Every new iRacing season, a new build of the online racing simulation is released, usually introducing several new features and content additions.

iRacing’s Steve Meyers has shared some details about what changes are coming up in the next build. Content-wise, players can expect the Indycar Dallara chassis that will be available both in oval and road course specification. There’s also some hope that the much anticipated Corvette C6.R will make this built as the iRacing staff has recently received much needed data from Pratt&Miller.

In terms of tracks, the Canadian Mosport International Raceway will be making the new build, adding another high-profile road course to the simulation. The new build will also introduce some new features, including opponent tire smoke and skids, adjustable break bias and other setup changes straight from the cockpit as well as a feature that will allow racers to trade setups during a session.

One of the most important changes in the new build will be the addition of private racing that will make iRacing attractive to leagues who like to organise their own events. A few weeks ago, iRacing outlined  the concept that will allow regular subscribers to turn into a race host for a little charge per race.

While that’s a pretty impressive list of changes for the next build, the iRacing staff is already working on future updates. The next car in the development pipeline will be the recently-announced Ford Falcon FG01 V8 Supercar, another novelty that will be introduced in the future are night racing events.

iRacing.com has released two early previews of the upcoming virtual version of Mosport International Raceway, showing the track at the 50% completition stage.

Located north of Bowmanville, Ontario, Mosport is one of Canada’s most famous motorsport venues. The 4 kilometer track layout includes 10 turns and is one of the very few classical racetracks that remained almost completely unchanged over the years. The track has a rich history both in terms of Formula One and sports cars, hosting the Canadian Grand Prix until 1977 and still being a very active sports car racing venue today.

 

In an approach to further broaden the simulation’s content portfolio, iRacing.com has announced the future addition of the Australian Philip Island Grand Prix Circuit and the Ford Falcon FG01 V8 Supercar.

Located in the state of Victoria, Philip Island is a 4.4 kilometer road course and one of Australia’s main road racing facilities. The track’s layout incorporates 12 turns, the track hosts the Australian V8 Supercar Series, the MotoGP series and has been rumored to be a future venue for the Australian Formula One Grand Prix.

Along with the track, iRacing will be introducing the Ford Falcon FG01, Ford’s weapon of choice in the highly popular V8 Supercar series. The Australian racing series has been chosen for a good reason as two-time V8 Supercar champion and now NASCAR driver Marcos Ambrose is not just one of Australia’s most famous race car drivers but a very active iRacing spokesperson.

The Australian track and car join the heap of non-American to join iRacing in the future, including British Brands Hatch & Oulton Park circuits as well as the Circuit Park Zandvoort.

iRacing.com has added the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to the lineup of available tracks of their online racing simulation.

Subscribers are able to download the virtual version of the world’s most famous oval for $25, the track comes both in the 2.5 mile oval configuration as used by the IRL and NASCAR as well as the MotoGP road course that incorporates the infield.

Nicknamed the “Brickyard”, the 2.5 mile oval was opened in 1909 and is able to accommodate up to 400.000 spectators who flock to Indianapolis for the annual Indy 500 race each May.

 

iRacing.com’s Tim Wheatley has put together two new iRacing trials, letting sim racers try the iRacing service for a full month, completely free of charge.

The two trials are aimed at sim racers who still use two simulations made by the iRacing creators – Grand Prix Legends and NASCAR Racing 2003.

The first trial package is aimed at open-wheel fans, including the Skip Barber Formula 2000 car and Virginia International Raceway. Furthermore, all the base content that’s needed to start your iRacing career is included.

The second package is aimed at stock car racing fans, including Chevy Monte-Carlo SS Late Model stock car and Martinsville Speedway, plus all base content.

How does it work?

To start your trial, visit this page and enter the promo code (PR-GPL for the open wheel package or PR-NR2003 for the stock car package).

Important: This offer is only valid for new accounts, the content can’t be added to an existing content. To make use of this trial, you must provide credit card or Paypal details as the account will be automaticly renewing in case you don’t cancel.

Should you cancel before the month is over, all bought content and all your stats and licenses will be saved in case you´ll pick your subscription up later again.

Via iRacing Facebook

iRacing.com has released plenty of high resolution screenshots, showing the virtual version of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway that will be available to iRacing subscribers this fall.

The shots show the world’s oldest motorsport venue and all its glorious details, including a very detailed infield. Nicknamed the “Brickyard”, the 2.5 mile oval was is able to accommodate up to 400.000 spectators, iRacing will be including both the legendary oval layout as well as the MotoGP road course.

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway and both the Indycar Series & Indy Lights Series Dallara chassis will be added to the simulation in fall, iRacing will also be running a virtual version of the Indy 500 at the 2010 Memorial Day weekend.

 

Ever since the introduction of the iRacing online simulation, a frequent feature request has been the ability to run leagues and private races – A demand that iRacing answers now by introducing “Hosted iRacing”.

Hosted iRacing turns regular iRacing subscribers into Series Hosts, all that’s needed is a PQR (Practice/Qualifying/Race) package that is available for $3 per package. The package allows the host to open a session that can be customised to any need with various settings including car, track, type of race, min/max iRating/safety rating and more.  Each session consists of practice, qualifying and race of adjustable length.

Private sessions can be started by any iRacing subscriber that has purchased a PQR package, other subscribers can join the session free of charge. Subscribers can find more info on the new concept in the iRacing member’s forum topic.

Two on-board videos of the IRL Dallara chassis in iRacing.com’s online simulation have surfaced, showing the Honda-powered open wheeler racing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Infineon Raceway Sonoma.

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway and both the Indycar Series & Indy Lights Series Dallara chassis will be added to the simulation in fall, iRacing will also be running a virtual version of the Indy 500 at the 2010 Memorial Day weekend.

Three days ago, iRacing announced the addition of the Indycar Series and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to their online racing simulation.

Below are two videos, showing the official press conference at the Sonoma Raceway, featuring first gameplay footage of the IRL dallara chassis and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway plus several interviews including one with IRL driver and iRacing subscriber Justin Wilson.

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway and both the Indycar Series & Indy Lights Series Dallara chassis will be added to the simulation in fall, iRacing will also be running a virtual version of the Indy 500 at the 2010 Memorial Day weekend.

Following the recent announcement about adding the IRL series and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to the simulation, iRacing has released two previews of the historic oval.

Starting this fall, iRacing subscribers will be able to drive both the Indycar Series and Indy Lights Dallara chassis on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and 11 other IRL venues that are already in the simulation or are being worked on. One of the highlights of the Indycar partnership will be a virtual version of the Indy 500 event to be run on the 2010 Memorial Day weekend.

Below are two previews of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, showing a 80% finished version of the track. The historic venue was laser scanned in April, the virtual version will include both the 2.5 mile oval layout that is used by the IRL and NASCAR as well as the road course infield that hosts an annual Moto GP event.

 

iRacing.com has finally confirmed a rumor that was floating around the community for quite a while as the Indycar Series and Indianapolis Motorspeedway will be joining the simulation this fall.

Started as a competitor to the popular CART series, the IRL was founded in 1996 and has become the United States’ sole top open-wheel series following Champ Car’s end in early 2008. Today, the series uses Honda-powered Dallara chassis using Ethanol-fuel. The series trademark event is the Indianapolis 500 that is run each year in May, being one of the world’s most important motor races.

The Indy 500 is run on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, nicknamed the “Brickyard”. Opened in 1909, the 2.5 mile oval was the first ever professional racing venue, able to accommodate up to 400.000 spectators. Aside from the Indy 500, the track also hosts an annual NASCAR Sprint Cup race known as the Brickyard 400 and has hosted several United States Formula One Grand Prix on its road course configuration.

 

iRacing.com subscribers can now purchase the Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup car as the German Diesel race car has been added to the simulation’s lineup of cars, selling for $15.

iRacing will be using the car in their VW Jetta TDI cup, offering not just honor for the winners but the chance to prove themselves in a real VW Jetta TDI race car, having the chance to get a fully-paid VW Jetta TDI season ride.

The first iRacing.com member to join the series is John Prather. The top-rated iRacing competitor will be driving a VW Jetta TDI in the series’ round at Road America this weekend, representing the talent of sim racers around the world.

 

With the release of the Lotus 79 Formula One car out of the way, the next big thing comming to iRacing’s online racing simulation is the Corvette C6.R.

Now, a first render of the Corvette’s virtual version has been released. Making it’s debut at the 12 Hours of Sebring in 2005, the C6.R was GM’s weapon of choice for GT1 class competition. The Corvette fought many battles agains the Aston Martin DBR9 and other GT1, clinching several Le Mans wins and championships.

 

Back in June, iRacing announced to add Brands Hatch and Oulton Park to their list of available tracks. The iRacing staff has been busy scanning Brands Hatch since, giving us the high-resolution scan image you can check out below.

Initially scheduled to be three days of work, track scanning extended to two weeks thanks to a breaking scanner and lots of typical British rain. Now that scanning is complete, the iRacing production team will take over creating the virtual version of the former British GP venue.

The 3,7 kilometer Brands Hatch circuited hosted 12 Formula One Grand Prix and is well known as a touring car venue these days, hosting both the WTCC & DTM.