iRacing's Upcoming Releases

Yoeri Gijsen · Feb 27, 2012

Let's keep a little thread going about what iRacing has in store for us in the (near) future. Some things have been announced, some targets have been rumoured and who knows what you have picked up in the darkest recesses of the net...

Below I will put up some things I find or found. Please post any news, rumours or hints below so one of the moderators can update this thread.

Cars

McLaren MP4-12C GT3 - Next up, but time unspecified
Lotus 49 - Next up, but time unspecified
RUF Rt12R - October 2012
Honda Civic BTCC - May/July 2013
Honda HSV-010 - May/July 2013
NASCAR Sprint Cup 2013 models - TBA

Tracks

Auto Club Speedway - To be scanned (confirmed!)
Circuit de Gilles Villeneuve - To be scanned (confirmed!)
Hongaroring - Plans
Kansas Speedway - To be scanned (confirmed!)
Lukas Oil Raceway - In production
Rockingham Speedway - October 2012
Interlagos - To be scanned (confirmed!)
Miller Motorsports Park - To be scanned
New Jersey Motorsports Park - To be scanned
Long Beach - 2013
Oran Park Raceway - October 2012
Tsukuba Circuit - In production
Willow Springs - Scanned but on hold

Features

Crew chief & spotter functionality - February 2013 at the earliest, but probably later
Driver swaps - February 2013 at the earliest, but probably later
DirectX 11 and x64 support - Long term project
Dirt and oil build up on windscreen - Side project
Enhanced sounds (DirectSound > XAudio2) - Groundwork in next build; the rest later
Exhaust fire - Side project
Teams - February 2013 at the earliest, but probably later
Time transition - Long term and after DirectX 11

Your turn!

Mircea Rad · Jul 31, 2014

I'm not saying it's not better, it's way better and very enjoyable, but still, we should point out the small glitches.

Very strange about the spin, tires up to temperature and no other moments before. Could be that I was a bit wide with 2 wheels on the astroturf and bottomed out and spun. But telemetry wasn't active so I can't check the ride height at that point. Oh well, I'll take it as a racing incident

Too bad as I was just settling in after some crazy laps...

Chronus · Jul 31, 2014

Mircea Rad said:
First of all, I do understand there are situations when you can't get the tires to work properly in real life. This mainly means either not being able to heat them up fast enough for a qualy lap or keeping the temperatures in within the best performance limits across a whole stint. However, the temperature spread (10-20 deg) across a tire is not a sim myth or sim racing mentality. I've seen racing tire manufacturers recommendations to keep the temperature spread within 10 - 20F inner to outer. .

Precisely part of my point as well.

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Temperature measurements usually fall into some range, not specific values. So, basically, what simracers were "taught" is not solely a convenient thing, it's based on real world experience and data (to a point).

Problem I see, as I sad earlier, is allowing the simracer to experience the "unexpected", the frustrating experience of not being able to either bring tires up to operating temps or maintain them. I see a lot of complaining from people who just want to have "fun".

And I agree - and probably Bakkster as well - there is something still not right with the temperature modelling in the NTM.

Bakkster · Jul 31, 2014

FWIW, here's the BFG R1 tire guide, the tires used on the Mustang and Miata. They say 'fairly even' or within 20-25F across.
http://www.tirerack.com/images/tires/tiretech/bfg_Gforce/bfGoodrich_gForce_R1_care.pdf

Others have reported that these recommended values don't behave will with the Mustang. I'm sure they're not, but the tire does feel a lot closer. I don't think NTM5 got a big update aside from curing and the solver update. It's still not right, but it does seem to be more predictable.

Mircea Rad · Jul 31, 2014

Yes, I found some specs from Hankook racing tires saying the same, as even as possible, but around 10-20F. But I'm seeing 105C (221F) M and 77C (170F) O (@ 159 KPa pressure), so 51F difference. But hey, at least it's a definite improvement and tires lasted pretty well the whole race, so I'm not too worried about the temps. Finally I got a clean one and finished 5th, full field (60 cars) and 30 HPD. So when it works it's pretty awesome

Chronus · Aug 3, 2014

Bakkster · Aug 4, 2014

Don't forget, V8SC will be obsolete in a season.

Chronus · Aug 4, 2014

Bakkster · Aug 4, 2014

What I mean is, the next update turns it from the completely weird live rear axle monster it is now, into the new car with independent rear suspension that's supposed to behave more like a standard GT car.

Chronus · Aug 4, 2014

Bakkster · Aug 4, 2014

I can agree with the opinions of V8SC drivers, but what makes us think comparing to versions in other sims is legit? Just because they're based on data straight from the series and/or teams doesn't make them any better than iRacing's car, which is also built from complete data access and help from two V8SC drivers.

One of them just feels better to you, and that's all going to be down to tire model which naturally doesn't come from the captured data.

Chronus · Aug 4, 2014

Bakkster · Sep 10, 2014

Driver swaps hype train has begun. First 24 hour race finished today.

Bakkster · Sep 11, 2014

Four Aston Martins! Including the GT3 and GT1!

Bedford, MA (September 11, 2014) – iRacing.com Motorsport Simulations, the world’s most realistic racing game, today announced the addition of four Aston Martin Racing cars to the iRacing.com lineup. iRacing.com will create a virtual version of the Aston Martin Vantage GT3 that will compete next weekend in the iRacing.com Nürburgring 1000 Blancpain Sprint Series event, as well as other Aston Martin Racing cars including the Le Mans class-winning DBR9.

“The opportunity to produce these authentic digital Aston Martins is genuinely exciting news for iRacing,” says Tony Gardner, President of iRacing.com. “Aston Martin has long been synonymous with sports car racing excellence, and the opportunity to race the Vantage GT3, DBR9 and other Aston Martins on the virtual tracks of iRacing will generate tremendous enthusiasm among our members.”

Chronus · Sep 11, 2014

There.

A couple of years ago, and last year as well, I (and a few others) was jumped on by the usual platoon at NG and here when I commented that iRacing's marketing heads were making over-the-top claims, including being the "most realistic racing simulation" ever.

iR reaffirms that yet again, with a clever nuance.

At least, "simulation" is nowhere in there now.

iR back to hype-time.

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On another front: driver swaps should bring some changes and a lot of excitement to iR. Interesting times for iRacers!