The Skip Barber Formula iRacing Series returns for 2026 and with it a fully funded seat in the real-world Skip Barber Formula Race Series. I have all the details in this week’s Sim Racing Roundup. All this and much more!
From Sim Racing to the Real Thing
How Verstappen Benefited From Sim Racing at the Nordschleife
Dani Juncadella has revealed that Max Verstappen discovered a specific “trick” to handle the aero-wash behind other cars that even seasoned GT3 pros hadn’t thought of. While he is not willing to disclose what this “trick” is, he has stated that Verstappen’s extensive practice in the sim was why he was so competitive on the Nordschleife.
“His experience in sim racing gives him an edge. Through all those GT races online, he understands exactly how to race against others and how to read situations before they happen. It just shows how passionate he is about racing.”
GMR-001 Hypercar Launches in Le Mans Ultimate with Online Competition
As Genesis Magma Racing and the GMR-001 Hypercar prepare to join the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) grid at the 6 Hours of Imola later this month, the virtual version of the team’s first car has already been added to the line-up on Le Mans Ultimate.
The addition of the GMR-001 Hypercar, which is available now for free to all players, comes after a close co-operation between Genesis Magma Racing and Motorsport Games, the developers of Le Mans Ultimate, the Official Game of the FIA World Endurance Championship and 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Full details can be found here.
Skip Barber Formula iRacing Series Returns
The Skip Barber Formula iRacing Series returns for the 2026 season, continuing our mission to bridge the gap between sim racing and real-world motorsports. With over $500,000 in prizes at stake, this six-round competition offers sim racers the opportunity to earn the ultimate prize: a fully funded seat in the real-world Skip Barber Formula Race Series.
Format Overview
Each round begins with a Hot Lap Qualifier using iRacing’s Time Attack format. Drivers compete to set the fastest lap. Only the top 20 drivers from each week’s qualifier will be invited to race for championship points. Championship points are awarded based on finishing position in each race and accumulate across the season.
Cars & Circuits
Drivers will compete using the iRacing Formula iR-04 (FIA F4), modeled after the real-world Skip Barber Formula Car. Tracks are drawn from the official Skip Barber Formula Race Series calendar and include:
- Lime Rock Park
- WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
- VIRginia International Raceway
- Sonoma Raceway
- Road America
- Circuit of the Americas
Registration
Drivers can register for either the full-season, or enter race-by-race. Full-season entries are now open. Registration for full-season passes ends on May 1, after which drivers must enter on a race-by-race basis.
Register here.
Skip Barber Racing School and iRacing Renew Long-Standing Partnership
The Skip Barber Racing School has announced an extension with iRacing, one of Skip Barber’s longest tenured partners. The relationship between Skip Barber and iRacing dates back to the origins of iRacing itself and the Skip Barber Formula 2000 vehicle, affectionally known as the “Skippy” remains one of the most popular cars on the platform.
This new multi-year extension will allow Skip Barber and iRacing to continue offering prizes such as Three Day Racing Schools, One Day Racing Schools, and even a full-season ride in the Skip Barber Race Series to drivers on iRacing. Additionally, graduates of Skip Barber Racing School programs will receive access to unique offers redeemable on iRacing.
“Continuing this partnership with iRacing was a no-brainer for us,” Skip Barber Racing School Chief Marketing Officer Joe Monitto said. “This relationship has helped drivers reach heights in motorsports that were previously unattainable for them. It also helped us launch our Simulator Center in New York, opening a new dimension for driver training. We’re proud to have been alongside iRacing since their early days, and we’re even more proud to have them continue as a partner.”
Future seasons of iRacing will continue to feature the Skip Barber Formula 2000 vehicle in officially sanctioned series. The Ford Mustang FR500S, however, will be replaced by the Ford Mustang GT4, giving a fresh look to the Mustang Skip Barber Challenge.
“The Skip Barber Racing School is one of our longest-standing partners, and we’re thrilled to continue that relationship into 2026 and beyond,” said Otto Szebeni, iRacing Vice President of Sales & Marketing. “Their commitment to getting iRacers into real-world motorsport through Racing School and Racing Series opportunities is unlike any other in the industry. We’re looking forward to working together to help launch the careers of the next set of future racing stars.”
iRacing will continue to be utilized in the Skip Barber Simulator Center, an open-to-the-public facility which hosts everything from weekly competitions, professional driver training, and corporate gatherings.
You can get more details about the Skip Barber Racing School and how they integrate sim racing in my interview with Dan Demonte on the Motorsport Prospects Podcast. You can listen to our interview here.
Competitive Sim Racing News
Key Moments from 2026 F1 Sim Racing World Championship Event 1 and More
Sim Racing Tips & Techniques
How to Get Better in Racing
The Hidden iRacing Settings That Can Give You More FPS Without Upgrading Your PC
If you’ve ever struggled with inconsistent performance in *iRacing*, you’re not alone. Even powerful PCs can suffer from frame rate drops—not because of hardware limitations, but because the sim is often rendering details that don’t actually matter while racing. As recent insights show, optimizing the right hidden settings can dramatically improve FPS and stability without spending a dollar on upgrades.
In this article, Box This Lap breaks down a few lesser-known tweaks—like mirror detail, pit lane rendering, and aggressive LOD behavior—that can help you reclaim performance where it counts most.
Read the full article here: The Hidden iRacing Settings That Can Give You More FPS Without Upgrading Your PC
Sim Racing Tech Roundup
New McLaren Racing Liveries Available Now From Racing Unleashed
Looking for that perfect McLaren livery for your Racing Unleashed McLaren F1 simulator? You are in luck as the company has released two new McLaren Racing liveries for the McLaren Racing Motion Simulator, expanding the collection that began with the original launch edition. Full details can be found here.
More Sim Racing Tech News
General Sim Racing News
Porsche 911 GT3 R Rennsport Coming to Assetto Corsa Evo and More
