Sim racing games can be daunting for beginners, and Forza Motorsport is no exception. You need to get a handle on how the car drives, as sim racers are quite different from arcade racers.
While driving assists make things easier when it comes to handling the car, you still need an easy circuit to get into the groove of things. Fortunately, Forza Motorsport features a variety of tracks of different difficulty levels.
There is no need to jump into a difficult track at the start. Instead, try some of these beginner-friendly tracks to get a handle on how Forza Motorsport works
Le Mans
If you are starting in Forza Motorsport, then why not start with one of the most historical and iconic tracks there is? Of course, it’s No. 10 on this list, so it’s not the easiest, but it’s not that challenging either. Plus, there are a lot of good things you can learn by running laps on Le Mans.
The track features long straights with heavy braking zones at the end. So, you can practice your corner entry and exits easily. There aren’t a lot of twisty and narrow turns or chicanes to worry about.
It’s all about getting the braking right, carrying the momentum through the corner, and getting a clean exit out to the next straight.
However, Le Mans is a very long track, and it can get tiring after a few laps.
Circuit de Catalunya
Getting good lap times on track is all about finding the rhythm. It’s difficult to get it down at first, but after a few laps, things start to connect.
Circuit de Catalunya is all about finding the rhythm. It’s a fast track with long straights and smooth corners. It’s great for straight-line training and finding a good flow across the track. It’s also one of my favorite tracks to free play with some music on.
You can start with the Grand Prix Circuit, or you can go with the National Circuit, which is shorter. In short, a fast, flowing, and easy track to drive on.
Mugello Circuit
The great thing about the Mugello circuit is the banked turns, which are insanely fun to drive on in cockpit view. The track is a bit technical, but nothing too challenging to worry about.
There are very long straights, but the corners are very friendly and smooth. It’s a fun track to race with your friends on, as there are many overtaking opportunities. If you are planning to learn this circuit, I’d recommend starting with the Club Circuit and then moving on to the Full one.
The Full circuit adds a slightly difficult sector, which can be a bit challenging if you are a complete beginner. But, trust me when I say this, it’s one of the most fun parts of this circuit. There is a long hairpin into fast-flowing corners that are an absolute joy to race on.
Indianapolis GP Layout
The Indianapolis GP circuit is the best for practicing every part of driving. It has slow corners that drill your braking, fast chicanes that train your line, as well as long straights that rely on good exits.
It’s also my favorite track to test out new cars on, because it has a very balanced layout. You have a mix of sharp and long corners, where you can test the grip and handling of your car, and long straights, where you can test the acceleration.
In short, you can test everything about your car, from acceleration, handling, to how the car responds under braking. Overall, it’s fun, well-balanced, and a fairly short circuit.
Maple Valley
Maple Valley is a track that was part of the original Forza Motorsport (2005). It’s the most loved track among all Forza Motorsport games, and is a great way for beginners to get a taste for this game.
Maple Valley isn’t the easiest of circuits among the game’s other tracks. But, despite its technical layout, the track is quite forgiving.
Firstly, it’s filled with long sweeping turns that are a thrill to drive over. But, while these look difficult on the layout, driving through them is quite easy. The track flows very beautifully; you go from turn to turn very smoothly. There are no sharp right-handers, narrow chicanes, or quick changes in elevations that could throw your rhythm off.
Overall, it’s one of the most iconic tracks in the game and equally as fun.
Lime Rock Park
Tracks get easier as we go down the list, and Lime Rock is no exception. It’s a small track without sharp corners, so there aren’t a lot of heavy braking zones.
However, the corners are long, so following the racing line is a must, or you will go off track. Lime Rock is great for practicing staying on the racing line.
You can practice pushing the limits of the car because the track is quite forgiving. I have built a car specifically for this circuit that takes the corners flat out or close to flat out. But, overall, this is a circuit that you can relax on and enjoy driving around.
WeatherTech Laguna Seca Raceway (Short Circuit)
If you are looking for an easy circuit to race with your friends who are also new to the game, then this is the perfect track for that. Mainly because it’s fast, forgiving, and a lot of fun.
Just looking at the track layout, you’d notice that most of the track is just straights, with small turns here and there. This makes it perfect for any beginner to practice their skills on, especially if you are finally taking off those driving assist training wheels.
All you need to get a good lap time on this track is consistency and confidence. The track is quite forgiving, so making mistakes doesn’t mean you are going to lose the race. However, this track does get boring after a while, mainly because it’s not as thrilling as some of the other tracks in the game.
Now, I do recommend the short circuit layout for beginners and only move onto the full circuit once you are comfortable.
Road America (East Route)
Road America East Route circuit is so easy to the point that it’s almost boring. It’s the reason why it’s not at the bottom of the list.
There are a total of four corners connected by long straights. It’s a great circuit to test the acceleration, top speed, and braking of your cars. It’s one of the circuits I put on if a friends want to play Forza Motorsport on my gaming rig.
But the best use of this track is to use it after you have decreased the driving assists in the game. When I was finally switching from Automatic transmission to manual, this was the track I used to practice.
Silverstone Circuit
As much as I love the full Silverstone circuit, it’s not really beginner-friendly. However, the National Circuit layout is. It’s short and has the same fast-flowing turns as the full circuit.
Plus, it’s quite easy, which is great if you want to try driving around one of the most popular circuits in the world. But I highly recommend trying the full circuit when you are comfortable, as it’s twice as fun.
The hairpin is the most difficult, as you lose a lot of lap time there, but it will really improve your hairpins and pace through corners.
Grand Oak Raceway (National Circuit)
If you recognize this circuit, it’s because it’s the track the game throws you in when you first start it up. This is why it’s the best beginner track there is in Forza Motorsport. You have already driven there as part of the game’s introduction, so you already have some experience.
It’s a very balanced track. You have slow corners, long straights, sweeping turns, and banked corners. The track is extremely forgiving. In many turns, even if you miss your braking point, you will make the corner. Plus, as you get better at this track, you will notice that you can take some corners flat out if you have the confidence.
It’s a track that grows with your skill; the more you play it, the more lap time you will find, and that’s all sim racing is about.
