Motorsport news

Le Mans Ultimate Season 12 will run from August 18 to September 29, introducing a new 2.4-hour team championship alongside six online racing championships. The season also features the Americas Endurance Series. The expanded format reflects the sim racing platform's continued focus on structured endurance competition, adding the team-based format to its existing championship offerings.

The 2026 eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Championship Series reaches a critical juncture on Tuesday night as the regular season concludes at Daytona International Speedway. The race will determine which drivers advance to the playoffs, with only ten spots available and a $500,000 prize pool at stake. Six drivers have already secured their playoff berths through wins or points: Bobby Zalenski, Steven Wilson, Vicente Salas, Parker White, Garrett Lowe, and Tucker Minter. The remaining four playoff positions are currently held by Connor Yeroschak, Shawn Conklin, Wyatt Tinsley, and Casey Kirwan, though sixteen drivers below Kirwan retain mathematical chances to either point in or win their way into contention. The superspeedway setting at Daytona's 2.5-mile oval creates unpredictability, with multiple drivers capable of disrupting the standings. Matthew Zwack will substitute for Kollin Keister in Jim Beaver eSports' No. 15 this week. Coverage begins at 8 p.m. ET on eNASCAR.com/live and iRacing social media channels, with the Countdown to Green pre-race show starting at 7:45 p.m. ET. Momentum enters the race following Vicente Salas' dominant victory at Richmond Raceway two weeks ago, where he led 69 of 72 laps in the feature event to secure his first win of the season and clinch his playoff spot. Daytona holds particular significance in the championship's history: Steven Wilson opened his record-breaking 2025 title run with a victory here last year, while Daniel Faulkingham won the Qualifying Series event at the same track in February before signing with Rick Ware Racing for the championship season. Segment 3 of the season's mini-championship also concludes at Daytona, with five additional playoff points available to the winner. Parker White currently leads the segment standings with 71 points, followed by Quentin Warman at 70. The playoff field will be finalized after Tuesday's race, with the championship playoffs beginning September 1st at Michigan International Speedway.

iRacing Arcade will arrive on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S on 21 August. The console release brings four-player split-screen racing alongside new vehicles and track additions to the arcade-focused sim racing title.

Le Mans Ultimate's Season 12 Online Championships will go live on 18 August 2026. The sim racing platform has published a guide covering everything competitors need to know before the season begins.

iRacing Arcade will arrive on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S on August 21, priced at $24.99. The console release brings four new cars and five track layouts to the platform. A free update for the PC version of iRacing Arcade will also roll out on the same date, adding the same new vehicles and circuit configurations to existing players.

iRacing Arcade will arrive on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S on August 21 at $24.99, bringing arcade-style racing with officially licensed vehicles and circuits to console players for the first time. The release includes four-player local split-screen multiplayer, a feature that will also roll out to the PC version as a free update on the same day. The console launch introduces four new cars to the game: the Formula Fangio (a 1960s-style single-seater), Formula Turbo (1980s formula car), Mercedes 190 E DTM, and Big Rig. Four new circuits join the roster—Circuito de Jerez–Ángel Nieto, Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, and two layouts of Autodromo Nazionale Monza (Grand Prix and Historic)—alongside a fifth layout at Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli. The existing car roster includes the Fiat 500, Formula Junior, Touring Car, FIA Formula 4, Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, LMP2, GTP, Formula GP, and Caterham, with circuits spanning MotorLand Aragón, Barber Motorsports Park, Miami International Autodrome, Tsukuba Circuit, and others. The game centres on an extensive career mode in which players build and manage their own racing organisation, progressing from grassroots road racing to premier machinery such as GTP and the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup. Between races, players construct garages and facilities, unlock performance boosts, hire drivers, and oversee multiple racing series as their operation expands. The title supports single-player career progression, AI racing, online multiplayer, and couch-based competition across Time Attack and Free Play modes.

The 81st Côte de St. Ursanne hillclimb in Switzerland delivered dramatic racing across two days of competition, with changeable weather on Saturday giving way to dry conditions on Sunday. The event, held over the 5km-plus high-speed course in the Jura, saw the popular upper section at Petit Susten reopened to spectators, restoring atmosphere to the classic venue. French driver Kevin Petit claimed overall victory in his Nova NP 01-2 C Honda Turbo, securing his first full success in the 2026 European Hillclimb Championship season after a difficult campaign. Petit's decisive performance came in the second race run. Swiss driver Victor Darbellay finished second overall in his Nova NP 01-2 Hartley Turbo, also taking the national championship lead and winning the 2-litre E2-SC class. Spanish competitor Joseba Iraola Lanzagorta completed the podium in third, separated from Darbellay by just 0.4 seconds across both timed runs, and claimed second place in the Proto Class 1 European Championship category. Further down the order, Swiss driver Joel Volluz (Norma M20FC Judd Evo C) finished fourth overall and won the 3-litre E2-SC sportprototype class, while Michel Zemp (Norma M20FC Honda Turbo) took fifth overall and second in the 2-litre E2-SC sportprototype category. Czech driver Petr Trnka (Nova NP 01-2 C Honda Turbo) secured sixth overall and third in Proto Class 1, with Luxembourg's Dany Demuth (Norma M20FC Judd) seventh overall and second in the 3-litre E2-SC class. German driver Benjamin Noll claimed ninth overall and victory in the 3-litre E2-SS formula class in his Osella FA30 Zytek LRM at his St. Ursanne debut. In the touring car battle, Swiss driver Reto Meisel dominated in his Mercedes-Benz SLK 340 Judd, delivering a commanding performance despite pre-event technical issues. French driver Nicolas Werver finished second in his newly rebuilt Porsche 997 GT3 R, while Swiss competitor Roger Schnellmann (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8 Helftec) took third. Ludovic Monnier (VW Golf 2 R1170T 4×4) claimed fourth overall in the touring car standings and won the national hillclimb championship in the E1 class up to 2-litre displacement. Christoph Zwahlen (Porsche 911 GT3 R) finished fifth in the touring car order and won the E1 class for engines over 4-litres, securing second place in the national championship.

The 61st Trofeo Luigi Fagioli, the opening round of the 2026 Italian Hillclimb Championship, takes place in Gubbio this weekend, with a full week of supporting events beginning Wednesday, 19 August. Entry registrations close at midnight on Monday, with the official competitor list finalised by Tuesday. The week opens with the traditional Memorial Barbetti gala evening on Wednesday at Park Hotel Ai Cappuccini, hosted jointly by the Eugubino Motorsport Committee (CECA) and Rotary Club Gubbio. The ceremony honours past recipients including drivers Miki Biasion, Arturo Merzario, Andrea Montermini, Emanuele Pirro and Clay Regazzoni, alongside figures such as Mauro Forghieri, Giancarlo Minardi, Antonello Coletta and Ezio Zermiani. Thursday brings the official presentation at 11:00 in the Sala Trecentesca of Palazzo Pretorio, followed by a charity football match at 17:45 between Gubbio FC legends and the National Hillclimb Drivers team, with proceeds supporting the Eugubina Association for Cancer Research. Racing begins Friday with technical scrutineering, followed by official practice on Saturday and two timed runs on Sunday along the traditional Gubbio–Madonna della Cima course. A new Arena Paddock in the Roman Theatre area will serve as the centrepiece, hosting three days of entertainment including food vendors, music, simulators, special guests and a live broadcast on ACI Sport TV (Sky 228). Friday evening features a Pikes Peak retrospective with champion Simone Faggioli and his team, showcasing the Nova Proto NP01 ATM. Saturday hosts the second edition of the Trofeo Meet Street, a tuning showcase attracting around 70 performance cars from across Italy. Sunday includes a motorcycle rally with over 100 expected entries and the final podium ceremony. A multimedia exhibition on the Trofeo's 60-year history runs through Sunday at Galleria della Porta in the city centre.

Tim Jarschel has secured the DTM Esports 2026 championship following a dominant performance at the season finale LAN event. The driver finished on the podium in all four races contested, ultimately claiming the title by a margin of 22 points. As part of his championship prize, Jarschel will receive a guest drive in the M2 Cup at the Hockenheimring.

Polyphony Digital has announced a Singapore Regional Time Trial for Gran Turismo 7, running from August 21 to September 4. The competition will determine 12 qualifiers for a live GT World Series event. Players competing in the time trial will race against the clock on the Marina Bay circuit, with the top performers earning their place in the subsequent live competition.

A rare Ferrari 250 GT Sperimentale prototype has been added to Gran Turismo 7 following its victory at the Gran Turismo Award during the 75th Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in Monterey. The short-wheelbase machine, originally designed and built by Pininfarina, will now be available through the game's waiting list system. The award recognises the vehicle's historical significance and design heritage, cementing its place among the most exclusive cars featured in Polyphony Digital's racing simulator.

Kevin Petit claimed the opening victory of the 2026 FIA European Hill Climb Championship at the 81st Course de Côte St-Ursanne – Les Rangiers in Switzerland. Driving a Nova Proto NP01, the French driver dominated Category 2 competition at the Alpine venue. The weekend also delivered strong performances from Italian competitors, with Bormolini emerging as a standout protagonist in the results. The Saint-Ursanne hillclimb, held on the demanding Les Rangiers course, set the tone for the European hill climb season with Petit's commanding display across the category.