The long-awaited dynamic weather system for iRacing begins its roll-out in March 2024, for a limited number of vehicles. It arrives alongside new content and platform updates.
Images: iRacing. Words: Thomas Harrison-Lord and Luca
Initially teased way back in August 2021 during a charity event, ‘rain’ for iRacing has been a much-anticipated feature for subscribers to the sim racing service.
Bit by bit, teasers and sound bites from the project’s lead Greg Hill would permeate forums like water from the Massachusetts’ Nashua River during a storm.
Yet, it did not arrive – the Tempest weather system missing in action. But now it is here. Well, nearly now. Soon. Here’s everything we know so far.
Rain will be added to the iRacing service in March 2024, as part of the 2024 Season 2 update.
It was originally planned to arrive in December 2023’s 2024 Season 1 update, but it was pushed back to implement further changes.
“I think everyone’s glad that we did wait for it, we’re excited for people to try it,” said Steve Myers, Executive Vice President at iRacing to RaceDepartment recently.
“I think it really helped to put a little bit of that final polish on it, that it’s going to be a more complete experience than it would have been three months ago.
“I think there’s a lot of anticipation and I can tell you that like I feel very confident that there’s nothing like this out there in the marketplace.”
In brief, here are some of the main features:
iRacing Tempests weather timeline editor. Image: iRacing
A drying line is claimed to be not pre-determined, as it is several other titles such as Assetto Corsa Competizione. In this one respect, it sounds similar to the Madness Engine-utilising Automobilista 2, in that the dry line is instead formed based on where sim racers actually drive over time.
In iRacing, the formation of puddles is also said to be in ‘physically driven’ areas, with aero-heavy cars ‘picking up’ and ‘depositing’ water as they race.
A wet line is something that many sims have tried to implement and promised, but few rarely have succeeded. ACC does after this, where the rubbered-in racing line in the dry becomes smooth in the wet. Therefore, you must find more grip around the outside of a corner in the more abrasive asphalt. This is also iRacing aims to simulate.
If you select a car that has been updated to work with dynamic weather conditions and rain, then you can play with the weather settings in a test session or AI racing. When it comes to online series in a compatible car, it will be decided by iRacing whether to use forecaster weather or not.
14 cars can be driven in the rain initially, with this list set to expand over the coming months:
Holistically, dynamic weather can be used on any series within iRacing. But…
Initially, during ‘Week 13’ in February, there will be a series of test events using the system and then from Season 2 2024 ‘Week 1’ onwards, there will be a gradual roll-out.
“Rain will be enabled by our series admins on a series-by-series basis based on whether the cars support the feature and whether it’s appropriate for the level of competition,” explains Senior VP and Executive Producer at iRacing, Greg Hill.
The plan, currently, is to only have rain enabled during ‘select weeks’ during Season 2. If it is enabled, for the series events, they will rely on the forecast system. In this scenario, truly, you won’t know if it will or won’t rain unless you look at the forecast and the new weather radar.
Yet, it also means that while we know that Tempest works on a per-car basis when setting up a test session or AI race, will it be available for all road courses on day one? The assumption is yes, but to be safe, we believe this is not yet confirmed either way. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
The existing NASCAR Cup Series models will receive updated physics to match the fresh look delivered earlier this year and the IndyCar will receive some 2024-spec enhancements.
Misano, the Algarve International Circuit and Millbridge Speedway will become newly available too.
Motorsport Arena Oschersleben, Snetterton Circuit, Circuit de Lédenon and Winton Motor Raceway are being moved to tracks that are included with a base subscription.
Sim racers will begin the new season with their iRating and Safety Rating the same across both licences, depending on what your Road licence is before the season starts.
But now, different series will count for these licences. No more can wrecks in FIA Formula 4 Challenge races plummeting your SR be offset by doing an uneventful VRS GT Endurance Series race at the end of the week. It is now paramount to maintain SR by racing cleanly in notoriously chaotic open-wheel races.
An all-new interface for the service is also set to arrive later, the beginnings of which will arrive in Season 2.
All new iRacing subscribers will automatically default to a new introduction (above) once they sign up with a walk-through of which settings to select.
iRacing has also released work-in-progress images of what a new HUD could look like. The series-selection menus will also be revised.
Has the old iRacing HUD become tiresome to you? Fear not, as a new one is arriving.
It also references connections to the Australian Supercars championship, which has the new Gen3 Mustang and Camaro not scanned into the game, hinting they could be adding them in the future. Plus something else in Australia, nothing more hinted than that so speculate in the comments below.
Last but not least, the previously announced career mode is set to arrive in 2025. The release date for iRacing 2024 Season 2 is confirmed for Tuesday 5th March.
Let us know your thoughts about the latest iRacing developments in the comments below.
Images: iRacing. Words: Thomas Harrison-Lord and Luca
Initially teased way back in August 2021 during a charity event, ‘rain’ for iRacing has been a much-anticipated feature for subscribers to the sim racing service.
Bit by bit, teasers and sound bites from the project’s lead Greg Hill would permeate forums like water from the Massachusetts’ Nashua River during a storm.
Yet, it did not arrive – the Tempest weather system missing in action. But now it is here. Well, nearly now. Soon. Here’s everything we know so far.
Rain will be added to the iRacing service in March 2024, as part of the 2024 Season 2 update.
It was originally planned to arrive in December 2023’s 2024 Season 1 update, but it was pushed back to implement further changes.
“I think everyone’s glad that we did wait for it, we’re excited for people to try it,” said Steve Myers, Executive Vice President at iRacing to RaceDepartment recently.
“I think it really helped to put a little bit of that final polish on it, that it’s going to be a more complete experience than it would have been three months ago.
“I think there’s a lot of anticipation and I can tell you that like I feel very confident that there’s nothing like this out there in the marketplace.”
Main Tempest Weather Features
“Unlike anything else in simulation racing” – that’s the bold claim.In brief, here are some of the main features:
- Wet racing lines (driving off the smoother, traditional, racing line to find more grip)
- Dynamic forecasted weather, static weather or customisable timeline weather
- Historical weather data used for the forecasted option
- Available in test sessions, AI racing and online series events
- iRacing spotter and crew chief will update you on weather changes and tyre selection
- No ‘canned’ puddles
- Aquaplaning
A drying line is claimed to be not pre-determined, as it is several other titles such as Assetto Corsa Competizione. In this one respect, it sounds similar to the Madness Engine-utilising Automobilista 2, in that the dry line is instead formed based on where sim racers actually drive over time.
In iRacing, the formation of puddles is also said to be in ‘physically driven’ areas, with aero-heavy cars ‘picking up’ and ‘depositing’ water as they race.
A wet line is something that many sims have tried to implement and promised, but few rarely have succeeded. ACC does after this, where the rubbered-in racing line in the dry becomes smooth in the wet. Therefore, you must find more grip around the outside of a corner in the more abrasive asphalt. This is also iRacing aims to simulate.
Which Cars Can Be Driven In The Rain?
The rollout of dynamic weather and rain, much like the New Damage Model within iRacing, will be on a car-by-car basis, not all at once.If you select a car that has been updated to work with dynamic weather conditions and rain, then you can play with the weather settings in a test session or AI racing. When it comes to online series in a compatible car, it will be decided by iRacing whether to use forecaster weather or not.
14 cars can be driven in the rain initially, with this list set to expand over the coming months:
- FIA F4
- Ray FF1600
- Toyota GR86
- Audi R8 LMS EVO II GT3
- BMW M4 GT3
- Ferrari 296 GT3
- Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO
- Mercedes-AMG GT3 2020
- Porsche 911 GT3 R (992)
- Dallara P217 LMP2
- Acura ARX-06 GTP
- BMW M Hybrid V8 (GTP)
- Cadillac V-Series.R GTP
- Porsche 963 GTP
Holistically, dynamic weather can be used on any series within iRacing. But…
Initially, during ‘Week 13’ in February, there will be a series of test events using the system and then from Season 2 2024 ‘Week 1’ onwards, there will be a gradual roll-out.
“Rain will be enabled by our series admins on a series-by-series basis based on whether the cars support the feature and whether it’s appropriate for the level of competition,” explains Senior VP and Executive Producer at iRacing, Greg Hill.
The plan, currently, is to only have rain enabled during ‘select weeks’ during Season 2. If it is enabled, for the series events, they will rely on the forecast system. In this scenario, truly, you won’t know if it will or won’t rain unless you look at the forecast and the new weather radar.
Yet, it also means that while we know that Tempest works on a per-car basis when setting up a test session or AI race, will it be available for all road courses on day one? The assumption is yes, but to be safe, we believe this is not yet confirmed either way. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Fresh Content Available March
In addition to the Tempest system, the next update will also offer for sale the single-seater Dallara 324 used in the Japanese Super Formula Lights championship, the multi-surface oval SRX car, and the dirt oval Micro Sprint – the latter will be included as base content for subscribers.The existing NASCAR Cup Series models will receive updated physics to match the fresh look delivered earlier this year and the IndyCar will receive some 2024-spec enhancements.
Misano, the Algarve International Circuit and Millbridge Speedway will become newly available too.
Motorsport Arena Oschersleben, Snetterton Circuit, Circuit de Lédenon and Winton Motor Raceway are being moved to tracks that are included with a base subscription.
New Cars Releasing in iRacing Season 2 2024
- Dallara 324 (Super Formula Lights)
- The SRX Car
- Micro Sprint
Updated Cars, iRacing Season 2 2024
- NASCAR Cup Series 2024-season physics changes
- IndyCar Dallara IR18 2024-season updates
- Xfinity Series Ford Mustang 2024-season visual update
New Tracks, iRacing Season 2 2024
- Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli
- Autódromo Internacional do Algarve (Portimão)
- Millbridge Speedway (dirt oval)
Track Now Included, iRacing Season 2 2024
- Motorsport Arena Oschersleben
- Snetterton Circuit
- Circuit de Lédenon
- Winton Motor Raceway
Road Licence Split Into Two
As of Season 2, your Road licence will become two separate licences in the form of Formula and Sports Car, which is pretty self-explanatory.Sim racers will begin the new season with their iRating and Safety Rating the same across both licences, depending on what your Road licence is before the season starts.
But now, different series will count for these licences. No more can wrecks in FIA Formula 4 Challenge races plummeting your SR be offset by doing an uneventful VRS GT Endurance Series race at the end of the week. It is now paramount to maintain SR by racing cleanly in notoriously chaotic open-wheel races.
New UI And HUD In the Works
An all-new interface for the service is also set to arrive later, the beginnings of which will arrive in Season 2.
All new iRacing subscribers will automatically default to a new introduction (above) once they sign up with a walk-through of which settings to select.
iRacing has also released work-in-progress images of what a new HUD could look like. The series-selection menus will also be revised.
The Road Ahead
iRacing has also confirmed that the next tracks on their agenda are Circuito de Navarra (previously announced), Sachsenring and Oswego Speedway (in both paved and dirt form) as well as two unspecified British tracks. There are plans to expand the selection of GT3 in races to potentially 15 with the introduction of new upcoming cars.It also references connections to the Australian Supercars championship, which has the new Gen3 Mustang and Camaro not scanned into the game, hinting they could be adding them in the future. Plus something else in Australia, nothing more hinted than that so speculate in the comments below.
Last but not least, the previously announced career mode is set to arrive in 2025. The release date for iRacing 2024 Season 2 is confirmed for Tuesday 5th March.
Let us know your thoughts about the latest iRacing developments in the comments below.
