Image credit: iRacing
Formula 4 officially comes to iRacing: A new partnership with the FIA sees the Formula iR-04 being rebranded as part of the 2023 Season 3 update on June 6th - but there is more to the cooperation than just a name change. Meanwhile, the simulation's looks are in for an improvement in the upcoming update.
According to the press release posted on the official iRacing Twitter acccount, the name change for the iR-04 might just be the stepping stone, according to iRacing President Tony Gardner: "In addition to iRacing’s new FIA F4 Challenge, iRacing and the FIA are discussing additional eSport plans for the future.”
Gardner also underscores that several national ASNs are already running events through iRacing, adding that he expects the partnership to "expand opportunities for the future stars of motorsport to get their start through sim racing".
Nikolas Tombazis, FIA Single Seater Director, shares a similar vision: "The next generation of racing drivers is already highly engaged in this arena, which removes many of the historical barriers to entry by being low-cost and easily accessible, opening up possibilities to increase diversity and engagement in new and emerging markets."
Although Kaz seemed confident this was just a hiatus due to the state of GT7 at launch, seeing the FIA going to iRacing with almost the exact same idea in mind is sending a different message. Now the question is to see if iRacing will be able to succeed where Gran Turismo failed.
The systems result in very detailed environments, which looks impressive in the case of Willow Springs already. Virginia International Raceway is also used as an example, showing off the new foliage system - with the many trees surrounding the circuit, it profits from the overhaul graphics-wise. How much of an impact on performance the new additions have remains to be seen.
Formula 4 officially comes to iRacing: A new partnership with the FIA sees the Formula iR-04 being rebranded as part of the 2023 Season 3 update on June 6th - but there is more to the cooperation than just a name change. Meanwhile, the simulation's looks are in for an improvement in the upcoming update.
According to the press release posted on the official iRacing Twitter acccount, the name change for the iR-04 might just be the stepping stone, according to iRacing President Tony Gardner: "In addition to iRacing’s new FIA F4 Challenge, iRacing and the FIA are discussing additional eSport plans for the future.”
Gardner also underscores that several national ASNs are already running events through iRacing, adding that he expects the partnership to "expand opportunities for the future stars of motorsport to get their start through sim racing".
Nikolas Tombazis, FIA Single Seater Director, shares a similar vision: "The next generation of racing drivers is already highly engaged in this arena, which removes many of the historical barriers to entry by being low-cost and easily accessible, opening up possibilities to increase diversity and engagement in new and emerging markets."
Similar to Gran Turismo Esports
Interestingly, this concept isn't new: It is virtually Kazunori Yamauchi's exact vision from years back, when Gran Turismo launched its esports series in 2018, at the time in partnership with the FIA. Initially, digital racing licenses recognized by ASNs were heavily advertised, but nothing really came from it, and the FIA pulled out of the partnership.Although Kaz seemed confident this was just a hiatus due to the state of GT7 at launch, seeing the FIA going to iRacing with almost the exact same idea in mind is sending a different message. Now the question is to see if iRacing will be able to succeed where Gran Turismo failed.
Graphical Enhancements
The addition of Willow Springs had already been teased, and the California-based circuit is now confirmed. iRacing's Senior VP and Executive Producer Greg Hill also took to Twitter, sharing interesting insight into refined graphics for trackside terrain and surroundings. Accompanied by several screenshots, Hill gave a quick explanation of multi-material shaders, the foliage system and a five-layer terrain process.The systems result in very detailed environments, which looks impressive in the case of Willow Springs already. Virginia International Raceway is also used as an example, showing off the new foliage system - with the many trees surrounding the circuit, it profits from the overhaul graphics-wise. How much of an impact on performance the new additions have remains to be seen.
