iRacing dropped the full 2026 Season 2 release notes on March 10. Below is everything in the build straight from the source, complete official notes for your reference, with no edits or editorializing.
iRacing
Updater
- A new updater selection mode has been added: Favorites. Using the Favorites selection mode will automatically select all content (Cars and Tracks) that are favorites of your account, including all cars, tracks, and all cars and tracks used within all upcoming events of your favorite Series.
Paint Kit
- New sponsors added: Asetek Racing, Good Ranchers, Holley Performance Brands, Holmatro, Jerky Boys, Larry Chen Photo, LVRY, Nova Motorsport, PAGID Racing, Penske Racing Shocks, PPG, Root Insurance, Roush Yates Manufacturing Solutions, Safecraft
- Sponsors with updated logos: Ally, Anduril, Eibach, Fanatec, Horizon Hobby, MillerTech, Mobil 1, Ohlins, Pimax, Roto-Rooter, Schluter Systems, SKF, Sunoco, Trading Paints, WeatherTech
- Improved the Promo Code input box to accept criteria like capital letters, dashes, and spaces more gracefully.
Help & Support
- A new feature has been added to the “Help” section of the iRacing Launcher: Change Display Name. This feature opens a submission form to help with submitting a display name change request. All existing requirements and eligibility for a display name change remain in place.
Demo Drive
- The default time and weather conditions for Demo Drive Sessions have been adjusted to 11:00am local time with partly cloudy conditions and a moving sun.
Simulator
User Interface
- New: HUD Profiles: Create named profiles in Documents/iRacing/profiles/hud. Allows any number of profiles to be created and saved. You can assign profiles as a global or car-specific default. You can change profiles during a session without changing defaults. Additionally, changes can be reverted while in-Sim. You can share profiles by uploading/downloading to your iRacing/profiles/hud folder.
- New: Visual Spotter: A new accessibility feature for single-monitor users. Uses the same data as the regular audio and text Spotter system. You can enable or disable it in the Widget Editor while in-car.
- New: Throttle/Brake Timeline (in Driver Inputs Widget): Toggle the display of pedal inputs as a timeline graph, preserving input history.
- New Widget: Session Info: Displays laps to go, time remaining, current in-sim session time, and scoring end status.
- New Widget: Session Rules: Displays a quick reference for rules applied to the current race session including driver change requirements, joker lap counts, tire change rules, and more.
- New: Show Keybinding: In Settings > Keybind screen, press any key to see what it is mapped to.
Additional interface improvements include: text box focus retained after paste; optimized interface code libraries; Session Screen Laps Tab auto-changes to current session; Lap Timing Widget accuracy improvements; Lap Chart defaults to current session; end-of-scoring indicator added; F3 Black Box graphics optimized; confirmation dialogs added to Session Forward/Backward buttons; Confirm Overwrite popup for already-bound keys; improved HUD element drag behavior; widgets can be dragged by title area; Shared Setups button available only at valid times; mouse appears when car is slowing/stopped even with mouse-disable option active; “Ready to Race” button properly centered.
Physics
- Tire barrier stiffness reduced globally; energy transfer and friction values adjusted for more realistic crashes.
- Furthermore, fixed an issue where opponent vehicles at certain vertical distances would appear to teleport downward (opponents driving off jumps now maintain proper air).
Tires
- Improved vertical damping force and rolling drag torque applied to tires based on contact area fraction during multi-plane contact scenarios such as straddling curbs or track edges.
Race Control
- Connection Black Flag system updated with multi-layer detection for issues of various severities.
- In Lone Qualifying, Qualifying Scrutiny system is now disabled once the checkered flag is thrown.
- Fred, Flawless Wheelman, now uses an inside line when piloting the Pace Car at Ovals with one or fewer laps remaining.
- Pace car follows a better line when pulling out of pits.
- Pit stalls reoriented at various Dirt Oval tracks for improved ease of use.
- Also, fixed an issue where users could not rejoin a session after receiving a connection black flag.
Dynamic Track Model
- For asphalt racing, marbles born from rubber removal are more apt to stick to tires briefly rather than being immediately thrown.
- Additionally, a car driving slowly will accumulate marbles on a well rubbered-in track.
- As part of the Oval Refresh Project, vehicle tires may now accumulate and distribute rubber marbles during caution laps.
AI Racing
- New: Event Completion: For Solo AI Race events, AI Drivers’ completion of the event is now automatically simulated and scored if the player exits before all AI drivers finish. Works at any time, even if the player has not finished.
- AI Drivers fully trained on: Audi RS3 LMS Gen2 TCR, NASCAR Truck RAM
- AI Drivers trained at new tracks: St. Petersburg Grand Prix, Barber Motorsports Park
- Improved AI driving skills for: GTE Cars, NASCAR Cup Series Cars, NASCAR O’Reilly Series Cars, TCR Cars, Audi 90 GTO, Dallara IR18, Lotus 49, Nissan GTP ZX-T, Williams FW31
- Improved AI racing at: Daytona Road Course, Indianapolis (Open Wheel Oval & Oval), Kansas Speedway, Las Vegas, Nashville Superspeedway, Phoenix Raceway, Richmond Raceway, Sonoma Raceway, World Wide Technology Raceway (Gateway)
- AI Drivers have new custom paint schemes for: NASCAR Cup Next Gen Cars, NASCAR Cup Series Cars, NASCAR Legends 1987 Cars, Audi 90 GTO, Dallara IR18, Nissan GTP ZXT, Porsche 911 Cup (992.2), [Legacy] Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (991 & 992.1)
- Additionally, fixed an issue where AI vehicle tire surface temperatures could stay unusually cool after sitting still for a long duration.
Graphics
- Speedtrees displayed in mirrors updated for improved visual performance.
- Fixed hangs that could occur for users with AMD GPUs.
- Fixed an issue with how campers and RVs were lit at night.
Connectivity
- Also, fixed an issue where the Simulator could continue running in the background after exiting a session.
Controls
- VNM Simulation API updated, fixing a 360Hz/Wheel LFE mode issue.
- Support added for the new Thrustmaster wheelbase and wheel rim combo.
- Improved processes for detecting USB device disconnects and joystick-type controllers.
- Furthermore, fixed an issue that prevented the driver from glancing up/down when Pitch Chassis was disabled.
Spotter/Crew Chief
- Fixed an issue where the spotter could advise on fuel fill amounts without accounting for fuel restrictions. Furthermore, the spotter is now aware of any fuel restrictions.
Cars
Audi RS3 LMS Gen2 TCR, NEW CAR
Debuting in 2021, the second generation of the Audi RS3 LMS touring car builds upon the original car’s success. Making its debut at the 2021 World Touring Car Cup, the car scored TCR Model of the Year honors three years running. Furthermore, the Gen2 offers a visual refresh based on the fourth-generation RS3 road car, and a more ergonomic cockpit. Engine is mostly standard production-spec. Additionally, this car comes rain-ready and is available for AI Racing. As a result, the original Audi RS3 LMS TCR is moving to Legacy content.
NASCAR Truck RAM, NEW TRUCK
625 horsepower pushing 3,450 pounds. After a nearly 15-year absence following Chrysler spinning the RAM brand off from Dodge in 2010, the brand returned in 2026 as part of an all-new five-truck effort with Kaulig Racing, including Tony Stewart’s debut at Daytona and the Race for the Seat reality show (won by Mini Tyrrell). Additionally, this truck is available for AI Racing.
Car Class Updates
- ARCA 2025 Cars: Rear anti-roll bar removed per 2026 rules. Improved damage model collision hulls. Updated setups.
- GTE Cars: All-new slick tires with latest tire physics model. Rain-racing ready. Rub blocks added. Ride height rules updated (front splitter measurement). Aerodynamic balance adjusted for lower rake. Damper adjustments consolidated. New iRacing setups provided.
- NASCAR Cup Next Gen: Updated superspeedway package with flaps and deflectors. Updated rear window to 2026 specs. Improved drivetrain/transmission sounds.
- NASCAR Gen 4: Drafting parameters tuned. Pitch sensitivity tuned down.
- NASCAR Trucks: Rear anti-roll bar removed per 2026 rules. Minimum ride height reduced to 4.25″. Updated audio (engine, backfires, gears). Updated logos and branding.
- NASCAR O’Reilly Cars: Engine power and drafting parameters updated. 2026 rules package: 4.25″ minimum ride height, 2.2° rear camber. Collision hulls updated. Decals and branding refreshed.
- TCR Cars: Full suite of updates including new dry/wet tire parameters, updated engine parameters (power curves, boost, turbo, gear ratios), fuel level updated to IMSA 85-liter spec, reworked brake system, updated aero mapping, revised ride height limits, improved corner handling consistency.
- Audi 90 GTO: Now rain-ready. Full redevelopment of dry and wet tires. Updated brake system. Improved high downforce aero efficiency. Adjusted front differential and gearbox parameters.
- Lotus 49: Now rain-ready. Updated wet-capable tire parameters. Reworked suspension motion ratios, damper lengths, spring rates, ride heights, and brake system. Brake bias fully adjustable in Fixed Setup sessions.
- Nissan GTP ZXT: Now rain-ready. Various vehicle updates for improved 1989 performance correlation.
- [Legacy] Audi RS3 LMS TCR: Moved to Legacy. Price reduced to $2.95. Credits refunded: 0-180 days = 100%, 181-210 days = 75%, 211-365 days = 50%. No longer used in Official iRacing events.
Tracks
St. Petersburg Grand Prix, NEW TRACK
A brand new Road track. The 1.808-mile, 14-turn circuit uses sections of 1st Street SW and Bayshore Drive SE, with a runway of Albert Whitted Airport serving as the start-finish straightaway. Furthermore, CART organized a return to the city in 2003; INDYCAR made it its first event outside of an oval in 2005. AI-enabled.
Barber Motorsports Park, FULLY REBUILT
Rebuilt from the ground up with brand new laser scan data. The 2.3-mile, 16-turn circuit near Birmingham, Alabama. Additionally, all accounts with access to Barber get this new version free. As a result, the old version (including Short A and Short B configs) is retired. It is also AI-enabled.
Art Refresh Updates
- Lanier National Speedway (Asphalt): Major art overhaul, track surface, buildings, objects, scenery, trees, 3D foliage, textures, shaders, lighting. Pit road layout updated (enter Turn 4, exit Turn 1). Max cars increased to 60.
- Langley Speedway: Significant art overhaul, track surface, buildings, objects, scenery, trees, 3D foliage, textures, shaders, lighting.
- USA International Speedway (Asphalt): Significant art overhaul, track surface, buildings, objects, scenery, trees, 3D foliage, textures, shaders, lighting.
Additional Track Updates
Adelaide Street Circuit, Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Chicagoland Speedway, Circuit de Ledenon, Circuit of the Americas, Circuito de Navarra, Concord Speedway, Crandon International Raceway, Darlington Raceway, Daytona International Speedway, Donington Park, Eldora Speedway, Fairbury Speedway, Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Iowa Speedway, iRacing Superspeedway, Kentucky Speedway, Long Beach Street Circuit, Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, Lucas Oil Speedway, Miami International Autodrome, Mobility Resort Motegi, Mount Panorama Circuit, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, New Smyrna Speedway, Nurburgring, Red Bull Ring (new 3D curbs), Road Atlanta, Rudskogen Motorsenter, Sebring International Raceway (major art update), Slinger Speedway, Talladega Superspeedway, The Bullring, Volusia Speedway Park, Weedsport Speedway, Williams Grove Speedway, Winton Motor Raceway, all received various bug fixes, art updates, and improvements. See full release notes for details.
