Your Daily SimRacing Briefing

A Countdown Week Takes Shape as the Sim Calendar Waits on iRacing — the Subscription Price Rise Lands August 18 and Career Mode Is Due a Full Reveal in the Late-August Dev Blog, While the Real-World DTM Heads to the Nürburgring This Weekend (August 14–16), Formula 1 Stays in Its Summer Break Before Zandvoort and gamescom 2026 Looms August 26–30

A calm mid-August Wednesday framed by looming dates. iRacing: the subscription price rise now sits six days out (August 18) — renewing early locks the current rate — and the long-awaited single-player Career Mode, now in full end-to-end “game-loop” testing, is set to be detailed in the late-August development blog ahead of Season 4 (September’s traditional big build). Beyond the sim: Formula 1 stays in its mandatory August shutdown after Lando Norris’ Hungarian win — title leader Kimi Antonelli holds a 50-point cushion and returns with the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort (August 23); the real-world DTM visits the Nürburgring this weekend (August 14–16); and IndyCar’s Portland result is banked, with Alex Palou stretching his title lead. Sim side: KW Studios’ RaceRoom Summer Update and €29.99 DTM 2026 Pack and Le Mans Ultimate’s v1.4 keep settling, while NASCAR 26 (iRacing Studios) counts down to September 18. Hardware: the active-pedal race and Sim-Lab’s DDS TorqueSync bases build toward gamescom 2026 (August 26–30, Cologne), with Cube Controls on its summer break until August 24. The Esports World Cup also wraps its motorsport-sim events toward its August 23 finale.

Full breakdowns on the iRacing, Beyond the Sim, Simulations, Hardware and LMU pages.

Cube Controls Rides Out Its Summer Break With an Up-to-15% Sale and a New Phoenix Wheel on the Horizon — Shipping Resumes August 24 — While iRacing’s Price Rise Counts Down to August 18, the DTM Heads to the Nürburgring (August 14–16) and Formula 1 Stays in Its Summer Break

A hardware-flavoured Tuesday in the quiet of the shutdown. Hardware: Cube Controls is in its annual summer closure (August 8–23, shipping back on the 24th) and is running an up-to-15% sale across a chunk of the range — the F-PRO, CSX-3, GT-X2 and GT PRO V2 — with a new Phoenix wheel teased for after the break; orders placed during the closure ship from the 24th. The wider active-pedal race with MOZA, Simucube and Simagic, plus Sim-Lab’s DDS TorqueSync bases, keeps building toward gamescom 2026 (August 26–30, Cologne). iRacing: the subscription price rise lands August 18 (early renewal locks the current rate), with Career Mode due a full reveal in the late-August dev blog. Beyond the sim: Formula 1 stays in its mandatory August shutdown before the Dutch Grand Prix (August 23); the real-world DTM visits the Nürburgring (August 14–16); and IndyCar’s Portland result is banked with Alex Palou extending his lead.

Full breakdowns on the Hardware, iRacing, Beyond the Sim and Simulations pages.

Palou Wins the Grand Prix of Portland to Stretch His IndyCar Lead — the Championship Leader Led the Final 95 Laps to Beat Josef Newgarden by 0.87s, While Formula 1 Stays in Its Summer Break and the DTM’s Nordschleife Round Looms August 14–16

The weekend’s real-world racing delivered a statement result. Beyond the sim: Alex Palou won Sunday’s Grand Prix of Portland (August 9) from fourth on the grid, leading the final 95 laps to beat Josef Newgarden by 0.87 seconds and extend his championship lead as he chases a fourth straight title, with the Milwaukee Mile oval doubleheader (August 29–30) still to come. Formula 1 stays in its mandatory August shutdown after Lando Norris’ Hungarian win — title leader Kimi Antonelli holds a 50-point cushion before the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort (August 23) — and the real-world DTM heads to the Nürburgring (August 14–16). Sim side: KW Studios’ RaceRoom Summer Update and DTM 2026 Pack and Le Mans Ultimate’s v1.4 keep bedding in. iRacing: the subscription price rise lands August 18 (early renewal locks the current rate), with Career Mode due to be detailed in the late-August dev blog ahead of Season 4.

Full breakdowns on the Beyond the Sim, Simulations, iRacing and Hardware pages.

Race Day at Portland — IndyCar Restarts Today (August 9) With Felix Rosenqvist on Pole Ahead of Championship Leader Alex Palou, While Formula 1 Stays in Its Summer Break, the DTM’s Nordschleife Round Looms August 14–16 and the Sim Side’s Summer Rollout — RaceRoom’s Update, LMU v1.4 and Sim-Lab’s DDS Pre-Orders — Keeps Settling

Race day owns a quiet summer-break Sunday. Beyond the sim: IndyCar restarts today with the Grand Prix of Portland (August 9), the first of the season’s closing six rounds — Felix Rosenqvist stole pole from Alex Palou in qualifying, but Palou still carries an 83-point lead over David Malukas in his hunt for a fourth straight title. Formula 1 stays in its mandatory August shutdown after Lando Norris’ Hungarian win — the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort (August 23) is next, with title leader Kimi Antonelli holding a 50-point cushion — and the real-world DTM heads to the Nürburgring (August 14–16). Sim side: KW Studios’ RaceRoom Summer Update and the €29.99 DTM 2026 Pack (rebuilt COSMO HUD, 2026-spec Nordschleife) keep bedding in; Le Mans Ultimate’s v1.4 and its first US Track Pass (laser-scanned Daytona and Laguna Seca) settle further; and NASCAR 26 (iRacing Studios) is taking pre-orders ahead of a September 18 launch. Hardware: Sim-Lab’s DDS TorqueSync pre-orders roll on (DDS26 €1,499 / DDS39 €1,999, shipping late October) as the active-pedal race with MOZA, Simucube and Simagic builds toward gamescom 2026 (August 26–30, Cologne). iRacing: the subscription price rise lands August 18 (early renewal locks the current rate), with the single-player Career Mode due to be detailed in the late-August development blog ahead of Season 4.

Full breakdowns on the Beyond the Sim, Simulations, LMU, Hardware and iRacing pages.

IndyCar Returns Tomorrow at Portland as the Sim Calendar Beds In — Alex Palou Carries an 83-Point Lead Into the Grand Prix of Portland (August 9), While RaceRoom’s Summer Update and Le Mans Ultimate’s v1.4 Keep Settling, Sim-Lab’s DDS TorqueSync Pre-Orders Roll On, Formula 1 Stays in Its Summer Break and iRacing’s Price Rise and Career-Mode Reveal Loom Later This Month

A quiet summer-break Saturday with the weekend’s racing about to reignite. Beyond the sim: IndyCar ends its short break tomorrow at the Grand Prix of Portland (August 9), where Alex Palou carries an 83-point lead over David Malukas in his hunt for a fourth straight title after his Nashville win; Formula 1 stays in its mandatory August shutdown after Lando Norris’ Hungarian victory — the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort (August 23) is next, with title leader Kimi Antonelli holding a 50-point cushion — and the real-world DTM heads to the Nürburgring (August 14–16). Sim side: KW Studios’ RaceRoom Summer Update and the €29.99 DTM 2026 Pack (rebuilt COSMO HUD, 2026-spec Nordschleife, four new GT3s incl. the Lamborghini Temerario GT3) keep bedding in; Le Mans Ultimate’s v1.4 and its first US Track Pass (laser-scanned Daytona and Laguna Seca) settle further; and NASCAR 26 (iRacing Studios) is taking pre-orders ahead of a September 18 launch. Hardware: Sim-Lab’s DDS TorqueSync pre-orders roll on (DDS26 €1,499 / DDS39 €1,999, shipping late October) as the active-pedal race with MOZA, Simucube and Simagic builds toward gamescom 2026 (August 26–30, Cologne). iRacing: the subscription price rise lands August 18 (early renewal locks the current rate), with the long-awaited single-player Career Mode set to be detailed in full in the late-August development blog ahead of Season 4.

Full breakdowns on the Beyond the Sim, Simulations, LMU, Hardware and iRacing pages.

Sim-Lab’s DDS TorqueSync Direct-Drive Bases Open for Pre-Order With Prices Locked — the 39 Nm DDS39 (€1,999) Becomes the Most Powerful Consumer Wheelbase Ever, the 26 Nm DDS26 Lands at €1,499 and Every Launch Unit Ships as a Founders Edition, While IndyCar Resumes at Portland This Weekend (August 9), Formula 1 Stays in Its Summer Break and RaceRoom’s Summer Update Beds In

A summer-break Friday with hardware and the weekend’s real-world action leading the way. Hardware: Sim-Lab has opened pre-orders for its first-ever direct-drive wheelbases, the DDS TorqueSync family — the DDS26 (26 Nm, €1,499) and the DDS39 (39 Nm, €1,999), the latter now the highest torque figure a consumer wheelbase has ever carried. Every launch unit ships as a Founders Edition with a serialised engraving, the new Xero-Play Quick Release V2 in the box and a collector’s booklet; orders take a refundable deposit and shipping is slated for the last week of October. The wider active-pedal race also stays hot — MOZA’s mBooster (from €899), the Simucube ActivePedal and Simagic’s haptic-reactor approach are the components everyone is talking about ahead of gamescom 2026 (August 26–30, Cologne). Beyond the sim: IndyCar resumes this weekend at Portland (August 9), where Alex Palou carries an 83-point lead in his hunt for a fourth straight title; Formula 1 stays in its mandatory August shutdown after Lando Norris’ Hungarian win — the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort (August 23) is next, with Kimi Antonelli holding a 50-point cushion — and the real-world DTM heads to the Nürburgring (August 14–16). Sim side: KW Studios’ RaceRoom Summer Update and the €29.99 DTM 2026 Pack (rebuilt COSMO HUD, 2026-spec Nordschleife, four new GT3s incl. the Lamborghini Temerario GT3) are bedding in after Tuesday’s launch; Le Mans Ultimate’s v1.4 and its first US Track Pass keep settling in; and NASCAR 26 (iRacing Studios) is taking pre-orders ahead of a September 18 launch. iRacing: the subscription price rise lands August 18 (early renewal locks the current rate).

Full breakdowns on the Hardware, Beyond the Sim, Simulations, LMU and iRacing pages.

A Quiet Summer-Break Thursday as the Sim Calendar Catches Its Breath — RaceRoom’s Summer Update and DTM 2026 Pack Bed In and Le Mans Ultimate’s v1.4 Keeps Settling, While IndyCar Heads for Portland This Weekend (August 9), the DTM’s Own Nordschleife Round Looms August 14–16, gamescom 2026 Previews Build Toward Its August 26–30 Show and iRacing’s Subscription Price Rise Counts Down to August 18

A calm, mid-shutdown Thursday with the sim calendar doing the quiet work. Sim side: KW Studios’ RaceRoom Summer Update and the €29.99 DTM 2026 Pack (rebuilt COSMO HUD, 2026-spec Nordschleife, refreshed Monza, four new GT3s incl. the Lamborghini Temerario GT3) continue to bed in after Tuesday’s launch; Le Mans Ultimate’s v1.4 and its first US Track Pass (laser-scanned Daytona and Laguna Seca) keep settling in; Assetto Corsa EVO’s 0.8.1 patch is bedding down; and NASCAR 26 (iRacing Studios) is taking pre-orders ahead of a September 18 launch. Beyond the sim: Formula 1 stays in its mandatory August shutdown after Lando Norris’ Hungarian win — the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort (August 23) is next, with title leader Kimi Antonelli holding a 50-point cushion; IndyCar resumes this weekend at Portland (August 9), where Alex Palou carries an 83-point lead in his hunt for a fourth straight title; and the real-world DTM heads to the Nürburgring (August 14–16) for the business end of its season. Hardware: the countdown to gamescom 2026 (August 26–30, Cologne) is on, where MOZA — fresh off its R16 Ultra, R5 Pro bundle and debut HMA150 home motion launch — and others are expected to show hardware, with MOZA’s Gran Turismo World Series Round 2 premiering August 15 and Sim-Lab now in the direct-drive market with its DDS TorqueSync bases. iRacing: the subscription price rise lands August 18 (early renewal locks the current rate).

Full breakdowns on the Simulations, Beyond the Sim, LMU, iRacing and Hardware pages.

RaceRoom’s Summer Update and DTM 2026 Pack Settle In After Their Tuesday Launch — the Rebuilt COSMO HUD, a 2026-Spec Nordschleife and Four Fresh GT3s Are Now Live, While Formula 1 Stays in Its Summer Break, IndyCar Heads for Portland This Weekend and the DTM’s Own Trip to the Nordschleife Looms on August 14–16

The week’s big sim date is banked and settling in. Sim side: KW Studios’ RaceRoom Summer Update and the paid DTM 2026 Pack went live yesterday (Tuesday, August 4) and are now in players’ hands — the free update’s rebuilt, customisable COSMO HUD, 2026-spec Nordschleife, refreshed Monza and optimised dedicated-server netcode (up to 99 cars) are drawing first impressions, while the €29.99 DTM 2026 Pack puts the Ford Mustang GT3 Evo, Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo, Porsche 911 GT3 R and the debuting Lamborghini Temerario GT3 on track. Le Mans Ultimate’s v1.4 and its first US Track Pass (laser-scanned Daytona and Laguna Seca) keep settling in, Assetto Corsa EVO’s 0.8.1 stability-and-AI patch is bedding down after the 0.8 Kyalami/VR update, and NASCAR 26 (iRacing Studios) is taking pre-orders ahead of a September 18 launch. Beyond the sim: Formula 1 stays in its mandatory August shutdown after Lando Norris’ Hungarian win — the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort (August 23) is next — with title leader Kimi Antonelli holding a 50-point cushion; IndyCar resumes this weekend at Portland (August 9), where Alex Palou carries an 83-point lead after his Nashville win; and the real-world DTM heads to the Nürburgring (August 14–16). Hardware: MOZA — fresh off its R16 Ultra, R5 Pro bundle and debut HMA150 home motion launch — has its new Gran Turismo World Series Round 2 premiering August 15, and Sim-Lab has entered the direct-drive market with its DDS TorqueSync wheelbases. iRacing: the subscription price rise lands August 18 (early renewal locks the current rate).

Full breakdowns on the Simulations, Beyond the Sim, LMU, iRacing and Hardware pages.

RaceRoom’s Summer Update and DTM 2026 Pack Go Live Today — the Rebuilt COSMO HUD, a 2026-Spec Nordschleife and a Reworked Monza Arrive Free While the €29.99 DTM Pack Adds Four Fresh GT3s Including the Lamborghini Temerario’s Sim-Racing Debut, as Formula 1 Stays in Its Summer Break and IndyCar Heads for Portland

The month’s biggest RaceRoom date has arrived. Sim side: KW Studios’ RaceRoom Summer Update and the paid DTM 2026 Pack are live today (Tuesday, August 4). The free update lands a fully customisable, rebuilt COSMO HUD, a 2026-spec Nordschleife (reworked surfaces, kerbs, barriers and buildings), a refreshed Monza and heavily optimised dedicated-server netcode (KW claims up to 99 cars on one server). The €29.99 DTM 2026 Pack adds four new GT3s — the Ford Mustang GT3 Evo, Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo, Porsche 911 GT3 R and the Lamborghini Temerario GT3, which makes its sim-racing debut anywhere. Le Mans Ultimate’s v1.4 and its first US Track Pass (laser-scanned Daytona and Laguna Seca) keep settling in, and NASCAR 26 (iRacing Studios) is taking pre-orders ahead of a September 18 launch. Beyond the sim: Formula 1 stays in its mandatory August shutdown after Lando Norris’ Hungarian win (title leader Kimi Antonelli holds a 50-point cushion); NLS7 is banked after Luca Stolz and Ralf Aron’s lights-to-flag win in the #80 Winward Mercedes-AMG; and IndyCar resumes this weekend at Portland (August 9) with Alex Palou holding a commanding points lead after his Nashville win. Hardware: MOZA — fresh off its R16 Ultra and HMA150 launch and its new Gran Turismo World Series partnership — has GTWS Round 2 premiering August 15. iRacing: the subscription price rise lands August 18 (early renewal locks the current rate).

Full breakdowns on the Simulations, Beyond the Sim, LMU, iRacing and Hardware pages.

A Quiet Summer-Break Monday Sets Up a Busy Tuesday — RaceRoom’s Summer Update and DTM 2026 Pack Land Tomorrow (August 4) With a New HUD, Reworked Monza and Nordschleife and Four Fresh GT3s, While Formula 1 Stays Dark, the Nordschleife Wraps NLS7 and IndyCar Heads for Portland

A calm start to the week, with the sim calendar doing the heavy lifting. Sim side: RaceRoom’s Summer Update and the paid DTM 2026 Pack are due tomorrow, Tuesday August 4 — the free update brings a new HUD and reworked laser-scan passes at Monza and the Nordschleife, while the €29.99 DTM pack adds four new GT3 cars, including the Lamborghini Temerario GT3’s sim-racing debut. Le Mans Ultimate’s v1.4 and its first US Track Pass (laser-scanned Daytona and Laguna Seca) keep settling in, and NASCAR 26 (iRacing Studios) is taking pre-orders ahead of a September 18 launch. Beyond the sim: Formula 1 stays in its mandatory August shutdown after Lando Norris’ Hungarian win (title leader Kimi Antonelli holds a 50-point cushion); at the ‘Ring, Luca Stolz and Ralf Aron closed out NLS7 (the 6h ADAC Ruhr-Pokal-Rennen) from pole in the #80 Winward Mercedes-AMG; and IndyCar resumes next weekend at Portland (August 9) with Alex Palou holding a commanding points lead. Hardware: MOZA — fresh off its R16 Ultra and HMA150 launch and its new Gran Turismo World Series partnership — has GTWS Round 2 premiering August 15. iRacing: the subscription price rise lands August 18 (early renewal locks the current rate).

Full breakdowns on the Beyond the Sim, Simulations, LMU, iRacing and Hardware pages.

Stolz and Aron Win NLS7 at the Nordschleife — Winward Racing’s Mercedes-AMG Leads the 6h ADAC Ruhr-Pokal-Rennen Lights-to-Flag by 39 Seconds, While RaceRoom’s Summer Update and DTM 2026 Pack Land Tuesday (August 4), Formula 1 Stays in Its Summer Break and MOZA Settles In as an Official Gran Turismo World Series Partner

Endurance racing owns the weekend. Beyond the sim: Luca Stolz and Ralf Aron won NLS7 — the 6h ADAC Ruhr-Pokal-Rennen — from pole in the #80 Winward Racing (Mercedes-AMG Team RAVENOL) Mercedes-AMG GT3, leading the season’s longest Nordschleife race lights-to-flag to take the flag 39.480s clear on Saturday, August 1. Formula 1 stays dark in its mandatory August shutdown after Lando Norris’ Hungarian win (title leader Kimi Antonelli holds a 50-point cushion), and IndyCar resumes next weekend at Portland (August 9). Sim side: RaceRoom’s Summer Update and the DTM 2026 Pack land Tuesday, August 4 — a new HUD, reworked Monza and Nordschleife, and four new GT3 cars including the Lamborghini Temerario’s sim-racing debut (pack €29.99). NASCAR 26 (iRacing Studios) is taking pre-orders ahead of a September 18 launch, and Le Mans Ultimate’s v1.4 and first US Track Pass keep settling in. Hardware: fresh off its R16 Ultra and HMA150 launch, MOZA is now an official Gran Turismo World Series partner, with Round 2 premiering August 15. iRacing: the subscription price rise lands August 18 (early renewal locks the current rate).

Full breakdowns on the Beyond the Sim, Simulations, iRacing, LMU and Hardware pages.

Race Day at the Nordschleife — NLS7’s 6h ADAC Ruhr-Pokal-Rennen Goes Green at Noon With a 134-Car Field and Winward Racing Back at the ‘Ring, While Formula 1 Stays in Its Summer Break, NASCAR 26 Runs Its Pre-Orders and MOZA Settles In as an Official Gran Turismo World Series Partner

The weekend belongs to the Green Hell. Beyond the sim: round seven of the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie — the KW 6h ADAC Ruhr-Pokal-Rennen (NLS7) — is race day today (Saturday, August 1), with a 90-minute qualifying at 08:30 CEST and the six-hour race going green at 12:00 CEST on the Nordschleife. It is the longest race on the NLS calendar, and a bumper 134-car entry (21 in the top SP9 class, five in SP9 Pro) headlines the grid — including Winward Racing, back at the ‘Ring for the first time since winning the 24h Nürburgring in May. A free livestream runs on VLN.de from 08:15. Formula 1 stays dark in its mandatory August shutdown after Lando Norris’ Hungarian win, with title leader Kimi Antonelli holding a 50-point cushion. Sim side: NASCAR 26 (developed by iRacing Studios) is taking pre-orders ahead of its September 18 launch, Le Mans Ultimate’s v1.4 and first US Track Pass (laser-scanned Daytona and Laguna Seca) keep settling in, and Assetto Corsa Rally presses on after its 0.5.1 patch. Hardware: fresh off its R16 Ultra (16 Nm), R5 Pro bundle and debut HMA150 home motion launch, MOZA is now an official Gran Turismo World Series partner with a confirmed booth at the SimRacing Expo in Frankfurt this October. iRacing: the subscription price rise still lands August 18 (early renewal locks the current rate).

Full breakdowns on the Beyond the Sim, iRacing, Simulations, LMU and Hardware pages.

Formula 1 Settles Deeper Into Its Summer Break as the Nordschleife Takes Over the Weekend — NLS7’s 6h ADAC Ruhr-Pokal-Rennen Goes Green Tomorrow (August 1) — While NASCAR 26 Opens Pre-Orders Ahead of a September 18 Launch, MOZA Signs On as an Official Gran Turismo World Series Partner, and Le Mans Ultimate’s v1.4 and First US Track Pass Keep Settling In

A calm summer-break Friday that hands the weekend to real-world endurance racing. Beyond the sim: Formula 1 stays in its mandatory August shutdown after Lando Norris’ Hungarian win, so the racing focus swings to the Nürburgring, where round seven of the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie — the 6h ADAC Ruhr-Pokal-Rennen (NLS7) — runs on the Nordschleife tomorrow, Saturday August 1; the FIA WEC European finale (6 Hours of Barcelona, Oct 16–18, and 6 Hours of Monza, Nov 6–8) remains locked in after the cancelled Qatar and Bahrain rounds. Sim side: NASCAR 26 (developed by iRacing Studios) has opened pre-orders (July 29) ahead of a September 18 launch on PC and console. Le Mans Ultimate’s v1.4 and the first US Track Pass (laser-scanned Daytona and Laguna Seca) keep settling in, with the free update having switched the netcode to reliable UDP and added practice servers, a replay-based protest system and an automated LiveSteward. Assetto Corsa Rally pushes on after its 0.5.1 patch, with native VR targeted for late 2026. Hardware: fresh off its big R16 Ultra (16 Nm), R5 Pro bundle and debut HMA150 home motion launch, MOZA has been named an official partner of the Gran Turismo World Series and confirmed a dedicated booth at the SimRacing Expo in Frankfurt this October. iRacing: the subscription price rise still lands August 18 (early renewal locks the current rate).

Full breakdowns on the Beyond the Sim, iRacing, Simulations, LMU and Hardware pages.

WEC Locks In a European Finale — Barcelona and Monza Replace the Cancelled Qatar and Bahrain Rounds — While Le Mans Ultimate’s v1.4 and First US Track Pass Settle In, Formula 1 Stays Dark for Its Summer Break and the Nordschleife’s NLS7 Looms on August 1

A quieter summer-break Thursday, with one big real-world headline. Beyond the sim: the FIA World Endurance Championship has confirmed a European season finale — the 6 Hours of Barcelona (October 16–18) and 6 Hours of Monza (November 6–8) now replace the abandoned Qatar and Bahrain rounds after Gulf security concerns made sea-freight logistics untenable; it is Barcelona’s first WEC race and Monza’s return since 2023, with BMW M Team WRT leading both Hypercar titles. Formula 1 remains in its mandatory August shutdown after Lando Norris’ Hungarian win, while at the Nürburgring the NLS7 6h ADAC Ruhr-Pokal-Rennen is next up on Saturday, August 1. Sim side: Le Mans Ultimate’s v1.4 update and the first US Track Pass (laser-scanned Daytona and Laguna Seca) are now live and settling in — free v1.4 switched the netcode to reliable UDP, added practice servers, a replay-based protest system and an automated LiveSteward. iRacing: the subscription price rise still lands August 18 (early renewal locks the current rate). Hardware: MOZA’s big R16 Ultra (16 Nm) and R5 Pro bundle launch and the debut HMA150 home motion system remain the fresh talking points ahead of gamescom 2026.

Full breakdowns on the Beyond the Sim, LMU, iRacing and Hardware pages.

MOZA Fires Off One of Its Biggest Launches Yet — the 16 Nm R16 Ultra and a 6 Nm R5 Pro Bundle Headline a Wave of Racing, Flight and Motion Hardware Topped by the HMA150 Home Motion System, While Le Mans Ultimate’s v1.4 and First US Track Pass Are Now Live and Formula 1 Settles Into Its Summer Break

Hardware takes over the midweek. Hardware: MOZA Racing has unveiled one of its largest product launches to date (July 28), spanning racing, flight and motion sim. Headliners are the R16 Ultra direct drive base — 16 Nm of torque with a new FFB interpolation algorithm for smoother signal transitions, at US$529 / €549 / £499 — and the R5 Pro Racing Simulator bundle, pairing a 6 Nm base (up from 5.5 Nm), a new 21-bit magnetic encoder, the ES Lite wheel, SRP Lite2 pedals and a table clamp for US$399 / €419 / £389. MOZA also debuted its first motion platform, the HMA150 home motion system, with the full line-up bound for gamescom 2026. Sim side: Le Mans Ultimate’s v1.4 update and the first US Track Pass pack (laser-scanned Daytona and Laguna Seca) are now live after yesterday’s release — free v1.4 switches the netcode to reliable UDP, adds dedicated practice servers, a replay-based protest system and automated LiveSteward, revised brake heat thermodynamics and the final 2026 car updates (Alpine and Cadillac). Beyond the sim: Formula 1 is in its August summer break after Lando Norris won the Hungarian Grand Prix; at the Nürburgring, NLS7 (the 6h ADAC Ruhr-Pokal-Rennen) is next up on August 1 after Menzel/Müller’s Scherer Porsche took NLS6. iRacing: the iTested multiclass standing-start trial has wrapped, with the subscription price rise still landing August 18 (early renewal locks the current rate).

Full breakdowns on the Hardware, LMU, Beyond the Sim and iRacing pages.

Le Mans Ultimate’s v1.4 Update and First US Track Pass Go Live Today — Daytona and Laguna Seca Land the Sim in America, the Netcode Switches to Reliable UDP and a Replay-Based Protest System Arrives, While Formula 1 Sits in Its Summer Break After Norris’ Hungarian Win and iRacing’s Price Rise Still Looms on August 18

The month’s biggest sim date has arrived. Sim side: Le Mans Ultimate’s v1.4 update and the first US Track Pass pack are live today (Tuesday, July 28). Free v1.4 switches the netcode from TCP to “reliable UDP”, adds dedicated practice servers, a moderation overhaul with replay-based player protests and an automated LiveSteward, updated brake heat thermodynamics, Brazilian Portuguese localisation and the final 2026 car updates (Alpine and Cadillac). Pack 1 adds laser-scanned Daytona and Laguna Seca for US$19.99 (full six-circuit pass US$44.99). Beyond the sim: Formula 1 is now in its mandatory August summer break after Lando Norris won the Hungarian Grand Prix (July 26); championship leader Kimi Antonelli carries a 50-point cushion into the shutdown. At the Nürburgring, NLS7 (the 6h ADAC Ruhr-Pokal-Rennen) is next up on August 1. iRacing: the iTested multiclass standing-start trial (July 21–26) has wrapped, with the subscription price rise still landing August 18 (early renewal locks the current rate). Hardware: MOZA SR-P and Simagic Green Flag bundle deals join the Fanatec Podium Pedals, Simagic Zeus family and Sim-Lab DDS TorqueSync bases — and Fanatec’s new Nissan licensed-wheel partnership as the current talking points.

Full breakdowns on the LMU, Beyond the Sim, iRacing and Hardware pages.

Norris Wins the Hungarian Grand Prix to Send Formula 1 Into Its Summer Break — Piastri Retires From the Lead, Verstappen Is Second and Antonelli Third to Stretch His Title Lead to 50 Points, While Le Mans Ultimate’s v1.4 and First US Track Pass Land Tomorrow (July 28) and iRacing’s Multiclass Standing-Start Trial Wraps Up

The last race weekend before the shutdown is banked. Beyond the sim: Lando Norris won Formula 1’s Hungarian Grand Prix for McLaren (Sunday, July 26) after teammate Oscar Piastri led early and then retired; Max Verstappen finished second, 15.080s back, with title leader Kimi Antonelli third to stretch his championship lead to 50 points heading into the mandatory August summer break. Sim side: Le Mans Ultimate’s v1.4 update and the first US Track Pass pack (Daytona and Laguna Seca, US$19.99; full pass US$44.99) land tomorrow, July 28 — switching the netcode from TCP to reliable UDP, adding practice servers, a revised protest system and the final 2026 car updates (Alpine and Cadillac). iRacing’s iTested week (July 21–26) has wrapped its trial of the new multiclass standing-start procedure with multiple pace cars, with the 6 Hours of Road America banked and the subscription price rise still landing August 18 (early renewal locks the current rate). Hardware: fresh MOZA SR-P 2-pedal and Simagic Green Flag bundle deals join the Fanatec Podium Pedals, Simagic Zeus family and Sim-Lab DDS TorqueSync bases as the current talking points.

Full breakdowns on the Beyond the Sim, LMU, iRacing and Hardware pages.

Race-Day Sunday at the Hungaroring — Lando Norris Takes Pole for McLaren to End Mercedes’ Unbeaten Qualifying Run as Formula 1’s Last Grand Prix Before the Summer Break Goes Green This Afternoon, While Le Mans Ultimate’s v1.4 and First US Track Pass Are Now Two Days Out (July 28) and iRacing’s Multiclass Standing-Start Trial Wraps Up

Race-day Sunday before the shutdown. Beyond the sim: Formula 1’s Hungarian Grand Prix — the final round before the mandatory August shutdown — runs this afternoon (Sunday, July 26). Lando Norris took pole for McLaren, ending Mercedes’ unbeaten run of poles this season, with Lewis Hamilton alongside on the front row and Charles Leclerc third for Ferrari; championship leader Kimi Antonelli qualified fourth but a three-place grid penalty drops him back, and George Russell lines up seventh. Antonelli still carries a 45-point lead (204 to Hamilton’s 159) into the break. At the Nürburgring, Rad am Ring (July 24–26) hands the Nordschleife to thousands of cyclists. Sim side: Le Mans Ultimate’s v1.4 update and the first US Track Pass pack (Daytona and Laguna Seca, US$19.99) are now just two days out on July 28 — switching the netcode to reliable UDP, adding practice servers and a revised LiveSteward. iRacing’s iTested week (July 21–26) wraps up its trial of the new multiclass standing-start procedure with multiple pace cars, while the subscription price rise still lands August 18 (early renewal locks the current rate). Hardware: Fanatec’s Podium Pedals (US$699.99), Simagic’s Zeus wheel family and Sim-Lab’s DDS TorqueSync direct drive bases remain the fresh talking points.

Full breakdowns on the Beyond the Sim, LMU, iRacing and Hardware pages.

Qualifying Day at the Hungaroring — Formula 1’s Last Grid Before the Summer Break Is Set This Afternoon With Kimi Antonelli 45 Points Clear and Mercedes Unbeaten in Qualifying All Year, While Le Mans Ultimate’s v1.4 and First US Track Pass Are Now Just Three Days Out (July 28) and iRacing’s Multiclass Standing-Start Trial Reaches Its Final Day

Grid-setting Saturday before the shutdown. Beyond the sim: Formula 1’s Hungarian Grand Prix — the final round before the mandatory August shutdown — reaches qualifying today (Saturday, July 25) after Friday practice, with the race Sunday (July 26). Kimi Antonelli leads the drivers’ title on 204 points, 45 clear of Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton (159), with teammate George Russell a further 50 back after a no-score at Spa. Mercedes has taken pole in every session so far this year, but the tight, downforce-hungry Hungaroring traditionally reshuffles the order. At the Nürburgring, Rad am Ring (July 24–26) hands the Nordschleife to thousands of cyclists for the weekend. Sim side: Le Mans Ultimate’s v1.4 update and the first US Track Pass pack (Daytona and Laguna Seca, US$19.99) are now just three days out on July 28 — switching the netcode to reliable UDP, adding practice servers and a revised LiveSteward. iRacing’s iTested week (July 21–26) reaches its final day trialling the new multiclass standing-start procedure with multiple pace cars, while the subscription price rise still lands August 18 (early renewal locks the current rate). Hardware: Fanatec’s Podium Pedals (US$699.99), Simagic’s Zeus wheel family and Sim-Lab’s DDS TorqueSync direct drive bases remain the fresh talking points.

Full breakdowns on the Beyond the Sim, LMU, iRacing and Hardware pages.

The Hungarian Grand Prix Weekend Goes Green — Formula 1’s Last Round Before the Summer Break Opens With Practice Today at the Hungaroring as Kimi Antonelli Carries a 45-Point Lead and Lewis Hamilton Says He “Really Believes” He Can Still Fight for the Title, While Le Mans Ultimate’s v1.4 and First US Track Pass Are Now Four Days Out (July 28) and iRacing’s Multiclass Standing-Start Trial Enters Its Final Days

Race week peaks. Beyond the sim: Formula 1’s Hungarian Grand Prix — the final round before the mandatory August shutdown — opens with practice today (Friday, July 24), qualifying Saturday and the race Sunday (July 26). Kimi Antonelli arrives leading the drivers’ title on 204 points, 45 clear of Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton (159), with teammate George Russell a further 50 back after failing to score at Spa. Mercedes has taken pole in all 10 sessions so far this year, yet Hamilton says he “really believes” he can still fight for the championship on the tight, downforce-hungry Hungaroring. At the Nürburgring, Rad am Ring (July 24–26) hands the Nordschleife to thousands of cyclists. Sim side: Le Mans Ultimate’s v1.4 update and the first US Track Pass pack (Daytona and Laguna Seca, US$19.99) are now just four days out on July 28 — switching the netcode to reliable UDP, adding practice servers and a revised LiveSteward. iRacing’s iTested week (July 21–26) is in its final days trialling the new multiclass standing-start procedure with multiple pace cars, while the subscription price rise still lands August 18 (early renewal locks the current rate). Hardware: Fanatec’s Podium Pedals (US$699.99), Simagic’s Zeus wheel family and Sim-Lab’s DDS TorqueSync direct drive bases remain the fresh talking points.

Full breakdowns on the Beyond the Sim, LMU, iRacing and Hardware pages.

The Racing Weekend Builds — Formula 1 Heads to a Hot Hungaroring for Sunday’s Grand Prix as Kimi Antonelli Carries a Doubled Title Lead, While Le Mans Ultimate’s v1.4 and First US Track Pass Are Now Five Days Out (July 28) and iRacing’s Multiclass Standing-Start Trial Runs Its Final Days

A quieter Thursday pointing straight at a loaded weekend. Beyond the sim: Formula 1 moves from Spa to the Hungaroring, where practice opens Friday (July 24), qualifying is Saturday and the Hungarian Grand Prix goes Sunday (July 26) — Kimi Antonelli arrives with his championship lead doubled after winning at Spa from pole, chased by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton. At the Nürburgring, Rad am Ring (July 24–26) hands the Nordschleife to thousands of cyclists for the weekend. Sim side: Le Mans Ultimate’s v1.4 update and the first US Track Pass pack (Daytona and Laguna Seca, US$19.99) are now just five days out on July 28 — switching the netcode to reliable UDP, adding practice servers and a revised LiveSteward, and closing out the 2026 car updates. iRacing’s iTested week (July 21–26) is in its final days trialling the new multiclass standing-start procedure with multiple pace cars, while the subscription price rise still lands August 18 (early renewal locks the current rate). Hardware: Fanatec’s Podium Pedals (US$699.99), Simagic’s Zeus wheel family and Sim-Lab’s new DDS TorqueSync direct drive bases remain the fresh talking points.

Full breakdowns on the Beyond the Sim, LMU, iRacing and Hardware pages.

Le Mans Ultimate Dates Its v1.4 Update and First US Track Pass for July 28 — Daytona and Laguna Seca Lead the American Circuits at $19.99 as the Netcode Moves to Reliable UDP, While iRacing Trials a New Multiclass Standing-Start Procedure This Week and Formula 1 Heads to the Hungaroring After Antonelli’s Spa Win

The month’s biggest sim date is finally locked in. Sim side: Le Mans Ultimate’s v1.4 update and the first US Track Pass pack are confirmed for Tuesday, July 28. Pack 1 brings Daytona International Speedway and WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca for US$19.99 (the full American Track Pass is US$44.99, with Pack 2 in Q3 and Pack 3 in Q4). The free v1.4 build switches the netcode from TCP to “reliable UDP” to cut delay, adds practice servers, a revised LiveSteward with a new incident-protest method, Brazilian Portuguese localisation, and the final 2026 car updates (the Alpine and Cadillac Joker upgrades). iRacing: this week’s iTested window (July 21–26) is trialling a new multiclass standing-start procedure with multiple pace cars, while the 6 Hours of Road America headlines the racing calendar and the subscription price rise still lands August 18 (renewing early locks the current rate). Beyond the sim: Formula 1 heads to the Hungaroring on July 26 after Kimi Antonelli won the Belgian Grand Prix from pole to double his title lead. Hardware: Fanatec’s Podium Pedals, Simagic’s Zeus wheel family and MOZA’s mid-year sale remain the fresh talking points.

Full breakdowns on the LMU, iRacing, Beyond the Sim and Hardware pages.

Palou Beats a Penske Trio to Win IndyCar’s Rain-Delayed Music City Grand Prix and Stretch His Lead to 83 Points, While iRacing’s 6 Hours of Road America Headlines the Week and Le Mans Ultimate’s v1.4 Runs Down the July Clock

The weekend finally finished — a day late. Beyond the sim: Alex Palou won the Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix at Nashville Superspeedway on Monday, July 20, the race having been postponed from Sunday by storms and cut to 225 laps in record heat. Palou pitted moments before a mid-cycle caution with 100 laps to go, took the lead and held Josef Newgarden off by 0.8731s over the final 35 laps; David Malukas completed a Penske-flavoured podium after climbing from 25th on the grid. It is Palou’s fifth win of the season and 24th of his career, and it opens an 83-point championship lead over Malukas. Formula 1 next heads to the Hungaroring on July 26 after Kimi Antonelli’s Spa victory. Sim side: iRacing’s 6 Hours of Road America — round four of the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup season on the service — headlines the week of July 21–26, while the subscription price rise still lands August 18 (renewing early locks the current rate). Le Mans Ultimate’s v1.4, carrying the tech for grids of up to 62 cars and the confirmed US Track Pass, remains targeted for July with the month running short.

Full breakdowns on the Beyond the Sim, iRacing, LMU and Hardware pages.

Antonelli Wins the Belgian Grand Prix From Pole and Doubles His Title Lead as Russell Retires at Spa, While Rain Pushes IndyCar's Nashville Race to Monday Afternoon; On the Sim Side Sim-Lab Enters the Direct Drive Market With Its DDS TorqueSync Bases and Le Mans Ultimate's v1.4 Still Looms

A big Sunday banked, and a race still to run. Beyond the sim: Kimi Antonelli converted pole into his sixth career win at Formula 1's Belgian Grand Prix (July 19), finishing just under two seconds clear of Charles Leclerc with Max Verstappen third — a result that doubles his championship lead. Teammate George Russell retired after a lap-one clash with Lewis Hamilton. F1 heads to the Hungaroring on July 26. IndyCar's Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix at Nashville Superspeedway was rained out on Sunday and runs today at 15:00 ET over a shortened 225 laps (down from 300) because of record heat, with Kyle Kirkwood on pole. Hardware: Sim-Lab has entered the direct drive market with its DDS TorqueSync range — the DD26 and DD39 — pitched as an open ecosystem with a USB 3.0 interface and USB 2.0 passthrough for wheel integration. Software: Simagic's V3 software adds native SimHub integration, linking wheel RGB button and encoder backlights to live telemetry. Sim side: Le Mans Ultimate's v1.4 (still targeted July) continues to loom with the tech for grids of up to 62 cars and the confirmed US Track Pass led by Daytona and Laguna Seca, while iRacing's subscription price rise lands August 18 (early renewal locks the current rate).

Full breakdowns on the Beyond the Sim, Hardware, Software and LMU pages.

Qualifying Day at Spa — Formula 1's Belgian Grand Prix Sets Its Grid This Afternoon With Kimi Antonelli the Man to Beat and Lewis Hamilton Recovering From an FP3 Crash, While IndyCar's Music City Grand Prix Lights Up Nashville Sunday Night; On the Sim Side iRacing's August 18 Price Rise Nears as Le Mans Ultimate's v1.4 Still Looms

Grid-setting Saturday at the heart of a loaded weekend. Beyond the sim: Formula 1's Belgian Grand Prix reaches qualifying at Spa-Francorchamps — final practice ran this morning and the pole shoot-out goes at 16:00 local, with Kimi Antonelli quickest in Friday's FP2 for Mercedes and Ferrari racing to repair Lewis Hamilton's car after his end-of-FP3 shunt. Antonelli leads the drivers' title from teammate George Russell and Hamilton, with Mercedes atop the constructors' fight ahead of Ferrari and McLaren; the Grand Prix goes Sunday (July 19). The same night, IndyCar's Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix runs a 400-mile race at Nashville Superspeedway, where runaway points leader Alex Palou (404 pts, 56 clear of Kyle Kirkwood with seven rounds left) has never won. Last weekend's WEC 6 Hours of São Paulo (won by the #15 BMW M Team WRT) is banked. Sim side: iRacing's first subscription price increase in years takes effect August 18 (members can renew early to lock the current rate), its official standalone INDYCAR Racing The Game is confirmed for PS5, Xbox and Steam in early 2027, and the iRacing 24 Hours of Spa presented by Falken (July 10–12) has wrapped. Le Mans Ultimate's v1.4 (still targeted July) continues to loom, carrying the tech for endurance grids of up to 62 cars alongside the confirmed US Track Pass led by Daytona and Laguna Seca. Hardware: MOZA's Porsche Mission R wheel and Simagic's Zeus family headline, with mid-July bundle deals live across MOZA and Simagic.

Full breakdowns on the Beyond the Sim, iRacing, LMU and Hardware pages.

A Double-Header Weekend Goes Green — Formula 1's Belgian Grand Prix Opens as a Sprint Round at Spa (FP1 and Sprint Qualifying Today) While IndyCar's Music City Grand Prix Runs a 400-Mile Night Race Sunday; On the Sim Side, iRacing's Price Rise and INDYCAR Game Sink In as Le Mans Ultimate's v1.4 Still Looms

A loaded racing weekend gets underway. Beyond the sim: Formula 1's Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps is a Sprint weekend — FP1 and Sprint Qualifying run today (July 17), the Sprint and Grand Prix qualifying land Saturday, and the Grand Prix goes Sunday (July 19) — with the Mercedes pair of Kimi Antonelli and George Russell leading the title fight after Leclerc's Silverstone win. The same Sunday, IndyCar's Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix returns to Nashville Superspeedway as a 400-mile night race, where runaway points leader Alex Palou (374, chasing a record-tying fourth straight title) has never won. Last weekend's WEC 6 Hours of São Paulo — won by the #15 BMW M Team WRT — is banked. Sim side: iRacing's first subscription price increase in years takes effect August 18 (members can renew early to lock the current rate), and its official standalone INDYCAR Racing The Game is confirmed for PS5, Xbox and Steam in early 2027. Le Mans Ultimate's v1.4 (still targeted July) continues to loom, carrying the tech for endurance grids of up to 62 cars alongside the confirmed US Track Pass led by Daytona and Laguna Seca, while Automobilista 2 and Assetto Corsa EVO's 0.8 build stay bedded in. Hardware: Simagic's Zeus wheel family and Fanatec's Podium Pedals remain the fresh talking points.

Full breakdowns on the Beyond the Sim, iRacing, LMU and Simulations pages.

BMW WRT Wins the WEC's Rolex 6 Hours of São Paulo as the Season Resumes — iRacing Confirms Its First Subscription Price Rise in Years (From Aug 18) and Teams With INDYCAR on a New Standalone Game for 2027, While Le Mans Ultimate's v1.4 and a Six-Track US Pass Loom and Formula 1 Heads to Spa This Weekend

Midweek, with the calendar building to a busy weekend. Beyond the sim: the WEC's Rolex 6 Hours of São Paulo at Interlagos (July 12) went to the #15 BMW M Team WRT of Kevin Magnussen, Dries Vanthoor and Raffaele Marciello, who beat the #51 Ferrari by about two seconds after a three-way Hypercar fight, with the #12 Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA third. Attention now turns to Formula 1's Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps (July 17–19) and IndyCar's Music City Grand Prix — a 300-lap night race on July 19 — after Leclerc's British GP and O'Ward's Mid-Ohio wins were banked. Sim side: iRacing confirmed its first subscription price increase in years, effective August 18 — existing members can renew early to lock the current rate — and unveiled INDYCAR Racing The Game, an official standalone title from iRacing Studios coming to PS5, Xbox and Steam in early 2027. Le Mans Ultimate's v1.4 (targeted July) still looms, unlocking endurance grids of up to 62 cars alongside the confirmed US Track Pass led by Daytona and Laguna Seca. CAS Community: the GT3 WCT raced Round 4 at Spa on July 14 — returning champion Yannick Wonnenberg won after a lap-1 front-row wipeout (full report and 2D replay in the Race Center). Hardware: Fanatec's Podium Pedals and Simagic's Zeus wheel family are the fresh talking points.

Full breakdowns on the Beyond the Sim, iRacing, LMU and CAS Community pages.

The Weekend Goes Green — the WEC's Rolex 6 Hours of São Paulo Opens at Interlagos (Practice Today, Race Sunday July 12) With the Hypercar Title Fight Wide Open, While Automobilista 2's Historical Endurance Pack Part 2 Fills the Sim Grids and Le Mans Ultimate's v1.4 Looms

The racing weekend gets underway. Beyond the sim: the FIA World Endurance Championship restarts after its post-Le Mans break with the Rolex 6 Hours of São Paulo at Interlagos — practice runs today (July 10), Hyperpole qualifying is Saturday and the six-hour race goes green on Sunday, July 12, round five of the season with the Hypercar manufacturers' fight still tightly poised. Next up are IndyCar's Music City Grand Prix (July 19) and the DTM's Nürburgring round in August, after last weekend's British Grand Prix (Leclerc), DTM Norisring (Thiim) and IndyCar Mid-Ohio (O'Ward) results were banked. Sim side: Automobilista 2's Historical Endurance Pack Part 2 and V1.6.9.9 are out to fill the endurance grids this weekend, Assetto Corsa EVO's 0.8 update (Kyalami, the KTM X-Bow GT2/GT4, VR rework) has settled in, and Le Mans Ultimate's confirmed US Track Pass — six American circuits led by Daytona and Laguna Seca — sits ahead of the bigger v1.4 update (targeted July) that unlocks endurance grids of up to 62 cars. Hardware: Thrustmaster's Ferrari 499P Centenary Winner Edition — a 1:1, 499-unit limited wheel that ships with a copy of Le Mans Ultimate (€851) — joins Fanatec's new Nissan licensing partnership and Simagic's flagship Alpha EVO Ultra (28 Nm) as the fresh talking points.

Full breakdowns on the Beyond the Sim, Simulations, LMU and Hardware pages.

Assetto Corsa EVO's 0.8 Update Goes Live This Week — Kyalami, the KTM X-Bow GT2/GT4 and the VW Golf 8 R Arrive Alongside a Major VR Overhaul and Modded Cars in Online Races, as Real-World Attention Shifts to the WEC's 6 Hours of São Paulo at Interlagos This Weekend (July 10–12)

The week's biggest sim story lands. Simulations: Kunos closes its July 7–9 maintenance window to roll out Assetto Corsa EVO Update 0.8 — the headline is a major VR rework plus the long-awaited ability to run modified cars in online races (gated by an SHA verification layer that keeps lobbies fair), with new content in the South African Kyalami circuit, the GT2 and GT4 KTM X-Bow and the VW Golf 8 R, reworked tyre-grip physics, external-livery support and league-friendly entry lists. Beyond the sim: with the British Grand Prix, DTM Norisring and IndyCar Mid-Ohio all banked, the calendar turns to the WEC's Rolex 6 Hours of São Paulo at Interlagos (July 10–12, race Sunday July 12), with IndyCar's Music City Grand Prix on July 19 and the DTM's Nürburgring round in August. Sim side: Le Mans Ultimate's confirmed US Track Pass — six American circuits led by Daytona and Laguna Seca — sits ahead of the bigger v1.4 update (targeted July) that unlocks endurance grids of up to 62 cars, while Automobilista 2's V1.6.9.9 and iRacing's 2026 Season 3 stay bedded in. Hardware: Simagic's flagship Alpha EVO Ultra (28 Nm) and Fanatec's new Nissan licensing partnership remain the fresh talking points.

Full breakdowns on the Simulations, Beyond the Sim, LMU and Hardware pages.

A Quiet Midweek Between Events — Fanatec Announces a Nissan Licensing Partnership for Officially Licensed Sim Racing Steering Wheels, While Attention Turns to the WEC's 6 Hours of São Paulo at Interlagos (July 10–12) and Le Mans Ultimate's US Track Pass and v1.4 Loom

A calm Wednesday, with the racing paused between events. Hardware brings the freshest news: Fanatec — now a brand of CORSAIR — announced a new licensing partnership with Nissan Motor Co. to develop officially licensed sim racing steering wheels inspired by the Japanese marque's performance-driving heritage, with product specifications, availability and launch timing to be revealed later this year. Beyond the sim: with the British Grand Prix, DTM Norisring and IndyCar Mid-Ohio all banked, attention turns to the WEC's Rolex 6 Hours of São Paulo at Interlagos (July 10–12, race Sunday July 12), with IndyCar's Music City Grand Prix on July 19 and the DTM's Nürburgring round in August. Sim side: Le Mans Ultimate's confirmed US Track Pass — six American circuits led by Daytona and Laguna Seca — sits ahead of the bigger v1.4 update (targeted July) that unlocks endurance grids of up to 62 cars, while Automobilista 2's Historical Endurance Pack Part 2 targets the July 11–12 weekend; iRacing's 2026 Season 3 and Assetto Corsa EVO's 0.7 build stay bedded in.

Full breakdowns on the Hardware, Beyond the Sim, LMU and Simulations pages.

A Quiet Post-Silverstone Tuesday — With the British Grand Prix, DTM Norisring and IndyCar Mid-Ohio All Banked, Attention Turns to the WEC's 6 Hours of São Paulo at Interlagos (July 10–12); On the Sim Side, Le Mans Ultimate's US Track Pass and v1.4 Loom While Automobilista 2's Historical Endurance Pack Part 2 Targets the Weekend

A calm Tuesday after a blockbuster weekend. Beyond the sim: the results are settled — Charles Leclerc won the British Grand Prix at Silverstone under a late safety car (Russell second, Hamilton third), while Kimi Antonelli's wheel-shield failure trimmed his title lead over Russell to 25 points; Nicki Thiim swept the DTM's Norisring (two poles, two wins) to take the championship lead on 117; and Pato O'Ward claimed his first win of 2026 for an Arrow McLaren 1-2 at Mid-Ohio, with Alex Palou fifth still leading the IndyCar standings. Next up is the WEC's Rolex 6 Hours of São Paulo at Interlagos (July 10–12, race Sunday July 12), with IndyCar's Music City Grand Prix on July 19 and the DTM's Nürburgring round in August. Sim side: Le Mans Ultimate's confirmed US Track Pass — six American circuits led by Daytona and Laguna Seca — sits ahead of the bigger v1.4 update (targeted July) that unlocks endurance grids of up to 62 cars; Automobilista 2's Historical Endurance Pack Part 2 targets the July 11–12 weekend, while iRacing's 2026 Season 3 and Assetto Corsa EVO's 0.7 modding build stay bedded in. Hardware: Asetek's entry-level Initium line remains the fresh talking point, with Fanatec's Podium Pedals Formula shipping worldwide at €699.95.

Full breakdowns on the Beyond the Sim, LMU, Simulations and Hardware pages.

Leclerc Wins a Dramatic British Grand Prix Under Safety Car After Verstappen Spins Late — Russell Second, Hamilton Third as Antonelli's Wheel-Shield Failure Cuts His Title Lead to 25; Thiim Sweeps the DTM's Norisring to Take the Points Lead, O'Ward Wins IndyCar at Mid-Ohio, and Le Mans Ultimate Confirms a Six-Track US Pass

A blockbuster Sunday, banked. Beyond the sim: Charles Leclerc won the British Grand Prix at Silverstone — his first win since COTA 2024 — after a late Max Verstappen spin into the gravel on lap 48 of 52 brought out the safety car that ended the race; George Russell was second and Lewis Hamilton third for a Ferrari double-podium. Points leader Kimi Antonelli led much of the race before a left-front wheel-shield failure on lap 41 and a penalty dropped him to P16, trimming his championship lead over Russell to 25 points. In the DTM, Nicki Thiim completed a perfect Norisring weekend — two poles, two wins — taking Race 2 from pole ahead of Finn Wiebelhaus and Lucas Auer to seize the championship lead on 117 points. IndyCar returned at Mid-Ohio, where Pato O'Ward took his first win of 2026 (10th career) in a caution-free race from Arrow McLaren team-mate Christian Lundgaard, with Kyle Kirkwood third and championship leader Alex Palou fifth. Next up: the WEC's 6 Hours of São Paulo at Interlagos on July 12. Sim side: Le Mans Ultimate's July 4 reveal firmed up into a confirmed US Track Pass — six American circuits led by Daytona and Laguna Seca — ahead of the bigger v1.4 update (targeted July) that unlocks endurance grids of up to 62 cars. Automobilista 2 lines up its Historical Endurance Pack Part 2 for the July 11–12 weekend alongside dynamic-weather and AI wet-line work in v1.6.9.85, while iRacing's 2026 Season 3 and Assetto Corsa EVO's 0.7 modding build stay bedded in. Hardware: Asetek's entry-level Initium line remains the fresh talking point.

Full breakdowns on the Beyond the Sim, LMU, Simulations and Hardware pages.

Race-Day Sunday at Silverstone — F1's British Grand Prix Runs Today (15:00 BST) After Kimi Antonelli Wins Saturday's Sprint From Lewis Hamilton to Stretch His Title Lead to 43; The DTM's Norisring Finale and IndyCar's Return at Mid-Ohio Also Go Green Today, While Le Mans Ultimate's July 4 Reveal Teases Six US Tracks

The marquee race-day of a loaded weekend. Beyond the sim: Formula 1's British Grand Prix runs today at Silverstone (52 laps, 15:00 BST) after Kimi Antonelli won Saturday's Sprint from Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton by 2.745s, with Lando Norris third — a result that stretched Antonelli's championship lead over George Russell to 43 points. The DTM settles its Norisring weekend with Race 2 today after Nicki Thiim converted pole into a dominant, red-flag-interrupted Race 1 win on Saturday, lifting Maro Engel (P2) back to the top of the standings by nine points; IndyCar also resumes today at Mid-Ohio, and the WEC's 6 Hours of São Paulo follows on July 12. Sim side: Le Mans Ultimate's July 4 reveal leaned into its US-Independence-Day timing, teasing six iconic American circuits and stoking IMSA speculation ahead of the bigger v1.4 update that targets endurance grids of up to 62 cars. iRacing's 2026 Season 3, Automobilista 2's v1.6.9.8 and Assetto Corsa EVO's 0.7 modding build stay bedded in, with ACE's 0.8 (the Kyalami circuit) expected mid-to-late July. Hardware: Asetek's new Initium entry-level line — a wheelbase, wheel, pedal set and cockpit aimed at newcomers — is the fresh talking point.

Full breakdowns on the Beyond the Sim, LMU, Simulations and Hardware pages.

Alex Zanardi (1966–2026) — Two-Time CART Champion, Four-Time Paralympic Gold Medallist, Dies at 59

Italian racing legend Alex Zanardi passed away on the evening of Friday, 1 May 2026 at the age of 59. His family announced on Saturday that he died “suddenly”, but “peacefully, surrounded by the love of his family and friends” — no cause of death given. Zanardi raced in Formula 1 between 1991 and 1999, won back-to-back CART titles in 1997 and 1998 with Chip Ganassi Racing, lost both legs in the Lausitzring accident of 2001, returned to compete in adapted touring cars, and went on to win four Paralympic golds in handcycling (London 2012, Rio 2016). Few drivers shaped a generation the way he did.

Full tribute on the Beyond the Sim page.

SimHub Plugin Wave: Daniel Newman Racing v5.9, NeoRed v1.6 & RSS Ultimate Dash

April brought a steady SimHub plugin cycle. Daniel Newman Racing v5.9 (April 16) added LED settings, Lift & Coast on/off plus a global colour, and a Chrono Dashboard v1.1.0 refresh. The popular NeoRed SimHub plugin/dashboard for LMU updated to v1.6.0.1 on April 15. Race Sim Studio released the Ultimate SimHub Dashboard (V020426) with profiles for the full RSS roster including Formula Hybrid Alpine 2025, Formula Supreme, GT-M Protech P92 F6, Hyperion V8 and Furiano 96 V6.

MOZA HMA150 & Motion Manager — Full Ecosystem Taking Shape

A month after its GDC 2026 reveal, MOZA's HMA150 Motion Actuator is starting to appear in early-backer rigs. The fully in-house linear actuator pairs with the new Motion Manager software and an AI-powered motion engine that generates effects even for sims without official telemetry output. Paired with the R21/R25 bases, this positions MOZA as the first mainstream brand offering a one-stop wheel-pedal-motion ecosystem under a single software roof.

Next Level Racing Reveals FIA-Licensed Elite Formula Seat (EFS)

Next Level Racing has unveiled the Elite Formula Seat — an FIA Official Licensed sim racing seat reverse-engineered from real Formula race seats, with 73 mounting configurations and a 250 kg load rating. Priced at $499 / €499. Built for serious open-wheel rigs running active pedals and aggressive load cell brakes.

Rennsport 2026: 45% Price Cut, AI Overhaul Lands in May

Competition Company has pushed the Rennsport Deluxe Edition down to €38.49 / $39.99 (a 45% cut, including all paid content packs through September). The reworked physics-based AI — modelled on actual driver inputs rather than rail-following heuristics — is targeted for May 2026. Track modding tools enter beta in August, and the Endurance Classics Pack 1 lands mid-year.

CrewChief, SimHub & iRaceControl Keep Race Control Sharp

CrewChief v4.19.1.42 ships with full AC EVO v0.6 compatibility. SimHub's Translation Assistant now covers 80-90% of the UI in 15+ languages thanks to DeepL and Google suggestions. iRaceControl — the league stewarding platform with auto-sequencer, incident logging and PDF stewards' reports — continues to gain traction in the European league scene.

Asetek Takeover Complete — CQXA Holdings Confirmed

The $85M acquisition of Danish manufacturer Asetek by Chinese firm CQXA Holdings has officially closed with 95.3% of shares transferred. CEO André Sloth Eriksen confirms continuity of the La Prima, Forte and Invicta product lines, with console-compatible peripherals firmly on the roadmap.

Jimmy Broadbent & Super GT to Race Black Falcon Porsche at NLS 2026

YouTube heavyweights Jimmy Broadbent and Steve "Super GT" Alvarez Brown step up the real-world ladder again — this time in a Fanatec-branded Black Falcon Porsche 992 GT3 Cup Car for NLS 2026 at the Nürburgring, alongside Misha Charoudin. Big build-up race for the N24 (May 14-17). Sim-to-real continues to be the defining narrative of the era.

CAS Leagues: GT3-WCT, IEC & Combined Cup in Mid-Season

The CAS-iRacing Community's GT3 World Championship Tour, IEC Endurance Championship, Combined Cup, SFL Cup, PCCD and TSS GT4 are all deep into their seasons. Clean, well-organised, non-commercial league racing — with Team CTP coaching and live Twitch streaming. The IEC will adopt iRaceControl for next season.