As the developers of iRacing prepare to launch the update that will herald 2025’s Season 1, they have showcased more of what you can expect.
Perhaps the most impressive and exciting element that we get to see today is an overhaul of the debris physics, which often gets overlooked in racing games and even deeper simulators.
The renewed tech will let cars pick up debris realistically and spread them on the track depending on a variety of factors, and then the existing debris will be further spread and carried by cars that will follow.
Different debris types will influence how many are picked up, and the wetness of the track will also play a role.
The physics comes with appropriate visuals, making it easier to spot debris ahead and react in time, and also to see if you have already contaminated your tires. Different types of debris with different visuals and behaviors include rubber marbles, dirt, dust, grass, mud, and gravel.
You can check out the impressive video below, alongside a summary of the feature:
- Gravel has been added as a new Dynamic Track debris type. Gravel can be found on a variety of off-track surfaces and reduces tire grip on racing surfaces.
- Mud has been added as a new Dynamic Track debris type. Mud is generated when tires tear up the grass, and behaves like a mix of dirt and water.
- The grip adjustments and physics behaviors applied by the various Dynamic Track debris types have been fine-tuned by science.
- Dynamic Track debris accumulation and dispersion algorithms have been improved, with far superior tracking and accuracy for the amounts and locations of all debris of all types everywhere in the world.
- Dynamic Track debris pick-up and throw logic and parameters for tires of various constructions have been updated.
- Debris of all types can now be held on the car body itself, instead of only tires, and it may be shed based on velocity changes.
- Adjusted the amount of debris picked up by tires based on the wetness of the track, tire, and debris type.
- Aerodynamic effects pick-up and move track debris.
- Improved the textures and rendering of all Dynamic Track debris types to make them easier to see, especially at a distance. This includes rubber marbles, dirt, dust, grass, mud, and gravel.
- Pit crews have been trained to sweep their pit stalls at the start of Sessions – no debris begins in pit stalls.
Speaking of dirt, we also get to see Huset’s Speedway, located in Brandon, South Dakota.
As usual, you can check out a few cinematic shots followed by a look from the driver’s point of view below.
iRacing 2025 Season 1 will launch on December 10.
More content coming with the season includes new cars like the Supercars Chevrolet Camaro Gen 3 and Supercars Ford Mustang Gen 3, the BMW M2 CSR, the Acura NSX GT3 EVO 22, and the Ferrari 499P.
On the tracks’ front, we’re also getting Thruxton Circuit and refreshes of New Hampshire Motor Speedway and Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
If you’re unfamiliar with iRacing, it’s a subscription-based, esports-focused racing simulation platform on PC considered by many one of the most realistic in the industry. As such, it’s not surprising that many professional racing drivers train on its LIDAR-scanned tracks that precisely reproduce their real counterparts.
Another element that makes it attractive as an esports platform is its implementation of racing regulations closely mimicking real motorsports to create an online esports environment that feels as professional as possible.
iRacing partners with several real-world racing series and organizations including NASCAR, IMSA, the FIA, and many more, and it’s also one of the most respected and prestigious esports environments for racing simulation enthusiasts
Recently, the developers of iRacing launched a partnership with Microsoft Research to implement Large Action Models AI in the game.