In 2024 Season 2, iRacing split the Road licence into Sports Car and Formula categories to improve participation in Formula leagues at the higher levels. This update, with the introduction of the Super Formula Lights series and a new licencing deal with IndyCar, provides a comprehensive career ladder for open-wheel cars in iRacing.
But why choose Formulas instead of GTs or Prototypes? Open-wheel racing demands high precision, reflexes and skill. The characteristics of these cars, such as fast cornering speeds, high power-to-weight ratio and lack of driver aids, make them fun and challenging to drive.
Career progression in iRacing
Rookie series
The introductory open-wheel championships in iRacing include Formula Vee and Formula 1600 cars. Both cars have no wings and rely only on mechanical grip, enabling close racing with many overtaking opportunities.
For your first formula series, we recommend the Formula 1600 because the gearing is more intuitive and the car offers a more logical progression to more senior open-wheel cars. However, open-wheel cars such as these that come without much aero are quite different even to the Formula 4 vehicle and require you to rely on brake and throttle inputs to rotate the car in corners.
D licence
The D licence unlocks USF 2000, Skip Barber and, most notably, FIA-certified Formula 4 championships. The Formula 4 is the first step on the single-seater ladder in a high-downforce car with slick tyres.
iRacing’s Formula 4 car has 160 horsepower with a weight of 570 kilograms so the power-to-weight is not out of control and you do not need to think about tyre management and strategy. The competition in this series can be intense at all levels, especially in the FIA F4 Esports series which attracts many fast drivers.
C licence
After gaining experience in entry-level formulas, drivers can progress to more difficult and powerful cars like Formula 3 (Dallara F317) and Super Formula Lights (Dallara F324). Both cars have a nice balance between performance and drivability.
The aero design is less advanced with these two Formula C options than in the senior Formula series and overall the cars are easier to drive than B and A licence formulas. The F324 has 35-40 more horsepower than the F317, higher top speed and better performance in medium and fast corners due to more aero load so is a better step up. In addition, the Super Formula Lights series usually has better participation than that using the old Dallara F317.
B licence
There is no Formula 2 car in iRacing, but at the B licence level, you can choose between two worthy alternatives: Super Formula and the IR18 IndyCar.
The IndyCar offers an extremely raw driving experience with more power and less downforce than the Super Formula. You can race the IR18 on ovals and the licenced IndyCar iRacing Series.
Super Formula is the second-fastest road racing series in the world after Formula 1. The car SF23 car is quite tricky to set up, although for a different reason than the IR18: it generates significant downforce from the floor and it requires a good balance between the stability of the aero platform and mechanical grip. Overall, both cars are difficult to drive but the Super Formula SF23 is typically a more popular choice on iRacing.
A licence
At the top of the career ladder, you will find the Formula 1-esque Formula A championship that uses the Mercedes-AMG W13 E Performance. Although this car is slightly slower than the 2021 Formula 1 Mercedes that is also in iRacing although no longer has its own series, it still generates absurd levels of downforce and requires a precise suspension setup to extract maximum performance.
The strategy in full-distance races can be complex because of three different tyre compounds and hybrid energy recharging and deployment, making it the true pinnacle of open-wheel competition in iRacing.
Tips to improve as a driver
Advanced open-wheel cars are different beasts compared to GTs, touring cars or prototypes and they require some adjustments to driving style and setup process. Here are a few tips to find more performance in formula championships.
Overall driving style
Firstly, open-wheel cars generate significant downforce through advanced aerodynamics, allowing them to corner at very high speeds with incredible grip. More speed at the apex results in more grip because higher speed generates more downforce too, so clean lines and efficient braking are crucial in impacting cornering performance.
Secondly, you need to adjust your braking technique. These cars have significantly more tyre load during the early braking phase thanks to downforce at high speed. You can be more aggressive in the initial application of brakes than in GT or prototype cars but you need to be more cautious with trail braking to avoid lock-ups as the speed and therefore downforce wears off. Besides, modern open-wheel cars have no anti-lock braking system (ABS) and there is more potential performance under braking compared to GTs.
Finally, drive carefully because the damage is unforgiving and easy to pick up. A damaged front wing or suspension makes the car undrivable and requires a pit stop with lengthy repairs.
Setup and race strategy
Suspension is the key performance factor, in particular, for B and A licence formula cars. Suspension setup in these cars requires two compromises:
- The first compromise is between the ride height and suspension stiffness. The ride height needs to be low to maximise diffuser efficiency, but if the ride height is too low or the suspension is too soft, the aero under the car may stall, which leads to instant loss of downforce and snap oversteer.
- The second compromise is between aero and mechanical balance. The aero determines the performance at high speeds, but it rapidly comes off the vehicle during braking and mechanical grip takes over in slow corners. The softer suspension will improve mechanical grip but hurt the aero because of more chassis movement.
Race strategy is important for higher-level formula championships. The strategy aspect comes from two main elements:
- Available tyre compounds and regulations. Some championships have several compounds and require using two compounds during a race. The compounds differ in durability and speed, i.e. the harder compound is slower but more consistent, and the softer is faster but degrades quickly.
- Refuelling. Most Formula championships prohibit refuelling, but it is a major factor if refuelling is available. The ratio of fuel load to dry weight in open-wheel cars is larger than in GTs, so extra fuel weight noticeably slows down the car. Fuel saving vs pushing with one additional pit stop is a common strategic choice in the IndyCar championship.
Final thoughts
Whether you are just starting in the rookie series or competing at the higher level, iRacing offers a well-defined and structured career ladder for formula drivers. To excel in open-wheel racing, focus on refining your driving style, understanding the nuances of car setup and developing optimal race strategies.
