Update: In the monthly iRacing newsletter (which you should have received) there is a mention that in the next days we will see images of the Mercedes-AMG W13 E Performance.
We are getting to know little by little the news that will arrive next week to iRacing and between confirmations and speculations we have got a good list. We encourage you to review it with us.
New GT3 and LMP2 tyres
The changes we already detailed in a dedicated post.
In a video published on Youtube by iRacing, they indicate a big list of new features that will be coming in December for the GT3 and LMP2 categories in iRacing. Among them, there will be new damage models for both cars, improvements in physics and tyre models.
BMW LMDh
It’s coming now. Daytona 24 is just around the corner and what better way to start the year than with a massive event inaugurating the new class.
The BMW M Hybrid V8 is a racing sports prototype designed by BMW M and built by Dallara. It is designed to Le Mans Daytona h regulations and will make its debut in the IMSA SportsCar Championship at the season-opening 24 Hours of Daytona. It marks BMW’s return to the top class of sports prototype racing since the 1999 BMW V12 LMR. The car will also compete in the FIA World Endurance Championship from 2024.
Magny Cours
New circuit that becomes the first French circuit (Le Mans belongs to humanity XD) to join the simulator. It’s no less expected just because it’s a known fact.
Built and inaugurated in 1961, Magny-Cours has undergone multiple layout changes throughout its history before settling on its current 4.411 kilometres (2.741 miles), 17-turn layout. The last of these changes came in 2003, when the final corner and chicane were remodelled to facilitate overtaking and the start/finish line was moved. Many of its corners are named after other famous world circuits from which they are inspired, such as Estoril, Adelaide and the Nurburgring.
Following its successful revival in the 1980s, the circuit was awarded the French Grand Prix in 1991, which it hosted for 18 consecutive years. Michael Schumacher became the first driver to win a Grand Prix eight times when he won his eighth race at Magny-Cours in 2006, while other World Champions to have won at the track have included Nigel Mansell, Alain Prost, Damon Hill, Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen.
Wild West Motorsports Park
Free content for RallyX in iRacing which is much needed.
Wild West Motorsports Park was one of iRacing’s original releases of off-road short tracks in the summer of 2019, and will move to base content as part of a larger effort to enhance the Dirt Road experience. As the first short track to move to base content, the change will allow Wild West to return to Rookie-level events, bringing Pro 2 Lite action back to off-road tracks and giving iRacers the most realistic experience possible as they attempt to fulfil their MPR and move up to D-class. Additional Dirt Road configurations have also been built for the Daytona International Speedway and (Legacy) Phoenix Raceway free tracks, removing the Joker Lap from the existing rallycross tracks to allow the Rookie Pro 2 Lite series to run with a consistent set of rules.
Virginia International Raceway
More interesting content for the basic package. And also with a necessary rescan and update.
After hosting the first edition of iRacing’s SCCA races earlier this autumn, VIRginia International Raceway will become staple content for the first season in 2023. This change allows it to join other IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship tracks, such as Lime Rock Park and WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, as well as prominent global venues on several continents, as included content for all iRacers. In the weeks following the 2023 Season 1 compilation, VIR will also receive extensive art and surface updates via a new scan that will overwrite the current version of the track, so users who want to retain replays will need to capture the content prior to the update. The current version of the track will serve as free content until the updated version is released.
Toyota GR86 Cup
Great news for all simracers who race on the virtual tracks of iRacing is that Toyota, as it did with Gran Turismo 7 , is once again betting heavily on simracing, this time in the American simulator.
We will have an unexpected guest next week, with the deployment of week 13 and the content of the new season: the Toyota GR86 Cup, which we announced in June. Best of all, it’s completely free and will be added to the base package, which has been a little lackluster since the demise of the Radical SR8.
In North America, the Toyota GR86 Cup has its own single-make cup, the details of which can be found on the following page. As you can see, all of the circuits (except Nashville) are included in iRacing, so there may be some overlapping weeks and special races.
A modified production car
GR86 Cup modifications include Bosch engine management, custom Borla exhaust, SADEV 6-speed sequential transmission, Alcon brakes, JRI adjustable dampers, OMP safety equipment, roll cage, carbon fibre rear wing, 22-gallon fuel cell, TGRNA-designed MacPherson strut, Stratasys custom bodywork, a TGRNA-designed splitter, and more. Standard features are as follows:
- Length: 4.27 metres
- Width: 1.78 metres
- Height: 1.31 metres
- Wheelbase: 2.575 metres
- Weight: 1,345 kilos
- Boot: 226 litres VDA
- Powertrain: Petrol, 2.4-litre naturally aspirated boxer 4-cylinder, 234 bhp and 250
- Newton/metre of torque at 3,700 revs
- Transmission: Rear-wheel-drive, 6-speed manual
- 0-100 kilometres/hour: 6.3 seconds
- Top speed: 226 kilometres/hour
- Average fuel consumption: 8.7 litres/100 km/hour
- Price: From 32,900 euros
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Great article and thank you for posting the LMP2 video since I’ll be running that this season… slower is better. Those cars were insanely faster than reality.