Racing Simulations

Assetto Corsa EVO's 0.8 Update Arrives — Kyalami, the KTM X-Bow GT2 & GT4 and the VW Golf 8 R Headline a Build Built Around a Major VR Overhaul, Modded Cars in Online Races and Reworked Tyre-Grip Physics

Kunos's Assetto Corsa EVO Update 0.8 lands this week, with the maintenance window (July 7–9) closing to bring the build online. The headline feature is a major VR rework aimed at making the headset experience far more consistent, alongside the change modders have waited for: modified cars can now be used in online races, gated by an SHA verification layer that checks each car and version before it reaches the grid to keep competitive lobbies fair. Content-wise, the South African Kyalami circuit joins the roster together with the GT2 and GT4 KTM X-Bow variants and the road-going Volkswagen Golf 8 R. Under the hood, driving physics get several tweaks focused on how tyres interact with the surface for more consistent grip evolution, and the update adds official external-livery support, selectable number plates and league-friendly entry-list grid ordering. Automobilista 2's V1.6.9.9 and iRacing's 2026 Season 3 stay the steady weekly baselines.

Source: Steam — What's Coming in AC EVO Update 0.8 · OverTake — AC EVO v0.8 Details

Automobilista 2's V1.6.9.9 and Historical Endurance Pack Pt. 2 Are Out — Reiza Overhauls Wet-Weather Physics and AI Wet Lines, Adds a Visible Drying Line, and Drops a Batch of Mid-2000s GT Cars (Free During Launch Week)

Reiza has shipped Automobilista 2 V1.6.9.9 alongside the Historical Endurance Pack Pt. 2 DLC. The headline is a substantial wet-weather overhaul: the AI now recognises that the rubbered-in dry line turns slick in the rain and moves outward onto unrubbered tarmac to find grip, and it steers around standing water and deep puddles to avoid aquaplaning, while a clearly visible drying line plus reworked spray, shader and lighting effects sharpen changing-conditions racing. The DLC adds a fresh batch of mid-2000s GT cars to the GTR2-throwback endurance theme and is free for all users during the initial release days. Elsewhere, Assetto Corsa EVO's 0.8 (adding Kyalami) is still expected mid-to-late July, and iRacing's 2026 Season 3 stays the weekly baseline.

Source: Steam — AMS2 V1.6.9.9 Released · BoxThisLap — AMS2 V1.6.9.9

Weekend Snapshot — Assetto Corsa EVO's 0.8 (With Kyalami) Nears for Mid-to-Late July While Automobilista 2's Historical Endurance Pack Pt. 2 Is Due the July 11–12 Weekend; iRacing's Season 3 Stays the Baseline

The July content run is taking shape. Assetto Corsa EVO's next early-access update, 0.8, has been confirmed to add the South African Kyalami circuit — complete with its high-speed Cheetah corner — and, given Kunos's steady cadence, is expected to land mid-to-late July, building on the 0.7 build's official modding SDK, four new cars and the proximity-based EVO Safety Rating. Over at Reiza, Automobilista 2's Historical Endurance Pack Pt. 2 DLC is slated for the weekend of July 11–12, continuing the GTR2-throwback classic-endurance theme on top of the recent v1.6.9.8 physics revisions (wet and intermediate tyres overhauled, standing water back on the racing line). iRacing's 2026 Season 3 remains the steady weekly baseline.

Source: bsimracing — ACE 0.8 Kyalami · OverTake — AMS2 Historical Endurance Pt. 2

Friday July 3 Snapshot — Assetto Corsa EVO's Modding Era Beds In on the 0.7 Build While Le Mans Ultimate's Next Season-Pass Reveal Lands Tomorrow (July 4); Automobilista 2's v1.6.9.8 and iRacing's 2026 Season 3 Stay the Steady Baselines

A calm end-of-week snapshot with one big date on the horizon. Assetto Corsa EVO's 0.7 early-access build — the one that opened the door to community-created and modified cars via the first official modding tools — continues to settle, building on the 0.6 update that added Sebring International Raceway, six new cars, refined suspension modelling and improved multiplayer collisions. The headline of the weekend, though, is a sim next door: Le Mans Ultimate's next season-pass reveal is due tomorrow, July 4, ahead of the bigger v1.4 update. In the meantime, Automobilista 2's v1.6.9.8 (Hungaroring plus three formula classes) and iRacing's 2026 Season 3 remain the steady baselines for weekly racing.

Source: Assetto Corsa — News · Traxion — AC EVO Modding

Wednesday June 24 Snapshot — Project Motor Racing's GT Icons Pack Lands With Road America's Rocky Knoll and Nine Classics Headlined by the Chaparral 2F and Jaguar E-Type Lightweight; Assetto Corsa Rally's Greece-Set v0.5 and AMS2's v1.6.9.8 Round Out a Busy Sim Week

Project Motor Racing's GT Icons Pack is now out, adding the Rocky Knoll layout of Road America and nine rarely-seen classics headlined by the moveable-wing Chaparral 2F and the Jaguar E-Type Lightweight; it lands on top of the recent 2.0.0.6 patch that reworked handling, slipstream and setup options. Elsewhere, Assetto Corsa Rally has confirmed Greece as the headline location for its v0.5 update, Automobilista 2's v1.6.9.8 (Hungaroring + three formula classes) is bedded in, and Assetto Corsa EVO's 0.7 early-access build (modding SDK, new particle system) continues to settle. iRacing's 2026 Season 3 rolls into its second week.

Source: OverTake — AMS2 v1.6.9.8 · Traxion — AC EVO Modding

Tuesday June 23 Snapshot — Assetto Corsa Rally Locks in Greece as the Headline Location for v0.5; Project Motor Racing's 2.0.0.6 Patch Reworks Handling, Slipstream & Setups; LMU's 6-Hour Le Mans Special Week Opens

The early-access projects keep moving. Assetto Corsa Rally has confirmed Greece as the headline location for its upcoming v0.5 update — a marquee gravel destination for the stage-rally newcomer as it builds out its surface and location roster. Project Motor Racing has pushed update 2.0.0.6, with major handling improvements, reworked slipstreaming and new setup options including a third spring — a meaningful step for the Straight4/GTR-lineage sim. On the live grid, Le Mans Ultimate's 6-hour Le Mans special event week is now open (race action expected over the weekend) on v1.3.3, ahead of v1.4 and the next season pass in July (announce July 4). iRacing's 2026 Season 3 (Qualcomm Circuit, Laguna Seca rescan, Dirt AI) and Automobilista 2's v1.6.9.8 (Hungaroring + three formula classes) remain bedded in. Live builds: AC Rally v0.4→v0.5, Project Motor Racing 2.0.0.6, AC EVO v0.7, AMS2 v1.6.9.8, iRacing 2026 S3, LMU v1.3.3.

Sources: OverTake — Greece Confirmed for AC Rally v0.5 · Traxion — Project Motor Racing 2.0.0.6

Wednesday June 17 Snapshot — Automobilista 2's v1.6.9.8 Is Live With the Hungaroring & Three New Formula Classes; iRacing's Season 3 Settles Into Its First Official Racing Days; LMU Holds v1.3.3 With the 6h Le Mans Special a Week Out

The grid of live builds finally moves. Automobilista 2 has shipped v1.6.9.8 (out June 13) — the build that had grown well beyond its version number is now out, adding the Hungaroring and three more classes of formula cars, the larger of Reiza's late-June updates. iRacing's 2026 Season 3 is through its first days of official racing: the Qualcomm Circuit, the Laguna Seca rescan, Dirt AI and the new track map / fuel calculator / incident tracker widgets are all bedded in and stable. Le Mans Ultimate holds on v1.3.3 with its 6-hour Le Mans special event listed for June 23 — the natural follow-up to the real 24 Hours — ahead of v1.4 and the next season pass in July (announcement July 4). Assetto Corsa EVO 0.7's modding SDK keeps the community busy, and RaceRoom's Lamborghini Temerario GT3 DTM pack stays slated for this month. Live builds: AC EVO v0.7, AMS2 v1.6.9.8, iRacing 2026 S3, LMU v1.3.3.

Sources: OverTake — AMS2 v1.6.9.8 Full Changelog · iRacing — 2026 Season 3 Is Here

Friday June 12 Snapshot — Transition Week's Final Weekend on iRacing (Official S3 Racing June 16), LMU Rides Race Eve on v1.3.3, AMS2's v1.6.9.8 Still Inbound; BMW Takes Its First Le Mans Pole, Race Tomorrow 16:00

Race eve across the board. iRacing's Season 3 transition week enters its final weekend — specials on the new build through Sunday, then official Season 3 racing starts Tuesday June 16 at 0000 UTC, with the Qualcomm Circuit, Dirt AI and the new track map / fuel calculator / incident tracker widgets well bedded in. Le Mans Ultimate hits the weekend it was built for on v1.3.3: the real 24 Hours of Le Mans starts tomorrow at 16:00 — BMW on its first-ever overall pole after Aitken's 0.005s Cadillac lap was deleted — and the 6-hour Le Mans special event (listed June 23) is the natural follow-up, ahead of v1.4 in July. Automobilista 2 holds on v1.6.9.5 with v1.6.9.8 still inbound and Reiza hinting at two releases before July; RaceRoom's Lamborghini Temerario GT3 DTM pack stays slated for this month; Assetto Corsa EVO 0.7's modding SDK keeps the community busy. Live builds: AC EVO v0.7, AMS2 v1.6.9.5, iRacing 2026 S3, LMU v1.3.3.

Sources: iRacing — This Week in iRacing · RACER — Vanthoor Takes Le Mans Pole · OverTake — LMU Special Events Schedule

Thursday June 11 Snapshot — iRacing's Transition Week at Mid-Stream (Official S3 Racing June 16), LMU's 6h Le Mans Special Event Queued for June 23, AMS2's v1.6.9.8 Still Inbound; Real Le Mans Hyperpole Tonight

The sims hold formation while the real one qualifies. iRacing's Season 3 transition week is at mid-stream — specials on the new build, with the Qualcomm Circuit, Dirt AI and the new track map / fuel calculator / incident tracker widgets getting their first real workout before official Season 3 racing starts Tuesday June 16 at 0000 UTC. Le Mans Ultimate rides race week on v1.3.3: the 6-hour Le Mans special event with Hypercar, LMP2 and LMGT3 is listed for June 23 — the natural follow-up for anyone inspired by Saturday's race — ahead of v1.4 in July. Automobilista 2 holds on v1.6.9.5 with v1.6.9.8 still inbound and Reiza hinting at two releases before July; RaceRoom's Lamborghini Temerario GT3 DTM pack stays slated for this month; Assetto Corsa EVO 0.7's modding SDK keeps the community busy. Real-world: Wednesday qualifying knocked the defending-winner #83 Ferrari out of Hyperpole, and the two-stage Hyperpole runs tonight from 20:00 before Saturday's 16:00 start. Live builds: AC EVO v0.7, AMS2 v1.6.9.5, iRacing 2026 S3, LMU v1.3.3.

Sources: iRacing — This Week in iRacing · OverTake — LMU Special Events Schedule · RACER — Le Mans Qualifying

Wednesday June 10 Snapshot — iRacing's Season 3 Build Through Day One (Official Racing Starts June 16), LMU Reveals Special Events Incl. a 6h Le Mans Race, RaceRoom's Temerario GT3 DTM Pack Still Inbound; Real Le Mans Goes On Track Today

Changeover week settles. iRacing's 2026 Season 3 build is through its first full day — the Qualcomm Circuit, BMW M2 G87, Dirt AI and the new in-sim track map, fuel calculator and incident tracker widgets drawing the early community attention — with official Season 3 racing starting Tuesday June 16 at 0000 UTC; until then it's transition-week specials on the new build. Le Mans Ultimate times its news to race week: the special events schedule is out, headlined by a 6-hour race at Le Mans with Hypercar, LMP2 and LMGT3 (listed June 23) and teasing future tracks, ahead of v1.4 in July. Automobilista 2 holds on v1.6.9.5 with v1.6.9.8 still inbound and Reiza hinting at two June releases. RaceRoom's Lamborghini Temerario GT3 sim debut in the 2026 DTM pack remains slated for this month. And the real-world headline shapes the week: the 24 Hours of Le Mans starts its track program today, racing Saturday–Sunday — expect every endurance sim to be busy. Live builds: AC EVO v0.7, AMS2 v1.6.9.5, iRacing 2026 S3, LMU v1.3.3.

Sources: iRacing — 2026 Season 3 Release Notes · OverTake — LMU Special Events Schedule

Monday June 8 Snapshot — AMS2's June Dev Update Pt 1: v1.6.9.8 Has Grown Well Beyond Its Version Bump, Possibly Two Big Updates Before July; iRacing Season 3 Build Lands Tomorrow, AC EVO 0.7 Settles In

Reiza opens the month talking. Automobilista 2's June 2026 Development Update Pt 1 went up Saturday (June 6), with Renato Simioni confirming the next update has grown bigger and taken longer than planned — largely down to licensing hold-ups still being resolved — and that far more content, features and improvements are stacked up than the modest version bump to v1.6.9.8 suggests. Better still: the update scheduled to follow is progressing on its original timeline, so Reiza could land two big update releases before the end of June, with v1.7.0 still targeted toward the end of Q2 with new content and significant structural changes; Part 2 of the dev update follows with more detail. iRacing reaches its changeover: Season 2 closed last night and the Season 3 build lands tomorrow, Tuesday June 9 (downtime from 0800 EDT / 1200 UTC) — Qualcomm Circuit, BMW M2 G87, EuroNASCAR RC01, the Laguna Seca rescan, Dirt AI. Assetto Corsa EVO 0.7 settles into its first full week with the modding SDK in creators' hands. Le Mans Ultimate heads into the real-world Le Mans week (race June 13–14) on v1.3.3. Live builds: AC EVO v0.7, AMS2 v1.6.9.5, iRacing 2026.05.04.02 (final day), LMU v1.3.3.

Sources: Reiza Forum — AMS2 June 2026 Dev Update Pt 1 · iRacing — This Week in iRacing

Friday June 5 Snapshot — Assetto Corsa EVO 0.7 Is Live: Modding SDK Opens the Door, Four New Cars & a New Particle System; RaceRoom Readies the Lamborghini Temerario GT3 in a 2026 DTM Pack, AMS2 Signs Alonso

The queued update turns out to be live. Assetto Corsa EVO Update 0.7 shipped Wednesday (June 3) — and it's bigger than the car list suggested. The four new cars are confirmed: Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II, Porsche 911 GT2 RS Clubsport Evo, Datsun 240Z and the 2018 Porsche 935. On top of that comes a brand-new particle system — smoke, dust, gravel spray, water spray and impact debris — and the headline nobody had a firm date for: the modding SDK is out. Community-created and modified cars are now officially possible, the first step toward the open ecosystem that made the original Assetto Corsa the most modded sim ever. The revised ranked-MP safety rating rides along. RaceRoom Racing Experience is next on the calendar: the Lamborghini Temerario GT3 is set for its sim racing debut this month as part of a 2026-season DTM DLC pack. Automobilista 2 announces a wider Fernando Alonso partnership, starting with three Alonso F1 cars as DLC. Elsewhere: iRacing's Season 3 downtime is locked for Tuesday June 9 (0800 EDT / 1200 UTC); Le Mans Ultimate sits on the fresh v1.3.3 2026 season update with v1.4 plus the next season pass due in July; F1 25's 2026 Season Pack is out, with Traxion's review calling the cars accurate but questioning the value. Live builds: AC EVO v0.7, AMS2 v1.6.9.5, iRacing 2026.05.04.02 (final weekend), LMU v1.3.3.

Sources: Traxion — AC EVO 0.7 Marks the Beginning of Modding · Steam — AC EVO Update 0.7 Out Now · Traxion — What to Expect in June

Thursday June 4 Snapshot — iRacing Season 3 Build Locks June 9, LMU Ships Its 2026 Le Mans Season Update (Sarthe 2026 Dressing + Adess AD25), F1 25's 2026 Season Pack Out, Maverick Games Reveals “Clutch”

The platforms finally move. iRacing has a date: the Season 3 content drop lands Tuesday June 9 — the BMW M2 G87 Racing (free in base content), EuroNASCAR RC01, two Formula Vee variants and the new Qualcomm Circuit, which arrives one week ahead of its real-world NASCAR debut in San Diego; Week 12 (June 2–8) runs out Season 2 ahead of the changeover, with the full build also bringing the Laguna Seca rescan, Dirt AI and the live track map. Le Mans Ultimate ends its longest quiet stretch of the year with the 2026 season update (v1.3.3): Circuit de la Sarthe in full 2026 dressing — the Dunlop bridge now carries Goodyear branding — 2026-spec WEC aero and bodywork headlined by the Toyota TR010, and the Adess AD25 joining LMP3 as free content; the next season-pass reveal stays set for Le Mans race week (June 13–14, now 9 days out). F1 25's 2026 Season Pack released June 3, modelling the new regulations including active aerodynamics with moving front and rear wings. And a new name on the map: Maverick Games, the studio co-founded by former Forza Horizon 5 creative director Mike Brown, revealed Clutch — an open-world driving game mixing circuit racing, street racing and cinematic chases, due spring 2027 on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. Elsewhere stable: Assetto Corsa EVO v0.6.3 (v0.7 queue: Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II, Porsche 911 GT2 RS Clubsport Evo, Datsun 240Z, Porsche 935), Automobilista 2 v1.6.9.5.

Sources: Traxion — What to Expect in June · ELMS — LMU 2026 Season Update · Traxion — F1 25 2026 Season Pack

Wednesday June 3 Snapshot — iRacing Season 2 Week 12 Mid-Stream (Final Stretch Before Season 3 Build), AC EVO V0.7 Lineup Sharpens (Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II + Twin GT2 Porsches + Revised Ranked-MP Safety Rating), LMU Eyes June Reveal, Le Mans Now 10 Days Out

Midweek state-of-the-platforms. iRacing 2026 Season 2 Week 12 (June 2–8) is in its mid-stream — the final stretch before the Season 3 build, which remains queued for an early-June drop headlining the new Qualcomm Circuit (NASCAR's San Diego street venue at Naval Base Coronado), the BMW M2 G87 Racing (free in base content), EuroNASCAR RC01, two Formula Vee variants, a BMW M Hybrid V8 Evo upgrade, a from-scratch Laguna Seca laser scan, Dirt AI, 3D kerbing at Oschersleben and Magny-Cours, and a track-art refresh for Oran Park. Kunos has now confirmed the next Assetto Corsa EVO v0.7 drop will include the Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II, the Porsche 911 GT2 RS Clubsport Evo, a classic Datsun 240Z and the 2018 Porsche 935, alongside a revised ranked-MP safety rating — no firm date, but the cadence and current ranked-MP changes suggest the drop is close. Live builds otherwise unchanged: iRacing 2026.05.04.02 (S2 Patch 4); Automobilista 2 v1.6.9.5; Assetto Corsa EVO v0.6.3; Le Mans Ultimate still on its May 12 stability patch, now 22 days old. Studio 397 has flagged that the next season-pass plans get revealed at Le Mans in June — race week is the tease window, now 10 days out (June 13–14). The Spark engine Vertical Slice remains complete — next milestones night lighting and full content portability, still tracking for late 2026.

Sources: iRacing — May 2026 Dev Update · Traxion — AC EVO V0.7 Audi R8 GT3

Tuesday June 2 Snapshot — iRacing Season 2 Week 12 Opens Today (Final Week Before Season 3 Build), AC EVO V0.7 Adds Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II + Porsche 911 GT2 RS Clubsport Evo + Datsun 240Z + 2018 Porsche 935; Le Mans Now 11 Days Out

Race-month rolls in. iRacing 2026 Season 2 Week 12 (June 2–8) opens today — the final week of the season before the Season 3 build. The Season 3 lineup is now locked in for early June: the new Qualcomm Circuit (NASCAR's San Diego street venue at Naval Base Coronado), the BMW M2 G87 Racing (free in base content), EuroNASCAR RC01, two Formula Vee variants, a BMW M Hybrid V8 Evo upgrade, a from-scratch WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca laser scan, Dirt AI, 3D kerbing at Oschersleben and Magny-Cours, and a track-art refresh for Oran Park. Kunos has now confirmed the next Assetto Corsa EVO v0.7 drop will include the Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II, the Porsche 911 GT2 RS Clubsport Evo, a classic Datsun 240Z and the 2018 Porsche 935 — no firm release date yet, but the cadence suggests imminent. Live builds otherwise unchanged: iRacing 2026.05.04.02 (S2 Patch 4); Automobilista 2 v1.6.9.5; Assetto Corsa EVO v0.6.3; Le Mans Ultimate still on its May 12 stability patch, now 21 days old. The big LMU news: Studio 397 has confirmed the next season-pass plans get revealed at Le Mans in June — race week is the tease window, now 11 days out (June 11–14). The Spark engine Vertical Slice remains complete — next milestones night lighting and full content portability.

Sources: iRacing — May 2026 Dev Update · Traxion — AC EVO V0.7 Audi R8 GT3

Monday June 1 Snapshot — First Monday of June, All Major Sims Stable, iRacing Season 3 2026 Build Now Imminent (Qualcomm Circuit / BMW M2 G87 / EuroNASCAR / Laguna Seca Rescan), LMU Patch 20 Days Old, Le Mans 12 Days Out

Quiet first Monday of June — live builds unchanged into the new month. iRacing 2026.05.04.02 (S2 Patch 4 / hotfix 1); Automobilista 2 v1.6.9.5; Assetto Corsa EVO v0.6.3 (May 6); Le Mans Ultimate still on its May 12 stability patch, now 20 days old and Studio 397's longest no-hotfix stretch of the year. The headline development item heading into the week is iRacing's Season 3 2026 build, now imminent for early June: the new Qualcomm Circuit (NASCAR's San Diego street venue at Naval Base Coronado), the BMW M2 G87 (free in base content), EuroNASCAR RC01, a from-scratch WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, Dirt AI, a new dirt road config at Charlotte, a freely resizable virtual mirror and a live track map in the modular Sim UI. The Spark engine Vertical Slice remains complete — next milestones night lighting and full content portability, still tracking for late 2026. Reiza's free 2026 AMS2 demo remains live on Steam, with v1.7.0 still targeted for late Q2. Kunos stays in the v0.6.x AC EVO cycle — the May 29 proximity-based safety rating remains the most recent change — with the next major step the v0.7 update and an upcoming Ferrari supercar reveal. Studio 397 is still expected to use real Le Mans week (June 13–14) — now 12 days out — to tease LMU's next content drop and 2026 season pass.

Rennsport 2026: 45% Price Cut & AI Overhaul in May

Competition Company has dropped the Rennsport Deluxe Edition to €38.49 / $39.99 — a 45% cut that bundles all paid content packs through September. The reworked physics-based AI — modelled on real driver inputs rather than rail-following — lands in May. Track modding tools enter beta in August; Endurance Classics Pack 1 arrives mid-year.

Assetto Corsa Competizione

ACC remains one of the top-rated sim racing experiences, particularly for GT3 and GT4 endurance racing. Its physics, force feedback, and official SRO license make it the gold standard for competitive GT racing with a dedicated and active community.

rFactor 2

rFactor 2 continues to serve the dedicated sim racing community with its renowned physics engine and force feedback precision. Popular for GT3 endurance and open-wheel events, it remains a staple for racers who prioritize driving feel above all else.

Richard Burns Rally (Modded)

The modded version of Richard Burns Rally remains the definitive rally simulation in 2026. Community-maintained with extensive car and stage packs, it offers unmatched rally physics that modern games still struggle to replicate.

Gran Turismo 7 April Update — Three New Cars, Engine Swaps & Power Pack Challenges

Polyphony's April 2026 update for Gran Turismo 7 adds three new cars (a Chinese hypercar, a French city car, and another iteration of a long-running sports car staple), along with expanded engine swaps, new events, and Power Pack challenges. Not a sim in the strict sense, but GT7 remains the single biggest console gateway into the wider sim racing world.

Automobilista 2 Roadmap: v1.7.0 the Big Drop, F1-Style DLC First

Reiza is sticking to a 1–2 month update cadence with v1.7.0 as the year's headline drop, scheduled for the end of Q2. The first 2026 DLC pack is a series of F1-inspired single-seaters, followed by two further historical endurance packs. New platform features queued: mid-race saving, virtual safety cars, ballast, class points, animated marshals, tow/repair delays, plus joining ranked races from third-party services in-game. Career mode rolls out in phases once that platform work lands — first element by end of 2026.