At a stage, press V when the driving HUD exposes the Race shortcut. Current records show a Races menu where a host chooses Everyone, Friends, or Invite only; collisions Off or On; 2–6 racers; Any, D, C, B, A, S, or Stock class; and the displayed entry fee. Review every row, then select Host Race.
Start from a working stage setup
Select a car you own, fill the co-driver seat if desired, and drive to the stage area. You can run the route normally by stopping in the start box and pressing Enter. For a player race, open the Races menu before committing to the solo countdown.
If V does nothing, check the visible HUD and current context. The shortcut may require the driver seat or stage area. Reopen the driving state rather than assuming a platform-wide key. On mobile or controller, follow the current on-screen race action.
Configure the host options
Set Who can join to Everyone for a public listing, Friends for a friend group, or Invite only for named access. Choose Collisions Off for a clean first race where cars should not interfere. Turn collisions on only when the group wants contact and understands the result.
Choose the exact racer count from the documented 2–6 options. A count larger than the available group can delay the start; a smaller count leaves someone out. Choose a letter class when you want similar eligibility, Stock for the current stock restriction, or Any when class does not matter.
Read Entry fee rather than assuming it is always Free. A current example has shown Free, but menu values are version-sensitive. Never confirm a paid configuration without understanding the displayed cost and reward.
Pick a fair first configuration
For two friends, use Friends or Invite only, 2 racers, collisions Off, Free if displayed, and Any or a class both own. Confirm each driver’s car class in My Garage. A Group A description is not the same as an A-class race card.
Keep weather, handling, and co-driver choices open unless the lobby explicitly controls them. If the goal is a driving comparison, agree on those variables before joining. A race can be fun without being a controlled performance test.
Join an open race
Open V → Races and look under Open Races. Select a compatible listing and follow the displayed join action. If the list says No open races. Host one!, there is no current listing to choose; create a host configuration or wait for another player.
If a listing rejects you, compare access, racer capacity, and class with your current car. Change the car in My Garage if the restriction requires it. Do not buy an early unlock merely to enter one lobby without first considering a race your existing car supports.
Combine a co-driver pair with competing cars
The co-driver seat and race lobby are separate systems. First invite or accept the passenger, then configure the multi-car race. Confirm the passenger remains with the intended driver after any car change or respawn.
Use a simple call protocol during competition. The driver already has traffic and the timer to process, so the co-driver should reduce extra words. With collisions on, the caller can mention immediate traffic only when it changes the planned approach.
Fix start-box and race problems
If STOP IN THE START BOX appears, place the car fully in the area. If BRAKE TO A STOP appears, hold S until stationary. If MISSED THE START BOX appears before the run, use R when labelled Back to the box. During a run, R instead returns to the last checkpoint.
If a race does not appear for friends, verify the same server, access setting, available slots, and class. Recreate one clean host listing rather than stacking repeated invitations. Record the exact message when the menu refuses a join.
Finish and review
After the route, the game can show a replay and results. Enter skips where labelled; G can return to the garage on the documented screen. Review time, penalties, and rewards separately. A collision setting or recovery can affect the result, but exact current penalties need live confirmation.
For the next race, change only one condition: collisions, class, car, or team communication. That makes the effect understandable. Use How to Win Races for driving consistency and Play With Friends for passenger setup.
Settings still requiring live confirmation
Tournament eligibility, entry-fee choices, host permissions, collision consequences, invited-player behavior across servers, and platform-specific shortcuts can change. The menu operation above is community corroborated; the current screen is the authority for a real race.