September 2026 offers sim racers several opportunities to compete for real prizes, ranging from cash and hardware to $60,000 in scholarships and even a real Toyota Supra.
Some competitions are still accepting qualifiers during the opening days of September, while others already have their championship grids locked and are now entering their most important races of the season.
The requirements vary significantly. Some events are completely free and open internationally, others require an existing iRacing subscription or university eligibility, and the Toyota Supra competition requires qualifying in person in the United States.
| Competition | Platform | September Date | Prize | Entry Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Supra Competition | Sim Racing Naperville | Qualifying ends Sep 6 | Real Toyota Supra worth approx. $60,000 | Still qualifying |
| FIA Esports European Hill Climb Cup | RaceRoom | Qualifying ends Sep 7 | Final qualification + Next Level Racing hardware prize | Open |
| Virtual Esport LMU League 1 | Le Mans Ultimate | Sep 13 | €400 cash | Check current registration |
| eNASCAR College iRacing Series | iRacing | Time Attack Sep 15-20 | $60,000 season scholarship pool | Registration open for eligible students |
| Porsche Esports Supercup | iRacing | Sep 19 / Sep 26 | $30,000 championship prize pool | 32 drivers already qualified |
| eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series | iRacing | Sep 15 / Sep 22 | Part of $500,000 championship programme | Professional championship grid closed |
Win a real Toyota Supra through sim racing
The most unusual prize available this month comes from Sim Racing Naperville, which is running a driving competition where the overall winner receives a real Toyota Supra with an approximate advertised value of $60,000.
Unlike a conventional giveaway, this is a skill-based competition. Qualifying performance determines who advances, with no random selection involved in deciding the finalists or eventual winner.
Official qualifying closes on September 6, 2026. Each attempt costs $50 and provides 75 minutes of simulator time at Sim Racing Naperville in Illinois. Remote laps are not accepted, meaning competitors must physically visit the facility.
The 45 fastest eligible drivers advance to live finals during Sim Gaming Expo on September 18-19.
On September 18, those 45 drivers will be divided into three groups of 15. The top five from each group advance to a 15-driver championship on September 19, where three races will determine the overall winner.
There are important eligibility restrictions. Competitors must be at least 17 years old, be US citizens and primarily reside in the United States. Drivers with World Championship-level professional sim racing experience during the previous ten years are excluded, as are professional real-world drivers from national-level series.
The winner receives the Toyota Supra itself rather than a cash alternative, although taxes, registration, insurance and other ownership costs remain the winner’s responsibility.
For amateur sim racers within travelling distance of Illinois, it is one of the most valuable prizes attached to a sim racing competition this year.
FIA Hill Climb qualifying is free on RaceRoom
The FIA Esports European Hill Climb Cup offers a much more accessible route into serious competition.
Online qualification runs through September 7 at 23:59 GMT using RaceRoom. Registration and qualification are free, with the FIA stating that no competition licence or in-game purchase is required for the qualifying stage.
Drivers simply register and attempt to set their fastest time during the official online qualification period.
The eight fastest competitors globally will qualify for the onsite final in Luxembourg.
There is also a hardware prize available outside the top eight. Registered participants can enter a separate competition to win a Next Level Racing GTElite Wheel Plate Edition cockpit.
That makes the FIA event one of the easiest competitions on this list to attempt. There is no paid qualifying session and no requirement to travel unless a driver actually reaches the final.
With qualification closing on September 7, however, there is very little time remaining to set a competitive lap.
€400 Le Mans Ultimate race on September 13
Virtual Esport is also hosting a smaller but accessible Le Mans Ultimate competition on September 13.
The LMU League 1 event uses GT3 machinery and offers €400 in cash prizes.
The format consists of a 30-minute practice session, 12 minutes of qualifying and a 60-minute race on a privately hosted server.
This is a much smaller event than PESC or eNASCAR, but that can make it more relevant to regular sim racers looking for prize competitions rather than professional esports championships with months of qualification behind them.
Drivers interested in entering should check the current Virtual Esport event page before registering, as grid availability can change as the race approaches.
eNASCAR College offers $60,000 in scholarships
The 2026-27 eNASCAR College iRacing Series begins its new season this month with $60,000 in scholarships available across the championship.
The first tournament is the Peachtree Pursuit at Echo Park Speedway in Atlanta. Its qualifying Time Attack runs from September 15 through September 20, followed by the first competition round on September 23 and the second on September 30.
The College Series is aimed at eligible university students in the United States and Canada and is run through iRacing in partnership with the PlayVS College League.
The 2026-27 season expands to eight tournaments and introduces IMSA-backed road racing events alongside the existing NASCAR competition. Six tournaments use NASCAR Trucks, while two road course tournaments will feature the Ford Mustang GT4.
The $60,000 figure applies to the complete 2026-27 scholarship programme rather than September alone, but this month’s Peachtree Pursuit is the first opportunity to begin competing for those awards.
Registration is currently open, making this one of the most valuable ongoing opportunities for eligible student sim racers.
Drivers who need an iRacing account can view the current iRacing membership options here.
Porsche Esports Supercup has $30,000 on the line
Not every major prize competition in September remains open to new entrants.
The 2026 Porsche Esports Supercup World Championship begins at Spa-Francorchamps on September 19 before moving to Silverstone on September 26.
The 32-driver grid has already been determined through the regional qualifying championships, so this is now a competition to watch rather than one that new drivers can enter.
PESC carries a $30,000 total prize pool. The World Champion receives $10,000, second place earns $6,000 and third receives $3,500, with prize money extending through tenth position.
The championship also offers something potentially more valuable than cash. Porsche Motorsport can select up to five World Championship drivers for a Talent Shoot-Out designed to identify candidates capable of moving from virtual competition into real-world motorsport.
Two candidates can progress to testing in real Porsche racing machinery, with one driver potentially receiving support towards competing in a Porsche one-make series in 2027.
We have a full breakdown of the championship in our Porsche Esports Supercup 2026 guide.
eNASCAR Coca-Cola playoffs continue in September
The other major professional iRacing championship active this month is the eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Championship Series.
The playoffs began at Michigan on September 1 and continue with Texas Motor Speedway on September 15 and Kansas Speedway on September 22.
The championship operates within a $500,000 prize programme, with the eventual champion fighting for a $100,000 first-place prize at the October finale. Defending champion Steven Wilson has already secured one of the four positions in the championship finale after winning the opening playoff race at Michigan.
As with PESC, this is not an open competition for September entrants. The professional field was determined earlier in the season, but Texas and Kansas are among the most important prize-paying sim racing events taking place this month because they determine who reaches the championship finale.
Which September competitions can you still enter?
For someone looking to compete rather than simply watch, the list becomes much shorter.
- The FIA Esports European Hill Climb Cup is the easiest immediate opportunity because online qualification is free and remains open until September 7.
- The Toyota Supra Competition remains technically open until September 6, but requires an in-person qualifying session in Illinois and has strict US eligibility requirements.
- Virtual Esport’s Le Mans Ultimate race on September 13 offers a smaller €400 cash prize and is worth checking for remaining grid availability.
- Eligible US and Canadian university students have another major opportunity later in the month when the eNASCAR College Time Attack opens on September 15.
| If you want… | Best September option |
|---|---|
| A free online qualifier | FIA Esports European Hill Climb Cup |
| The biggest unusual prize | Toyota Supra Competition |
| A cash race without a professional esports pathway | Virtual Esport LMU League 1 |
| University scholarship competition | eNASCAR College iRacing Series |
| Top-level esports to watch | Porsche Esports Supercup / eNASCAR Coca-Cola Series |
Entry conditions, available places and regulations can change, so competitors should always check the official event rules before paying an entry fee, purchasing required content or making travel arrangements.
See you on the track!
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