Sim Racing — news

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.

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.

The V8 Power Pack DLC for Project Motor Racing is now available, introducing nine V8-powered race cars distributed across three separate categories. The expansion also adds Road Atlanta to the sim's circuit roster.

The first development blog for the upcoming rereleases of Geoff Crammond's Grand Prix series has revealed plans to modernise the classic simulation's technical foundation. The source code will be updated to run on DirectX 11, with a stated focus on making the games as moddable as possible. The decision to emphasise modding accessibility comes as the rereleases navigate licensing complexities surrounding the original titles. By opening the codebase to community modification, the developers aim to extend the longevity and appeal of the rereleased versions to the sim racing community.

iRacing has released a major seasonal update marking the start of 2026 Season 4, introducing four new vehicles to the platform. The additions are the Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR-LMH, Caterham Seven Academy, Caterham Seven 420R, and NASCAR Gen 4 Grand National. The two Caterham models are sold as a single package. Three circuits have been comprehensively rebuilt from laser scans: Road America, Mid-Ohio, and Milwaukee Mile. Road America now includes two additional short-course configurations, while Milwaukee Mile gains a road course layout threaded inside its oval banking. The physics engine has undergone substantial revision for the Mazda MX-5 and Sprint Car, with updated tire models, suspension behaviour, aerodynamics, and related parameters. The underlying simulation code now runs multithreaded, reducing CPU load by more than 50 percent during dense traffic and large field sizes. Additional features in the update include expanded AI racing modes, class-specific safety cars for multiclass events, and new on-screen widgets for damage display and pit-stop information.

A new DLC pack for Project Motor Racing has become available, introducing nine V8-powered race cars distributed across three competitive classes. The expansion also adds Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta as a playable circuit. The V8 Power Pack represents an expansion of the sim's car roster and track selection, targeting players interested in V8 racing content.