The idea of karts in iRacing isn’t entirely new. Over the years, there have been hints, leaks, and speculative discussions that have fueled the hope that karts might eventually become a reality.
For a community that thrives on the diversity of racing experiences, from GT3 to open-wheel, the inclusion of karts would undoubtedly add an exciting new dimension to the sim.
Challenges and Technical Limitations
But as with any significant addition, there are hurdles to overcome—especially when it comes to accurately simulating the unique physics of karting.
One of the most critical aspects of karting is how karts handle weight transfer. Unlike cars with full suspensions, karts rely heavily on the driver’s body movement to influence weight distribution during cornering, braking, and acceleration. This dynamic is crucial in real-world karting, where even slight shifts in the driver’s body weight can significantly affect the kart’s performance.
Karting is often considered the starting point for many professional drivers. It’s an entry-level motorsport that emphasizes driving skill over the mechanical advantages of more powerful cars. For many iRacing members, the inclusion of karts would offer a new and accessible way to get into the racing scene.
In 2011, and again in 2017, leaked images of what appeared to be kart tires surfaced online, sparking rumors that karting might soon be introduced. While these leaks never materialized into actual content, they kept the hope alive within the community.
Tony Gardner in 2017: “We experimented with a Kart on Alpha but determined it does not fit well with a couple of our current models/systems so karting would require more research and development work in several areas. Maybe someday.
While there is no official confirmation that karts are in development, the combination of past leaks, community interest, and developer hints has created a fertile ground for speculation. The possibility of karts in iRacing remains an intriguing prospect, one that many fans are eager to see become a reality.
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See you on the track!
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Exactly like they said in the article. If you can figure a way to simulate the driver shifting their weight around it would be cake to add.
Maybe load cells under the seat? Though requiring a special input device doesn’t sound like a winning idea to me. Although on the other hand you could use the same system to introduce motorbikes like MotoGP! The more I think about it the better it sounds. All you’d really need would be an Arduino, and either 2 or 4 load cells along with amplifier boards along with some simple code that already exists. That’s what $15-$40 in parts depending if you go name brand or not?