iRacing

iRacing 2026 Season 1 release adds new cars, tracks, and UI tools

Official Season 1 update brings new content, simulation changes, and expanded language support ahead of the December 16 start.

Omar Al-Sabah

Straight wire

Official news External News Straight wire

The iRacing 2026 Season 1 Release Build is now live, and the official release notes describe one of the sim’s four major annual updates.

The build includes new content for cars and tracks, new Sim UI features, simulation and physics changes, and a range of fixes ahead of Season 1, which officially starts on December 16 at 0000 UTC.

New cars, tracks, and Dirt Road content

The most visible additions in the official notes are two brand-new cars: the FIA Cross Car and the Porsche 911 Cup (992.2). iRacing also says the Porsche 911 Cup (992.2) is ready for rain racing, and that AI Drivers have been fully programmed to race it as well.

On the track side, the release adds Adelaide Street Circuit in South Australia and Miami International Autodrome in Florida. Miami is listed with five configurations. The notes also add two new Dirt Road configurations: Lucas Oil Speedway - Off Road and Winton Motor Raceway - Rallycross.

Other track updates include Rockingham Speedway - Oval, which has been remodeled with new laser scan data while the 2012 version remains preserved for continued use. Mount Panorama has also received a comprehensive art upgrade, according to iRacing.

UI changes aimed at faster control and customization

iRacing says it has expanded the Sim UI with several features intended to improve navigation and layout control. The new Options Search feature is designed to shorten the path through iRacing Options.

The update also repackages four Black Box pages into standalone Widgets: Lap Timing, Relative, Standings, and Weather. These widgets are described as read-only UI elements that can be placed anywhere on screen to monitor important data.

A new Widget Editor adds broader customization, with nearly all UI elements now able to have customized size, position, and transparency. For users who manage multiple displays, stream overlays, or a busy race cockpit, the practical value is clear: faster access to race information and more control over what appears on screen.

Vehicle and simulation updates across major classes

The release notes say iRacing updated the NASCAR Trucks aerodynamic model using additional real-world data. The Dallara IR18 has also completed an ongoing Hybrid System update and received an art refresh to match.

The Toyota GR86 gets what iRacing describes as a bumper-to-bumper physics and systems update based on the latest real-world data. The GT3 Class Cars have also received another round of updates continuing from last season, with the goal of optimizing that racing experience.

These changes matter because they affect how drivers prepare for official races, leagues, and organized events. Even without a single headline feature, a broad update to physics, aero, or hybrid behavior can influence setups, race pace, and how teams approach practice and strategy.

Track surface, weather, and oval-racing improvements

The simulation team says it has worked on how tracks begin their existence within the sim, including water, puddles, and wetness, as well as dust, debris, and driving lines. iRacing also points to improved initial parameters and properties for these track states.

The Oval Refresh project returns with advancements to rubber density and distribution and thermal flow, with the stated aim of improving lane dynamics and multi-groove racing. That will be of interest to oval racers and organizers because surface evolution often shapes tire wear, passing opportunities, and race management.

The notes do not frame these changes as isolated tweaks; instead, they are part of the broader seasonal release. For competitive players, that means a likely adjustment period as conditions, grip, and surface behavior are re-learned across affected content.

AI and language support broaden the update

iRacing says AI Drivers have been fully programmed to race the Porsche 911 Cup (992.2). The AI roster also includes the new pavement tracks Adelaide Street Circuit and Miami International Autodrome, plus Rockingham Speedway - Oval.

Beyond driving content, the non-in-Sim iRacing application has added French, German, Italian, Portuguese (European), and Portuguese (Brazilian). That expansion should make the platform easier to navigate for more users across different regions.

For streamers, league admins, and international competitors, broader language support can simplify onboarding and reduce friction when managing sessions, options, and race preparation outside the driving seat.

Why the Season 1 release matters

As an official seasonal release, this update affects more than a single car or track. It combines new content, UI tools, AI coverage, surface modeling, and class-specific vehicle updates in one package.

For gamers, that means fresh driving challenges and new systems to learn. For tournament organizers and league hosts, it means updated content to schedule around, plus new elements that may influence race balance and event prep.

Because iRacing positions this as one of four major annual releases, the Season 1 build is likely to shape the competitive environment across the start of the new season. The official notes make clear that both casual racers and organized groups will have plenty to re-evaluate once the update lands.

Newsroom

Source: iRacing — Steam News release notes for the 2026 Season 1 Initial Release, published December 9, 2025. All details above are limited to the official notes supplied in the source packet.

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Omar Al-Sabah

Straight wire

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