The development team at Codemasters seems intent on calling this game a “carPG” to highlight the story elements of this refined racing game. Players assume the role of Ryan McKane who witnessed the death of his father as he was driving in a NASCAR-style race when he crashed (read: was sabotaged) and died. As the story progresses McKane grows from a test driver into a world-class racer. Along the way sibling rivalry may get the better of him, but McKane has to overcome his brother poking fun on his driving skill as he grows.

The purpose of the story is to give you motivation. It also has real-world elements. Various racing managers will approach McKane to enlist his services as a racecar driver, and as you turn McKane into a bonafide racer other teams may try to hire him. I wouldn’t exactly compare the story’s depth to a legitimate RPG, however, a racing game with plot and script is certainly a fun and unique way to give a shot of adrenaline to the genre.

The 58-person development team has previously worked on TOCA racing titles. Pro Race Driver is the fourth racing game the group has embarked upon, so it feels and looks refreshingly smooth.