iRacing: Burnout Is Real

There’s something curious that happens when one starts in iRacing: at first, it’s a fever. The simulator becomes a new and thrilling world where races seem endless. They come one after another as if time held no value. The Rookie Series is a jungle where you learn to survive, and each session is a mix of euphoria and chaos. But as time goes by, something changes.

What used to be non-stop racing turns into longer, more thoughtful practice sessions. The passion doesn’t fade—it matures. The excitement for competition remains, but now it’s not just about racing, it’s about the right race.

You begin to value the process beforehand: learning the track, fine-tuning every corner, understanding the car’s reactions, and anticipating mistakes before they happen.

Different Drivers, Different Rhythms

Not everyone evolves the same way. Some maintain a high pace, jumping into five or six races a day, almost like a personal marathon. Others adapt to the realities of adult life: work, family, responsibilities. For them, time becomes a precious commodity, and racing once or twice a week becomes a luxury.

There are also those who find joy in practice itself. They don’t need a starting grid to feel progress. They spend hours improving a single turn, correcting a braking point, or perfecting a lap alone. Some prepare for weeks for one special event, as if it were a real-life race.

Escaping or Obsessing?

And of course, there are those who live it as an escape, a healthy routine, or even an obsession. From those who squeeze in 20 minutes a day with AI, to those doing 10 or 15 races a day on vacation or with the free time to do so. The variety of rhythms is as wide as the categories offered by the sim itself.

The beauty is that there’s no right way to enjoy iRacing. Some chase performance, others seek fun. Some aim for top splits, others take their time with less popular cars. Some come and go. Some stay. Some get frustrated and take a break—and that’s perfectly okay too.

Let Passion, Not Pressure, Drive You

Over time, you come to realize that the real enemy isn’t the lack of pace or bad luck in a turn. It’s the mental exhaustion of feeling like you have to race instead of wanting to race. Because at the end of the day, iRacing is a passion, not an obligation. And like all passions, it needs space to breathe so it doesn’t suffocate.

The best piece of advice I’ve taken from this community is simple: race when you feel like it, practice if it helps you enjoy it more, and if you need a break, take it without guilt. The sim will still be there, waiting for the next lap.

• Remember, you can join iRacing clicking here.

Happy Racing!