iRacing Reveals Impressive 2022 Season 1 Release Notes

iRacing 2022 Season 1 Build Notes 01.jpg
iRacing's first season of 2022 will include a large amount of new content and another major step forward in AI implementation.

The next season of iRacing will give players the chance to own some interesting new content, including news cars and new or improved tracks, plus practice racing against AI at a number of circuits that didn't previously support AI racing.

The likely headline-stealer will be the Mercedes-AMG F1 W12 E Performance Formula 1 car. The current generation of F1 cars are the fastest racing cars to ever compete in a series, and iRacing members will soon be able to get their hands on Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas' current car.

Two new TCR series cars are also being added: the Honda Civic Type R and the Hyundai Elantra N TC. TCR cars are a favourite amongst many sim racers due to their ability to be raced wheel to wheel with minimal effects from unintentional bumping.

Knockhill circuit is also coming to iRacing in the next major build. The Scottish circuit is a challenging 2 kilometer course featuring 9 corners. Watkins Glen is also cited in the season notes, as the American track will be given a major facelift using new laser-scan data from 2021.

Highlights of the upcoming build are below. Let us know in the comments what's got you most excited to race.

iRacing 2022 Season 1 Build Notes 02.jpg


Season highlights include:

  • Honda Civic Type R
  • Hyundai Elantra N TC
  • Mercedes-AMG F1 W12 E Performance
  • Knockhill Racing Circuit
  • Watkins Glen International (Fully re-scanned and re-built for 2021)
  • Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg - 4 New Track Configurations for the Porsche Experience Center
  • Ability to Require the use of Multiple Tire Compounds
  • Tire Scuffing Visual Effect
  • New “Ready to Race!” Button in the Simulator
  • New Damage Model has been enabled on the Dirt Street Stock, Honda Civic Type R, Hyundai Elantra N TC, and the Mercedes-AMG F1 W12 E Performance
  • AI Racing for THREE New Cars (Dallara IR18, Honda Civic Type R, Hyundai Elantra N TC)
  • AI Racing at NINETEEN New Track Configurations (Charlotte Motor Speedway - All 6 Non-Rallycross Road Configs, Homestead Miami Speedway - Indy Oval, Indianapolis Motor Speedway - Oval and IndyCar Oval, Knockhill Racing Circuit - All 4 Road Configs, Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway - Oval, Watkins Glen International - All 4 Configs, World Wide Technology Raceway - Oval)
About author
Mike Smith
I have been obsessed with sim racing and racing games since the 1980's. My first taste of live auto racing was in 1988, and I couldn't get enough ever since. Lead writer for RaceDepartment, and owner of SimRacing604 and its YouTube channel. Favourite sims include Assetto Corsa Competizione, Assetto Corsa, rFactor 2, Automobilista 2, DiRT Rally 2 - On Twitter as @simracing604

Comments

"as the American track will be given a major facelift using new laser-scan data from 2021."

I don't play iRacing for many reasons and one of those reasons are outdated tracks, so that line right there is a big update for iRacing, they need to start putting in work on some of the European tracks as well.
 
man these current f1 cars are long af.
when i watch races from the 90s, the cars seem so much more agile and nervous literally like gocarts moving around.
watching now f1 its like they drive on rails, the cars are so planted and you barely see them 'move' around, you dont get the feeling that the drivers 'fight' with the cars or throw them around the track...
20-30 yrs ago it looked like drivers constantly needed to correct the cars and keep them on the track. now it looks like the cars are driving the driver.
 
Last edited:
no show race between Red Bull and Mercedes officially :O_o:
View attachment 523416
It's a shame they're not allowing moderated paints that are based on the Mercedes team and their existing sponsors. It'd be interesting to see what variations or new liveries for the team that the community came up with. Might even have created opportunities for the team to run the best fan penned designs.
 
It's a shame they're not allowing moderated paints that are based on the Mercedes team and their existing sponsors. It'd be interesting to see what variations or new liveries for the team that the community came up with. Might even have created opportunities for the team to run the best fan penned designs.

Wonder if it's a permanent thing or just for a year or so?

Also, I don't think this is AI-supported is it? I presume another licencing agreement?
 
Also, I don't think this is AI-supported is it? I presume another licencing agreement?
Maybe it's a same thing as a Formula V. It came to AI a week later after release. If I remember correctly, they need to collect some data or something...
 
Premium
Bummer that the Merc isn’t officially paintable. Well…it is with the internal Iracing paint tool but that is not quite comparable to skins found on TP. Hope this will be allowed when the year is over or sometime later.

Also disappointing that you cannot use it for AI, yet. However we got the IR-18 for AI which is fantastic. I'm going to spend some time with the 2021 roster this evening.
 
I am curious for anyone who has tried out the W12 on iracing how it stacks up against the RSS formula hybrid. Anyone have a comparison on the two?
 
Bummer that the Merc isn’t officially paintable. Well…it is with the internal Iracing paint tool but that is not quite comparable to skins found on TP. Hope this will be allowed when the year is over or sometime later.

Also disappointing that you cannot use it for AI, yet. However we got the IR-18 for AI which is fantastic. I'm going to spend some time with the 2021 roster this evening.
you can create a custom paint just not upload it. and i dont mean creating in the iracing ui
 
  • Like
Reactions: F_B
Premium
you can create a custom paint just not upload it. and i dont mean creating in the iracing ui
Yes, I saw that already.
Though I wonder how it will work once this car has AI enabled: will you also be able to assign custom liveries to the AI cars?
 
hey guys i wrote "no show race between Red Bull and Mercedes officially".
I know, i can use a local paint, and also share it inside leagues with a pack off different files.
But this little bold word above states, you'll not be able to attend to any official series and will see Ferraris, Red Bulls, Saubers, McLarens , whatever. What a shame.
Thats the point !
BTW, my McLaren skin is finished already and looks good :)
Creating skins w/o template isn't rocket sience ;)
 
Last edited:

Latest News

Article information

Author
Mike Smith
Article read time
2 min read
Views
21,770
Comments
71
Last update

Shifting method

  • I use whatever the car has in real life*

  • I always use paddleshift

  • I always use sequential

  • I always use H-shifter

  • Something else, please explain


Results are only viewable after voting.
Back
Top