[5][6][7] IGN wrote positively about the game's graphics, audio, and gameplay, ultimately concluding, "A well-curated car list, a great sense of speed, and a well-thought out career mode combine in a racer that is a lot of fun to play through.

[9] PC Gamer wrote, "for all its top- class visuals and excellent handling, somehow the game doesn't seem to believe that just racing is interesting enough on its own," criticizing the title's threadbare story while praising the realistic AI and variety of modes.

[16] Destructoid, by contrast, was disappointed by the lack of sim gameplay, and wrote, "instead offering a stripped-down version of itself that is filled with lazy design, unfair AI opponents, special ESPN ‘live’ broadcasts that no one really asked for, and to top it all off, its bizarrely irritating narrator and loudly drunk or completely apathetic fans.

[17] GameSpot praised the audio, visuals, handling, multiplayer, and event variety while taking issue with the lack of difficulty customization and the presence of occasional frame drops.

[11] GamesRadar+ liked the racer's intensity, visuals, competition variety, and amount of content, while citing minor issues such as the lack of a cockpit view, single-player car upgrades, and initially jarring handling.