In any sport, dominance is natural, but the extent of it can vary. In Formula 1, dominance is measured by mere tenths of a second, while in GTA Online racing, some cars have been known to lap five seconds faster than their closest competitors. This massive performance gap has greatly impacted the racing community, leading to imbalances and frustration among players.

Early Dominance: The Brioso R/A (2016)
The Brioso R/A made its debut in 2016, quickly becoming the top car in GTA Online racing. Its impressive acceleration and grip, without sacrificing top speed, allowed it to dominate for years. The Brioso R/A boasted a lap time advantage of 3.5 seconds over the second-best car, maintaining supremacy for approximately four years.

The Rise of the BF Club (2020)
In 2020, the BF Club entered the scene, shattering the Brioso R/A's reign. With its superior grip and speed, the BF Club posted lap times that were an additional four seconds faster than the Brioso R/A, making it far too fast for its class and creating a new imbalance. If you want a competitive edge in GTA Online, GTA 5 modded accounts can provide you with an array of enhanced features. 

Coupé Class Challenges
The Coupé class had very few releases between 2013 and 2021. The Previon, released in 2021, dominated the class with its high grip and speed, remaining the top pick until more recent releases brought some balance to the class.

Sports Class and Open Wheel Disruption
The Dominator ASP, though powerful, remained well-balanced. However, the Buffalo STX arrived and completely outpaced competitors by two seconds, with impressive grip and top speed, solidifying its position as the new class leader.

The open-wheel class, typically known for its balance, was disrupted by the BR8 and DR1. The BR8, in particular, became the only viable choice due to its two-second lap advantage, breaking the previously established equilibrium.

Continued Imbalance with the Schafter V12
The introduction of the Schafter V12 and its armored version further upset the open-wheel class. Its higher power and grip resulted in a four-second lap advantage, especially on tracks with long straights. Over time, however, the gap between the top cars in this class has closed, with the top six now being separated by less than half a second.

The Supercar Revolution: Pariah and Itali GTO
The Pariah, released in 2017, broke the long-standing dominance of the Elegy RH8. It offered a top-speed advantage that allowed it to outlap its predecessor by two seconds. The Pariah’s reign was short-lived, though, as the Itali GTO soon arrived. Despite a lower top speed, the Itali GTO gained a competitive edge by utilizing curb boosts, enabling it to accelerate faster and perform better on bumpy tracks.

SUVs and Beyond
The Toros, released in 2018, dominated the SUV class with a performance advantage of five seconds per lap over the nearest competitor. Similar to the Itali GTO, the Toros benefited from a curb boost effect. However, subsequent updates have helped bring more balance to the class, making it less skewed.

Modern Era: HSW Upgrades and New Challengers
In 2022, the Brioso R/A regained its top spot by fitting HSW (High-Speed Sports) upgrades, improving both speed and grip. Other cars, like the Euros X32 in 2024, also received similar upgrades, allowing them to outpace rivals and shake up the competitive scene.

Balancing Acts and Persistent Imbalances
Despite Rockstar's ongoing updates to balance the cars in GTA Online, certain vehicles like the Niobe HSW in the sports class have risen to dominance, outperforming competitors by several seconds due to their upgrades. This ongoing struggle for balance is a recurring issue, and many players continue to express dissatisfaction with the introduction of overpowered cars.

The history of GTA Online racing is marked by continuous shifts in vehicle dominance, each time upsetting the balance within various classes. These changes have often led to frustration within the community, causing some to lose interest in the competitive racing scene. While Rockstar Games has made efforts to improve balance with every update, the goal of a perfectly balanced racing environment remains elusive, and players continue to hope for a more competitive and fair racing experience in the future.