There’s a curious phenomenon in iRacing: you grind your way up to 1900 iR, you start sniffing podiums, the air smells like glory… and suddenly, bam, the moment you brush against 2000 iR, you’re thrown into a pen full of 3k, 5k, even 6k iR aliens. Overnight, you go from big fish in a small pond to small fish in a shark tank.
The result? Your shiny 1995 iR plummets back to 1900 faster than a car without brakes at Eau Rouge.
The Endless Cycle
- You climb proudly to 1950.
- You get excited at 1990.
- You dream of 2k.
- You meet aliens who brake later than your Monday alarm.
- You’re escorted right back to 1900.
Repeat until you start checking your wheel for a hidden “win without effort” button.
Finding the Exit
The big question: is it simply that there aren’t enough drivers around the 2k range, or is the universe whispering, “Relax, you’re almost worthy”? In this bracket you can be the grid king in one split, and the next day you’re fighting not to be last in another.
It feels like a virtual purgatory. Not slow enough for beginners, not fast enough for the elite. A place where dreams go to nap… and your iRating too.
Some folks recommend switching series trying something like GT4 where the skill mix might be less brutal and there are more chances to grow through consistency. Others say the key is embracing the role of a “mid-pack specialist”: finish races, avoid incidents, and pounce on others’ mistakes like a rebound hunter in basketball.
And of course, there’s the tougher route: improving raw pace. But let’s be honest it’s much easier to blame the system than admit the aliens are, well… just faster.
Reaching 2k iR isn’t a destination it’s a test of patience and humility. It’s like getting in shape: the first kilos come off easily, then you need monk-level discipline.
So if you’re here, breathe, laugh at the absurdity, and remember: you’re not bad… you’re just surrounded by a lot of talent. And hey, someone has to fill those glorious 9th to 12th spots.
In top splits, on a good day you might snag P5–P7. When the split is crawling with 4k+ iR monsters, holding P9–P12 is still a win in disguise.
Consistency first, ego second.
- Remember, you can join iRacing clicking here.
Happy Racing!
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This is very true. I floated between 1750 and 1950 for a few seasons before cracking 2k 1season and 2.5k the next. The key for me was practice, preparation and patience. Eventually I improved without really realising it.