iRacing has announced the return of its FF1600 Festival Presented by CONSPIT, taking place from October 30 to November 1, 2026, at Brands Hatch Indy. Inspired by the real-world Formula Ford Festival, the special event will feature the Ray FF1600 in a knockout-style competition with qualifying heats, a last-chance race and a 30-driver final. Five starting times will be available throughout the weekend, with dynamic weather and open setups enabled.
The event brings a different format to iRacing’s usual road racing competitions, replacing a single race with a series of elimination rounds. Up to 56 drivers can enter each split, with competitors separated according to their iRating. The format rewards both outright speed and consistency, as drivers must progress through multiple races to reach the final.
Qualifying Heats, Last Chance Race and 30-Driver Final
Each event begins with a 30-minute warmup session, followed by an eight-minute qualifying session in which drivers can complete up to two timed laps. The field is then divided into two qualifying heats, each featuring up to 28 competitors racing over 10 laps.
The top 13 finishers from each heat automatically advance to the final, securing 26 of the 30 available positions. Drivers who fail to qualify directly will have another opportunity through a 10-lap Last Chance Qualifier, which can accommodate up to 30 competitors. The top four finishers from that race complete the grid for the 20-lap final.
Race control will also enforce incident penalties throughout the event. Drivers reaching 17 incident points will receive a drive-through penalty, with additional penalties issued for every eight further incidents. A total of 35 incident points results in disqualification.
Participation is open to iRacing members holding a Formula Class D licence or higher. Rookie drivers can also enter if they have achieved a Safety Rating of at least 4.0. Registration opens 60 minutes before each scheduled session.
FF1600 Festival Schedule and Broadcast Details
iRacing has confirmed five starting times across the weekend, giving drivers in different regions opportunities to participate. The schedule below includes GMT and Central European Time (CET), with Spain having switched to winter time before the event.
- Friday, October 30: 22:00 GMT / 23:00 CET.
- Saturday, October 31: 07:00 GMT / 08:00 CET.
- Saturday, October 31: 12:00 GMT / 13:00 CET.
- Saturday, October 31: 16:00 GMT / 17:00 CET.
- Sunday, November 1: 00:00 GMT / 01:00 CET.
The third starting time, scheduled for Saturday at 12:00 GMT, will feature an official broadcast of the top split. RACESPOT will provide commentary, with the race available to watch through iRacing’s official live platform.
The competition will take place on the Indy layout of Brands Hatch, a short but demanding circuit known for its elevation changes, particularly through Paddock Hill Bend and Druids. Its compact layout should provide close racing for the lightweight Ray FF1600, with limited opportunities for drivers to recover from mistakes during the short qualifying heats.
The event recreates the elimination format associated with the real Formula Ford Festival, a competition that has played an important role in the development of numerous professional racing drivers. Unlike a conventional championship, each FF1600 Festival session progresses from qualifying to the final within the same event.
The iRacing FF1600 Festival Presented by CONSPIT runs from October 30 to November 1, 2026. Full regulations, registration requirements and event information are available in the official iRacing announcement.
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