iRacing’s 2025 Season 2 update brings exciting new content, physics improvements and quality-of-life changes to enhance the user experience. With new ARCA cars, Portland Raceway, a major GTP physics overhaul and a new connection flag system, this update continues to push the boundaries of realism in sim racing. Let’s dive into the details.
New Cars For Season 2
The ARCA Menards Series receives a refresh with the introduction of three new cars:
- ARCA Chevrolet SS
- ARCA Ford Mustang
- ARCA Toyota Camry
These cars replace the outgoing ARCA model, providing updated aerodynamics and handling. Unlike the previous single-car ARCA model, each vehicle must be purchased separately. iRacing offers between 50% and 100% credit toward the new models for those who bought an old ARCA car in the past year.
In addition, there are two other minor updates:
- The BMW M2 CSR will graduate from rookie status and be integrated into more advanced racing series: BMW M Power Challenge and Production Car Challenge, replacing the old BMW M4 F82 GT4.
- The Legends Ford ’34 Coupe is updated with the latest physics and graphics.
New and Updated Circuits
One of the highlights of Season 2 is the introduction of Portland International Raceway. This 1.967-mile (3.166 km) circuit is a staple of North American motorsport, hosting the IndyCar Series and the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
The track features 12 corners and is known for its fast chicanes and technical infield sections. The first corner resembles Monza and tends to provide dramatic pileups. The smooth flow and overtaking opportunities in the infield section make PIR a great circuit for many racing series.
Besides, several circuits will receive 3D curb updates, enhancing the realism of force feedback on the curbs. Jerez, Aragon, Sandown, VIR, Winton, Rudskogen and Hockenheim will receive this update.
Much Needed Tyre Model Updates
One of the most impactful changes is the overhaul of the physics for GTP and LMP2 prototypes to create a more authentic and challenging driving experience.
During the previous season, prototypes were too fast in the simulator relative to the real-life cars. With the updated physics, tyres take longer to reach optimal temperatures, and grip in high-speed corners has been reduced. As a result, lap times dropped by several seconds, aligning more closely with real-world WEC and IMSA series.
New Connection Flag System
Few things are more frustrating than competing alongside drivers with unstable network connections with iRacing netcode. These issues can cause cars to blink in and out, disrupt the race and make close battles unpredictable.
The new connection flag system automatically detects poor connections and moves affected drivers to the pits until stability is restored. During this time, they can troubleshoot their network, wait for improvements or continue in ghost mode. Once the connection stabilises, they can rejoin the race from the pits.
Increased Race Frequencies
To provide more racing opportunities and reduce waiting times, iRacing has increased race frequencies across multiple series:
- All rookie series now start every 15 minutes.
- Moving from hourly to every 30 minutes: Draft Master, Ferrari GT3 Challenge, Toyota GR Cup, FIA F4 Series.
- Moving from every 2 hours to every 1 hour: NASCAR Gen 4 Cup Series, INDYCAR Series – Oval – Fixed, RingMeister, NASCAR 1987 Legends Cup.
While these changes improve accessibility, there are concerns about potential reductions in grid sizes and the balance of SoF.
Other Notable Updates
UI update
The iRacing user interface receives a refresh in Season 2, enhancing navigation and accessibility. Key changes include:
- A revamped series page that makes it easier to browse and select racing series.
- Improved filtering options for car and track selections.
- Streamlined event entry menus, reducing the steps needed to join a session.
Adaptive AI
Season 2 introduces an improved adaptive AI system designed to adjust AI driver skill levels based on the player’s performance. This ensures a more realistic and competitive experience across various skill levels. The new Adaptive AI settings can be adjusted in the AI opponents menu.
Coach Dave Academy’s Plan for 2025 Season 2
Our professional drivers and engineers will continue to develop the best setups for all of the popular series in iRacing. We’ve even put together a Season 2 Plan Guide for you to read.
As usual, we will also provide our weekly lap guides for five series across 2025 Season 2 on the Coach Dave Academy YouTube Channel, complementing our packages of professional setups and data packs.
