IRacing
| iRacing.com | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | iRacing.com Motorsport Simulations |
| Platform(s) | PC (Win) |
| Release | June 11, 2008 (first subscribers) August 26, 2008 (general launch) |
| Genre(s) | Racing simulation |
| Mode(s) | |
iRacing.com (iRacing for short) is an online, subscription-based racing simulation service created by iRacing.com Motorsport Simulations. In addition to a simulator, the service provides sanctioned oval and road racing with series for several different car classes.
The service had a gradual launch. The first subscribers, former testers of iRacing.com, gained access to the service on June 11, 2008, and the general launch followed on August 26, 2008.
Development
The company behind iRacing.com was established in September 2004 by David Kaemmer and John W. Henry after the demise of Papyrus Design Group, which Kaemmer had also co-founded.[1] The iRacing service has been in development for about four years since then, using code from Papyrus' NASCAR Racing 2003 Season as a starting point.[2] The company plans to constantly expand and enhance the product after the public launch.[3]
Reception
![[icon]](/wiki/File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg){kind=small} | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (June 2008) |
Overview of the service
The iRacing company aims to cater both to real-world racers and racing simulation enthusiasts,[4] so they are trying to offer a realistic simulation of motorsport with accurate track, vehicle and physics modeling,[5][6] and all of the cars and tracks are officially licensed.[7]
iRacing can only be driven online on servers run by iRacing.com, and participation requires a subscription to the service. There are several different subscription options available ranging from a monthly $20 fee to a year-length subscription for $156. The subscription packages include a basic set of tracks and two cars with which to practice and race, as well as a certain amount of iRacing credit that can be used, in addition to money, to buy additional car and track content, all of which is subject to charge. [8]
iRacing manages sanctioned series for the different car types. Each calendar year is divided into four 12-week seasons for standard series, and all driving sessions in a series take place only on one track each week. [9] On a given track, the drivers can participate in practice, qualifying, time trial and race sessions.[10] There can also be non-standard series, examples of which are the four-week Rookie series.[11]
The series are divided into two main categories, oval and road, which are further divided into several license levels from Rookie to Pro, and a driver must earn each license to be eligible to participate in race week sessions on that level.[12] Earning a higher license involves both participation in competitions on a driver's current highest license level and achievement of a minimum safety record. The requirements for advancing and the licenses themselves are category-specific — in other words, a driver has a separate license for road and oval categories. [13]
In addition to driving in the different race week sessions in sanctioned series, a player can use a test mode to drive alone on any track with any car, assuming he has purchased the license to use the content.[14] However, private races or leagues aren't supported yet,[15] and racing with other people is currently possible only within the sanctioned series and according to their predetermined weekly schedules.
Features in detail
Driving simulation
At the core of iRacing is the driving simulation. The company has stated that their goal has been to create the most realistic simulation of racing to date.[16]
| This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (June 2008) |
Sanctioned racing and FIRST
FIRST is the sanctioning body that manages all the races and different series within the service.
| This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (June 2008) |
Web interface
The game is launched through a website, and there is no standalone offline client.
| This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (June 2008) |
Cars
Vehicles in iRacing are divided into six classes: Rookie, Advanced Rookie, Class D, Class C, Class B and Class A.[17] They correspond to the identically named driver license classes except for the two different Rookie car classes, which can both be driven with the same Rookie driver license.
The following table lists all the vehicles currently featured in the game and the license requirements of the series they are used in:[18]
| Car name | License requirements |
|---|---|
| 600 Racing Legends Ford '34 Coupe | Oval rookie / Road class D |
| Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS Late Model | Oval class D |
| SK Modified (Modified racing) | Oval class D |
| Chevrolet Silverado | Oval class C |
| C&R Racing Silver Crown (USAC) | Oval class B |
| Pontiac Solstice | Road rookie |
| Skip Barber Formula 2000 | Road class D |
| Star Mazda | Road class C |
| Radical SR8 V8 | Road class B |
On September 26, 2008, iRacing.com announced Chevrolet's three primary stock car racing vehicles: Silverado racing truck (released October 29th, 2008), and Monte Carlo SS and Impala SS stock cars (to follow in 2009).[19]
The Sports Car Club of America have confirmed that their Spec Racer Ford will eventually be included in the simulation. [20]
iRacing has also announced that Sprint cars[18], the Riley Daytona Prototype,[21] and Lotus 79,[22] will be available soon. The Chevrolet Corvette C6.R is expected to be available prior to June 13, 2009.[23]
Tracks
iRacing creates each track using proprietary exactrac laser mapping technology to replicate the personality, eccentricities and challenges of the track with mathematical precision.[24]
The following track venues are confirmed to be in the game.
Note: a yellow background denotes that a track is not yet available
Notes
- ^ "Company Overview". iRacing.com. Retrieved 2008-06-13.
- ^ "I am familiar with NASCAR Racing: 2003, is this a mod of NASCAR Racing: 2003 Season?". iRacing.com FAQ. iRacing.com. Retrieved 2008-06-13.
- ^ "Will development of iRacing continue beyond your public launch?". iRacing.com FAQ. iRacing.com. Retrieved 2008-06-13.
- ^ "Is this a game?". iRacing.com FAQ. iRacing.com. Retrieved 2008-06-14.
- ^ "Track Tech". iRacing.com. Retrieved 2008-06-14.
- ^ "Car Tech". iRacing.com. Retrieved 2008-06-14.
- ^ "Will iRacing feature only licensed products?". iRacing.com FAQ. iRacing.com. Retrieved 2008-06-14.
- ^ "Subscription Packages". iRacing.com. Retrieved 2008-06-14.
- ^ "4.2. Sanctioning" (PDF). FIRST Sporting Code. iRacing.com. Retrieved 2008-06-14.
- ^ "4.5. Sessions" (PDF). FIRST Sporting Code. iRacing.com. Retrieved 2008-06-14.
- ^ "4.2.5. Rookie series" (PDF). FIRST Sporting Code. iRacing.com. Retrieved 2008-06-14.
- ^ "2.9. Series Eligibility" (PDF). FIRST Sporting Code. iRacing.com. Retrieved 2008-06-14.
- ^ "2.2. Earning a FIRST License" (PDF). FIRST Sporting Code. iRacing.com. Retrieved 2008-06-14.
- ^ Preview - iRacing. SRT Media Productions. Retrieved 2008-06-14.
- ^ "Will iRacing.com support private leagues, allowing groups of friends to run invitation-only races?". iRacing.com FAQ. iRacing.com. Retrieved 2008-06-14.
- ^ "iRacing.com Simulation Service Announced: FIRST to Sanction "Arrive and Drive" Internet Racing". iRacing.com. Retrieved 2008-06-13.
- ^ "2.10. Vehicle Classes" (PDF). FIRST Sporting Code. iRacing.com. Retrieved 2008-06-14.
- ^ a b "Cars". iRacing.com. Retrieved 2008-06-14.
- ^ "Chevrolet's Racing Stock Cars iRacing Bound: Silverado Available to Members in October, Monte Carlo SS and Impala SS in 2009". iRacing.com. 2008-09-26. Retrieved 2008-09-26.
- ^ "SCCA Club Racers to Compete for iRacing.com Cup". 2008-02-09. Retrieved 2008-06-13.
- ^ "iRacing to Model Riley Mk XX Daytona Prototype: Most Successful Grand-Am Prototype Racer to be Included in the Racing Simulation". iRacing.com. Retrieved 2008-07-25.
- ^ iRacing Goes Vintage With Lotus 79 F1 Car
- ^ "Ultimate Corvette Racer Coming to iRacing: Virtual Version of Le Mans & ALMS-Winning C6.R Available in New Year". iRacing.com. Retrieved 2008-12-11.
- ^ "Track Tech". iRacing.com. Retrieved 2008-06-14.
References
- iRacing, preview by Jens "McGonigle" Lindblad at SimHQ, June 9, 2008
- Shaun Cole Preview - iRacing at insidesimracing.tv an SRT media production, June 6, 2008
- Jack Roush Jr. Roush: A Look Back at Lime Rock, at KONI Challenge Series website, May 28, 2008
- iRacing interview with Scott Mckee by Darin Gangi and Shaun Cole at insidesimracing.tv an SRT media production, April 15, 2008
- Autosimsport Volume 4, Issue 2, 15.Apr.2008, pp. 8-9, 19-30
- Autosimsport Vol 4 Issue 1, Feb 15, 2008, pp. 22-34
External links
- iRacing.com - official website