This Week in iRacing | May 12th to May 18th, 2026
May 11th, 2026 by Justin Melillo
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 9 — from May 12th to May 18th in 2026.
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!
iRacing presents the Indianapolis 500 (Open 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
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!
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 14 of 37 will take place at Eldora 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
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 16 of 39 will take place at Lernerville 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
NASCAR MODIFIED TOUR
Modeled heavily after real-world events and featuring many of America’s top short tracks, the NASCAR Modified Tour features 21 weeks of championship racing in the NASCAR Whelen Tour Modified.
Week 9 of 26 will take place at The Bullring.
The races this week are scheduled for:
Wednesday 02:00 GMT, Friday 20:00 GMT, Sunday 13:00 GMT, Monday 02:00 GMT
For more information on the NASCAR Modified Tour -> CLICK HERE
WEEKLY SERIES OFF THIS WEEK:
- NASCAR iRacing Series | Next Race (#13 of 36) at Charlotte Motor Speedway – Oval (iRacing Season 2, Week 10 – WORLD 600 SPECIAL EVENT)
- INDYCAR iRacing Series | Next Race (#7 of 17) at Indianapolis Motor Speedway – OW Oval (iRacing Season 2, Week 10)
- 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)
- Super Late Model Tour | Next Race (#10 of 27) at Hickory Motor Speedway (iRacing Season 2, Week 10)
- Vintage Grand Prix Tour | Next Race (#4 of 16) at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park (iRacing Season 2, Week 10)
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.
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 9 Schedule:
- Challenge: MotorLand Aragón – Grand Prix
- Americas: Portland International Raceway – Full Circuit
- Asia-Pacific: Sandown International Motor Raceway
- Europe: Donington Park Racing Circuit – Grand Prix
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 9 Schedule:
- Americas: Virginia International Raceway – Full Course
- Asia-Pacific: Winton Motor Raceway – National Circuit
- Europe: Snetterton Circuit – 200
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 9 Schedule:
-
Audi 90 GTO at Nürburgring Nordschleife – Industriefahrten
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 9 Schedule:
-
NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series cars at Daytona International Speedway – Oval
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 9 Schedule:
- at Miami International Autodrome – Grand Prix
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 9 Schedule:
-
at [Legacy] Phoenix Raceway – 2008 – Rallycross
OFFICIAL iRACING eSPORTS
iRacing is a top-leader in eSports competitions, and in many instances, we have multiple chances to compete at the top level in different disciplines. Here are a few of the eSport competitions members can get in on this week!
PORSCHE ESPORTS SUPERCUP GLOBAL OPEN QUALIFIERS
See if you’ve got what it takes to race with iRacing’s best by making your mark in the Porsche Esports Supercup Global Open Qualifiers. Many will enter, but few will make their way into this year’s championship. Take on some of the world’s most iconic road and street circuits, alongside some of the world’s fastest sim racers, and see if you can make the cut! If you plan to participate this season, don’t forget YOU MUST register through Porsche Motorsports.
On May 13th and May 16th, the first race of the Global Open Qualifiers will take place at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps.
For more information on the 2026 Porsche Esports Supercup -> CLICK HERE
SKIP BARBER FORMULA iRACING SERIES – HOT LAP QUALIFIER!
Back in 2026, the Skip Barber Formula iRacing Series returns with a six-race schedule, the second race scheduled for Thursday, May 21st at WeatherTech Raceway at Laguna Seca, live on iRacing’s official social channels at 7:00 pm ET.
As in past seasons, the grids will be set by the Hot Lap Qualifier, a three-day Time Attack session from Friday through Sunday where the top 20 drivers will make the cut for the following Thursday’s race. Registration for each Hot Lap Qualifier is $50 and can be paid at https://www.skipbarber.com/iracing-series/. The drivers who qualify for each race will then receive coaching and feedback from real Skip Barber Racing School instructors in preparation for each race.
From May 15th to May 17th, qualified iRacers can set their best time in the FIA Formula 4 car at Laguna seca through the Time Attack portal on the iRacing UI.
For more information on the 2026 Skip Barber Formula iRacing Series -> CLICK HERE & REGISTER HERE
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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