iRacing to produce standalone indyCar game for 2026 to play on PlayStation, Xbox and Steam, as BMW has brought an update for its WEC car.
IndyCar –
iRacing.com Motorsport Simulations and INDYCAR are pleased to announce a long-term licensing agreement for iRacing Studios to produce standalone INDYCAR titles for console and PC. As part of the agreement, iRacing Studios will release an INDYCAR title for PlayStation, Xbox and Steam in the second half of 2026. The new product will mark the first dedicated INDYCAR game in more than two decades.
“INDYCAR fans have long been clamoring for a standalone title for consoles, and we’re excited to give them what they’re looking for in 2026,” said Tony Gardner, president, iRacing.com Motorsport Simulations. “iRacing Studios’ standalone INDYCAR title will offer all the excitement of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and an immersive experience that fans of all ages can enjoy. We are already very excited about how the game is coming together.”
Said INDYCAR President J. Douglas Boles: “The most competitive and challenging racing on the planet deserves a dedicated and widely available gaming experience. iRacing Studios is the ideal partner for us, trusted and known to our core fans and ready to share our sport with a wider and highly engaged audience.”
The iRacing Studios INDYCAR offering will join other iRacing Studios titles NASCAR 25 and the World of Outlaws: Dirt Racing games as officially licensed products that represent some of the top racing series in the world. The game will feature a robust, multilevel career mode, licensed drivers from the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and INDY NXT by Firestone, and online multiplayer. The new product will be built from the ground up, with a dedicated development team creating the game on iRacing Studios’ proprietary and enhanced Orontes engine.
“Our company has grown significantly in recent years with the addition of new development teams and studios,” Gardner said. “Our INDYCAR title will benefit from this growth, as it will be the sole focus of one of these teams. However, the game will also incorporate elements like car and track assets, technology and driving characteristics developed from other iRacing Studios products.”
Real-world INDYCAR teams and drivers will be deeply involved in the creation of the new title, including Team Penske star and iRacing enthusiast Scott McLaughlin. Since transitioning to the series full time in 2021 from Australian Supercars, McLaughlin has won seven races and become a fan favorite.
“I’m thrilled to be a part of the development process for iRacing Studios’ new INDYCAR title,” McLaughlin said. “It’s an honor to work with a team that has developed such amazing products to help deliver INDYCAR’s first dedicated title in quite some time. It’s already an exciting time to be an INDYCAR fan for so many reasons, and this game will take the fans’ at-home driving experience to the next level!”
The heritage of the relationship between INDYCAR and iRacing.com Motorsport Simulations dates back more than three decades. The company’s predecessor, Papyrus Racing Games, created the iconic Indianapolis 500: The Simulation in 1989, followed by IndyCar Racing and IndyCar Racing II in 1993 and 1995, respectively.
A standalone INDYCAR title is the latest step in a continuously expanding partnership between INDYCAR and iRacing.com Motorsport Simulations. Separately, the two parties have also extended their license agreement long term for the iRacing simulation. The extension ensures INDYCAR’s continued gaming presence on PC and consoles alike for years to come.
BMW –
New front, smaller kidney grille, improved aerodynamics: starting with the 2026 season, the BMW M Hybrid V8 will feature an updated exterior design and technical optimisations as it competes in the FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC) and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (IMSA series). BMW M Motorsport is implementing aerodynamic updates – subject to their final homologation – based on insights gained by engineers during previous race outings.
The most striking change to the BMW M Hybrid V8 will be its front end. An adjusted splitter optimises airflow, while the BMW kidney grille will be slightly smaller but will retain its unique BMW Iconic Glow contour lighting, making the car an unmistakable highlight in the dark. Additionally, the BMW M Hybrid V8 will receive new headlights.
The aerodynamic updates offer two key advantages. Firstly, they ensure that the BMW M Hybrid V8 performs more consistently across all track layouts. Analysis of past seasons in the FIA WEC and IMSA series revealed strengths and weaknesses, and the updates aim to eliminate those weaknesses. Secondly, the revised airflow around the car improves cooling efficiency.
The development of the aerodynamics, from CFD calculations to the manufacturing of parts, was carried out in close collaboration between BMW M Motorsport engineers and chassis partner Dallara. Following private test sessions in recent weeks, the BMW M Hybrid V8 will make its first public appearance immediately after the FIA WEC “Lone Star Le Mans” race in Austin (USA) during a joint test at the Circuit of the Americas. Subject to final homologation, its first race will be the 24 Hours of Daytona (USA) at the end of January 2026.
Andreas Roos (Head of BMW M Motorsport): “Since we began racing in the IMSA series in 2023 and the FIA WEC in 2024, we have learned a great deal about our BMW M Hybrid V8. After optimising the brakes for the current season, it is now time for an aerodynamically improved version of the car. With these updates, we are responding to the insights gained from our previous race outings. Following the tests we’ve already conducted, we are confident that the changes to the BMW M Hybrid V8 will allow us to compete more consistently at the front on all types of tracks, taking another step toward the top. A big thank you to everyone involved for their hard work. In the coming months, we will continue to work intensively to ensure we are optimally prepared for the start of the 2026 season at Daytona in January.”
[The story is as per press release]
