iRacing officially released the Tatuus USF-17 in March 2017, bringing one of the most important junior formula cars to the sim. The USF 2000 is the entry point of the Road to Indy ladder, bridging the gap between karting and professional open-wheel racing. Its inclusion gave iRacing members a chance to experience the same developmental car used in the real-world Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda.
The release was part of iRacing’s broader effort to represent the full Road to Indy progression, which later included the Pro Mazda/Indy Pro 2000 and Indy Lights. At launch, the car was praised for its approachable but challenging handling, teaching drivers the fundamentals of open-wheel racecraft: braking precision, slipstreaming, and car control on the limit.
