Like clockwork, iRacing gets a considerable update every three months. In September, it is time for one again to prepare the sim for Season 4 of 2023, which will include some exciting improvements - although rain is not quite there just yet.
Image credit: iRacing
The latest dev update for iRacing announced that two new tracks are going to be part of the September update - or rather three, to be exact: For one, sim racers finally get to enjoy a modern version of Zandvoort, which has seen some significant alterations ahead of its return to the Formula One calendar in 2021 (originally scheduled for 2020, but postponed due to the COVID pandemic).
In addition to the Dutch Grand Prix venue, short track oval racing fans can look forward to the addition of Kern County Raceway Park with both its paved and dirt layouts. The Californian ovals will not be sold separately, meaning racers pay for one circuit, but receive both versions.
Meanwhile, numerous elements will receive a fresh coat of paint for the September update: The in-sim UI gets a rework that also makes it possible to scale better to different resolutions, more history will be available on the results page, and the doubled-in-size animation team focuses on modernizng the core architecture for graphics, which should lead quicker load times and another increase in different car models that can be on the grid in one race together.
The road racing license system is also subject to change to better accommodate different types of cars "with dramatically different characteristics and the pitfalls that can be experienced when trying something less familiar."
Rain is coming to iRacing - it is not quite clear when, however, but the screenshots provided with the Dev Update look promising. Image credit: iRacing.com
The content is certainly there: Ladders for various types of cars and disciplines already exist in iRacing - think Formula Vee to Formula One via F4 (which is officially partnered with iRacing now), and F3 or Mazda MX5 to LMDh prototypes via GT4, GT3 and LMP2.
To get all the details about iRacing's latest Dev Update, check out Hill's original post here.
On-track battles like these could be fought in a career mode eventually, as iRacing has confirmed to be working on one. Image credit: iRacing.com
Image credit: iRacing
The latest dev update for iRacing announced that two new tracks are going to be part of the September update - or rather three, to be exact: For one, sim racers finally get to enjoy a modern version of Zandvoort, which has seen some significant alterations ahead of its return to the Formula One calendar in 2021 (originally scheduled for 2020, but postponed due to the COVID pandemic).
In addition to the Dutch Grand Prix venue, short track oval racing fans can look forward to the addition of Kern County Raceway Park with both its paved and dirt layouts. The Californian ovals will not be sold separately, meaning racers pay for one circuit, but receive both versions.
New Spanish Circuit in Development
More is in the pipeline on the circuit front, too: While iRacing is already working on Algarve, Misano, Mugello, Pukekohe and Lédenon, Executive Producer Greg Hill also confirmed the Circuito de Navarra to be in the works for the sim. Opened in 2010, the facility currently mostly hosts regional series, but has been on the calendars of the FIA GT1 World Championship (2010-2012), the Blancpain Endurance Series (2011-2012, now GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup), World SBK (2021) and the 24H Series (2018), among others.Meanwhile, numerous elements will receive a fresh coat of paint for the September update: The in-sim UI gets a rework that also makes it possible to scale better to different resolutions, more history will be available on the results page, and the doubled-in-size animation team focuses on modernizng the core architecture for graphics, which should lead quicker load times and another increase in different car models that can be on the grid in one race together.
Tire Physics Improvement for Dry & Wet
In conjuction with the progressing rain and wet weather model, the physics team (now even tripled in size) is working on more detailed tire physics, also for running in the dry. A deep dive on these developments should follow soon, which also goes for the implementation of rain when "closer to release of this ongoing project", according to Hill.The road racing license system is also subject to change to better accommodate different types of cars "with dramatically different characteristics and the pitfalls that can be experienced when trying something less familiar."
Rain is coming to iRacing - it is not quite clear when, however, but the screenshots provided with the Dev Update look promising. Image credit: iRacing.com
Career Mode in the Making
Another highly-interesting piece of info is iRacing's apparent focus on adding a "realistic and engaging career mode that is being built true to the authentic nature of what iRacing (and real world racing) is all about", as Hill states in the Dev Update. Whether this means a career mode being added to iRacing itself or a separate release remains to be seen.The content is certainly there: Ladders for various types of cars and disciplines already exist in iRacing - think Formula Vee to Formula One via F4 (which is officially partnered with iRacing now), and F3 or Mazda MX5 to LMDh prototypes via GT4, GT3 and LMP2.
To get all the details about iRacing's latest Dev Update, check out Hill's original post here.
On-track battles like these could be fought in a career mode eventually, as iRacing has confirmed to be working on one. Image credit: iRacing.com
