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iRacing
2026 S3 Patch 1

iRacing 2026 S3 Patch 1 adds Qualcomm AI support, GT3 TC fixes, and telemetry expansion

This patch focuses on fixes and small improvements across AI, UI, controls, telemetry, cars, and several tracks, plus support updates for Qualcomm Circuit and the BMW M2 Racing in Demo Drive.

cars

iRacing’s 2026 Season 3 Patch 1 is a follow-up fix patch for the Season 3 release, with updates across the simulator, cars, tracks, UI, controls, and telemetry. Full details are in the official release notes.

What changed

Platform, UI, and controls

  • Demo Drive availability for the BMW M2 Racing (G87) was restored.
  • The installer now correctly prompts for required Microsoft VC redistributable packages.
  • Keybind display issues for multiple controllers with the same button ID were fixed, and distinct controls now show correctly.
  • Legacy car-specific control profiles now import correctly when a global default profile already exists.
  • Tire compound indicators in Session Entries and Black Boxes now reset correctly when leaving a session and hide when a participant leaves an event.
  • The Relative Widget large template no longer has overlapping time and license elements.
  • VR UI positioning logic was updated, including a fix for the focus driver display default position.
  • Ghost and reference lap cars are visible again on race servers.
  • H-pattern calibration now again allows the same control/button to be used for incremental and absolute gear shifting.

AI, spotter, and telemetry

  • AI racing is now available at Qualcomm Circuit (Naval Base Coronado) — AI drivers are fully trained and ready to race there.
  • AI braking behavior when bump drafting was fixed.
  • AI skill with the EURO NASCAR V8GP was improved.
  • Some spotter damage calls were given higher priority.
  • Spotter text now falls back correctly to hard-coded defaults if pack entries are missing.
  • The Mandarin-Tong_Li spotter pack was updated.
  • Telemetry can now optionally log all cars in a session via irsdkLogAllCars=1 in app.ini.

Cars

  • GT3 rotary dial and dynamic traction control issues were fixed, and default TC settings were adjusted across the class.
  • EURO NASCAR V8GP brake bias reporting was corrected, and transmission whine was slightly reduced.
  • Formula Vee - Cutlass & Conqueror pit tent colors now match the driver’s car.

Tracks

  • Algarve International Circuit track name localization was fixed.
  • Charlotte Motor Speedway (Dirt Road) received a track map.
  • Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours near fences were converted to real 3D objects.
  • Oran Park Raceway received an updated loading background image, and the main garage is now solid.
  • Qualcomm Circuit (Naval Base Coronado) got AI support, a rotated and updated track map, crowd cleanup, updated brake markers and some ads, and removal of some extra pit-area catch fencing.

From the changelog

Structured change list parsed from the official notes.

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  • 2026 Season 3 Patch 1 Release Notes [2026.06.12.02] Patch Release: This release is a Patch, focusing on additional updates, improvements, and fixes for the 2026 Season 3 Release. iRACING Launcher —--------------------------------------------------------- Demo Drive Fixed an issue where the BMW M2 Racing (G87) was unavailable for use. Simulation —--------------------------------------------------------- Installer Fixed an issue where iRacing was not correctly prompting the required installation of Microsoft VC redistributable packages that are needed by iRacing to function. AI Racing AI Drivers have completed boot camp, and are now fully trained and ready for racing at Qualcomm Circuit (Naval Base Coronado)! Fixed an issue where AI Drivers could incorrectly apply brakes when being bump drafted. AI Drivers have improved their overall skills with the EURO NASCAR V8GP. User Interface Fixed an issue where Keybinds for other controllers were shown when activated. For example, now if two devices with the same button ID are bound to different actions, they will both work, and correctly show up as distinct Controls when the buttons are pressed on the Settings > Keybinds screen. For Control Profiles, fixed an issue where loading a car with a Legacy car-specific profile, when you've already defined a global default, does not import the old profile data. For the Session Entries and Black Boxes, tire compound indicators are now correctly reset when leaving a Session, and are hidden when a participant leaves the event. For the Relative Widget, fixed an issue with overlapping time and license on the large template. Updated the UI positioning logic when using a VR device. Fixed an issue where the focus driver display was not loading the default position correctly in VR. Race Servers Fixed a spooky issue where ghost and reference lap cars were completely invisible. Controls Fixed an issue with controls and H-pattern calibration, where the same control/button could not be used for incremental versus absolute gear shifting. iRacing once again allows for both types of controls to use the same buttons/gear positions on a wheel or H-pattern shifter. Spotter/Crew Chief Some vehicle damage calls from the Spotter have had their priority upgraded. Fixed an issue where the spotter text messages would not fall back to the hard-coded defaults if they were missing from a spotter pack. The Mandarin-Tong_Li spotter pack has been updated. Thank you, Tong Li! Telemetry Telemetry may now optionally log ALL cars in a Session. A new app.ini switch, irsdkLogAllCars=0. When set to 1, all the CarIdxXXX arrays will be allowed to grow to the actual size of the entries table. Cars —--------------------------------------------------------- <Car Class> GT3 Fixed an issue with rotary dials and dynamic Traction Control (TC) settings. More sensible default TC settings have been applied throughout the class. EURO NASCAR V8GP Fixed an issue with brake bias incorrectly reporting as bar balance in the garage and black box. Slightly reduced transmission whine sounds. Formula Vee - Cutlass & Conqueror Fixed an issue where the pit crew forgot to make sure their tents used the same colors as the driver's car. A quick trip to the fiber arts store solved this problem. Tracks —--------------------------------------------------------- Algarve International Circuit Fixed an issue with track name localization. Charlotte Motor Speedway (Dirt Road) - Track map has been added. Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours Near fences have been converted to real 3D objects. Oran Park Raceway Loading background image has been updated. The main garage is now a solid object. Qualcomm Circuit (Naval Base Coronado)! AI Drivers have completed boot camp, and are now fully trained and ready for racing at Qualcomm Circuit (Naval Base Coronado)! Rotated the track map to a better orientation, and updated it. Some overlapping crowd members have been removed. Brake markers and some ads have been updated. Some extra pit area catch fences have been removed.

Sources

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