iRacing

Career Mode Reveal Remains the Big Beat as gamescom 2026 Runs, With the Season 4 Build Due Around September 8 and the Season Start About a Week Later

Show week is here, and the wait holds. For the main sim, the single-player Career Mode — AI-driven, with save-game support and built from a clean slate outside the online system — is still due its full reveal in the late-August development blog, expected to confirm pricing, progression, the final content list and the teased mystery oval car. That is the last major beat before the 2026 Season 4 build, expected around September 8 with the competitive season starting roughly September 15. Season 4 adds the Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR-LMH to the GTP/LMH grid, the Bahrain International Circuit, Circuit Bugatti, Track Reverb audio and the first phase of a multithreaded physics overhaul. Progression is set to blend grounded real-world ladders — grassroots up toward the top categories, with regionally appropriate paths — alongside more global sim-racing routes. iRacing Arcade stays live on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S (€/$24.99), with its free cross-platform content update available to Steam owners; standalone titles NASCAR 26 (September 18) and INDYCAR Racing The Game (early 2027) round out the outlook.

Sources: BoxThisLap — iRacing 2026 Season 4 · iRacerHUB — Season 4 Career Mode & Valkyrie

Career Mode Reveal Still the Big Beat as gamescom Opens Tomorrow, With the 2026 Season 4 Build Due Around September 8

The wait continues into show week. For the main sim, the single-player Career Mode — AI-driven, with save-game support and built from a clean slate outside the online system — is still due a full reveal (pricing and progression) in the late-August development blog, the last major beat before the 2026 Season 4 build expected around September 8 (season start ~September 15). Season 4 adds the Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR-LMH to the GTP/LMH grid, the Bahrain International Circuit, Circuit Bugatti, Track Reverb audio and the first phase of a multithreaded physics overhaul. Meanwhile iRacing Arcade remains live on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S (€/$24.99), and its free cross-platform content update — four-player split-screen plus four cars and four circuits — stays available to Steam owners. Standalone titles NASCAR 26 (September 18) and INDYCAR Racing The Game (early 2027) round out the outlook.

Sources: BoxThisLap — iRacing 2026 Season 4 · iRacerHUB — Season 4 Career Mode & Valkyrie

iRacing Arcade Beds In on Console as Attention Holds on the Late-August Career Mode Reveal, With the 2026 Season 4 Build Due Around September 8

The week opens with the spotlight still on what’s next. iRacing Arcade is now established on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S (€/$24.99), and its free cross-platform content update — four-player split-screen plus four cars and four circuits — remains live for Steam owners. For the main sim, the single-player Career Mode — AI-driven, with save-game support and built outside the online system — is still due a full reveal (pricing and progression) in the late-August development blog, the last major beat before the 2026 Season 4 build expected around September 8 (season start ~September 15). Season 4 adds the Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR-LMH, the Bahrain International Circuit, Circuit Bugatti, Track Reverb audio and the first phase of a multithreaded physics overhaul. Standalone titles NASCAR 26 (September 18) and INDYCAR Racing The Game (early 2027) round out the outlook.

Sources: BoxThisLap — iRacing 2026 Season 4 · iRacing — Arcade on console

With iRacing Arcade Now Live on Console, Focus Holds on the Late-August Career Mode Reveal Ahead of the 2026 Season 4 Build Expected Around September 8

A quiet Sunday keeps the spotlight on what’s next. iRacing Arcade is out on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S (€/$24.99), and its free cross-platform content update — four-player split-screen, four cars and four circuits — is live for Steam owners too. Attention stays on the single-player Career Mode for the main sim — AI-driven, with save-game support and built outside the online system — still due a full reveal (pricing and progression) in the late-August development blog. That is the last major beat before the 2026 Season 4 build, expected around September 8 (season start ~September 15), which adds the Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR-LMH, the Bahrain International Circuit, Circuit Bugatti, Track Reverb audio and the first phase of a multithreaded physics overhaul. Standalone titles NASCAR 26 (September 18) and INDYCAR Racing The Game (early 2027) round out the outlook.

Sources: BoxThisLap — iRacing 2026 Season 4 · iRacerHub — Season 4 details

iRacing Arcade Is Live on PS5 and Xbox After Friday’s Launch — Attention Now Shifts Back to the Late-August Career Mode Reveal Ahead of Season 4’s September Build

The console spin-off is out in the wild. Following Friday’s launch, iRacing Arcade is now available on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S for €/$24.99, and the accompanying free cross-platform content update — four-player split-screen, four new cars and four new circuits (five layouts) — has also landed for existing Steam owners, alongside iRacing Companion App 3.0. With Arcade out, focus returns to the main sim: the single-player Career Mode (AI-driven, save-game support, built outside the online system) remains due a full reveal — pricing and progression — in the late-August development blog, the last big beat before the 2026 Season 4 build (expected around September 8, season start ~September 15) that adds the Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR-LMH, Bahrain International Circuit, Circuit Bugatti and a physics overhaul. Standalone titles NASCAR 26 (September 18) and INDYCAR Racing The Game (early 2027) round out the outlook.

Sources: iRacing — Arcade on PS5 & Xbox · Traxion — Arcade this week · BoxThisLap — Season 4 confirmed

iRacing Arcade Lands on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S Today (August 21) for €/$24.99 — and Drops a Free Cross-Platform Content Update for Existing PC Players

iRacing’s approachable spin-off goes multi-platform today. iRacing Arcade launches on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S for €/$24.99, converting real cars and circuits into a highly stylised, pick-up-and-play package that keeps the studio’s signature realistic fuel burn and tyre wear. A deep career mode lets players build and customise a race campus, manage drivers and resources, and climb from grassroots to the top. The console release doubles as a free content update for existing Steam owners rather than a separate paid set: everyone across all platforms gets four-player split-screen plus four new cars and four new circuits (five layouts), while the console versions add local two-player split-screen on one system. Alongside it, the iRacing Companion App 3.0 arrives with a modernised, more consistent UI and improved data synchronisation with the main service.

Sources: iRacing — Arcade on PS5 & Xbox · Traxion — Arcade this week · BoxThisLap — Arcade Aug 21

Career Mode Reveal Still Front and Center as Season 4’s September 8 Build Firms Up — the Live Service Runs the Back Half of Its August 18–24 Week

The wait for detail continues. The single-player Career Mode — built on a clean slate outside the multiplayer system, AI-driven, and the first iRacing feature to support save games — is in end-to-end “game-loop” testing and remains due a full reveal (pricing and progression) in the late-August development blog, the last major beat before the 2026 Season 4 build (expected around September 8, season start ~September 15). Season 4’s confirmed additions still headline with the Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR-LMH, the Bahrain International Circuit, the Circuit Bugatti and a broad physics overhaul, with an oval-focused car project also teased. The live service holds on 2026 Season 3 Patch 3 Hotfix 2 through the second half of its August 18–24 race week, the price rise now simply the baseline. Standalone titles NASCAR 26 (September 18) and INDYCAR Racing The Game (early 2027) round out the outlook.

Sources: iRacing — This Week (Aug 18–24) · BoxThisLap — Career Mode · iRacing — Development Blog

With the Price Rise Now Behind It, All Eyes Turn to Career Mode’s Late-August Reveal — the Live Build Holds at 2026 Season 3 as the Service Runs Its August 18–24 Week

A day after the change landed, the subscription price rise is now simply the new baseline — and it left car and track pricing untouched. Attention is fully on the single-player Career Mode: built outside the multiplayer system and leaning on AI opponents, it is in end-to-end “game-loop” testing and due a full reveal — pricing and progression detail — in the late-August development blog ahead of the 2026 Season 4 build (expected around September 8, season start ~September 15), which is set to add the Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR-LMH, the Bahrain International Circuit, the Circuit Bugatti and a physics overhaul. The live service continues on 2026 Season 3 Patch 3 Hotfix 2 through its August 18–24 race week. Standalone titles NASCAR 26 (September 18) and INDYCAR Racing The Game (early 2027) round out the outlook.

Sources: iRacing — This Week (Aug 18–24) · BoxThisLap — Season 4 · iRacing — Development Blog

iRacing’s Subscription Price Rise Takes Effect Today (August 18) as Attention Shifts to Career Mode’s Full Reveal — the FIA’s Esports Championship Tender Closed Yesterday

The long-flagged date has landed. iRacing’s first subscription price rise in years takes effect today (Tuesday, August 18) — members who renewed early kept the current rate, and the change does not affect car or track pricing. With that behind it, focus turns to the single-player Career Mode: built from a clean slate outside the multiplayer system and leaning on AI drivers, it is in full end-to-end “game-loop” testing and due a full reveal — pricing and progression detail — in the late-August development blog ahead of the 2026 Season 4 build (expected around September 8, season start ~September 15). That slate is set to add the Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR-LMH, the Bahrain International Circuit, the Circuit Bugatti and a physics overhaul. The live build stays 2026 Season 3 Patch 3 Hotfix 2 in the meantime. Separately, the FIA’s call for proposals to run officially sanctioned FIA Esports Championships closed yesterday (Monday, August 17, 08:00 CEST) — potentially the first genuinely global, governing-body-backed sim-racing series. Standalone titles NASCAR 26 (September 18) and INDYCAR Racing The Game (early 2027) round out the picture.

Sources: BoxThisLap — Season 4 & Career Mode · BoxThisLap — Career Mode · iRacing — Development Blog

One Day to the August 18 Price Rise — the FIA’s Esports Championship Tender Closes Today (Monday, August 17) and Career Mode’s Full Reveal Nears in the Late-August Dev Blog

The summer countdown reaches its end. iRacing’s first subscription price rise in years takes effect tomorrow, Tuesday August 18 — members have their last day to renew early and lock the current rate. First, the FIA’s call for proposals to run officially sanctioned FIA Esports Championships closes today, Monday August 17 (08:00 CEST): the governing body is writing a code, issuing licences and appointing official hardware suppliers, and is seeking a commercial promoter to build what could be the first genuinely global, sanctioned sim-racing championship — a notable counter-signal as the discipline sits out the Esports World Cup (which ends August 23). On iRacing’s own roadmap, the live build stays 2026 Season 3 Patch 3 Hotfix 2, with Career Mode — built from a clean slate outside the multiplayer system — in full end-to-end “game-loop” testing and due a full reveal, including pricing and progression detail, in the late-August development blog ahead of the 2026 Season 4 build (expected around September 8, season start ~September 15). That slate also brings the new Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR-LMH, Bahrain International Circuit, Circuit Bugatti and a physics overhaul. Standalone titles NASCAR 26 (September 18) and INDYCAR Racing The Game (early 2027) round out the picture.

Sources: FIA — Call for Proposals · BoxThisLap — Season 4 & Career Mode · iRacing — Development Blog

Two Days to the August 18 Price Rise — the FIA’s Esports Championship Tender Closes First Tomorrow (Monday, August 17), and Career Mode’s Full Reveal Nears in the Late-August Dev Blog

Both summer clocks are almost out. iRacing’s first subscription price rise in years takes effect Tuesday, August 18 — members can still renew early to lock the current rate for the next 48 hours. First, though, the FIA’s call for proposals to run officially sanctioned FIA Esports Championships closes tomorrow, Monday August 17 (08:00 CEST): the governing body is writing a code, issuing licences and appointing official hardware suppliers, and is seeking a commercial promoter to build what could be the first genuinely global, sanctioned sim-racing championship — a notable counter-signal as the discipline sits out the Esports World Cup (which ends August 23). On iRacing’s own roadmap, the live build stays 2026 Season 3 Patch 3 Hotfix 2, with Career Mode — built from a clean slate outside the multiplayer system — in full end-to-end “game-loop” testing and due a full reveal, including pricing and progression detail, in the late-August development blog ahead of the 2026 Season 4 build (expected around September 8, season start ~September 15). That slate also brings the new Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR-LMH, Bahrain International Circuit, Circuit Bugatti and a physics overhaul. Standalone titles NASCAR 26 (September 18) and INDYCAR Racing The Game (early 2027) round out the picture.

Sources: FIA — Call for Proposals · BoxThisLap — Season 4 & Career Mode · iRacing — Development Blog

Four Days to the August 18 Price Rise — the FIA’s Esports Championship Tender Closes First on Monday, August 17, and iRacing’s Career-Mode Reveal Nears in the Late-August Dev Blog

The two summer clocks are into their final days. iRacing’s first subscription price rise in years takes effect Tuesday, August 18 — members can still renew early to lock the current rate before then. Ahead of it, the FIA’s call for proposals to run officially sanctioned FIA Esports Championships closes Monday, August 17 (08:00 CEST): the governing body is writing a code, issuing licences and appointing official hardware suppliers, and is seeking a commercial promoter to build what could be the first genuinely global, sanctioned sim-racing championship — a notable counter-signal as the discipline sits out the Esports World Cup (which ends August 23). On iRacing’s own roadmap, the live build stays 2026 Season 3 Patch 3 Hotfix 2, with Career Mode in full end-to-end “game-loop” testing and due a full reveal in the late-August development blog ahead of the 2026 Season 4 build (expected around September 8, season start ~September 15) — a slate that also brings the new Aston Martin LMH, Bahrain, Circuit Bugatti and a physics overhaul. Standalone titles NASCAR 26 (September 18) and INDYCAR Racing The Game (early 2027) round out the picture.

Sources: FIA — Call for Proposals · BoxThisLap — Season 4 & Career Mode · iRacing — Development Blog

Five Days to the August 18 Price Rise — and the FIA’s Esports Championship Tender Closes First on August 17, Setting Up a Possible Global, Sanctioned Sim-Racing Series as iRacing’s Career-Mode Reveal Nears

Two clocks are running down for iRacers. The platform’s first subscription price rise in years takes effect August 18 — members can still renew early to lock the current rate. Just ahead of it, the FIA’s call for proposals to run officially sanctioned FIA Esports Championships closes August 17 (08:00 CEST): the governing body is writing a code, issuing licences and appointing official hardware suppliers, and is now seeking a commercial promoter to build what could be the first genuinely global, sanctioned sim-racing championship — a notable counter-signal as the discipline sits out the Esports World Cup (which ends August 23). On iRacing’s own roadmap, the live build stays 2026 Season 3 Patch 3 Hotfix 2, with Career Mode in full end-to-end “game-loop” testing and due a full reveal in the late-August development blog ahead of the 2026 Season 4 build in September. Standalone titles NASCAR 26 (September 18) and INDYCAR Racing The Game (early 2027) round out the picture.

Sources: FIA — Call for Proposals · BoxThisLap — Season 4 & Career Mode · iRacing — Development Blog

Six Days to the August 18 Price Rise as the Career Mode Reveal Nears — the Current Public Build Stays 2026 Season 3 Patch 3 With Full Game-Loop Testing Under Way Ahead of the Late-August Blog

The clock is ticking on two of the summer’s biggest iRacing dates. The first subscription price rise in years takes effect August 18 — members can still renew early to lock the current rate before then. On the content side, the live build remains 2026 Season 3 Patch 3 Hotfix 2, with the headline Career Mode reaching a major milestone: full end-to-end “game-loop” user-experience testing is now officially under way. iRacing has reiterated that the single-player mode is built on a new architecture, free of the multiplayer infrastructure’s constraints, and it is due a full reveal in the late-August development blog ahead of the 2026 Season 4 build in September. Standalone titles NASCAR 26 (September 18) and INDYCAR Racing The Game (early 2027) round out the roadmap.

Sources: BoxThisLap — Season 4 & Career Mode · iRacing — Development Blog

Career Mode Set for a Full Reveal in the Late-August Dev Blog — iRacing’s Single-Player Mode Arrives Ahead of Season 4 as the Subscription Price Rise Lands August 18

iRacing has confirmed that its long-awaited Career Mode will be detailed in full in the August development blog, typically published in the final week of the month, ahead of the 2026 Season 4 build expected in September. The studio keeps stressing that Career Mode is built from a clean slate — not a wrapper around the official series — as a single-player-focused product leaning on the AI drivers, offering grounded real-world paths from grassroots up to the top of each discipline. Meanwhile, iRacing’s first subscription price rise in years takes effect August 18 (only the second increase in nearly two decades); members can renew early to lock the current rate. Standalone titles NASCAR 26 (September 18) and INDYCAR Racing The Game (early 2027) round out the roadmap.

Sources: BoxThisLap — Season 4 & Career Mode · iRacing — Sim Racing News

NASCAR 26 Opens Pre-Orders Ahead of a September 18 Launch — iRacing Studios’ Official Stock-Car Title Nears Release as the August 18 Subscription Price Rise Approaches

NASCAR 26, the official stock-car game developed by iRacing Studios, has opened pre-orders (from July 29) ahead of its September 18 release on PC and console. It continues iRacing’s push into standalone titles alongside the previously announced INDYCAR Racing The Game, due on PS5, Xbox and Steam in early 2027. On the core service, iRacing’s first subscription price rise in years still takes effect August 18 — members can renew early to lock the current rate — while feedback from the recent iTested multiclass standing-start trial continues to be assessed.

Sources: BoxThisLap — NASCAR 26 pre-orders · iRacing — Latest News

iRacing’s Multiclass Standing-Start Trial Closes as the 6 Hours of Road America Is Banked — Attention Turns to the August 18 Price Rise

The public iTested window (July 21–26) has closed, wrapping members’ trial of the reworked multiclass standing-start procedure with multiple pace cars; the feedback gathered feeds into whether the format graduates to live official racing. The week’s headline special event, the 6 Hours of Road America — round four of the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup season — is now in the books. Looking ahead, iRacing’s first subscription price rise in years takes effect August 18, and members can renew early to lock the current rate.

Sources: iRacing — This Week in iRacing · BoxThisLap — 6HRS of Road America

Last Chance to Sample iRacing’s New Multiclass Standing-Start Procedure — the iTested Trial Wraps This Weekend (July 26)

The public iTested window running July 21–26 is in its final days, giving members a last chance to try the reworked multiclass standing-start procedure with multiple pace cars before it closes on Sunday. iTested is iRacing’s sandbox for road-testing functionality ahead of official series, so the feedback gathered this week feeds directly into whether the format reaches live racing. Separately, the first subscription price rise in years still takes effect August 18 — renewing early locks the current rate.

Sources: iRacing — This Week in iRacing

iRacing Trials a New Multiclass Standing-Start Procedure With Multiple Pace Cars in This Week’s iTested Series

iRacing is using its iTested Series during the week of July 21–26 to trial a reworked multiclass starting procedure that uses multiple pace cars — a change aimed at cleaner, better-organised getaways for mixed-class grids where field-splitting has long been a pain point. iTested is iRacing’s public sandbox for road-testing new functionality and content before it reaches official series, so the format is a preview rather than a finished feature. Members can jump in to sample it alongside the week’s racing.

Sources: iRacing — This Week in iRacing

The 6 Hours of Road America Headlines the Week of July 21–26 — Round Four of iRacing’s IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup Season

The iRacing 6 Hours of Road America is the next entry on the 2026 Special Event calendar, running through the week of July 21–26. The six-hour enduro at Road America is the fourth round of the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup within the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season on the service, and follows the 24 Hours of Spa earlier in the month. Elsewhere, the confirmed subscription price increase takes effect August 18 — existing members can renew before then to lock the current rate.

Sources: iRacing — This Week in iRacing · iRacing — Pricing Update

Rinaldi Racing Takes the iRacing 24 Hours of Spa

The iRacing 24 Hours of Spa presented by Falken (July 10–12) has wrapped, with Rinaldi Racing taking victory in the GT3 team enduro — a third win in the event for the squad. One of iRacing's longest-running Special Events, it remains the benchmark team endurance race on the service.

First Price Rise in Years — From August 18

For only the second time in iRacing's nearly 20-year history, subscription pricing goes up starting August 18, 2026. Existing members can renew early at the current rate — the extra time is added to the end of the current subscription.

INDYCAR Racing The Game

iRacing and INDYCAR announced INDYCAR Racing The Game, an official standalone title built by iRacing Studios and coming to PlayStation 5, Xbox and Steam in early 2027 — a console-friendly companion to the subscription sim.

24 Hours of Spa Presented by Falken — Wrapped

The iRacing 24 Hours of Spa presented by Falken ran July 10–12 on the GT3 grids around Spa-Francorchamps with dynamic weather. Coach Dave Academy took the overall win with Rinaldi Racing — their third victory in the event — capping a busy run of summer specials before attention turns to the next fixtures on the 2026 calendar.

Qualcomm Circuit (Naval Base Coronado)

NASCAR's new San Diego street venue arrives a full week ahead of its real-world Cup debut. A tight, walled street course that lands as the standout new track of the build.

BMW M2 G87 Racing & EuroNASCAR RC01

The G87-generation BMW M2 Racing joins the roster alongside the EuroNASCAR RC01, plus two Formula Vee variants. The BMW M Hybrid V8 is also upgraded to Evo spec.

Dirt AI, Live Track Map & Fuel Calc

The most-requested feature finally lands: single-player AI dirt racing, debuting with the Dirt Legends Ford '34 Coupe and Dirt Street Stock. A live track map, in-sim fuel calculations and control profiles round out the quality-of-life additions.

WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca

The long-overdue, from-scratch laser-scan rebuild of Laguna Seca is in. Refreshed surface data and a new Corkscrew for one of the most-raced tracks on the service.

Hundreds of Dynamic Lights, Properly

Night has always been one of iRacing’s weaker visual areas — not for lack of ambition, but because the old engine simply couldn’t juggle dozens of cars with multiple dynamic light sources each. Spark changes that radically. Hundreds of dynamic lights can now be handled efficiently: brake lights, headlights, reflections on wet tarmac, projected shadows — all coherent parts of the scene rather than approximations. Night stops being a technical obstacle and becomes a visual opportunity.

Vegetation Finally Part of the Lighting System

In the old engine, trees and vegetation existed but weren’t truly integrated into global lighting — no consistent shadows, no real response to the surrounding scene. With Spark, vegetation receives light, casts shadows, and adds real depth. It’s not something anyone points to specifically, but the brain notices. Realism stops being a deliberate effort and starts being a natural sensation.

Genuine Multi-Threading, Finally

For years, iRacing’s biggest limitation wasn’t your GPU — it was its dependence on a single CPU thread. In complex situations (race starts, pile-ups, heavy traffic) that one core saturated and dragged everything down with it. Spark brings a proper multi-threaded architecture: physics and rendering work in parallel across multiple cores, freeing the main thread. The result is not just higher frame rates — it’s much better stability and consistency, especially when things get chaotic.

Spatial Reverb — 50% Less Audio Load

A welcome side-effect of the optimisation work: the audio system’s computational load has been reduced by more than 50%. The headroom has been used to add spatial reverberation — engines that sound different depending on their surroundings, real echoes in street circuits, far more nuanced mechanical detail. It’s not a checkbox feature, but you feel it the moment everything starts to sound right.

Foveated Rendering with Eye Tracking

In VR, every millisecond matters. Spark integrates one of the most advanced techniques available: foveated rendering with eye tracking. The system detects where you’re looking and concentrates maximum visual quality there, reducing detail in the periphery where your eye can’t tell the difference. The result is a massive optimisation with no perceptible quality loss — the difference between an acceptable VR experience and a truly immersive one.

New Tire Model: Asymmetric Asperity Pressure

Underneath the visuals, the simulation itself is evolving. A new tire model introduces concepts like asymmetric asperity pressure. Translated from engineering-speak: more predictable response, more coherent thermal behaviour, fewer abrupt grip-loss cliffs. In short, cars that behave more logically. You can have the best graphics in the world, but if the car doesn’t inspire confidence, none of it matters — and this is where the real simulation upgrade lives.

200 laps · 500 miles · 33 cars

Dallara IR-18 IndyCar with the aeroscreen, around the Brickyard’s 2.5-mile rectangular oval. Maximum 33 drivers per session — the same grid size as the real race. Two flavours each year: a Fixed setup race (level playing field) and an Open setup race (engineer-it-yourself). Both run with unlimited tyre changes; pit stops are simultaneous-fill so a tyre change costs no extra time on top of the fuel.

Four-lap average — just like the real thing

Qualifying runs every hour through Race Week and ends when the first race time slot begins. Four laps per attempt; what counts is the average across all four. A super-quick first lap doesn’t help if the rest fall away — consistency is everything. Any aero contact or a wall touch on any of the four laps voids that run. You can re-attempt as many times as you like.

Top 33 in qualifying are generally guaranteed the front (premier) split. Without a qualifying time you’re placed behind everyone who did qualify, sorted by iRating — usually the toughest split to be in.

License, registration, time slots

You need a Class C license, an Oval Intermediate state, and the iRacing iD App 4.0+. No specific safety-rating prerequisites — but be honest, this car is hard to drive at these speeds.

Search the series page for “Indy 500” — both Fixed and Open have separate entries. Race sessions open for registration a full hour before the start; qualifying sessions only a few minutes before. Registering for qualifying drops you straight to a lobby that opens at start time — no warm-up, no surprise green flag.

Friday on iRacing — The Firecracker 400 Special Runs the 1987 Cup Cars at the Historic Daytona for the July 4th Weekend; 2026 Season 3 Stays Bedded In With the BMW M Hybrid V8 Evo, the Qualcomm Circuit and the Laguna Seca Rescan

The service leans into America's biggest racing weekend. The week of June 30–July 6 features the iRacing Firecracker 400 — a full-length special that pays tribute to NASCAR's Fourth-of-July tradition by putting the 1987 NASCAR Cup cars on the historic version of Daytona International Speedway for a high-stakes superspeedway battle. Away from the special, 2026 Season 3 continues to settle: the BMW M Hybrid V8 Evo (a free upgrade for owners of the previous car), the new Qualcomm Circuit street course at Naval Base Coronado, and the from-scratch WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca rescan headline the content, with the Sim UI control profiles, fuel calculator and incident tracker now part of the everyday routine. Development backdrop unchanged: the Spark graphics engine remains the long-term project, with a late-2026 target.

Source: iRacing — This Week (June 30–July 6) · iRacing — 2026 Season 3 Is Here

eNASCAR Coca-Cola Qualifying Series

The eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series expands to 24 races in 2026. The Qualifying Series runs February through April, with the Championship Series starting May 19. The champion wins $100,000 from over $500,000 in total prizes.

iRacing × Microsoft Research — Large Action Models for AI Coaching

iRacing's previously announced collaboration with Microsoft Research on Large Action Models (LAMs) remains the core driver of the AI roadmap. The work targets foundation models capable of complex tasks in physical and virtual environments, feeding future AI drivers, AI coaching and crew chiefs inside iRacing. Long-time INDYCAR driver and engineer Oriol Servia is the lead domain collaborator. No standalone consumer AI coach product yet — this is foundational research, with Season 2's "AI completes qualifying" milestone the first visible output.

IMSA Classic 500 Moves to Laguna Seca

iRacing has confirmed the IMSA Classic 500 Special Event has been relocated from Road America to WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. The classic sports-car field (Nissan GTP ZX-T, Audi 90 Quattro GTO) now takes on the iconic Corkscrew.

AI Racing: Major Milestone

AI Drivers can now complete qualifying and finish race events without any humans present. All new content comes AI-enabled right out of the box, including the Audi RS3 LMS Gen2 TCR and St. Petersburg.

FIA Cross Car

Free to the entire user base, the FIA Cross Car is iRacing's first RWD rallycross car and a key part of the refreshed Rookie experience. Low barrier to entry makes it perfect for newcomers.

Porsche 911 Cup (992.2)

Packing 520 horsepower, the latest Porsche Cup car arrived ready for both AI racing and rain conditions. A favorite for one-make racing series with its challenging rear-engine dynamics.

IMSA Classic 500 at Laguna Seca

Travel back to the golden era of sports car racing at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Race the Nissan GTP ZX-T or Audi 90 Quattro GTO in this classic endurance event. Full details and schedules are now published on iRacing.com.

eNASCAR Coca-Cola Series: 24-Race Season

The 2026 eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series expands to 24 total races with 11 weeks of qualifying competition. The series continues to be the premier esports destination for oval racing enthusiasts worldwide.

Sunset Splash: Tournament Round 6

The eNASCAR College iRacing Series wraps up the 2025-26 season with the Sunset Splash tournament. 120 students competed for 39 qualifying spots at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Time trials ran from March 31 to April 9.

What is the iRacing DTM Series?

A brand-new official collaboration between iRacing and DTM. The series runs alongside the real 2026 DTM season with 8 rounds at iconic European circuits. Each virtual race takes place on Thursday, days before the real-world DTM event at the same track. Open to all iRacing members — no minimum license required.

Race Format & Rules

Races last 55 minutes (matching real DTM format). A limited fuel tank forces pit strategy — you'll need to manage fuel under pressure. GT3 cars from the official 2026 DTM roster are used. Races start simultaneously at 8 PM in CET, ET, PT, and AEDT for global participation.

Why This Matters for European Racers

DTM is Europe's premier GT3 championship. This series brings the real DTM experience to iRacing with European circuits, Thursday evening race times at 8 PM CET, and the authentic DTM race format. Perfect for European sim racers who want to race the same tracks the pros do, days before they see it on TV.

How to Join

The series appears to be accessible to all iRacing members regardless of license class. You need an active iRacing subscription and ownership of the GT3 cars and tracks used. Check the official DTM series page for exact requirements and registration details.

The License Ladder

iRacing has separate license progressions for Road, Oval, Dirt Road, and Dirt Oval. Each has 5 levels: Rookie (R), Class D, Class C, Class B, and Class A. Above A there is Pro and Pro/WC (World Championship) for the very best. Higher licenses unlock more series and cars.

How to Get Promoted

To move up a license class, you need a Safety Rating (SR) of 3.0 or higher at the end of a season (or a 4.0+ SR for instant "fast track" promotion at any time). You must also complete a minimum number of races or time trials in your current license class — typically 4 races for Rookie, and participation requirements for higher levels.

MPR — Minimum Participation Requirement

Each license level requires a Minimum Participation Requirement (MPR) before you can be promoted. In Rookie, this is typically 4 races or time trials. For D and above, you need to participate in at least 4 official sessions during the season. You can race "above" your license in some series if you meet the SR requirement.

Racing Above Your License

iRacing allows you to race in series one class above your current license if your SR is 4.0+. For example, a D-class driver with 4.0+ SR can enter C-class races. This is a great way to practice in higher series while still working on your promotion. Your license number shown is X.XX where X is your sub-level within the class.

What is Safety Rating?

Safety Rating (SR) is a number from 0.00 to 4.99 within each license class (e.g., C 3.45). It measures how cleanly you drive. A higher SR means fewer incidents relative to corners turned. SR determines whether you get promoted, stay, or get demoted at the end of a season.

Incidents Per Corner (Inc/C)

SR is based on your incidents per corner ratio. iRacing tracks every corner you complete and every incident point you accumulate. Fewer incidents over more corners = higher SR. The system uses a rolling average of your recent sessions, weighted toward the most recent ones.

Incident Points (0x, 1x, 2x, 4x)

0x — Off-track (minor). 1x — Loss of control (spin, wall tap). 2x — Contact with another car. 4x — Heavy contact / collision. All incidents affect SR equally per point. A 4x hurts exactly 4 times as much as a 1x. Contact incidents (2x) are assigned to both cars regardless of fault.

Tips to Improve Your SR

Race cleanly and consistently — finishing without incidents matters more than finishing position. Longer races with more corners are more valuable because they dilute any incidents over more corners. Avoid first-lap chaos by being patient. Even if you get hit, the 2x still counts against you, so defensive awareness is key.

Why CPI Scaling Matters

A Rookie with 1 incident per 15 corners earns SR 3.0. But a Class A driver needs 1 incident per 76 corners for the same SR. This means a single 4x collision in Class A takes roughly 300 clean corners to recover from, compared to about 60 in Rookie. The system rewards consistently clean driving and gets progressively stricter as you advance.

The Rolling Average Explained

iRacing tracks your last ~1,125 to ~2,600 corners (depending on license). Older corners gradually drop off as new ones are added. This means a bad race won't haunt you forever — but it also means a good race alone won't fix a low SR. Longer races at tracks with many corners add more data points, smoothing out individual incidents faster.

What is iRating?

iRating (iR) is a numerical skill rating that determines who you race against. Every new driver starts at 1350 iRating. It goes up when you finish ahead of expectations and down when you finish below. iRating is used to split races into groups of similarly skilled drivers for fair, competitive racing.

The Elo-Style System

iRating uses a system similar to chess Elo ratings. Before each race, the system predicts your expected finish based on everyone's iRating. If you beat that prediction, you gain iR. If you finish below it, you lose iR. The amount gained or lost depends on how much you over- or under-performed versus the field's strength.

Splits & SOF (Strength of Field)

When more drivers register than a single race can hold, iRacing creates splits. The top split has the highest iRating drivers, the second split the next tier, and so on. SOF (Strength of Field) is the average iRating of all drivers in your split. Higher SOF races offer more iRating for a good finish.

iRating Ranges & What They Mean

Below 1000 — Beginner. 1000–1500 — Below average. 1500–2000 — Average to above average. 2000–3000 — Experienced and fast. 3000–5000 — Very fast, top split regular. 5000+ — Elite, potential pro-level driver. The average across all iRacing drivers sits around 1500.

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Braking Lab Planner

Calendar view with series filtering and track ownership tracking. Great for season planning and finding what you own.

Simdeck Calendar

Advanced planner with filters by license, car, and track. Includes setup reminders and session info.

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