The news broke a few days ago: in Season 4, iRacing will split the GT3 series into regional formats.
It’s not about preventing a European driver from racing against someone in America or Asia. In reality, “regional” means different track calendars by zone. America will have its own schedule, Europe another, and Asia another.
The idea is that each week there will be more GT3 races running in parallel, giving drivers the option to race on tracks they already own or prefer. In theory, this multiplies the opportunities and opens the schedule.
Why some are excited
One undeniable fact: more races mean less waiting. If you only have two hours free, you can fit in multiple GT3 heats without staring at the clock.
Another attractive point is variety. Many drivers are tired of seeing Spa, Monza, Watkins Glen or Sebring on repeat. The regional split promises fresher calendars with circuits like Brands Hatch or Misano.
And then there’s connection quality. With closer servers, those struggling with high ping could finally enjoy more stable races.
Where the doubts begin
The main fear is split dilution. Right now GT3 gathers enough players to create very competitive splits. If the same drivers are spread across several regional series, the SOF could drop and the intensity that defines GT3 could fade.
There’s also the magnet effect of popular tracks. Even with more calendars, most drivers will still choose the same five favorites. That leaves the other series half-empty, killing the promise of variety.
The F4 example weighs heavily. At first, the regional split attracted more registrations, but over time splits dropped and competitiveness suffered.
And of course, some suspect a financial motivation: by splitting calendars, iRacing increases the chance that players will buy tracks they don’t yet own.
The F4 story offers a clear lesson: regionals can work, but only with enough player base and a careful track selection. Without that, participation fragments and race quality suffers.
Personally, I’ll try it with an open mind. If it works, we’ll have the best of both worlds: more choice without losing the magic. If not, it will be time to raise our voices and push for changes.
Because in the end, what we want is simple: good races, rivals at our level, and that unique feeling of fighting for every corner as if it were the last.
- Remember, you can join iRacing clicking here.
See you on the track!
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