Bo Jackson
March 15, 2024
Race Through the Rain with iRacing
iRacing Releases Revolutionary Weather Model
iRacing released their new weather dynamics update, and we're pleased to say we love it. iRacing, established in 2008, quickly became the industry leader in sim racing by offering an unrivaled level of accuracy, realism, and competition. As many of us would agree, the physics and feel in iRacing are unmatched. We were worried that would be subject to change with the new update, but boy, were we wrong.
Our thoughts
While iRacing has had dynamic weather options previously, we were limited to things like temperature and cloud coverage. You can also change the time of day, which is helpful to practice for night races. That said, up until now, if you wanted to train for rain conditions, you had to venture out of the iRacing platform into others like Assetto Corsa Competizione. Rain isn't new to the sim world and has been offered for a while on Gran Turismo and others, but iRacing has a standard to maintain, and they have done just that.
One feature I do want to highlight is forecasting. Just as you would in real life, races will now have the option for a forecast, meaning you will have a general idea of what track conditions are based on what is predicted, but that could change just as real weather does. This allows drivers to stay on their toes and be prepared for any possible situation.
"In my opinion, this is incredibly realistic. I've driven at Sebring in the rain, and it's exactly the same. I think they've nailed the realism. The puddling and the reflections are just a step up. It looks so good." - Daniel Morad, GT3 Driver.
Comments from Daniel Morad, Tony Kanaan, and other professional drivers and sim racers confirm that this update is not just "cool," but a significant step in the sim racing and training experience. These guys would know. They have driven in these racing conditions.
As we look to the future, it's clear that iRacing will continue to bring the level of authenticity that they are so well known for. Whether you're training for an upcoming race or track day, cruising your favorite circuits with your buddies, or just wanting to experience tire slippage without totaling your new car, iRacing is the place to do it.
For more information on iRacing, visit www.iRacing.com.