In the last year, Le Mans Ultimate AI has improved tenfold, but there are still some things to keep an eye out for. Here is how to get the best AI racing in LMU.
Updated March 8, 2025, original article published March 20, 2024
Since its launch, there have been two key ways of enjoying Le Mans Ultimate: Organised online racing via the Race Control system, later joined by hosted sessions and online championships, or offline events versus the AI in Race Weekend mode. Whilst the former is proving the most popular, with regular high split counts, the more sedate offline experience has matured into itself.
That is no more true than following the most recent update which, alongside the arrival of three new GT3 cars, included several tweaks to AI behaviour, notably when it comes to strategy. This means that players must think about their approach to each race far more.
However, there are still some frustrating quirks to the early access game’s AI racing experience. Here are some key tips on not only competing versus the AI, but also making for more enjoyable offline races in LMU.
Much like its predecessor, rFactor 2, Le Mans Ultimate's AI relies on practice to learn everything it needs to know going into the race. This includes strategy, difficulty-related times and passing opportunities. Without at least 30 minutes of practice, you will find strange behaviour in longer races impacting the quality of your enjoyment.
Do not worry if you find the AI to set blistering times at the start of a practice session, this is just the computer figuring out what the set difficulty means in lap times. Follow them through a session, on similar fuel loads and you will find that your rivals will soon match your pace, provided you set it to the correct difficulty. We recommend between 95 and 100% for most mortal drivers.
Le Mans Ultimate AI already works well enough for a fun experience. Image: Studio 397
If you do not want to wait through a full practice session, simply hit the "X" button on your keyboard to accelerate time and let the AI figure itself out.
Finally, qualifying is just as important as the race as LMU's random grids tend to make for, shall we say, interesting race starts. For the best results, set a 10-minute private qualifying session that will make it quick to run through.
At launch, the AI seemed to forget this and instead approach each stint like a new race with a fresh set of tyres. Following the February Update, this is no longer the case as the AI will only change tyres when they deem it necessary, though that has led into a new issue.
Make sure to understand how the AI uses its tyres for a competitive race in LMU. Image: Motorsport Games
It seems that the AI has a set wear figure - between 40% and 20% - pushing it to swapping out a tyre. Though unlike the real world where a team would swap either a full set of four or one side of the car, the AI will only change the tyres that reach that figure. As such, you will often find opponents completing the first double stint, but then swapping out a single tyre each stop from there on.
To race this fairly, double stint your tyres and take full sets when you do need tyres. Your position will ebb and flow, but it should allow you to fight fairly from start to finish.
Moreover, as part of the recent update was the ability to limit tyre sets even in offline races. Though we would advise not utilising this feature as, when the AI reaches said limit, it will go back to taking fresh tyres at every stop. There appears to be no planning before a race.
Sure, that sounds like an easy bug to work around as the player can simply do the same. But bound by different rules, that simply is not an option to the player. And so you will see yourself gaining 12 seconds at every stop when you choose not to change sets.
Finally, ever since the game launched on 20 February 2024, Le Mans Ultimate AI has struggled with the concept of multiple tyre compounds showing little experimentation outside of practice sessions. As such, we recommend only ever fitting the softest compound to your car, mirroring the AI's behaviour.
But it is safe to say that your computer opponents handle fuel strategy in a far more realistic way. Just like in the real world, the AI will brim the tank at every stint until it gets to the final splash when it will calculate how much fuel it needs. However, at this point it is very conservative, over-fuelling by around 10% consistently.
Match LMU AI in over-fuelling by 10%. Image: Motorsport Games
So to keep things interesting until the line, make sure to do the same if you do not want an unfair advantage come the end of the race.
But here is a list of everything to compromise on when racing the AI in LMU.
How much do you enjoy AI racing in Le Mans Ultimate? Let us know in the comments below and join the discussion in our LMU forum!
Updated March 8, 2025, original article published March 20, 2024
Since its launch, there have been two key ways of enjoying Le Mans Ultimate: Organised online racing via the Race Control system, later joined by hosted sessions and online championships, or offline events versus the AI in Race Weekend mode. Whilst the former is proving the most popular, with regular high split counts, the more sedate offline experience has matured into itself.
That is no more true than following the most recent update which, alongside the arrival of three new GT3 cars, included several tweaks to AI behaviour, notably when it comes to strategy. This means that players must think about their approach to each race far more.
However, there are still some frustrating quirks to the early access game’s AI racing experience. Here are some key tips on not only competing versus the AI, but also making for more enjoyable offline races in LMU.
Preparing An LMU AI Race Weekend
Before getting on-track, it is important to set your race weekend up correctly. No, we are not talking about the start times, time progression and race length, nor are we hinting at weather. Instead, it is vital to setup a decent-length practice and qualifying session prior to the race.Much like its predecessor, rFactor 2, Le Mans Ultimate's AI relies on practice to learn everything it needs to know going into the race. This includes strategy, difficulty-related times and passing opportunities. Without at least 30 minutes of practice, you will find strange behaviour in longer races impacting the quality of your enjoyment.
Do not worry if you find the AI to set blistering times at the start of a practice session, this is just the computer figuring out what the set difficulty means in lap times. Follow them through a session, on similar fuel loads and you will find that your rivals will soon match your pace, provided you set it to the correct difficulty. We recommend between 95 and 100% for most mortal drivers.
Le Mans Ultimate AI already works well enough for a fun experience. Image: Studio 397
If you do not want to wait through a full practice session, simply hit the "X" button on your keyboard to accelerate time and let the AI figure itself out.
Finally, qualifying is just as important as the race as LMU's random grids tend to make for, shall we say, interesting race starts. For the best results, set a 10-minute private qualifying session that will make it quick to run through.
AI Tyre Strategy In Le Mans Ultimate
Le Mans Ultimate is the official game to the World Endurance Championship. And one major aspect of endurance racing is pit strategy. Which compound to use, how much fuel to take on and how long can you make a set of tyres last – these are all key factors to winning an endurance event.At launch, the AI seemed to forget this and instead approach each stint like a new race with a fresh set of tyres. Following the February Update, this is no longer the case as the AI will only change tyres when they deem it necessary, though that has led into a new issue.
Make sure to understand how the AI uses its tyres for a competitive race in LMU. Image: Motorsport Games
It seems that the AI has a set wear figure - between 40% and 20% - pushing it to swapping out a tyre. Though unlike the real world where a team would swap either a full set of four or one side of the car, the AI will only change the tyres that reach that figure. As such, you will often find opponents completing the first double stint, but then swapping out a single tyre each stop from there on.
To race this fairly, double stint your tyres and take full sets when you do need tyres. Your position will ebb and flow, but it should allow you to fight fairly from start to finish.
Moreover, as part of the recent update was the ability to limit tyre sets even in offline races. Though we would advise not utilising this feature as, when the AI reaches said limit, it will go back to taking fresh tyres at every stop. There appears to be no planning before a race.
Sure, that sounds like an easy bug to work around as the player can simply do the same. But bound by different rules, that simply is not an option to the player. And so you will see yourself gaining 12 seconds at every stop when you choose not to change sets.
Finally, ever since the game launched on 20 February 2024, Le Mans Ultimate AI has struggled with the concept of multiple tyre compounds showing little experimentation outside of practice sessions. As such, we recommend only ever fitting the softest compound to your car, mirroring the AI's behaviour.
AI Over-Fuelling
Tyre strategy is certainly the most contentious part of battling the AI in LMU. There are many compromises to keep in mind and if you ever attempt to be clever, you will find yourself miles ahead of the field.But it is safe to say that your computer opponents handle fuel strategy in a far more realistic way. Just like in the real world, the AI will brim the tank at every stint until it gets to the final splash when it will calculate how much fuel it needs. However, at this point it is very conservative, over-fuelling by around 10% consistently.
Match LMU AI in over-fuelling by 10%. Image: Motorsport Games
So to keep things interesting until the line, make sure to do the same if you do not want an unfair advantage come the end of the race.
Top Le Mans Ultimate AI Racing Tips
This may sound like a lot to keep in mind when out on-track battling tooth and nail, but for the most part, the Le Mans Ultimate AI is extremely immersive and when on-track, you should be able to race them just as you would a real person. That is whilst keeping in mind their simplified physics and so the player will always come off worse in contact.But here is a list of everything to compromise on when racing the AI in LMU.
- Work out the correct AI difficulty for you (95-100% should work fine)
- Do not limit tyre sets
- Run at least 30 minutes of practice
- Run a qualifying session to the end
- Double stint your tyres at minimum
- Only use the softest tyre compound available
- Add 10% Virtual Energy to your final stop
How much do you enjoy AI racing in Le Mans Ultimate? Let us know in the comments below and join the discussion in our LMU forum!
