Apex Street Racing

Apex Street Racing (ASR) throws you into the heart-pounding world of illegal urban competitions, where mastering the throttle and brake can mean the difference between victory and a demolition derby. Whether you’re a veteran of racing simulators or a newcomer seeking high-speed thrills, this guide will walk you through every step—starting from system setup to advanced drifting techniques—so you can dominate the asphalt.

Why You’ll Love This Street Racing Simulator

Authentic Urban Tracks: Navigate tight alleyways, sprawling highways, and neon-lit downtowns.
Deep Car Customization: Swap engines, tweak suspensions, and add visual mods to make each ride uniquely yours.
Responsive Handling: Feel every turn and drift thanks to finely tuned physics.

What You Need Before You Start

PC Specs (Windows 10/11 recommended)
- CPU: Intel i5-9400F or AMD Ryzen 5 2600
- GPU: NVIDIA GTX 1660 or AMD Radeon RX 580
- RAM: 8 GB (16 GB recommended)
- Storage: 20 GB free space
Peripherals
- Standard keyboard (or gaming keyboard)
- Optional: USB gamepad or racing wheel for extra immersion

Tip: For performance tweaks, check out our Ultimate PC Optimization Guide.

Default Keyboard Controls

Getting comfortable with the control layout is crucial. Here’s the standard keyboard mapping:

Action	Key
Accelerate	W
Brake/Reverse	S
Steer Left	A
Steer Right	D
Handbrake	Space
Nitro Boost	Left Shift
Change Camera View	C
Look Backward	V
Pause/Menu	Esc

W/S/A/D: Core driving. Keep your pinky on Shift to trigger nitro in tight spots.
Space (Handbrake): Essential for sharp drifts in city corners.
C/V: Toggle between cockpit, chase, and hood views to find your perfect perspective.

If you prefer custom layouts, head over to Keyboard & Gamepad Settings and remap keys to your liking.

Mastering the Basics: Drifting and Boost Management

To climb leaderboards in Apex Street Racing, you’ll need to combine controlled drifts with strategic nitro use.

Initiating a Drift
- Approach the corner at moderate speed (around 80–100 mph).
- Tap S (brake) while holding A or D to initiate the slide.
- Counter-steer by quickly switching to the opposite direction.
Maintaining Drift
- Feather the throttle with W to keep momentum.
- Modulate the handbrake (Space) to tighten the angle.
Boost Timing
- Reserve Left Shift for straightaways immediately after exiting drifts.
- Avoid spamming boost early—burning it before a sharp corner can leave you powerless when you need it most.

For a video demonstration, visit the official Apex Street Racing YouTube channel.

Campaign Mode Walkthrough

Campaign Mode unfolds across three boroughs: Central City, Riverside, and Uptown Heights.

Qualifier Races
- Complete three short sprints (0.5–1 mile) to unlock the borough’s end-of-chapter boss.
Challenger Tournaments
- Multi-car grids; use nitro strategically.
Boss Battles
- High-stakes one-on-one. Focus on clean laps and perfect drift lines.

Pro Tip: Spend early winnings on tire upgrades to improve grip in the First District Sprint.

When you’ve conquered all chapters, try the Ultimate Showdown in Free Roam mode.

Customizing Your Ride

Cosmetics and performance upgrades go hand in hand. Balance your build between speed and handling:

Engine Mods
- Stage 1: +10% horsepower, minor weight increase.
- Stage 2: +20% horsepower, slight torque tweak.
Suspension
- Stiff: Better cornering, harsher ride.
- Soft: More grip on bumpy roads.
Tires
- Street: High grip, low durability.
- Drift: Lower grip, easier slides.
- Racing: Balanced.

Remember: a balanced setup lets you switch from drifts to high-speed straights seamlessly. For detailed tuning tips, see our Deep Dive into Car Tuning.

Advanced Techniques for Veteran Racers

Once you’ve mastered the basics, it’s time to pull ahead:

Feint Drift
- Flick to the outside of the corner before sharply turning inward to unsettle your car and start a bigger slide.
Reverse Entry
- Brake in a straight line, then quickly reverse into the corner with S + A/D for surprising angles.
Boost Cut
- Tap Left Shift for a split second during a drift to reset your nitro gauge faster for combo boosts.
Slipstream Drafting
- Follow behind an opponent at less than 5 feet, then pop out for a well-timed boost overtaking.

Insider Tip: Watching replays can reveal subtle errors in your drift angle or boost timing. Use the built-in replay tool (F10) after each race.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I play Apex Street Racing with a gamepad?
Yes—plug in any XInput-compatible controller, go to Settings → Controls, and select “Gamepad.” The default mapping is intuitive, but feel free to remap buttons.

Q: Is there multiplayer?
Currently, Apex Street Racing features split-screen local multiplayer. Online matchmaking is planned for a future patch.

Q: Where can I find more tutorials?
Explore our Learning Center for video guides, tuning spreadsheets, and community forums.

Conclusion

By following this comprehensive guide, you’ll go from rookie to street racing legend in no time. Remember to practice each control—W, A, S, D, Space, and Left Shift—until they become second nature. As you customize rides and perfect drifts, you’ll see why Apex Street Racing is the ultimate urban speed challenge. Now fire up your engine, hit those keys, and carve your name into the asphalt!

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