Week 5 • 26 January - 1 February 2026
This week: 29 updates
The fourth round of the INDYCAR Thrustmaster iRacing Pro Series will see the 33 top‑ranked virtual IndyCar competitors travel overseas for the first time in series history, competing at Italy’s Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello on Thursday night. The road circuit adds new uncertainty.
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Super Woden Rally Edge, a spin‑off of the main series, achieved launch player numbers three times higher than the original title, setting a new series record. The unexpected success was achieved by a solo developer, according to Traxion.gg.
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In the January 2026 update for Gran Turismo 7, the Fiat Panda receives a new engine swap, allowing it to be ‘super‑tuned’ for the first time. This addition expands the game’s customization options, giving players enhanced performance possibilities for the compact model.
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At the end of January, Gran Turismo 7 publishes the month’s final weekly challenges. The challenges spotlight recently added game content, allowing players to compete using the new vehicles and tracks introduced in the latest update. Details are available on GTPlanet.
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GTPlanet reports that Gran Turismo 7 received its latest update today, introducing new cars, tracks and gameplay tweaks. To showcase the additions, the game launches an Online Time Trial challenge titled “China in Your Hand,” prompting players to compete on the newly added Chinese circuit.
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The first Gran Turismo 7 content update of 2026, version 1.67, is now live. It introduces three new cars, adds new race events and a circuit‑experience mode, and brings an engine‑swap system along with additional minor enhancements and balance tweaks.
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Welcome to the iRacing Weekly Tune-in, your guide to what is available to watch this week on the official iRacing broadcast channels, as well as some special events to watch around the iRacing community. From official iRacing eSports to select community events, there’s plenty to tune in for and enjoy. Here’s what on the schedule,
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Gran Turismo 7 launches its January 2026 update, adding new events, an Extra Menu, and three new cars, including two race‑bred machines. The update marks the start of 2026 content for the game, available to players worldwide. Details were posted on Traxion.GG.
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Fanatec announced a partnership with Elgato to release a plugin for the Stream Deck, allowing users to access the Fanatec Tuning Menu directly from the device. The integration provides on‑the‑fly menu navigation for supported Fanatec hardware.
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Underground Garage has left Early Access, launching version v1.0. The update adds new vehicles and introduces car maintenance mechanics, expanding the street‑racing and tuning experience. The title focuses on street racing and car tuning, offering players deeper customization options. The announcement was posted on Traxion.gg.
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Gran Turismo 7's version 1.67 launches on January 29, restoring its regular update cadence after a turbulent end‑2025. The patch introduces the series' first Chinese‑manufactured vehicle, adds a new GT3 car, and includes additional balance tweaks and minor bug fixes.
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Polyphony Digital will release the free January 2026 Update V1.67 for Gran Turismo 7 on PS4 and PS5 on January 29, 2026. The update adds three new cars, three new race events, an additional collection menu, and introduces a new Scape feature.
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After Monday night’s race at Fairbury Speedway, Hunter Rich claimed victory in the 2025-26 World of Outlaws iRacing Pro Series, marking the ninth different winner in as many races. Rich held off challenges from Jesse Newsome and Ethan Johnson, becoming the series’ latest first‑time winner.
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Time trials for the Great Lakes Gauntlet at Michigan International Speedway are now open, forming the next round of the 2025-26 eNASCAR College iRacing Series powered by PlayVS College League. Qualifying runs use iRacing’s Time Attack mode from January 27 through February 6.
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The latest episode of the Traxion Control Podcast returns, focusing on major Forza Horizon 6 announcements while addressing listener feedback and questions. The hosts also discuss whether Assetto Corsa EVO is experiencing a resurgence, providing analysis and community perspectives.
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Steam has published the minimum system requirements for Forza Horizon 6. The specifications suggest that many existing PCs may fall short, indicating potential hardware upgrades for players wishing to run the game at its baseline performance level.
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Traxion.GG published a list of six inexpensive beginner racing wheels for 2026, compatible with PC, Xbox and PlayStation. The article highlights these budget-friendly options for new sim racers, emphasizing affordability and platform support and overall performance.
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Snowrunner's Season 17 DLC introduces a new muddy environment and adds two trucks, while a simultaneous game update addresses various bugs. The expansion expands off‑road options and improves stability, according to the announcement on Traxion.GG.
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An open beta for American Truck Simulator version 1.58 is now available. The update introduces revised vehicle physics, user‑interface tweaks, expanded map features including Route 66 improvements, and new challenges within the Driving Academy. Players can test these changes before the full release.
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The 2026 Sim Formula Europe event took place at the MECC Maastricht in The Netherlands from 15–18 January 2026. Bsimracing posted the official aftermovie of the event, available on their website. The post appeared first on Bsimracing and includes highlights of the competition. The video can be viewed at https://www.bsimracing.com/sim-formula-europe-2026-official-aftermovie/.
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VR brand Pimax announced a major sponsorship with iRacing, becoming the official virtual reality sponsor for the platform. The partnership aims to promote immersive racing experiences and integrate Pimax hardware with iRacing’s simulation software, enhancing realism for users.
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iRacing’s weekly guide highlights daily and hourly races available to members according to their license level, and lists special series that run at set times for participants with the required credentials, offering more structured sim‑racing experiences throughout the week.
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Monday night marks the ninth race of the 2025-26 World of Outlaws iRacing Pro Series at Fairbury Speedway, the season’s penultimate event. The series runs on ten tracks, featuring 410 Sprint Cars in the first half and Super Late Models in the second half.
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The article on Traxion.GG presents a list of the ten best PC sim racing games available to play now, highlighting titles considered top choices for 2026. It serves as a guide for enthusiasts seeking current high‑quality racing simulations on the platform.
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Euro Truck Simulator 2 and American Truck Simulator will receive version 1.58, which introduces a revised driving physics model. The update aims to improve vehicle handling and serves as a foundation for a range of new content planned for release in 2026.
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The v1.58 update adds a new double‑trailer module to the Driving Academy of Euro Truck Simulator 2 and American Truck Simulator. The feature focuses on practising double‑trailer manoeuvring, giving players the ability to handle two trailers in a controlled training environment.
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Gran Turismo 7’s newest Daily Races set has been released, introducing three brand‑new events that players can try over the coming seven days. One of the tracks features noticeably reduced grip, offering a distinct handling challenge compared to the other two courses.
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GTPlanet is marking its 25‑year anniversary online by hosting a live‑stream party for the community. The event invites members to join the celebration, featuring discussions, retrospectives, and interactive segments that commemorate the forum’s history and ongoing passion for sim racing.
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Fanatec has launched the Podium DD, a high‑end direct‑drive wheelbase that succeeds the Podium DD1 and DD2 models. It enters a market where competition has intensified, with numerous premium options now available across a wide range of price points.
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