The parts of the podracer will get damaged when you race. But if you only buy parts in 4 different categories of choice, and have 4 pit droids, the parts will be repaired to perfect condition after each race.

When you have completed all races with 1st place, you can buy the rest of the parts from "Buy Parts" a.k.a. Watto's Shop. They will all be available when everything is completed. BUT they are quite expensive.

Therefore "The Junkyard Strategy" is my suggestion to follow:

1 ) Earn some credits and buy the 3 pit droids (so you have 4 total) as fast as you can. Tip: You can press the left arrow on your keyboard when you are at map-selection inside each map. This way you can change to "Winner takes it all", which gives you way more credits if you win.

2 ) Earn about 10.000 credits more.

3 ) When you have about 10.000 credits choose a map and go to the junkyard. Choose your 4 categories, and buy the best part (one of the ones listed below) in one of the categories of choice. Lower durability is cheaper and it is an advantage to buy as cheap as possible, because it will be repaired after 1 race.

If none of the best parts listed below are available, press ESC and go to change vehicle > choose your character and map again > and go to junkyard where the part selection have been refreshed. Repeat until you get the desired part.

The name of the best parts in each category is:

Traction: R-600 Repulsorgrip Turning: Control Stabilizer Acceleration: Mag-6 Injector Top Speed: Block6 Thrust Coil Air Brake: Quadrijet Air Brake Cooling: Turbo Coolant Pump Repair: Cluster2 Power Plug

4 ) Now you have the best part in 1 category and default in all others. Now win a race you haven't completed yet.

5 ) You can now go to the "Vehicle Upgrades" to confirm that the part you bought now is in perfect condition thanks to the pit droids.

6 ) Repeat step 2-5 until you have the 4 best parts of choice in perfect condition.

7 ) As you progress through the game, buy some of the best parts from the junkyard you already have after each race. Why? Because Watto will pay you for the now repaired parts in the junkyard, so you earn credits by trading in your repaired parts for damaged ones. The damaged parts you trade for will be in perfect condition after next race is completed.

8 ) When all races are completed with 1st place, you can buy the rest of the parts from "Buy Parts" with all the credits you have earned. All the parts will forever be in perfect condition by then, since the parts only get damaged in races you haven't yet completed with 1st place.

9 ) Enjoy setting new lap records.

It doesn't matter so much which 4 part categories you choose when you progress, but if you need recommendations I usually buy: Top Speed, Cooling, Turning, Acceleration. Don't know if it is the best one for you, but it will be pretty fast.

Edit: Updated and expanded the guide after I tested it.