This generates a challenge that goes far beyond flooring it and smashing by the competitors. This strategy which was completely valid in the series' earlier games will kill you here thanks to the career circuits that value point totals higher than individual finishes and the new damage model. Finishing second with minimal damage to your car is far preferable to topping the field with a smoking hulk. That said, the cost of repairs are far lower than they should be. It would cost more to replace a cracked tail-light in a BMW Z3 in my world than it would to fix a shattered transmission in Need for Speed land.
Vehicles can also survive a lot more abuse than their real counterparts.
Slamming your Benz into a tree usually results in nothing more than a quickie pit stop before you're up to 95 again. It all adds up, though, and can be the difference between a basic upgrade and purchasing a brand new ride in the long run. Still, it takes a lot before the damage numbers in the top right corner of the screen become a serious concern. Damage can be turned off for those who like to smash-'em up. Physics are very good, as long as you aren't expecting Newtonian accuracy.