Motorsport news

Moza Racing will introduce its first wheel set designed for PlayStation 5 at the Tokyo Game Show next week. The announcement marks the Chinese sim racing hardware manufacturer's entry into the PlayStation ecosystem.

The ADAC RAVENOL Nürburgring Langstrecken Serie (NLS) has released its provisional calendar for 2027, marking a landmark year for European club endurance racing. The eight-race schedule coincides with two major anniversaries: the 50th year of the NLS itself and the 100th anniversary of the Nürburgring circuit. Early publication of the dates is intended to provide teams, drivers, and partners with planning certainty ahead of the milestone season. VLN Managing Director Mike Jäger commented: "Half a century of endurance racing on the Nordschleife is a historic milestone of which we are extremely proud—especially since we get to celebrate this anniversary alongside the Nürburgring's centenary. Since its inception in 1977, the series has retained its unique character on this iconic circuit while continuously evolving." The 2027 NLS season will run from March through October, with races scheduled on 20 March, 17 April, 3 July, 7 August, 11–12 September (double-header), 25 September, and 9 October. The 7 August round will be contested over six hours. The 2026 season has already demonstrated strong audience engagement, with the series recording 23.99 million livestream viewers and nearly 214 million video views across social media platforms through the first seven races. The official YouTube channel has attracted more than 180,000 subscribers.

Reiza Studios' plans to add McLaren Formula 1 cars to Automobilista 2 have become entangled in a licensing dispute that shows no signs of swift resolution. The Brazilian developer previously announced a deal to include McLaren F1 machinery, but revealed that the agreement would require other Formula 1 cars in the sim to lose their official branding. Two months on from that announcement, no clear path forward has emerged. The situation highlights the complex licensing landscape surrounding Formula 1 intellectual property in simulation software, where securing rights for individual teams can create complications for the broader grid representation.

iRacing released a hotfix on September 11 for Season 4 that addresses handling characteristics of the Caterham Academy and 420R models. The update corrects rear suspension behaviour on both vehicles and resolves a number of simulator crashes reported by users. The patch is part of iRacing's ongoing effort to maintain stability and improve vehicle physics accuracy across its racing simulation platform.

Le Mans Ultimate will receive a targeted netcode update on 15 September, addressing issues that emerged following the version 1.4 release. The patch precedes a series of three scheduled online test races. The update aims to resolve connectivity and synchronisation problems identified in the recent patch cycle, with the developer using the test race events to validate the fix under competitive conditions.

Developer 3DClouds has announced that online multiplayer racing will arrive in Formula Legends on 18 September as part of version 1.7 update. The new networked racing mode marks a significant expansion for the simulator, which launched with single-player campaign only. Since its initial release, the title has undergone substantial development. The physics model has been overhauled, steering wheel controller compatibility has been added, console versions have been released, and several paid DLC packs have been published. Players previously competed only through time-attack leaderboards. Online multiplayer represents one of the headline features for Formula Legends as it approaches its first anniversary.

Reiza Studios has announced patch v1.6.9.95 for Automobilista 2, introducing the Panoz Esperante GTR-1 as a free addition for all players. The American race car from the late 1990s will be available immediately upon update, featuring the model's distinctive long bonnet and front-mounted V8 engine. The long-awaited McLaren F1 models remain absent from this release. Reiza Studios continues to work through licensing negotiations with McLaren, meaning the cars will not appear in v1.6.9.95 at minimum. The developer had previously indicated a June release alongside Renault content. Beyond new vehicles, the patch focuses on artificial intelligence improvements. AI opponents will now leave the track less frequently, adapt their racing lines more effectively to weather conditions, and players gain separate adjustment sliders for bot braking and acceleration behaviour. The update also expands qualifying configuration options, fixes multiplayer mode bugs, and optimises performance during dynamic weather changes. Reiza Studios has teased a 1970s Le Mans circuit alongside the legendary Porsche 917K, suggesting preparation for a larger v1.7 update in future.

Formula Legends will introduce online multiplayer functionality on 18 September, marking a significant update to the racing simulator a year after its release. The addition comes as the title has surpassed 100,000 copies sold. The multiplayer feature will allow players to compete against each other online for the first time, expanding the game's appeal beyond its existing single-player and local modes.

Reiza Studios will introduce the Panoz Esperante GTR-1 to Automobilista 2 as part of an upcoming free update, continuing the simulator's focus on classic GT machinery. The front-engined American sports car joins a growing roster of period racing cars in the Brazilian sim, reflecting broader community interest in vintage GT competition across modern racing platforms.

Nearly 170 teams competed in the sixth round of the 2026 Rundstrecken-Challenge Nürburgring (RCN) series, held under ideal conditions on the legendary Nordschleife. The event, dubbed "Rhein-Ruhr," saw a change at the top of the championship standings as Sven Markert and Lars Harbeck (both Berlin, BMW 320i) claimed the series lead. The pair benefited from a fortunate day when their confirmation lap was disrupted by an unexpected Code-60 zone, costing them 250 penalty seconds. However, their rivals faced identical difficulties, allowing the Berliners to secure their fifth H3-class victory of the season. "We simply had luck," Markert explained. "We were quick as usual, but the confirmation time was just not achievable. As new leaders, we're under pressure now, but we'll handle it." The overall victory went to Michael Luther and Markus Schmickler (Barsbüttel/Bad Neuenahr, BMW M4 GT4), who dominated proceedings to claim their third win of the season. David Vogt and Marc Basseng (Waldfeucht/Rosenbach, Opel Astra TCR) finished second and set a new lap record in the RS3A class. Third place fell to Reinhold Renger and Marc Andreas Riedl (Rothenburg/Hamburg, Porsche Cayman GT4 CS). RCN series manager Willi Hillebrand praised the event: "A successful gathering. This was excellent promotion for motorsport. We now trust that the final rounds will prove equally positive and exciting." The series continues to attract family teams, with father-son and father-daughter pairings becoming increasingly common. Notable entries included Guido Witz and his sons Benjamin and Niclas (all Switzerland) in the BMW M240i class, with the family trio aiming to compete in the traditional 24-hour race. The event also saw the return of familiar faces to the Nordschleife, including Marco Schelp (Berlin), who competed before emigrating to New Zealand. In the RCN Light category, Andrea Heim (Gronau, Renault Clio) assumed the championship lead after claiming victory in class 29. Maximilian Weissermel (Oberursel, Porsche Cayman) posted the fastest time of the day in class 30 and moved to second in the standings, while Nikolas Reihsner (Wittlich, BMW M3) dropped to third after encountering difficulties during his confirmation lap.

The FIA Central European Zone Rallycross Championship and Polish Rallycross and Autocross Championships will take place at Autodrom Słomczyn on 12–13 September 2026 as a two-day event. The venue offers comprehensive facilities including a restaurant, spectator viewing areas, and restrooms, allowing visitors to attend without bringing supplies. Saturday's schedule begins with the competition office opening at 08:00, followed by a warm-up session from 09:45 to 09:45. Three qualifying heats run across the day: the first from 10:00 to 12:00, the second from 12:20 to 14:20, and the third from 15:00 to 17:00, with technical breaks between sessions. Sunday features a fourth qualifying heat from 09:30 to 11:30, semi-finals in categories A and B from 12:00 to 13:15, and finals beginning at 14:00. Final classifications will be published at 16:00, with prize presentations at 16:10. Spectators can purchase day tickets for 50 PLN per person at the gate, with children under 12 admitted free. Tickets grant access to the Machine Park and all available viewing points. Payment is accepted in cash and by card. Organisers note that the nearby Słomczyn market operates on Sunday and may cause traffic congestion on the shared access road to the circuit.

The 53rd Garessio-San Bernardo hillclimb will take place on 12–13 September on the historic SS 582 mountain road in Piedmont, with 95 entries confirmed. Organised by Supergara and counting towards the Trofeo Nord, the event serves as the sixth and decisive round of the ACI Sport Slalom 1st Zone Cup, with multiple category titles still wide open and tight point gaps promising high drama on race day. The Garessio-San Bernardo has deep roots in Italian motorsport history, tracing back to its inaugural edition in 1956 when Piero Campanella won in an Alfa Romeo Giulietta SV. The event transitioned from a timed hillclimb to slalom format and now runs over a 4.18-kilometre section of the mountain pass, starting at km 3.37 and finishing at km 7.55. Luigi Taramazzo holds the record for most victories with eight wins, while the roll of honour includes celebrated drivers such as Ada Pace and more recently Fabio Emanuele and Alessandro Polini. The E2 SC category will again be the headline attraction, with Damiano Furnari (Elia Avrio ST 09, 11 points) and Luca Veldorale (Radical SR4, 13 points) locked in a tight battle for outright honours. Behind them, Stefano Repetto and Giuseppe Scozzafava, both in Radical SR4s, sit at 7 and 5 points respectively and remain in contention. Other categories show similarly compressed standings: in Kart Cross, leader "Bomberos" (17 points) faces pressure from Loris and Ivan Cocino; the E2SH Silhouette class is separated by just one point between Palmiro Strizzi (7 points) and challengers Daniele Patete and Mauro Piana (both 6 points); and in the Special Slalom group, Paolo Bordo leads with 12 points over Fortunato Morabito at 9. Among road-going categories, absences of leading competitors create opportunities: in Group A, local driver Marco Strata (Skoda Fabia Evo, 6 points) can move to the top with a solid result, while in Group RS Plus, Gianfranco Vigo (Renault Clio Williams, 5 points) needs only to finish to claim the zone title. The Historic Cars category will add a museum-quality dimension to the event, featuring entries including an Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV6, Ford Sierra Cosworth, BMW 2002 TI, Fiat 124 Abarth, and Innocenti Mini Cooper. Saturday 12 September will host accreditation at Villa Gobbi (15:30–18:30) and technical checks at Piazzale del Peso Pubblico (16:00–19:00). Sunday 13 September begins with additional technical verification, followed by a regularity run at 10:45, official course reconnaissance at 11:00, and three timed runs to determine the winner and award crucial zone championship points.