Following an update filled to the brim with highly-anticipated new content, the start of 2024 on iRacing does not bring revolutionary changes; one car, the Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II, and two tracks, Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello and Slinger Speedway, will debut in 2024 Season 1.
However, the three content additions represent much of what we should expect from the platform in the new year. Further updates to the GT3 class are on the horizon, as is the release of new European circuits such as Portimao, Misano and Navarra, whilst the oval discipline will continue to be levelled up. Oh, and don’t forget that rain is “imminent”…
More modernisation in GT3
2023 has been a busy year in the real world of racing. The introduction of the LMDh ruleset in IMSA gave birth to a brand new fleet of GTP cars – all four of which are now in iRacing – but multiple manufacturers also simultaneously debuted new GT3 machinery. At the start of the year, Ferrari released the 296 GT3, Lamborghini the Huracan GT3 Evo2 and Porsche the 992 GT3 R, leaving iRacing with the tough task of trying to update their GT3 class.
However, after the 296 GT3 replaced the 488 GT3 Evo on the platform last season, the beginning of 2024 sees Audi’s newest GT3 challenger join the fray. The R8 LMS GT3 Evo II, which was first delivered to customer teams in 2022, is the third iteration of the 15-year-old R8 LMS GT3 but, just like the Porsche 911, it shows no sign of age in performance.
The mid-engined V10-powered R8 LMS GT3 Evo II competes across the globe, enjoying success in championships such as GT World Challenge Europe, the 24H GT Series and DTM, which Audi became manufacturers’ champions of in 2022.
Compared to the R8 LMS GT3 Evo I, the Evo II features a plethora of upgrades including a striking new aerodynamic package and additions to the car’s suspension. Overall, it is a further refinement of an already successful formula and will replace the R8 LMS GT3 Evo I in all series across iRacing. Balance of Performance changes will allow for the seamless introduction of the 2022 Audi to the GT3 class.
- Coach Dave Academy will be crafting setups for the Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II throughout 2024 Season 1 which will be available via our iRacing Setup Subscription.
Two brand-new circuits
iRacing continues to expand its roster of European circuits in 2024 Season 1 with the release of Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello whilst it grows its list of oval venues with the introduction of Slinger Speedway in parallel.
Mugello joins the fray
Located in Tuscany, Italy, Mugello has an illustrious history in racing having been opened in the 1970s. It was purchased by Ferrari in 1988 but has only made one appearance on the Formula 1 calendar, which came during the heavily disrupted 2020 season, instead owing much of its popularity to junior single-seater formulae, GT categories and motorcycle racing.
Laser-scanned and built from the ground up, iRacing has captured Mugello’s very essence in its virtual translation. The high-speed sweeps of Arrabbiata 1 and 2 leave you balancing your car on the edge of adhesion, whilst the rest of the circuit possesses a unique flow that is satisfying to attack in both mechanically- and downforce-focused machinery. Featuring iRacing’s new 3D kerbing, it also carries a higher level of fidelity compared to older circuits.
- Make sure to check out Coach Dave Academy’s weekly lap guides if you want to learn how to attack Mugello.
Slinger Speedway arrives in iRacing
Away from the road racing discipline, quarter-mile oval Slinger Speedway is the second track to be released with the iRacing 2024 Season 1 update. Slinger was first opened in 1948 as a clay circuit but a significant makeover ahead of the 1974 season gave birth to the high-banked paved course that has become one of America’s most famous short tracks.
Host of the yearly 200-lap Super Late Model race the Slinger Nationals and the location of the first sub-ten-second lap time on a quarter-mile oval, Slinger has attracted the attention of NASCAR legends over the years and is a welcome addition to iRacing.
Okayama gets refreshed
Japan’s Okayama International Circuit is a popular venue amongst low license drivers in iRacing as one of the platform’s few free tracks, but just like VIR and Zandvoort earlier in 2023, it has received a long-awaited re-scan ahead of 2024 Season 1.
The “country club” circuit once hosted a Formula 1 round in the 1990s but no longer attracts international attention in the real world. Nevertheless, it remains a staple of Japanese championships such as Super GT and hasn’t lost any popularity in iRacing.
Now rebuilt entirely, it has had the same laser scan treatment of any brand-new circuit and now incorporates Racing’s 3D kerb and 3D foliage technology. Brought up to date with modern standards on the visual side too, Okayama has a fresh look and feel at no financial cost to drivers.
- You can learn more about how to be cost-effective with your purchases on iRacing with our guide here.
Setup changes, physics adjustments and more
The Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II, Mugello and Slinger Speedway are 2024 Season 1’s three greatest points of attraction, but the update also brings with it a variety of technical adjustments to existing cars from classes such as GT3 and GTP.
Most notably, the Traction Control and ABS systems used in GT3 have been significantly reworked. Cars can now run with lower levels of electronic assistance, and when on track, you will feel yourself decelerating slightly faster over less distance than in 2023 Season 4. Lap times are also generally lower and old setups will no longer provide competitive levels of performance, owing to subtle adjustments such as the removal of the caster setting on the BMW M4 GT3 and the anti-roll bar size options on the Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo.
In GTP, class-wide Balance of Performance changes have brought the Porsche 963 GTP and Acura ARX-06 into a more competitive state. Their underlying handling characteristics remain, however, slight changes to weight, downforce levels and power to all four GTP entrants mean that the Cadillac V-Series.R and BMW M Hybrid V8 can no longer be assumed the fastest cars.
To learn more about the finer changes to iRacing in the 2024 Season 1 update, including the first phase of the Asphalt Oval Refresh Project, we recommend taking a look at the official release notes.
Coach Dave Academy’s plan for 2024 Season 1
We’re always looking to bring you the best iRacing setups and content every single week, and in 2024 Season 1, our team of 18 professional drivers and engineers with iRatings of over 8000 will be hard at work covering 10 different series.
Additions to our lineup in 2023 Season 4 such as the SuperFormula INSIM Series will remain, whilst we will continue to provide comprehensive setup offerings for staple series such as the IMSA iRacing Series and Porsche Cup Series powered by Coach Dave Delta.
Alongside that, iRacing’s three special events in the first quarter of 2024 – the ROAR before the 24, the Daytona 24 hours and the Bathurst 12 hours – will all get the Coach Dave Academy treatment.
To learn more about what we will be up to throughout 2024 Season 1, check out our blog post here.
