Frequently Asked Questions

The Horizon Festival unlocks automatically as you progress through the main story. You start with a small festival site and can expand it by earning Influence points. Complete races, discover locations, and collect barn finds to grow your festival. The main story missions will guide you through the expansion process.

The best starting car depends on your preferred playstyle, but generally the V8 muscle car options (like the Ford Mustang or Chevrolet Camaro) offer the best value. They have good power, are affordable to upgrade, and can compete in multiple racing disciplines. The Mazda MX-5 is excellent for handling-focused players who prefer technical circuits.

The fastest ways to earn credits:

• Skill Songs: Perform skill combos (drift, jump, speed, etc.) to earn skill points which convert to credits
• Auction House: Buy low, sell high on rare cars
• Forzathon Events: Complete weekly challenges for bonus credits
• Seasonal Championships: Offer significant credit rewards
• Speed Zones/Speed Traps: Earn influence which converts to credits

Barn Finds are hidden vehicles scattered across the map. They appear as glowing barn icons on the map once you've driven near their location. There are 20 total barn finds. Some require specific star ratings to access. Check our Map & Collectibles page for detailed locations.

Car brands unlock automatically as you level up your Driver Level and earn Influence. Each brand has specific milestones - for example, Ferrari unlocks at Level 15, Lamborghini at Level 10, and Porsche at Level 12. Keep racing and completing events to unlock more brands at the Festival Shop.

The best drag racing cars are:

• S-Class: Bugatti Chiron, Koenigsegg Jesko, McLaren Senna
• A-Class: BMW M3 E46, Nissan 370Z, Ford Mustang GT350
• D-Class: Chevrolet C10 Pickup, VW Beetle, Original Mini Cooper

For drag builds, prioritize: launch control, close-ratio transmission, maximum power, drag tires, and minimal weight.

The McLaren F1 is a barn find that requires you to have at least 10 Driver Stars before it appears. Reach 10 stars by completing races, challenges, and collecting items. Once unlocked, the barn is located in a private track area in the mountains. Check our Map & Collectibles page for the exact location.

PI stands for Performance Index. It's a rating system that indicates your car's overall performance capability, ranging from E (lowest) to S (highest). PI is divided into classes: D, C, B, A, and S, with S further divided into S1 and S2. Higher PI cars are faster but compete in higher classes. You can adjust PI by upgrading or tuning your vehicle.

Proper tuning involves adjusting multiple aspects:

• Spring Rate: Higher = more responsive, Lower = more planted
• Damping: Controls how quickly the suspension reacts to bumps
• Camber: Negative camber improves cornering grip
• Toe: Affects stability and turn-in response
• Gear Ratios: Adjust for your preferred racing style
• Tire Pressure: Lower = more grip, Higher = faster cornering

Check our Builds & Tuning page for specific recommended settings.

Influence is earned through:

• Completing races and championships
• Discovering new locations on the map
• Collecting barn finds and bonus boards
• Performing skill combos
• Winning seasonal events
• Completing bucket list challenges

Influence is used to unlock new Festival sites, events, and expand your Horizon Festival.

The fastest leveling methods:

• Skill Hunting: Find a location with many billboards and signs, perform continuous skill combos
• Championship Runs: Complete entire championship series for bonus XP
• Forzathon Live: Participate in these timed public events for massive XP rewards
• Seasonal Challenges: Weekly challenges offer significant XP
• Rally Racing: Cross-country races give bonus XP for distance traveled

The Festival Playlist updates weekly with new challenges. Complete these for exclusive rewards:

• Seasonal Championships: Win three races in a row for rare cars or clothing
• Daily Challenges: Simple tasks like driving a certain car type or visiting locations
• Weekly Forzathon: Complete 8 challenges for bonus rewards
• Evnt Lab Challenges: Unique events created by the community

Complete 80% of the playlist to unlock the monthly exclusive reward car.

Top drift cars in Forza Horizon 6:

• Nissan S15 Silvia - The quintessential drift machine, perfect balance
• BMW M3 E46 - Excellent drift platform with good power
• Ford Mustang 1965 - Classic drift option with V8 power
• Toyota Supra Mk4 - High power potential, great for grip-to-drift transitions
• Mazda RX-7 FD3S - Rotary engine provides unique power delivery

Check our Builds page for drift-specific tuning.

The Ferrari 250 GTO is a barn find located at the Hillside Estate. You need at least 5 Driver Stars to unlock this barn. Drive around the hillside areas of the map with 5+ stars and you'll eventually discover the glowing barn icon. Restore the car to add it to your collection.

This usually happens because:

• Skill Issue: The opponent has better driving technique
• Tuning: Your car may not be properly tuned for the track
• Tire Strategy: Wrong tire compound for conditions
• Build Mismatch: Your build doesn't suit the race type
• ABS/TCS Settings: Driver assists may be slowing you down

Try adjusting your build settings or reducing driver assists in options.

Horizon Apex events are high-level races requiring S1 900+ PI. To unlock them:

• Reach Driver Level 30
• Earn at least 15 Driver Stars
• Complete the Horizon Apex introductory mission (unlocks after 15 stars)
• Purchase or build an S1-class vehicle

These events offer exclusive hypercars and massive credit rewards.

AWD (All-Wheel Drive):

• Power goes to all four wheels
• Better traction and launch control
• Easier to drive at the limit
• Preferred for off-road and rally
• Higher PI for same power level

RWD (Rear-Wheel Drive):

• Power goes to rear wheels only
• More skill-based, rewards finesse
• Easier to drift and slide
• Lower PI, can outperform AWD with skill
• Preferred for drift and track racing

Network issues in online races can be resolved by:

• Using a wired ethernet connection instead of WiFi
• Closing bandwidth-heavy applications
• Choosing servers with lower ping
• Using a gaming-optimized VPN like ExitLag
• Updating router firmware
• Port forwarding for Forza Horizon 6

Try ExitLag for optimized gaming routes.