Multi-Class Starts Coming to Four iRacing Series for 2026 Season 4
November 9th, 2026 by Chris Leone
After extensive testing and feedback from the community, multi-class starts are officially coming to some of iRacing’s premier Sports Car series for the remainder of 2026 Season 4 and beyond. The series where you’ll start seeing multi-class starts roll out include the following:
- IMSA Sportscar Endurance Challenge (C class)
- Global Endurance Tour (B class)
- IMSA iRacing Series by GO Fast (A class)
- IMSA iRacing Series – Fixed by GO Fast (A class)
How does the new start procedure work?
Your race does not begin until race control has signaled for a green flag. Be sure to follow the on-screen instructions and spotter prompts until the race starts.
As you approach the end of the pace lap, a FORM UP message will be displayed in the pacing dialog display. Make sure you’re formed up into an orderly grid and are ready to race.
Once the pace car has pulled off, you’ll be shown a message for MAINTAIN SPEED. You must maintain the pace speed until Race Control initiates the green flag. The green flag location is randomized inside a predetermined start zone.
Race participants that accelerate before the green flag will be shown the black flag and are required to serve penalties to avoid disqualification.
In multi-class race sessions, each individual class will have their own randomized green flag location within the start zone. These races will have multiple pace cars, one for each class, and an approximate five-second buffer between them.
How can I avoid a black flag for jumping the start?
As the on-screen instructions change, be sure to react quickly. For example, when you’re shown the FORM UP message, you should tighten up into your final grid position and get ready to race as quickly as possible.
If the dialog changes to MAINTAIN SPEED when you aren’t formed up and you accelerate too hard to catch up, you may draw a penalty. If you’re going too fast, your message will flip to SLOW DOWN and your speed will flip to red text, the same way that it would if you were speeding in the pits.
If you’re the leader, be sure to wait until you receive the green flag to accelerate. If you jump the start and receive a black flag, the rest of the field may follow you without also being black flagged. If the pace car is going slower than the pace speed when it pulls into the pits, take care not to accelerate too hard to return to pace speed. Leaders playing nefarious games with pace speed after the pace car pulls in may be protested under the iRacing Sporting Code.
For more information about our new road course start zones, visit the iRacing Forums!
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