Grand Prix Turn Racing iRacing Series Race Preview: Spa

Top-level open-wheel esports return to iRacing on Thursday with the opening round of the 2023 Grand Prix Turn Racing iRacing Series at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps. The action kicks off at 19:00 GMT (3PM ET) and will stream live across iRacing social media channels.

The Series: iRacing’s top-level Grand Prix championship makes its return after a one-year hiatus with an all-new schedule and some fresh faces. Compared to the 2021 campaign, there will be six new tracks on the calendar, with visits to eight different countries across three continents on the docket. Many of the most iconic road courses on iRacing are a part of this year’s schedule, as well as a pair of big ovals in Texas and Pocono.

The Car: The Dallara iR-01 made its debut in December 2020 after iRacing and Dallara collaborated to ask “what would the ultimate modern Grand Prix car look like?” The result is a mix of modern design with throwback performance sensibilities, like its 3.0-liter V10 that resembles the motors of the early 2000s and lack of electronic driver aids. Earlier this year, the car also got a refresh to enable it to race on large, fast ovals.

The Schedule: The full 2023 Grand Prix Turn Racing iRacing Series calendar is as follows:

• September 14: Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
• September 21: Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto
• September 28: Texas Motor Speedway
• October 5: Silverstone Circuit
• October 12: Circuit Zandvoort
• October 19: Detroit Grand Prix at Belle Isle
• October 26: Fuji International Speedway
• November 2: Red Bull Ring
• November 9: Pocono Raceway
• November 16: Autodromo Nazionale Monza

Last Season: Peter Berryman came out on top of iRacing’s most recent premier open-wheel series two years ago. He and top title rival Maarten van Loozenoord were separated by just two points going into the finale from the Hungaroring, with the former in the lead but the latter holding the tiebreaker on wins. The duo made contact late in the race as Berryman tried to go for a pass, spinning van Loozenoord off track briefly; he’d recover to finish third, but Berryman would lock up the title with a win.

Track Facts: Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps needs no introduction to most open-wheel race fans, a big part of the reason why it’ll open the 2023 campaign. Eau Rouge and Raidillon are perhaps the most famous succession of corners in Grand Prix racing, and that’s to say nothing of other challenges like When the series last ran in 2021, it was polesitter Michele Costantini coming out on top here over Yohann Harth with a last-lap pass for the win.

For more information on the Grand Prix Turn Racing iRacing Series, visit www.iracing.com/irgp. For more information on Turn Racing, visit www.turnracing.com. For more information on iRacing and for special offers, visit www.iracing.com.

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