In a major press release today, iRacing outlines its ambitious summer update. At the heart of the 2.0 summer-long update is the new tire model, which the release says “will revolutionize the way iRacing members race online, providing unparalleled realism and the most accurate racing experience ever produced for a PC.”
iRacing’s CEO Dave Kaemmer said, “This new tire model is our best work ever. It was incredibly challenging and time consuming to develop an understanding, mathematically speaking, of a racing tire at the limit and under all sorts of conditions… The tires are clearly the hardest thing to simulate for any racing title, but I think we’ve nailed it! I believe it is going to bring simulated racing to a whole new level of enjoyment and realism.”
All of the updates over the summer will be downloadable for free. The releases will be throughout the summer with some of them out in early May and some in August. Some of May’s highlights include the launch of in-game awards program, night racing on road courses using headlights, and enhanced pitting and damage repair for all cars. August’s update brings the new tire model, Suzuka Circuit (Japan) and Iowa Speedway (USA), and the Ford GT and Honda LMP ARX-01C race cars.
For those who now want to sign up for iRacing, note that the standard one-year membership is less than $9 per month. However, racers can try one month for $5 by using promo code PR-FIVEDOLLAR.
Updates:
May 2011
- Early preview of Dave Kaemmer’s new tire model available on the new NASCAR Nationwide car.
- Launch of in-game awards program – over 50 different participation awards members can earn.
- Night racing on road courses using headlights beginning with Sebring International Raceway and the V8 Supercar, Mazda MX5 Cup & Roadster, Corvette C6.R, Riley Daytona Prototype, Pontiac Solstice, VW Jetta TDI Cup and Mustang Challenge race cars.
- New NASCAR “Nationwide” stock car – race the car you watch on Saturdays.
- Okayama International Circuit (Japan) – the first of several tracks from the island nation.
- New telemetry output for the data hungry racers.
- Private league racing enhancements including: reduced pricing, advanced scheduling, new race session options and additional grid spots to virtually every track.
- Graphic and shader upgrades in-game for more lifelike visuals.
- Complete graphical overhaul of the Skip Barber FSB2000 race car – updating our first car to current standards.
- Opening practice sessions to all license levels (excluding Pro Series).
- Enhanced pitting and damage repair for all cars.
- Preferred/custom car numbers.
- Improved accuracy of the model of physical track sirface to match the laser scanned data better than ever before.
August 2011
- New Tire Model for all cars.
- Enhanced aero model for improved drafting and more realistic downforce characteristics.
- Heat/Tournament racing for private leagues/sessions.
- Driver aids available for private leagues and Rookie series (ABS brakes, traction control, driving line, steering aids, etc.).
- Enhancements of new sound system.
- Endurance racing and driver swaps.
- Suzuka Circuit (Japan).
- Iowa Speedway (USA).
- Ford GT race car
- Honda LMP ARX-01C race car
- Live pop-up chat on member site.
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