iRacing News

iRacing has deployed 2024 Season 2 Patch Release!

Release Notes are available below, or on the iRacing Forums, here:
https://forums.iracing.com/discussion/61530/2024-season-2-patch-4-release-notes-2024-05-01-02#latest


===============================================


This Patch Release contains important updates and a few fixes for the 2024 Season 2 Release.
Of special note, this Patch removes EasyAntiCheat (EAC) as our Anti-Cheat Software provider and restores Epic Online Services (EOS) to this designation. Issues that resulted from this initial change at the beginning of 2024 Season 2 have been resolved. No actions are required from our Members to make this switch.


iRACING:
--------------------------------------------------------------
Paint Shop
The sponsorship for Heusinkveld has been updated.


SIMULATION:
--------------------------------------------------------------
Anti-Cheat Software
With this release, iRacing is restoring implementation of Epic Online Services (EOS) as the Anti-Cheat Software in effect. EasyAnti Cheat (EAC) is disabled.
- - No action is required for customers to take in order to make this switch.
- - With thorough in-house testing of multiple versions of EOS, we have confidence that the issues resulting from EOS at the 2024 Season 2 Release have been resolved.
- - If you begin to experience new or previous Anti-Cheat Software issues, please reach out to Customer Service and let us know!

iRacing Weather System
Improved the audio for ambient rain effects in stadium areas.

Physics
Some additional crash logging has been added for zippy events.

Graphics
Some PopcornFX code has been updated.
Fixed a rare issue with PopcornFX rendering.

Pit Stop
All cars with multiple tire compounds have been updated with improved logic that immediately updates the tire compound checkbox statuses.
- - The system now allows you to deselect a tire checkbox when the tire compound is different. When deselecting a checkbox while the compound is different, the system now changes the tire compound back to what is on the car currently.
- - The pit crew now immediately recognize when tire checkboxes have been changed, and immediately start a pitstop when a tire compound change is toggled. When the checkbox changes, it is now immediately effective, more like how a black box operates.
Improved some pit stop detection scripting.

Spotter
Your spotter’s visual acuity has been improved, and he will now let you know if you’re using the wrong tire compound for the current wetness conditions while you are gridding instead of after the race has started.
When you jump the start of a race, the spotter will no longer inform you of the exact duration of your hold penalty, because he was often incorrect due to its variability.
The spotter call for having a car in front or behind you pitting may now only be called once every 10 seconds.

Active Reset
Fixed an issue where the Active Reset sounds were pitch-shifted.

Controls
Fixed an issue where an unrealistic steering column torque value generated by crashing the car could adversely affect the controls.
Pedal vibration effects are now blocked when you are not driving.


CARS:
--------------------------------------------------------------
Dallara IR18
iRacing setups have been updated.

Ford GT GT2 / GT3
(GT3) - The allowable caster range has been increased to allow for some very low rake setups to pass tech inspection.
(Both) - Fixed an issue where the dashboard display was extra dark when transitioning from day to night lighting.


TRACKS:
--------------------------------------------------------------
Algarve International Circuit
(Moto & Moto - Chicanes) - Fixed an issue where the slowdown penalty for taking the outside of Turn 5 was 35 seconds instead of 1 second.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway
(Open Wheel Oval) - Track grip has been adjusted to increase performance on the bottom of the track.

Nürburgring Grand-Prix-Strecke
Reduced visual popping that could occur on the signs at the BMW pedestrian bridge.

This Hotfix Release contains important fixes and a few updates for the 2024 Season 2 Patch 3 Release.
Of special note, this Hotfix corrects an issue where rain effects and particles effects were not appearing when moving from a Practice Session to a Race Session.


SIMULATION:
--------------------------------------------------------------
Graphics
The maximum number of particle draw requests iRacing can process has been increased.
Fixed an issue where particle effects (including rain and aerospray) would completely fail to render during a Race Session if it was joined from a preceding Practice Session.
For PopcornFX, fixed an issue where empty particle layers were being needlessly processed.


CARS:
--------------------------------------------------------------
GT4 Class Cars
Vehicle damage on these cars is now able to be fully repaired with enough time in the pits.
- - Required repair times remain unchanged.

TCR Class Cars
Vehicle damage on these cars is now able to be fully repaired with enough time in the pits.
- - Required repair times remain unchanged.

Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (992)
Vehicle damage on this car is now able to be fully repaired with enough time in the pits.
- - Required repair times remain unchanged.


TRACKS:
--------------------------------------------------------------
Port Royal Speedway
Some errant floating light sources have been correctly grounded or removed.

This Patch Release contains fixes and updates for the 2024 Season 2 Release.
Of special note, this Patch includes additional error logging for some of the ongoing crash issues many members have been experiencing and reporting. This Patch will allow us to collect additional information to help find a solution.


SIMULATION:
--------------------------------------------------------------
Race Servers
Some additional crash logs may now be acquired from Replays.
Some logging parameters for Session failures have been updated.

Physics
The collision parameters and physics properties for various movable track objects, such as various types of cones, tire bundles, bollards, barrels, brake markers, and bales, have been consolidated and balanced for improved realism.
Some parameters for handling torque calculations have been adjusted for the Zippy Prevention code introduced in Patch 2.
Some additional divide-by-zero checks have been added to a few physics systems.

iRacing Weather System
Significantly updated a water flow equation for transitional periods between dry and wet. This provides a slightly smoother transition as rain falls, the track changes state from "lightly wet" to "moderately wet", and puddles begin to form.
Weather system code for processing drastic changes in weather over short periods have been updated.
The in-Simulation forecast wind direction calculations have been corrected.
Windshield wiper rain lines now render on opponent cars during a live Session, and render on all cars during Replays.
The maximum allowable amount of rain particles on windshields has been slightly reduced.
Windshield rain textures have been updated.
Fixed an issue where some raindrops would disappear at inappropriate times during a wiper swipe.

Graphics
Updates for a new version of PopcornFX to improve memory usage parameters.
Adjusted some processing scheduling and queuing for particle effects to improve processing.
Some additional crash logging has been added for PopcornFX processes.
Windshield texture mapping has been improved for rainy windshields.
Windshield particle effect processing code has been updated.
Fixed an issue where a GPU particle draw call could use the wrong rendering state/constants.
Fixed a spooky SSR issue where a Ghost Car that was in use for reference laps could cause large portions of your cockpit to not render whenever it was overlapping your car.

Audio
The Spotter Calls audio output has been adjusted to mix at 22050hz instead of 5512hz so that the Active Reset sounds we currently push through this channel will play back correctly.

Spotter - Foreign Language
The Italian - Renzo A. Olivieri spotter pack messages have been updated.
- - Molte grazie, Renzo!


CARS:
--------------------------------------------------------------
Aston Martin DBR9 GT1
Ground-impacting collision properties have been updated slightly to reduce the likelihood of snags.

Dallara F3
iRacing setups have been updated.

Dirt Late Model
Tire tread pattern has been reverted to the initial 2024 Season 2 Release version.

FIA F4
Lowered aero penalties for floor and sidepod damage.

Ford GT GT2 / GT3
(GT3) - The UI model image has been updated.

McLaren MP4-12C GT3
The UI model image has been updated.

Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (992)
Slightly raised the nose collision area.

Super Formula Lights
Updated the drag and downforce aerodynamic calculations, particularly as related to front ride height adjustments. Some additional drag has also been added based on the front flap angle. In the garage, adjustments to both front and rear ride heights are now restricted.
A damage tuning pass has been completed which raised the stiffness and lowered the break limits for the nose and front wing, and lowered the mount stiffness for the dampers.
Fixed an error with the displayed RPM values for this vehicle’s engine.
Fixed a model error for damaged front sidepod and suspension.
iRacing setups have been updated.

[Legacy] Dallara DW12
Vehicle floor collision has been adjusted slightly to prevent bottom snagging.
iRacing setups have been updated.


TRACKS:
--------------------------------------------------------------
Algarve International Circuit
Barney, Legendary Flagman, has finally arrived to flag races here!
Added configuration names to the in SIM user interface.

Autodromo Nazionale Monza
The mass of the arrow signs at this track have been dramatically reduced. They should no longer total cars on contact.

Motorsport Arena Oschersleben
Adjusted some gain-time checkpoints that were slightly too intrusive on the track limits.
(Alternate) - Added a missing track camera.

Winton Motor Raceway
(Club) - The standing start grid layout has been standardized.

&
2024 Season 2 Patch 2 Hotfix 1 Release Notes [2024.04.02.01]


This Patch Release contains dozens of updates, improvements, and important fixes for the 2024 Season 2 Release. This Patch also includes several additional key updates, including:
Two new “Outlaw” models have been added for the Dirt Micro Sprint Car!
The Ford GT GT3 and the McLaren MP4-12C GT3 are rain-ready!
The SRX is AI Enabled!
The Maximum allowable rain rate is now capped for Official Fixed Setup Series Racing.

We continue to investigate and work towards fixing several other high-priority issues.


[h2]iRACING:
[/h2]--------------------------------------------------------------
Weather
A new filter, “Rain Allowed,” is now available on both Official and Hosted Racing pages.
Fixed an issue where the wind speed values advertised in weather information always displayed as kmph regardless of user preferences.

Test Drive
Fixed an issue where trying to launch a Test Drive populated directly from an Official Series that changes cars each week (Ringmeister and Draft Master) was not selecting the correct car.
The Test Drive button in iRacing Web now offers to launch iRacing instead of failing to launch Test Drive.

Official Racing
The Forecast graph now correctly displays the Session time bars in the graph.

Hosted Racing
The Hosted Races table now caches the selected filters, sorts, and page number for browsing Sessions and for viewing your own created Hosted Sessions. This allows you to pick up where you left off when returning to the page.

Create A Race
For Open Setups, Setups are now listed in alphabetical order.

Spectate
Fixed an issue where the Spectate page did not properly indicate which tab the user was on in some situations.
The Spectate Hosted Races table now caches the selected filters, sorts, and page number for browsing Sessions. This allows you to pick up where you left off when returning to the page.
- - This functionality remains in development for the Official & League tabs of the Spectate page.

Results & Stats
Removed an erroneous cancel icon from the date range filters.

General
Fixed an issue where users who had a password that did not meet current standards were prevented from updating their password via the UI.


[h2]SIMULATION:
[/h2]--------------------------------------------------------------
iRacing Installation
A checkbox has been added to “Launch iRacing” after completing a new installation.

Race Servers
Fixed a critical issue where the new physics “zippy” crash logging code could cause a Race Server to crash.

Physics
Some additional checks and controls have been put into place which immediately remove a vehicle from the world if its physics values appear to be ramping unrealistically fast, which could lead to causing a “zippy” event. These checks stop these abnormal physics events from reaching the Race Server and prevent it from crashing multiple players simultaneously.
- - With this security measure in place, a user that would have experienced a zippy event, perhaps getting launched to the moon, is instead dropped from the race server and a crash dump file is created. To other drivers, this user will appear to have disconnected. Since their physics information is prevented from reaching the Race Server, all other drivers in the Session are protected from it attempting to process unrealistic values, and the Race Server will continue to run normally.

iRacing Weather System
The maximum allowable rain rate in Official Fixed Setup Sessions is now capped at a rate which is heavy enough to strongly encourage drivers to shake up their driving, but not so strong as to ruin the Fixed Setups racing experience.
The rendering process for creating and clearing windshield wiper rain lines has been updated.
Some raindrop textures have been updated.
Opponent car windshield effects have been updated.
The aero spray effects coming from cars has been updated.
Improved the process for wind speed calculations for Forecast Weather Mode.
Fixed an issue where water heights were being overestimated on some racing lines. This data was being sent to the user and track systems.
Fixed an issue where tire spray effects for cars more than 30 meters away were not drawing correctly from in-car cameras.
Fixed an issue where the wet tire spray would render sideways to the camera at night, when night shadows are enabled with triple screen MVP enabled.

AI Racing
AI Drivers are ready to race for the gold in the SRX!
AI Drivers are now ready for rain racing with both the Ford GT GT3 and the McLaren MP4-12C GT3!
AI Drivers are now better able to determine if they should use regular or rain tires before getting on track.

Graphics
When loading into a Session where rain and/or wet racing could occur, a new warning message now appears to inform users if they do not have their Graphics Quality set high enough to render rain and wet effects properly.
Fixed a graphical bug that could cause a sliding shadow effect on objects when SSAO was enabled.
Some vehicle carbon fiber textures have been adjusted for improved shader processing.

Spotter
Added spotter messages when gridding that tell you when half the field has gridded, and when five, two, and one cars remain to be gridded.
The spotter will now always countdown to your pit box if the countdown option is enabled, regardless of what Spotter Chattiness Level you have selected.
The Lap Time and Pit Service Finished spotter messages no longer play if the Race is over.

Active Reset
Opening the Options Menu now invalidates any Active Reset save state.
- - This prevents changing settings like shift mode that can invalidate the car's state.
Fixed an issue where the Active Reset sounds were not playing correctly.

Controls
Simagic Haptic Pedal Reactor support has been re-enabled.
For Simucube wheels using the new 360 Hz API, the [Force Feedback] “forceResetBeforeStartup” option is now disabled by default.
For Force Feedback, the automatic calibration will now take the track surface wetness into consideration and will slightly reduce the maximum forces for wetter sessions.
Fixed an issue with the new clutch launch control.
- - This system now properly resets after the end of a launch, rather than remaining active for 5 seconds. Also, a new switch to change the mode from a “press-and-release to launch” to a “press-and-hold to launch” has been added to the “app.ini” file; This is named [Force Feedback] clutchLaunchMode=0.

Telemetry
Reworked the “irsdk_PitCommand_TC” command to be zero-based rather than one-based.


[h2]CARS:
[/h2]--------------------------------------------------------------
NASCAR Cup Series Next Gen Series Cars
Fixed an issue where the aero package was incorrect for Bristol Motor Speedway - Single Pit Road.

Acura ARX-06 GTP
Fixed an issue that caused the incorrect tire compound to be shown on opponent cars.

Aston Martin Vantage GT4
Fixed an animation issue with the female driver’s left hand fingers.

Audi R18
Fixed a small model error with the driver’s side window.

Dallara IR18
This vehicle now uses the guayule-derived green sidewalled Firestone Firehawk alternative tires at street races.

Dirt Late Model
The damage and break parameters for the rear spoiler have been updated, making it more risky to run against the wall.
The aero damage penalty for when the rear spoiler is removed from the car has been substantially increased.
Tire tread pattern has been updated.

Dirt Micro Sprint Car
NEW OUTLAW CAR MODELS!
- - A pair of new Dirt Micro Sprint Cars are now available for racing!
- - These cars are branded with an “Outlaw” name, and their vehicle parameters and physics are identical to the original model versions of the Dirt Micro Sprint Cars.
The original model versions of the Dirt Micro Sprint Cars have been renamed as “Stock” Dirt Micro Sprint Cars. These cars have had their horsepower reduced slightly.
- - These cars will be used in the Rookie Series.

Ford GT GT2 / GT3
(GT3) - This vehicle is rain-ready!
- - Rain Tires may be selected for use as an available tire compound.
(GT3) - Some level of detail rendering properties have been updated to reduce visual popping as this car changes distances from a camera.
(GT2) - Fixed an issue where the digital display would appear incorrect in low-light conditions.

Formula Renault 3.5
Fixed a visual issue with the sidepods at far camera distances.

Honda Civic Type R TCR
The rear pit limiter lights are now visible when the brake is not being applied.

McLaren MP4-12C GT3
This vehicle is rain-ready!
- - Rain Tires may be selected for use as an available tire compound.

NASCAR Cup Series Next Gen Ford Mustang
The front pony decal has been lightened slightly.

NASCAR Xfinity Ford Mustang
The identity package has been updated to the 2024 Season version.

Porsche 963 GTP
The appearance of the rainlight on the wing has been updated.
Fixed a rendering issue with the tire sidewall material.

Porsche 911 GT3 R (992)
Fixed an issue where the IMSA digits were using the incorrect lightmap.

SCCA Spec Racer Ford
Relative Speed value has been updated for improved starting grid position during multi-class events.

SRX
AI Drivers are now ready to race for the gold in the SRX!
Damage parameters have been updated, including lowering the stiffness for the front and rear frame and redistributing chassis hull mass.

Super Formula Lights
Corrected some garage screen aero tooltips.
Fixed an issue where tires would show the wrong tread wear pattern while driving.

Super Late Model
Fixed some minor texturing issues on the outside of the windshield.

[Legacy] NASCAR Cup Chevrolet Impala COT - 2009
Removed a duplicate ignition switch that was visible when the car was off.


[h2]TRACKS:
[/h2]--------------------------------------------------------------
Circuito de Jerez - Ángel Nieto
Fixed an art issue where the wraps were intersecting with the tires at Turn 5.

Circuit Park Zandvoort
(Grand Prix - 2009) - Pace car position for the short lap option has been updated.

Circuit Zandvoort
Fixed an art issue where a tire barrier was visually popping into view at Turn 1.
Fixed some issues with spelling “Nationaal”.

Kevin Harvick's Kern Raceway
Fixed an art issue with an excess of fire hydrants and light poles near the tunnel.

Lime Rock Park
(Classic (School)) - This config has been renamed appropriately.

Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli
(Grand Prix - 2007) - Curbs have been updated on this config.
Patched a seam near the outside of a gravel trap at Turn 14.

Mount Panorama Circuit
Updated some wall colliders at Turn 19.
Patched a seam visible across the track surface near Forests’s Elbow.
Some floating cars in pit lane have been grounded.
Terrain around Turn 21 has been updated.

This Hotfix Release contains critical fixes for the 2024 Season 2 Patch 1 Release. We continue to investigate and work towards fixing several other high-priority issues.



[h2]SIMULATION:
[/h2]--------------------------------------------------------------
iRacing Weather System
The maximum allowable rain rate in iRacing Official Series Sessions has been reduced slightly.
- - This ensures that Official Series Sessions remain drivable even during the rainiest conditions.
Vastly improved the processing load for calculating track reference lines and wet awareness, minimizing the demand on Race Server CPUs.


[h2]CARS:
[/h2]--------------------------------------------------------------
BMW M4 GT3
Fixed an issue where small brake lights would blink when rain lights were active.

Porsche 963 GTP
Fixed a bad issue with artifacts appearing in some windshield reflections.


[h2]TRACKS:
[/h2]--------------------------------------------------------------
Sebring International Raceway
Some toppled cones have been revived.
An improperly installed curb has been removed.
Environment object rain sounds have been fine-tuned.

Wild West Motorsports Park
Fixed a loading issue that could occur with this track.