iRacing.com is marking its eighth anniversary providing on-line racers with the world’s foremost online motorsports racing simulation. iRacing launched in 2008 and was founded in 2004 by Boston Red Sox owner John Henry and award-winning racing game developer Dave Kaemmer as a true motorsport simulation.
From the outset, the company developed iRacing as an eSport and pioneered official multi-player racing within a centralized competition structure. The idea was to not only build a cutting-edge physics-based simulation but a complete online sport. In pursuit of that goal, iRacing developed an infrastructure and system where on-line racers around the world could race against people of equal skill in an identical and fair environment. As well, a licensing system was created in which drivers could race their way up a seven step ladder going from rookie all the way to professional. The professional drivers at the top of each ladder earn a world championship license and are pitted against one another in three different world championship series including NASCAR, Grand Prix and Team GT endurance racing for prize money and status as the world’s best sim racers.
The iRacing centralized structure also includes a match making system to ensure drivers of similar skills and experience compete with one another, a centralized data and statistics system, a skill and safe driving ranking for both road and oval racing, an anti-cheat detection system, a safe driving system to minimize chaos and even a sanctioning body and competition oversight team.
iRacing has grown to a passionate community of more than 225,000 iRacers in more than 150 countries who have turned over 1.5 billion laps online. iRacing partners with real-world racing organizations to create many of the 40 plus official series including NASCAR, IMSA, IndyCar, SRO Blancpain Endurance Series, Skip Barber and V8 Supercars and other leading organizations. iRacing also caters to the casual race gamer with unofficial fun series, unlimited private league opportunities and open practices as well as solo competitions racing against the clock.
“The growth and success of iRacing has been truly gratifying,” says CEO Dave Kaemmer. “iRacing was built for what has come to be known as eSports. Eight years after opening for business, we are not only the leader in competitive on-line racing, but the only online motorsports experience to offer a seamless centralized service and organizational structure such as this. It enables thousands of people around the world the opportunity to enjoy a vast array of competitive racing regardless of skill level.”
Similar to games like DOTA 2, League of Legends, and Counter Strike Global Offensive, iRacing hosts three annual championship tournaments in oval, road, and endurance racing and many other special events. The world’s top teams in sim racing recruit talented drivers to compete for over $50,000 in cash and prizes annually. Each event is broadcast live on iRacing.com/live.
“It’s been a challenge – but also a genuine source of excitement – for the members of our team to introduce such remarkable technical advances and new features to online racing as the years have passed,” says Kaemmer. “Back in 2008, we hoped that some of the features we were dreaming about then would someday become reality, which has proven to be the case. With dirt track racing and other great new features in the pipeline, we’re confident the years ahead will be every bit as exciting as our first eight years.”
