Ground Levels 1–4: The Smartest Beginner Path in 2025–2026

Sim racing is one of the most rewarding hobbies you can start today —
but it can also become very expensive if you start incorrectly.

Most beginners fall straight into the trap of buying wheels, rigs, pedals, and screens before they even know how to drive.
The result?
Thousands of euros wasted and no progress to show for it.

Blue Dragon Racing’s approach is different.
We start from zero, build your fundamentals the right way, and only make upgrades when you genuinely need them — not when marketing tells you to.

Here is Ground 1 to Ground 4, the world’s simplest, smartest and least expensive entry into sim racing.

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⭐ GROUND 1 — Your Starter Platform: PS5 + GT7 (Disc Version)

Before you buy any equipment, you need to answer one question:

Do you actually enjoy GT circuit racing?

The most cost-effective, future-proof way to find out is:

🎮 Buy a used PlayStation 5 (Disc Version)

Price: 300–400 € on the second-hand market

Why the disc version?

• Blu-ray movies & series are extremely cheap
• Your partner can watch Netflix, Disney+, stream, or enjoy box sets
• Your kids get access to family-friendly games
• GT7 disc is cheap (~50 € used)
• The console holds strong resale value
• The whole family can use it — not just you

Your total Ground 1 investment:

⭐ 350–450 € (PS5 + GT7)

You already have:

• a TV
• internet
• everything needed to begin

This is the smartest, lowest-risk entry into sim racing.

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⭐ GROUND 2 — Learn to Drive Properly (Still 0 € Extra)

Forget online racing.
Forget equipment.
Forget fancy setups.

Your only mission now is to build real driving fundamentals — exactly like real GT drivers do.

Stay completely offline and:

✔ Drive with the PS5 controller

✔ Start with automatic gears

✔ Complete License B with GOLD

✔ Learn braking points, apexes, smooth throttle, and racing lines

GT7 is structured deliberately:

• it teaches discipline
• it teaches precision
• it teaches consistency
• it teaches logic behind GT driving

You’re not “playing a game.”
You’re building muscle memory and racecraft foundations.

Still zero additional cost.

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⭐ GROUND 3 — Manual Gears + TC1: Your First Real Control

Once you understand the basics, it’s time to increase the complexity —
but still without buying anything.

Your next steps:

✔ Switch from automatic → manual gears

✔ Reduce Traction Control → TC1

✔ Complete License A with GOLD

This builds:

• throttle modulation
• downshift timing
• car rotation understanding
• weight transfer awareness
• smooth corner exits
• multitasking ability
• stability under pressure

This is the first moment where you feel true control of a GT car.

And still:
you spend 0 € extra.

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⭐ GROUND 4 — Your First Small Investment: GT7 DLC (Sophy-Level Racing)

You’ve now reached the skill level where real competition begins —
but still offline.

This is where your first real-money upgrade happens:

🎮 Buy the GT7 DLC upgrade (~30 €)

This unlocks:

• stronger opponent categories
• more competitive events
• AI opponents that behave like real humans (Sophy-style logic)
• realistic overtaking and defending
• pressure-based racecraft development

Sophy teaches you:

• when to defend
• when to attack
• how to avoid divebombs
• how to race clean
• how to read opponents
• how to control your emotions under pressure

This is your first real taste of competition.

Total investment so far:

⭐ PS5 (350 €) + GT7 (50 €) + DLC (30 €) = ~430 €

And your knowledge at this point is worth far more than the money spent.

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⭐ GROUND 1–4 SUMMARY

After completing Ground 1 to Ground 4, you have:

✔ Learned real GT racing fundamentals

✔ Mastered controller driving

✔ Successfully switched to manual gears

✔ Driven with TC1

✔ Completed B and A license tests with Gold

✔ Developed real racecraft against intelligent AI

✔ Spent only ~430 € total

✔ Avoided every common beginner mistake

You are now ready for the next stage:
online racing, PS+, and eventually your first hardware purchase — but not yet.

This structured progression ensures:

• zero wasted money
• maximum skill development
• no frustration
• correct muscle memory
• perfect sim racing foundations

This is how you start sim racing the right way.