Welcome back to This Week in iRacing, your guide to the daily, even hourly racing that members can get into, based on where their license level is at. There are also some special series that run at specific times that anyone can jump into, with the right credentials, that offer a more meaningful sim racing experience.

Here are a few of the highlighted series taking place this week — 2026 Season 2, Week 8 — from May 5th to May 11th in 2026.

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iRACING SPECIAL EVENTS

iRacing’s Special Event calendar features a selection of the world’s most compelling races across numerous disciplines. Whether you’re interested in stock cars or sports cars, open-wheel formula cars or sprint cars, sticking to pavement or playing in the dirt, running solo or racing with a team of your closest friends, our Special Events have something for everyone!

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iRacing presents the Indianapolis 500 (Fixed Setup)

Known as “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” the Indy 500 is one of the most prestigious race events in the world, held since 1911 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It is part of the IndyCar Series in the United States.

Both race weeks will have unattached qualifying using the 4 lap average during the week leading up to the race, mimicking the real world event. For the fixed setup race, we will be using the same static weather settings that we use for the Indy Oval series. However for the open setup race, we will be using forecasted weather for both qualifying and the race. The weather for qualifying will be static and consistent across all qualifying sessions based on the forecast. However, the weather during the races will now be dynamic based on the same forecast.

The races this week are scheduled for:

Saturday, 01:00, 13:00, & 17:00; Sunday, 13:00 GMT

For more information on iRacing Indy 500 -> CLICK HERE
For more information on the 2026 iRacing Special Events calendar -> CLICK HERE

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WEEKLY RACING SERIES

These are the series that are not confined to the iRacing seasons, that run independently throughout the course of the year and feature some of the most recognizable motorsports racing around. From NASCAR to the Whelen Modifieds, from Formula 1 to INDYCAR, and even some weekly local dirt track racing, iRacing offers many special series to jump in an compete in!

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NASCAR iRACING SERIES

Back again in 2026, the NASCAR iRacing Series (Open Setup and Fixed Setup) follows the NASCAR Cup Series schedule for a 36-week racing season. The series visits the tracks on the real-world schedule, utilizing the NASCAR Next Gen / Gen 7 Stock Cars from Chevrolet, Ford and Toyota.

Week 12 of 36 will take place at Watkins Glen International. This race will utilize the Sports Car License.

The races this week are scheduled for:

Fixed Schedule: Wednesday, 21:00 GMT; Friday, 01:00 GMT; Saturday, 10:00 & 16:00 GMT; Monday, 01:00 GMT
Open Schedule: Thursday, 01:00 & 18:00 GMT; Saturday, 01:00 GMT; Sunday, 14:00 GMT

For more information on the NASCAR iRacing Series -> CLICK HERE

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INDYCAR iRACING SERIES

The INDYCAR iRacing Series is an Open Setup season that predominantly follows the real world INDYCAR schedule, utilizing the Dallara IR-18. It will have full length races on road courses, while utilizing amended race distances for the ovals during the 17-week racing season.

Week 6 of 17 will take place at Indianapolis Motor Speedway – Road Course.

The races this week are scheduled for:

Thursday 01:00 GMT, Friday 20:00 GMT, Saturday 18:00 GMT, Sunday 02:00 GMT

For more information on the INDYCAR iRacing Series -> CLICK HERE

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DIRT 410 SPRINT CAR TOUR

Modeled heavily after real-world events and featuring dozens of America’s top dirt tracks, the Dirt 410 Sprint Car Tour features 37 weeks of championship racing in the Dirt 410 Sprint Car.

Week 13 of 37 will take place at Williams Grove Speedway.

The races this week are scheduled for:

Wednesday 02:00 GMT and 22:00 GMT, Friday 02:00 GMT, Sunday 10:00 GMT

For more information on the Dirt 410 Sprint Car Tour -> CLICK HERE

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DIRT SUPER LATE MODEL TOUR

Modeled heavily after real-world events and featuring dozens of America’s top dirt tracks, the Dirt Super Late Model Tour features 39 weeks of championship racing in the Dirt Super Late Model.

Week 15 of 39 will take place at Fairbury Speedway.

The races this week are scheduled for:

Tuesday 22:00 GMT, Thursday 02:00 GMT, Saturday 17:00 GMT, Monday 01:00 GMT

For more information on the Dirt Super Late Model Tour -> CLICK HERE

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SUPER LATE MODEL TOUR

Modeled heavily after real-world events and featuring many of America’s top short tracks, the Super Late Model Tour features 23 weeks of championship racing in the Super Late Model.

Week 9 of 27 will take place at Concord Speedway.

The races this week are scheduled for:

Tuesday 02:00 GMT & 21:00 GMT, Thursday 02:00 GMT, Saturday 15:00 GMT

For more information on the Super Late Model Tour -> CLICK HERE

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VINTAGE GRAND PRIX TOUR

Returning for 2026, the iRacing Vintage Grand Prix Tour brings the Lotus 79 on a tour that loosely resembles the 1978 World Driver’s Championship.

Week 3 of 16 will take place at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps – Classic Pits.

The races this week are scheduled for:

Wednesday 02:00 GMT, Saturday 08:00 GMT, Sunday 19:00 GMT, Monday 18:00 GMT

For more information on the iRacing Vintage Grand Prix Tour -> CLICK HERE

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WEEKLY SERIES OFF THIS WEEK:

• NASCAR Modified Tour | Next Race (#9 of 26) at The Bullring (iRacing Season 2, Week 9)
• iRacing DTM Series | Next Race (#2 of 8) at Circuit Zandvoort – Grand Prix (iRacing Season 2, Week 10)
• iRacing Nurburgring Endurance Championship | Next Race (#4 of 10) at Nürburgring Combined – Gesamtstrecke VLN (iRacing Season 2, Week 10)
• iRacing Grand Prix Tour | Next Race (#7 of 24) at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve (iRacing Season 2, Week 10)

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SPECIAL DAILY RACING SERIES

Of course, we are always racing something at iRacing.

Whether you’re an oval specialist, running in every NASCAR series we offer, or if you enjoy getting in your favorite tin-top or open wheel machine to make laps at some of the most historic race tracks out there, there is always something to jump in and wheel. These are a collection of our special curated hourly series, from the serious ones that can qualify you for top level eSports to the fun ones like Draft Master, where there’s packed up Superspeedway racing that anyone can win every hour.

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FIA F4 REGIONAL TOURS

The Regional editions of the FIA F4 Esports Series returns returns in 2025 Season 4. Each region is spaced out to start every 15 minutes, with the Challenge Series kicking off each hour, followed by the Americas (:15 after), Asia-Pacific (:30 after), and Europe (:45 after).

Week 8 Schedule: 

• Challenge: Circuit de Lédenon
• Americas: Virginia International Raceway – Full Course
• Asia-Pacific: Oran Park Raceway – Grand Prix
• Europe: Rudskogen Motorsenter

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GT3 REGIONAL TOURS

The Regional racing format debuted in GT3 racing in 2025 Season 4! Featuring the same America, Asia-Pacific, and Europe regions as the F4 Regional Series, which has proven popular, GT3 is the perfect home for a similar concept. Nothing changes with the core GT3 fixed and open schedules. Each region will run hourly on the :45.

Week 8 Schedule: 

• Americas: Autódromo José Carlos Pace – Grand Prix
• Asia-Pacific: Sandown International Motor Raceway
• Europe: Silverstone Circuit – Grand Prix

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RING MEISTER BY LVRY

Two of the more unique daily racing series on iRacing are the Ring Meister Series and the Draft Master Challenge by SIMAGIC Series, where the cars change every week as opposed to the tracks. The setups are fixed in both series, which means it’s all about jumping in and racing the combination at hand.

The Ring Meister Ricmotech Series (Races on every hour on the hour | Qualifying every hour at :30) takes place at the Nürburgring Nordschleife – Industriefahrten and cycles through mostly road-type racing vehicles every week. 

Week 8 Schedule: 

• Dallara IL-15 (INDYNXT) at Nürburgring Nordschleife – Industriefahrten

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DRAFT MASTER CHALLENGE BY SIMAGIC

Two of the more unique daily racing series on iRacing are the Ring Meister Ricmotech Series and the Draft Master Challenge by SIMAGIC Series, where the cars change every week as opposed to the tracks. The setups are fixed in both series, which means it’s all about jumping in and racing the combination at hand.

As for Draft Master Challenge by SIMAGIC (races every hour on the hour), the series contests six weeks at Talladega Superspeedway and six weeks at Daytona International Speedway, featuring many common NASCAR-oval style cars.

Week 8 Schedule: 

• NASCAR Cup Series Gen 4 at Daytona International Speedway – Oval

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RAIN MASTER CHALLENGE

For wet weather racing enthusiasts, Rain Master is one of the latest Special Series available on iRacing. Introduced in 2024 Season 4, those looking for some fixed setup wet weather racing can now jump into select GT3 vehicles at 12 different road courses around the world.

The forecasts will include light rain throughout the short, 15 minute events. Races run every hour at 15 minutes past the hour.

Week 8 Schedule:

• at Adelaide Street Circuit

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FIA CROSS CAR CHAMPIONSHIP

New in the first season of 2026 is the FIA Cross Car, and with that, the FIA Cross Car Championship at the Rookie License level. Cross Car racing is among the earliest steps on the rallycross ladder for real-world drivers looking to climb the ladder in the sport. Take the wheel of the FIA Cross Car and master mixed-surface racing in this nimble RWD machine.

Week 8 Schedule: 

• at Winton Motor Raceway – Rallycross

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Check out our other weekly post, the iRacing Weekly Tune-In, to learn what you can watch on official iRacing channels as well as around the community!
For more information on iRacing and for special offers, visit www.iracing.com.

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