🏁 2026 Season 3 — Now Official
Competitive Season 3 racing went live Tuesday June 16 at 0000 UTC — the Qualcomm Circuit, Laguna Seca rescan, Dirt AI and new in-sim widgets are all in
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.
Season 3 2026BMW 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.
Season 3 2026Dirt 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.
Season 3 2026WeatherTech 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.
Season 3 2026✨ The Future: iRacing’s New “Spark” Graphics Engine
A ground-up rewrite happening quietly beneath a service that never stops racing
While millions of laps are being completed every week, iRacing is carrying out one of the most ambitious — and most invisible — transformations in its history: a complete rewrite of its graphics engine and a large part of its internal architecture. The new engine is called Spark, and it is not a patch, not a visual update, not a tweak. It is open-heart surgery on a live, competitive simulator.
Unlike most studios, iRacing has deliberately chosen not to move to Unreal or Unity. Professional simulation needs very low latency, extremely high-frequency physics, millimeter-precise surface data, and absolute stability under heavy load — trade-offs that general-purpose engines cannot always make cleanly. Spark’s design philosophy is blunt: performance first, aesthetics second. And a major milestone has already been reached — the so-called vertical slice, where the engine can load a circuit, integrate a car, process the simulation and render the full scene end to end. It doesn’t have all its final polish yet, but it works. In engineering terms, that’s the moment a promising idea becomes a real foundation.
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.
Spark Engine · 2026Vegetation 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.
Spark Engine · 2026Genuine 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.
Spark Engine · 2026Spatial 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.
Spark Engine · 2026Foveated 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.
Spark Engine · 2026New 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.
Spark Engine · 2026When will we see it? Spark won’t land in a single dramatic drop. iRacing is integrating it progressively, making sure each step is stable before the next — slower, but much safer for a service thousands of people depend on every day. If everything goes right, nobody will eventually talk about “Spark”: it will simply be taken for granted that the sim looks better, runs better, and feels more real. And that might be the greatest achievement possible — all this complexity dissolving into the simple sensation of being inside the car.
Source: BoxThisLap — Everything We Know About iRacing’s New Graphics Engine in 2026. Summary written by SimRacing Hub; no affiliation with BoxThisLap or iRacing.
🏁 The Month of May — iRacing Indy 500
The biggest oval event of the year — how it works, how qualifying decides everything, and how to take part
The month of May means one thing: it’s time for the iRacing Indy 500. The real-world 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 takes place on Sunday 24 May 2026 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway — 200 laps, 500 miles, 33 cars on the grid. iRacing’s virtual recreation runs the same weekend in the Dallara IR-18 IndyCar on the same legendary 2.5-mile oval, with thousands of drivers worldwide.
Why race it? Oval racing at Indianapolis is some of the most intense competitive racing you can take part in — long, strategic, drafty, with a uniquely brutal qualifying procedure where qualifying is almost as important as the race itself. If you want one event to circle on your iRacing calendar each year, this is it.
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.
📋 Full how-to guide for the iRacing Indy 500
Why this race is special
Indianapolis is one corner of the “Triple Crown of Motorsport” alongside Monaco and Le Mans. The 500 mile distance, the 33-car grid, the four-lap qualifying procedure — iRacing recreates all of it faithfully. It’s the one event of the year where the qualifying weekend feels like its own competition.
Qualifying — the rules in detail
- Hourly sessions through Race Week, stopping when the first race slot begins.
- Four laps per attempt. Your four-lap average is the time that counts.
- Any aero contact on any of the four laps voids that lap — and without four valid laps, no average. Avoid the wall, avoid contact.
- You can attempt qualifying as many times as you like — only your best four-lap average is kept.
- Standings live: Series page → Standings → switch the dropdown to Qualifying. Note that Fixed and Open Indy 500 are separate entries in the series — check you’re looking at the right one.
Splits & non-qualifier rules
- Maximum 33 drivers per split — the same grid size as the real race.
- Top 33 in qualifying are generally guaranteed the premier (top) split. With high signup it’s possible for 33-and-fast drivers to fill multiple splits.
- Generally the higher you qualify, the higher your split.
- No qualifying time? You can still race — you’ll be placed behind everyone who did qualify, sorted by iRating. The non-qualifiers and slowest qualifiers tend to mix together — usually the toughest split to be in.
- Your grid position inside your time slot is decided by your qualifying time. There is no qualifying inside the race session itself. If you didn’t set a time, your grid spot is decided by iRating.
Tyres, fuel and engine maps
- A tyre change costs no extra pit time on top of the fuel fill — if you’re stopping for fuel, take new tyres. Unlimited new tyres are available for the race.
- Tyre wear isn’t usually a huge factor at Indy in this car — but fresh tyres definitely matter in the Open.
- Fuel saving becomes critical on long green-flag stints. Tools are available in-car — learn the engine maps before race day.
- Engine maps: 1 = most aggressive, 5 = least. 6 and 7 are essentially the same conservation map. Don’t use 8 at racing speed — it’s for serious fuel saving and you can blow the engine if you push it.
- Yellow flag period decision: hold position for track-position advantage, or pit for fresh fuel and tyres? Both are valid. A longer second stint can be very helpful.
Fixed vs Open — what’s the difference?
- Fixed: the same static weather as the regular Indy Fixed Series weekly race. Level playing field; setup is provided.
- Open: weather is randomised between qualifying time slots (so a fortunate slot can pay off), and is dynamic during the race itself. Build your own setup — or grab one from a setup shop.
- Recommended setup shops: Majors and Apex Racing Academy. (Both offer 500-specific setups; Apex is widely used.)
- The car has tools to deal with dirty air: an adjustable front anti-roll bar and a weight jacker. Worth understanding before race day — these change the balance of the car so you can drive it actively in traffic.
Registration timing
- Race sessions: registration opens for a full hour before the start time.
- Qualifying sessions: registration opens just a few minutes before the start.
- Registering for a qualifying session doesn’t drop you into a practice. The system simply waits until the start time and then gives you the join button. Don’t panic if “nothing happens” immediately after registering.
- Time slots are fixed and shown in UTC. Convert to your local time before race day.
- The premier time slot is broadcast on the official cas/iRacing channels — if you qualify into it, your race may be on the air.
License & eligibility
You need a Class C license (oval) plus the Oval Intermediate state and iRacing iD App version 4.0 or higher. There are no minimum points or championship prerequisites — but the IR-18 at Indy speeds is unforgiving, so practising in hosted sessions before race week is strongly recommended.
Quick reference based on the community how-to guide for the iRacing Indy 500. Always cross-check the official series description on iRacing for the current year’s exact format and timings.
Editor’s take: If you’ve never run an oval in iRacing, the Indy 500 weekend is the right place to start — partly because the qualifying makes it serious, partly because the field will include real INDYCAR drivers most years, and partly because there’s simply nothing else like 33 IR-18s drafting at 220+ mph. Even if you don’t qualify, the Open splits give everyone a place to race.
🤖 Esports & Events
What's happening this week and beyond
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
July 3, 2026 — FridayFriday on iRacing — Transition Week Heads Into Its Final Weekend: Specials Run the New Build Through Sunday, Official Season 3 Racing Starts Tuesday June 16 at 0000 UTC; Le Mans Weekend Set to Pull Endurance Crowds On-Service
Last weekend before the new season proper. The 2026 Season 3 build rolls through day three with the service stable — transition-week specials showcase the new content through Sunday, and official Season 3 racing starts Tuesday June 16 at 0000 UTC, now 4 days out. The early community picture is consistent: the Qualcomm Circuit (days from its real-world NASCAR debut), the first wave of Dirt AI at twelve dirt ovals, and the new Sim UI widgets — track map, fuel calculator, incident tracker — are the build's stars, with the Anycast server routing the quiet win for European racers on US-hosted splits. The real-world backdrop will shape the weekend: with the 24 Hours of Le Mans starting Saturday at 16:00 (BMW on its first-ever overall pole), expect endurance interest to spill onto the service between stints. Development headline unchanged: Spark Vertical Slice complete, night lighting next, late-2026 target.
Source: iRacing — 2026 Season 3 Release Notes · iRacing — This Week (June 9–15)
June 12, 2026 — FridayThursday on iRacing — Season 3 Build Through Day Two: Transition-Week Specials Continue, Anycast Server Routing Quietly One of the Build's Best Additions; Official Season 3 Racing Starts Tuesday June 16 at 0000 UTC
The new baseline beds in. The 2026 Season 3 build is through its second day with the service stable — transition-week specials carry the schedule until official Season 3 racing starts Tuesday June 16 at 0000 UTC, and the early community verdicts cluster around the Qualcomm Circuit (its real-world NASCAR debut is now just days away), the first wave of Dirt AI at twelve dirt ovals, and the new Sim UI widgets — track map, fuel calculator and incident tracker. A quieter feature deserving attention: the build adds Anycast-announced server endpoints, a new routing option that lets the simulation enter iRacing's network at a point close to you — potentially meaningful for European racers on US-hosted splits. Heat racing formats now also work with AI opponent rosters. With Le Mans race week peaking, expect endurance interest to spill onto the service this weekend before the new season proper. Development headline unchanged: Spark Vertical Slice complete, night lighting next, late-2026 target.
Source: iRacing — 2026 Season 3 Release Notes · iRacing — This Week (June 9–15)
June 11, 2026 — ThursdayMonday on iRacing — Season 2 Closed Last Night, Season 3 Build Lands Tomorrow: Downtime Tuesday June 9 From 0800 EDT / 1200 UTC, Qualcomm Circuit & BMW M2 G87 Headline the Drop
The last laps are in the books. Season 2 Week 12 (June 2–8) ran out the GT/road and oval slates through Sunday night — the final racing on the 2026.05.04.02 (Patch 4) build. Today is the quiet day before the switch: the Season 3 release downtime starts Tuesday June 9 at 0800 EDT / 1200 UTC, and what comes back is the new baseline — the Qualcomm Circuit (Naval Base Coronado) street track one week before its real-world NASCAR debut in San Diego, the G87 BMW M2 Racing (free in base content, replacing the M2 CS in the official series), the EuroNASCAR RC01, two Formula Vee variants, the from-scratch WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca rebuild (first full rescan since 2008), the BMW M Hybrid V8 Evo, separate class starts for multi-class races, the first wave of Dirt AI, the live track map in the modular Sim UI, and the SK / Tour Modified physics refresh. Plan for the service window tomorrow — and expect BoP and setup resets when the new builds go live. Development headline unchanged: Spark Vertical Slice complete, night lighting next, late-2026 target.
Source: iRacing — This Week (June 2–8) · OC Racing — Season 3 DevLog
June 8, 2026 — Eve of the Season 3 BuildFriday on iRacing — Season 2's Last Weekend: Week 12 Runs Out Through Sunday, Season 3 Downtime Officially Scheduled for Tuesday June 9 at 0800 EDT / 1200 UTC
The changeover gets a clock time. iRacing has officially scheduled the 2026 Season 3 release downtime for Tuesday June 9 at 0800 EDT / 1200 UTC — the service goes dark, and what comes back is the new baseline: the Qualcomm Circuit (Naval Base Coronado) street track one week before its real-world NASCAR debut in San Diego, the G87 BMW M2 Racing (free in base content), the EuroNASCAR RC01, two Formula Vee variants, the from-scratch WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca rebuild (first full rescan since 2008), the BMW M Hybrid V8 Evo, separate class starts for multi-class races, the first wave of Dirt AI (Dirt Oval, Legends '34 Coupe and Street Stock), the live track map in the modular Sim UI, and the ground-up SK / Tour Modified physics refresh. On track it's Season 2's final weekend — Week 12 (June 2–8) runs the GT/road and oval slates out through Sunday night, the last laps on the 2026.05.04.02 (Patch 4) build. NASCAR iRacing Series rolls on in Week 15 of 36; the INDYCAR iRacing Series stays in step with the real series' breather before WWTR Gateway. Weekend community highlight: OverTake's Bathurst 12 Hours Against Cancer charity event runs Sunday June 7. Development headline unchanged: Spark Vertical Slice complete, night lighting next, late-2026 target.
Source: iRacing — This Week (June 2–8) · OC Racing — Season 3 DevLog
June 5, 2026 — Week 12 Final WeekendThursday on iRacing — Season 3 Content Date Locks In: June 9 Drop With Qualcomm Circuit One Week Before Its Real-World NASCAR Debut, BMW M2 G87, EuroNASCAR RC01 and Formula Vee; Week 12 Mid-Stream
The build has a date. Season 3 2026 content lands Tuesday June 9 — the latest G87-generation BMW M2 Racing (free in the base content tier), the EuroNASCAR RC01 and two Formula Vee variants arrive that day, alongside the new Qualcomm Circuit (Naval Base Coronado) street track, which hits the service one week ahead of its real-world NASCAR debut in San Diego. The full build also carries the from-scratch WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca rebuild (first full rescan since 2008), the BMW M Hybrid V8 Evo upgrade, the long-requested separate class starts for multi-class races, the first wave of Dirt AI (Dirt Oval, Legends Coupe and Street Stock), the live track map in the modular Sim UI, and the ground-up SK / Tour Modified physics refresh. On track, Season 2 Week 12 (June 2–8) is at mid-week — the final days of the season as the GT/road and oval slates run out ahead of the changeover. NASCAR iRacing Series continues Week 15 of 36; the INDYCAR iRacing Series sits in step with the real-world series' breather before WWTR Gateway. Development headline unchanged: Spark Vertical Slice complete, night lighting next, late-2026 target. Live build remains 2026.05.04.02 (Patch 4) — its final week before the new baseline.
Source: Traxion — What to Expect from Sim Racing in June · iRacing — This Week (June 2–8)
June 4, 2026 — Week 12 Day 3Monday on iRacing — Week 11 Closed Last Night, Week 12 (June 2–8) Opens Tomorrow as Season 2's Final Week; Season 3 Build Now on Deck for Early June
The morning after Week 11. Season 2 Week 11 closed last night — the Skip Barber Formula iRacing Series Round 3 Time Attack window at VIR (FIA F4) is in the books and the 4 Hours at Thruxton TCR endurance one-off has wrapped. Week 12 (June 2–8) opens tomorrow — the final week of Season 2 before the Season 3 changeover, with the regular GT/road and oval slates running out ahead of the build. NASCAR iRacing Series rolls into Week 15 of 36, and the INDYCAR iRacing Series follows up the real-world Detroit GP — won yesterday by Alex Palou on the streets of Belle Isle. The Season 3 2026 build is now on deck for early June: the new Qualcomm Circuit (NASCAR's San Diego street venue at Naval Base Coronado), the BMW M2 G87 (free in the base content tier), EuroNASCAR RC01, a from-scratch WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca rebuild, BMW M Hybrid V8 Evo, the long-requested separate class starts for multi-class races, the first wave of Dirt AI (Dirt Oval, Legends Coupe and Street Stock), a live track map in the modular Sim UI, and a ground-up SK / Tour Modified physics refresh. Spark remains the headline development item: Vertical Slice complete, full-scene rendering in the new pipeline, with night lighting next — still tracking for late 2026. Live build remains 2026.05.04.02 (Patch 4), unchanged.
June 1, 2026 — Week 11 ClosedeNASCAR 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.
April 2026iRacing × 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.
Ongoing — 2026IMSA 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.
April 2026AI 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.
Season 2 2026📜 Season 1 Recap
What arrived in the previous season
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.
Season 1 2026Porsche 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.
Season 1 2026🏆 Special Events & Esports
Community events and competitive highlights
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.
April 2026eNASCAR 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.
2026 SeasonSunset 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.
April 2026🏆 iRacing DTM Series 2026
Official partnership with DTM — race the real calendar on Thursdays before each real-world event
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.
Official DTM Series PageRace 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.
55 min + Pit StrategyWhy 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.
8 PM CET ThursdaysHow 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.
Open to All📅 iRacing DTM Series 2026 — Full Schedule
| Round | Date | Circuit | Country | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | April 23 | Red Bull Ring | Austria | ✅ Complete |
| Round 2 | May 21 | Circuit Zandvoort | Netherlands | 🏁 Next Up |
| Round 3 | June 18 | Spa-Francorchamps* | Belgium | 🕒 Upcoming |
| Round 4 | July 2 | Brands Hatch* | United Kingdom | 🕒 Upcoming |
| Round 5 | July 23 | Motorsport Arena Oschersleben | Germany | 🕒 Upcoming |
| Round 6 | TBA | Nürburgring | Germany | 🕒 Upcoming |
| Round 7 | TBA | Sachsenring | Germany | 🕒 Upcoming |
| Round 8 | TBA (Oct) | Hockenheimring | Germany | 🕒 Finale |
* Spa-Francorchamps and Brands Hatch replace the Lausitzring and Norisring (not available on iRacing).
🎫 How the License System Works
From Rookie to Pro — understanding iRacing's progression system
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.
License ClassesHow 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.
Promotion RulesMPR — 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.
Good to KnowRacing 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.
Advanced🎫 License Class Overview
| License | Color | Promotion Req. | Example Series (Road) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rookie (R) | Red | SR ≥ 3.0 + 4 races | Mazda MX-5 Cup, BMW M2 Cup |
| Class D | Orange | SR ≥ 3.0 + MPR | GT4 Challenge, Ferrari 296 Challenge, Production Car Challenge |
| Class C | Yellow | SR ≥ 3.0 + MPR | IMSA Pilot Challenge, Porsche Cup, GT3 Fixed |
| Class B | Green | SR ≥ 3.0 + MPR | IMSA Endurance, GT Endurance, GTE Sprint |
| Class A | Blue | Top performance | IMSA iRacing Series, iRacing Grand Prix Tour |
| Pro / Pro WC | Black | Invitation / Top splits | eNASCAR, iRacing World Championship |
🛡 How Safety Rating (SR) is Calculated
Your SR determines license promotion and reflects your clean driving ability
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.
SR BasicsIncidents 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.
The FormulaIncident 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.
Incident TypesTips 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.
Pro Tips🛡 CPI Scaling by License Class
The CPI (Corners Per Incident) required for a given SR value increases with each license class. Higher licenses demand cleaner driving over a larger rolling window of corners.
| License | Corner Window | CPI for SR 3.0 | CPI for SR 4.0 | What This Means |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rookie | ~1,125 corners | 15 | 20 | 1 incident every 15 corners for SR 3.0 — most forgiving |
| Class D | ~1,350 corners | 22.5 | 30 | Must drive 50% cleaner than Rookie for same SR |
| Class C | ~1,620 corners | 33.8 | 45 | One 4x incident takes more corners to recover from |
| Class B | ~1,944 corners | 50.5 | 67.5 | Significantly cleaner driving required over more corners |
| Class A | ~2,333 corners | 76 | 101 | Very few incidents tolerated over a large window |
| Pro | ~2,600 corners | 114 | 152 | Elite-level clean driving over the largest window |
Note: iRacing does not publicly disclose the exact formula. These values are community-derived approximations and may change with updates. CPI = total corners ÷ total incident points over the rolling window.
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.
Understanding CPIThe 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.
How It Averages📈 How iRating Works
iRacing's skill-based matchmaking system — race against drivers of your level
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.
iR BasicsThe 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.
How It WorksSplits & 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.
Race SplitsiRating 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.
iR Scale📈 iRating Quick Reference
| iRating Range | Level | What to Expect |
|---|---|---|
| < 1000 | Beginner | Learning the basics, expect frequent incidents in your split |
| 1000 – 1500 | Below Average | Developing consistency, mid-to-lower splits |
| 1500 – 2000 | Average | Solid racecraft, competitive mid-split racing |
| 2000 – 2500 | Above Average | Upper splits, good pace and awareness |
| 2500 – 3500 | Fast | Top split regular, consistent and quick |
| 3500 – 5000 | Very Fast | Top split front-runners, potential special event contenders |
| 5000+ | Elite | Pro-level pace, World Championship caliber |
📅 This Week in iRacing — Season 3, Week 4
July 7 – July 13, 2026 — Week 4 of 2026 Season 3. The headline this week is the iRacing 24 Hours of Spa presented by Falken, the twice-around-the-clock GT3 endurance classic at the 4.35-mile Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps. Highlighted below are the headline year-round and special daily series with their confirmed Week 4 combos.
🏁 Road & GT Series — Week 4
| Series | Cars | Track | Race Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| iRacing 24 Hours of Spa ⭐ (Special Event) | GT3 | Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps — Falken presents; teams, Road License D+ | 24 hours (team endurance) |
| GT3 Regional Tours ⭐ | GT3 | Europe: Nürburgring Grand-Prix-Strecke • Americas: WeatherTech Raceway at Laguna Seca – 2026 • Asia-Pacific: Fuji International Speedway – Grand Prix | Hourly on the :45 |
| Ring Meister by LVRY | GT4 class (fixed setup) | Nürburgring Nordschleife – Industriefahrten | Hourly on the hour |
| Rain Master by Podium1 | GT3 (wet weather) | Miami International Autodrome – Grand Prix — light rain | 15 min, hourly at :15 |
| The full fixed- and open-setup GT & sports car grids — GT3 Challenge by Fanatec, GT Sprint & GT Endurance by Simucube, IMSA iRacing Series, GT4 Falken Tyre Challenge, Porsche Cup and GTE Sprint — all continue for 2026 Season 3, Week 4. Use the planner tools below for the exact track of each fixed/open combo. Off this week: Nürburgring Endurance Championship (next race #7 of 10 at Nürburgring Combined, Week 8) and the CREVENTIC Endurance Series (next race at Spa GP, Week 5). | |||
🏁 Oval Series — Week 4
| Series | Cars | Track | Race Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| NASCAR iRacing Series – Fixed | Gen 7 Stock Cars | EchoPark Speedway (Atlanta) — Week 20 of 36 | real-world race distance |
| NASCAR iRacing Series – Open | Gen 7 Stock Cars | EchoPark Speedway (Atlanta) — Week 20 of 36 | real-world race distance |
| Draft Master Challenge by SIMAGIC | NASCAR Trucks (fixed) | Talladega Superspeedway — Week 4 | Sprint, hourly on the hour |
| NASCAR Modified Tour | NASCAR Whelen Tour Modified | Slinger Speedway – Oval — Week 14 of 26 | Feature distance |
| Super Late Model Tour | Super Late Model | Slinger Speedway – Oval — Week 14 of 27 | Feature distance |
| Dirt 410 Sprint Car Tour | Dirt 410 Sprint Car | Oswego Speedway – Dirt — Week 21 of 37 | Feature distance |
| Dirt Super Late Model Tour | Dirt Super Late Model | Lucas Oil Speedway – Dirt Oval — Week 23 of 39 | Feature distance |
🏁 Formula Series — Week 4
| Series | Cars | Track | Race Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vintage Grand Prix Tour ⭐ | Lotus 79 | Nürburgring Nordschleife – Industriefahrten — Week 7 of 16 | Sprint |
| FIA F4 Esports Regional Tours | FIA F4 | Europe: Snetterton Circuit – 300 • Americas: Lime Rock Park – Classic • Asia-Pacific: Tsukuba Circuit – 2000 Full | Sprint |
| FIA Cross Car Championship (Rookie) | FIA Cross Car | Daytona Rallycross and Dirt Road – Rallycross Long — Week 4 | Sprint |
| Off this week: the INDYCAR iRacing Series (next race #12 of 17 at Nashville Superspeedway, Week 5) and the iRacing Grand Prix Tour (next race #12 of 24 at Spa GP, Week 5). eSports time-attack qualifiers — Skip Barber Formula iRacing (COTA, Jul 10–12) and the Mercedes-AMG Virtual Championship (Spa) — are open via the Time Attack portal. | |||
Showing selected popular series. For the complete schedule of all 130+ series, use the tools below.
Source: Official iRacing Season Schedule PDF
iRacing Week Planner
View the complete current week schedule for all 130+ series. Filter by license class, car, and track. The go-to tool for planning your races.
Open Week PlannerBraking Lab Planner
Calendar view with series filtering and track ownership tracking. Great for season planning and finding what you own.
Open Braking LabSimdeck Calendar
Advanced planner with filters by license, car, and track. Includes setup reminders and session info.
Open SimdeckiRacing Season 3 Page
Official iRacing 2026 Season 3 page with full schedule PDF, new content, and season details.
iRacing.com