Motorsport news

A fresh update to Project Motor Racing has introduced significant changes to the simulation's LMDh class, while also advancing the game's virtual reality and triple-screen display modes out of alpha testing. The LMDh category has undergone a rework as part of the patch, though specific details of the changes were not disclosed. Meanwhile, both VR support and triple-screen functionality have progressed to beta status, making them available for wider testing ahead of a full release.

Garrett Manes claimed his maiden victory in the eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Championship Series at Daytona International Speedway, passing fuel-starved Blaze Crawford on the final lap of a chaotic triple-overtime finish. The win came in Manes' 80th career start in the series, ending a drought that included a heartbreaking near-miss at the same track four-and-a-half years earlier. The race served as the Regular Season finale, with only ten drivers advancing to the Playoffs and a share of $500,000 plus the Dale Earnhardt Jr Cup. Manes, who started from pit road due to a restart violation, was already eliminated from Playoff contention entering the night, meaning the final four spots came down to points. Jake Nichols (TC Esports) finished second, followed by Blake Reynolds (Channel 199 Sim Racing) and Parker White (Williams F1 Team Gaming). The field completed 92 laps—12 more than the scheduled 80—with 41 lead changes among 20 drivers. The Playoff field of ten includes Steven Wilson (Spire Motorsports), Bobby Zalenski (ERA eSports Team), Vicente Salas (Kanaan Esports), Garrett Lowe (BS+COMPETITION), Tucker Minter (William Byron eSports), Parker White, Connor Yeroschak (Letarte eSports), Shawn Conklin (RFK Racing), Wyatt Tinsley and Casey Kirwan (both Kansas City Pioneers). Notable misses included former 2025 Championship 4 competitor Zack Novak (JR Motorsports), who fell three points short, and Qualifying Series champion Quentin Warman (Hyak Motorsports), who missed by 17 points. The final lap descended into pandemonium as fuel concerns mounted during the extended overtime. Steven Wilson led the most laps with 17, but pit-road fuel stops during the overtime periods left several contenders stranded. On the third and final overtime attempt, contact in Turn 4 involving Matthew Morton and Tucker Minter triggered a chain-reaction crash. Crawford, running out of fuel, lost the lead to Manes, who held on through the chaos to take the checkered flag. The eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Championship Series Playoffs begin in two weeks at Michigan International Speedway.

The next major update for Le Mans Ultimate will prioritise stability and content expansion, according to developer announcements. The September patch will address bugs and errors across the simulation while introducing two additional circuits to the game's track roster. The update represents a continued commitment to refining the racing experience following the title's launch. Further details on which specific issues will be resolved and which tracks are being added have not yet been disclosed.

Le Mans Ultimate has rolled back recent network protocol modifications in its latest hotfix, addressing complaints from the online racing community about erratic vehicle behaviour during multiplayer sessions. The reversal restores the netcode to its previous state following feedback that the updated system was producing unnatural handling characteristics during races.

Andrea Di Caro arrives at the Gubbio hillclimb with a chance to secure the Italian Supersalita (hillclimb) championship title at the first of two season finals. The Best Lap driver needs only one more victory in the motorcycle-engined car category to mathematically clinch the crown and retain his championship status.

Developers of Le Mans Ultimate have announced a community update for August 2026 addressing changes to the simulation's network protocol following the release of version 1.4. The update involves reverting certain modifications to the network infrastructure, though specific technical details of the rollback were not disclosed in the announcement. The move suggests the developers are responding to community feedback or performance issues identified after the 1.4 patch deployment.

The Austrian Bergrallyecup resumes its summer break with the Voitsberg-Lobming event in western Styria, marking the start of the championship's decisive phase. The 1.6 km course is expected to deliver spectacular racing, with an exceptionally strong field of drivers competing across multiple classes. Class 1 (Pf Klasse 1) will see Reinhold Taus leading the championship standings in his Subaru Impreza P4 Turbo as one of the main favourites. He faces stiff competition from hillclimb veteran Rupert Schwaiger, piloting a Porsche 911 3.5 Bi-Turbo, who impressed recently at the Austrian hillclimb nationals. Thomas Nöst brings a well-prepared VW Polo 6 HCR, while Karl Heinz Binder is working to have his Ford Sierra Cosworth RS ready. Franz Kogler will debut his newly built machine at the event. Class 2a (Pf Klasse 2a) features Peter Probhardt in a Mitsubishi Lancer WRC 05 Evo 3 as a championship contender, alongside Felix Pailer in a Lancia Delta Integrale. Markus Binder (Ford Escort Cosworth), Reinhold Nauschnegg (Opel VMAX Calibra Turbo), Michael Storath (Lancia Delta Integrale), and Nico Winkler (Skoda Octavia Turbo Evo 3) are also entered. Class 2b (Pf Klasse 2b) sees Hannes Kaufmann (Ford Escort Cosworth) as a favourite, challenged by championship leader Stefan Wiedenhofer in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9. Dietmar Lustig-Jungwirth (Ford Escort Cosworth RS03), Andreas Miletich (VW Scirocco Type S, making his cup debut), Erwin Heidenbauer (Seat Leon Cupra TCR), and Roland Wurm (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) complete the field. Class 3a (Pf Klasse 3a) includes Diethard Sternad (Honda Civic FK7 TCR), fresh from strong Austrian nationals performances, Kevin Reiß (Mercedes Benz 190 Evo 1 Turbo), Stella Ochabauer (VW Corrado Turbo), and local driver Martin Ranner (VW Golf 1 16V) making his debut. Class 3b (Pf Klasse 3b) is led by Heiko Fiausch (Opel Astra STW), one of only two drivers to win every round so far. Karlheinz Stranner (Ford Escort Cosworth), Markus Gruber (Skoda Fabia Evo 2), and Severin Gschiel (VW Golf 1 16V) are among the contenders. Christian Biesinger debuts his newly built Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9, while Stefan Karl (VW Golf 4 GTI), Kristin Gschiel (Audi A4 B5 Quattro), Rudolf Windbacher (Honda Civic EG6/K20, competing at his home event), Manfred Liendl (Ford Escort Turbo), and Christoph Rappold (BMW E36 M3) are also entered. Class 4a (Pf Klasse 4a) features Patrick Mayer (VW Golf 1 16V 2.0) as a leading contender, with Dieter Holzer (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8) and Mario Papst (Subaru Impreza GT) among the challengers.

Sim racing hardware manufacturer MOZA will exhibit six simulator stations at Gamescom 2026 in Cologne, alongside an unveiling of a new officially licensed MotoGP sim racing product. The announcement signals MOZA's continued expansion into motorcycle simulation, building on growing interest in two-wheeled esports content alongside traditional four-wheel racing simulators.

Organisers of Le Mans Ultimate competitions have halted events while developers investigate persistent technical issues introduced in Version 1.4. The suspension affects multiplayer functionality, with unresolved problems in collision detection and brake cooling mechanics continuing to impact competitive play. No timeline for the resumption of competitions has been announced pending resolution of the reported faults.

Asetek has released RaceHub 4.5, a software update for its sim racing hardware ecosystem that introduces several new features and compatibility improvements. The update adds a virtual button box function, allowing users to map controls digitally without physical hardware. Telemetry support has been expanded across the platform, and the software now includes 88 wheelbase presets to streamline configuration for different sim racing titles and setups. RaceHub 4.5 also introduces compatibility with Asetek's upcoming shifter and handbrake peripherals, preparing users for integration of these devices into their existing rigs.

Multiple esports competitions built around Le Mans Ultimate have suspended their schedules due to ongoing technical issues affecting the simulator. The game bugs have made competitive play unreliable enough that league organisers have opted to halt events rather than proceed with compromised racing conditions. No timeline for resumption has been announced pending resolution of the underlying problems.

Project Motor Racing has teased the imminent arrival of the Lamborghini Temerario in the simulation, suggesting a second road car may be joining the title's roster. Details on the timing and context of the addition remain limited, with the developer offering only a preview of the supercar's inclusion.