aren’t always kept.

My Final Verdict

Le Mans Ultimate is like a rough diamond. You can see the potential, but you have to dig through the muck to find it.

If you’re a patient sim racer who values physics and FFB, it’s worth it. The foundation is solid, the cars are amazing, and the multiplayer can be magical.

But if you expect everything to work out of the box? Don’t buy it. Wait a few months.

Or (and this is my controversial take) buy it now, support the development, and enjoy the journey. Because if Le Mans Ultimate ever gets finished? It’ll be one of the best sims ever. I’ll stand by that.

So yeah, I almost threw my wheel through the window. But I’m glad I didn’t.