Motorsport news

STEAM Racing Future, a new educational initiative from Racing Future—an organisation already running a karting school and supporting young motorsport talent in Poland—has begun operations. Co-created by Marcin Budkowski, the programme aims to demonstrate to children and teenagers that mathematics, physics and engineering extend far beyond classroom theory and can lead directly to the racetrack. The course targets participants aged 10 to 16. Sessions began on 26 September and continue every Saturday for 35 weeks, with enrolment still open. The programme is available in three formats: fully online, in-person at Tor Modlin circuit, or hybrid. Bridging theory and practice The STEAM Racing Future curriculum uses motorsport as an engaging context to develop problem-solving, creativity and engineering thinking. Rather than treating mathematics and physics as abstract concepts, participants apply them directly—calculating go-kart dimensions, understanding vehicle dynamics and making informed decisions on track. The seven-module structure guides learners through go-kart construction step by step, exploring how design choices affect on-track behaviour. Mathematics covers measurement and comparison; physics addresses motion, forces and braking; engineering bridges concept to working solution; and art develops design sensitivity. Instruction is delivered by a mathematics and physics teacher who contextualises theory within the project, supported by video content featuring Budkowski, an experienced Formula 1 engineer and manager. His contributions offer insight into how motorsport success depends on specialists across design, data analysis, technology, mechanics, strategy and continuous refinement—demonstrating that racing involves far more than driving. Learning through iteration The STEAM methodology encourages learners to combine knowledge across disciplines, seek solutions independently and learn from experience. Participants observe, design, build, test and refine—treating mistakes as information rather than failure. This approach mirrors established international motorsport education programmes such as STEM Racing and Britain's STEM On Track, which emphasise problem-solving, communication, collaboration and resilience alongside technical content.

The Brescia-based team AC Racing Technology concluded the Italian hillclimb season with a dominant showing at the 71st Coppa Nissena on 12–13 September in Sicily, securing four national championship titles across different categories. Salvatore Tortora clinched the Italian Racing Start Cup championship in the top RS category, driving a Peugeot 308 for Imperial Racing Division. The Salerno driver completed a flawless season, with a standout performance at Gubbio in the penultimate round. In the GT category, Piero Nappi won the Super Cup Third Division title aboard a Porsche 992 GT3 Cup, while Sebastiano Frijo claimed the Super Cup Second Division crown in a Lamborghini Huracán. The team's success extended beyond the headline winners. Giovanni Angelini had already secured the RS Plus title at Gubbio, bringing the total to four championships. At Coppa Nissena, Angelo Loconte and Giovanni Loffredo both defended third-place finishes in the RSTB categories, each driving a Mini Cooper JCW. In the TCR class, Antonio Scorza narrowly missed victory, finishing second by less than one second. AC Racing Technology fielded five cars across the Sicilian event, spanning the Racing Start Turbo and RSTB2.0 classes alongside the championship-winning entries.

iRacing has announced an expansion of its per-race weather regeneration system for the 2026 Season 4 update, rolling out the feature across 34 official racing series. The change introduces dynamic weather conditions and expanded rain possibilities to official races, allowing for greater variety in track conditions across multiple race sessions. The weather reroll mechanic enables races within participating series to feature different atmospheric conditions, potentially including precipitation scenarios that were previously unavailable or limited in official competition. This expansion represents a significant step in iRacing's ongoing effort to increase environmental variability and realism across its competitive platform.

Valve's Steam Frame virtual reality headset brings wireless connectivity, eye-tracking technology and a native resolution of 2160×2160 pixels per eye to PC-based sim racing. The device supports refresh rates up to 144 Hz, positioning it as a high-performance option for drivers seeking immersive cockpit experiences without cable tethering. The headset combines PC VR capabilities with features designed to reduce latency and improve visual fidelity during racing simulation sessions. Eye-tracking functionality enables gaze-based interaction and potential performance optimisation within compatible titles.

The 2026-27 eNASCAR College iRacing Series presented by Logitech G has opened time attack qualifying for the Peachtree Pursuit at Echo Park Speedway. Collegiate drivers can submit their fastest laps between September 15th and 20th via iRacing's Time Attack mode, with the top 100 eligible competitors advancing to tournament racing on September 23rd. The series continues its partnership with PlayVS College League, offering $60,000 in scholarship prizes distributed across eight tournaments throughout the season. This year introduces a new School Championship alongside the existing Student Championship format. The top 40 drivers from the opening round will progress to the Final Round on September 30th. The 2026-27 season features NASCAR Trucks as the primary vehicle class, with road course racing returning in partnership with IMSA using the Ford Mustang GT4. To qualify, drivers must complete the official Time Attack session and register for eligibility through the iRacing UI by navigating to "Go Racing," then "Time Attack Competitions," and searching for "eNASCAR College iRacing Series." First-time participants must register; those who competed in previous events need not re-register.

Logitech G has been announced as the presenting sponsor of the eNASCAR College iRacing Series for the 2026-27 academic season, marking an expanded role for the peripheral manufacturer in collegiate sim racing. The partnership will support $60,000 in scholarships distributed to top drivers throughout the season and represents a continuation of Logitech's multi-year involvement with the series. The new season introduces several structural changes, including a revised tournament format, separate Student and School Championships, updated points scoring, and the addition of two IMSA-backed road races. The series branding will shift from its traditional college orange to Logitech blue, with the colour reflected on windshield banners for both NASCAR Craftsman Trucks and Ford Mustang GT3 vehicles competing in IMSA events. Beyond sponsorship, Logitech G will distribute racing hardware through a 'We Got Wheels' giveaway running throughout the season. Registered drivers who complete at least one Time Attack attempt will be automatically entered for a chance to win a racing prize pack and iRacing credits. The 2026-27 season opens with the 'PeachTree Pursuit' at EchoPark Speedway, with Time Attacks running from 15–20 September. Competition begins in Week 1 on 23 September, with the Final Round scheduled for 30 September. Student drivers can register through the official portal at pcl.gg/pages/enascar.

NASCAR 26 is now available in early access for Gold Edition owners on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam, with the Standard Edition launching on September 18. Developed by iRacing Studios in collaboration with NASCAR, the game features racing across all four premier NASCAR series: the Cup Series, O'Reilly Auto Parts Series, Craftsman Truck Series, and ARCA Menards Series. Gold Edition owners can purchase the game for $79.99 and gain access to the full title plus a Season Pass with four monthly DLC packs through year-end, including new paint schemes, fire suits, and career mode bonuses. The Standard Edition costs $59.99. Pre-orders of either edition before September 18 unlock a $5,000 career bonus, 500 reputation points, and an exclusive Kyle Larson paint scheme. Key additions to this year's iteration include an overhauled Career Mode with facility upgrades and coaching from NASCAR personalities Steve Letarte and Jamie McMurray, a new standalone Chase mode for championship competition, and Peak Performance training functionality. The game introduces dynamic track technology that evolves grip conditions throughout a race weekend, alongside a revised tire and braking model for improved authenticity. Visual enhancements span improved graphics, lighting, cloud interactions, and a new particle system for smoke and debris effects. New content includes three additional tracks—Qualcomm Circuit at Naval Base Coronado, Chicagoland, and St. Petersburg—plus a new Ram truck, fresh spotter character Freddie Kraft, and customizable driver ratings. Cross-platform multiplayer enables players to compete together across all supported platforms.

Early adopters of NASCAR 26 are reporting improvements to the sim's force feedback implementation compared to its predecessor. Wheel users have noted enhanced steering detail and a more refined overall feel when driving the latest iteration of the NASCAR simulation. The feedback suggests that developer 704Games has made meaningful refinements to the force feedback system, addressing areas that players found lacking in NASCAR 25. While comprehensive testing is still ongoing, initial impressions indicate the changes have resonated positively with the sim racing community.

Simone Faggioli secured his 20th Italian national hillclimb championship title at the 71st Coppa Nissena on Sicily, held at the 5km Caltanissetta circuit. The Italian driver, piloting a Nova NP 01-2 C Judd, delivered an impressive performance in challenging conditions to claim overall victory. The event was marked by a serious accident during the first run that forced a two-hour interruption; the second run was subsequently cancelled due to incoming rain. Faggioli also set a new track record at Caltanissetta, becoming the first driver to break the two-minute barrier on the high-speed course. Stefano di Fulvio finished second overall in his Nova NP 01-2 C Honda Turbo, securing vice-champion status in the Supersalita championship in his first attempt at the demanding circuit. Samuele Cassibba completed the podium in third place, driving a Nova NP 01-2 C Judd and claiming victory in the E2-SC sportprototype class. In the touring car category, Giuseppe Aragona won overall in his VW Golf MK.7 Proto, also setting a new E1 class record. Manuel Dondi finished second in an Alfa Romeo-powered Fiat X1/9, establishing a new E2-SH class record, while Kadija Mourtaji took third place in a Ferrari 296 Challenge on her debut in the car. Mourtaji was involved in a significant accident at the finish line during the first run but escaped with minor injuries; trackside officials were also slightly hurt in the incident. Other notable finishers included Mirko Torsellini in fourth overall (Norma M20FC Zytek, 0.17 seconds behind third), Achille Lombardi fifth (Osella PA30 Judd), and Luigi Fazzino sixth (Osella PA30 Zytek Evo, 0.31 seconds from fifth). Technical retirements affected potential contenders Francesco Conticelli and Michele Puglisi, both Sicilian drivers who had shown strong pace in practice.

The 2026 Clio Cup Bohemia season reached a critical phase at Brno Autodrom, where Polish driver Oskar Marszałkowski of JTS Racing Team scored eight points across the penultimate round. His performance in the second race proved particularly impressive, as he climbed from 16th on the grid to finish sixth—a gain of ten positions. Marszałkowski's weekend began with challenging conditions during Saturday's qualifying session, held in wet weather. The 18-year-old, who celebrated his birthday before the Czech round, initially showed strong pace on the slippery surface and ran near the top ten for JTS Racing Team. However, a red flag caused by a rival's accident cut short his final qualifying attempt. With only one lap remaining and 29 cars on track simultaneously, changeable conditions and heavy traffic worked against him; he was caught in the wrong place at the wrong time and qualified 18th. The first race offered little opportunity to demonstrate his pace. Real racing lasted only two and a half laps before the safety car deployed, and a serious accident shortly after the restart brought out the red flag again. Marszałkowski managed one overtake and lined up 16th for the second start. Race two told a different story. Marszałkowski made an excellent start and gained five positions on the opening lap alone, breaking into the points-scoring top ten by lap two. He continued climbing the order consistently thereafter. However, another incident approximately five minutes from the finish brought out the safety car again, neutralising the field to the chequered flag and preventing further attacks. He crossed the line sixth, securing eight points and maintaining sixth place in the championship standings ahead of the season finale. "I'm genuinely proud of my performance in the second race," Marszałkowski said. "Starting from a distant position, I had good pace from the beginning and managed to gain a lot of ground. Five positions on the first lap gave me an excellent foundation, and then I could focus on further attacks. It's a shame about the neutralisation at the end, because I felt we still had a chance to fight for a higher position. Sixth place after starting 17th is definitely a result I can be proud of." The Clio Cup Bohemia season concludes in Budapest on the final weekend of October. Marszałkowski's next outing comes much sooner, however—this week at Spa-Francorchamps, where he will join the Clio Cup Series grid in his first appearance for JTS Racing Team in the European cup. He plans two Clio Cup Series starts this year: after Belgium, he will compete in the November round at Portimão.

The 2026 eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Championship Series Playoffs continue this week at Texas Motor Speedway for Round 11, with defending champion Steven Wilson already secured in the Championship 4 finale after his dominant victory at Michigan. Nine drivers remain in contention for the three remaining spots at the season finale in Charlotte, with the stakes intensifying as the field narrows toward October's $500,000 championship race. Wilson's Michigan triumph marked his third win of the season and his second consecutive first-round playoff victory. Despite running the oldest tires in the field during the closing laps, Wilson held off Kollin Keister and Connor Yeroschak on fresher rubber to secure the win and his automatic berth to the Championship 4. Behind him, Bobby Zalenski, Wyatt Tinsley, and Connor Yeroschak currently hold the three provisional playoff spots, while Shawn Conklin (rookie), Tucker Minter, Garrett Lowe, Casey Kirwan, Parker White, and Vicente Salas remain within striking distance but face must-win scenarios to advance. Texas Motor Speedway's 1.5-mile oval presents a fresh challenge for the playoff contenders. The track, located north of Fort Worth, underwent significant reconfiguration in 2017 when Turns 1 and 2 were completely reprofiled, reducing banking from 24 to 20 degrees while widening the racing surface from 60 to 80 feet. Coverage begins at 8 p.m. ET on eNASCAR.com/live and iRacing's social media channels, with the Countdown to Green pre-race show starting at 7:45 p.m. ET. Following Texas, the playoff field advances to Kansas Speedway on September 22nd for the third and final round before the Championship 4 Finale. Last year's winner at Kansas, Steven Wilson, will look to repeat, though this year's race carries far greater significance as it will determine the final three competitors joining Wilson in the championship race for the Dale Earnhardt Jr Cup.

SIMAGIC has introduced three bundled configurations of its ZEUS direct-drive wheelbase system, with pricing starting at $1,099 and discounts reaching $387 across the range. The bundles feature three power variants: 12 Nm, 18 Nm, and 28 Nm direct-drive motors, each paired with complementary components to form complete entry and mid-level sim racing packages. The tiered approach allows buyers to select a configuration matching their performance requirements and budget.