The Special Events in iRacing are always a fun opportunity to compete in more glamorous races, either by yourself or with a team. Here is the full 2024 calendar, with some obvious omissions.
Every year, the iRacing organisers like to follow real world major motorsport events by setting up their own counter parts. The iRacing Daytona 24, Petit Le Mans and co*ke 600 are all eye-catching competitions that bring together large numbers.
These are opportunities for the everyday racer to live out their wildest dreams of competing in some of the most high-profile events in motorsport. It seems that once again, iRacing will have a packed 2024 with the Special Events calendar just releasing. Featuring all the fan favourites and adding some new races, fans are sure to be excited.
iRacing Special Events in 2024
Much like the real world of motorsport, the early season is very much dominated by endurance events. In fact, from January to the end of March, iRacing will host no less than four sportscar Special Events; the Roar, Daytona 24, Bathurst 12 Hours and Sebring 12. Breaking up the sportscar fest, and making for a Daytona triple crown, is the Daytona 500 in early February.
As ever with the iRacing Special Events, the calendar follows real world motor races. However, some more fictional events do appear on the list. The Road America 500 is a chance to run the classic GTP and GTO models. Meanwhile, the MS Charity Event is always a popular live stream to watch.
Alongside the Daytona 500, NASCAR Cup fans get a further three major Special Events. The co*ke 600, Brickyard 400 and Bristol 500 form the longest NASCAR events on the real calendar. IMSA also sees its Michelin Endurance Cup with feature on the calendar with a total of five races.
Returning after a popular first edition this year is the BRSCC iRacing FF1600 Festival at Brands Hatch. Elsewhere, American club racing gets its moment in the sun with the interesting SCCA Runoffs format taking place in late-November 2024.
New Additions
From last year, the 2024 iRacing Special Events calendar is much the same. However, there are a few additions to note. As aforementioned, this year’s IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup is a five-event ordeal in 2024. iRacing is mirroring the addition of the Indianapolis 6 Hours.
However, the most popular new race for 2024 will surely be the Martinsville MX-500. For several months, rumours of a real-world oval race using the MX-5 Cup cars were brewing. But it seems the sim racing community will trial a final version of the format. The first weekend of August is the time to tune in for the chaos.
Obvious Omissions
Whilst the 2024 iRacing Special Events calendar looks plentiful, one will always wonder what could be. For the past few years, two of the most popular Special Events of the year – Le Mans and the Indy 500 – have been missed from the calendar.
In recent months, Motorsport Games controversies have piled upon one another to form hope of a return of the two races. Whilst a Le Mans 24 Hour race will surely return in the form of a 24-hour Series surrounding the French enduro, an Indy 500 workaround will prove far more complicated.
An official Indycar game is seemingly not coming from Motorsport Games any time soon. However, the licencing contract is still in place, meaning that whilst MSG cannot use Indy content, neither can iRacing.
2024 iRacing Special Events Calendar
Here are all the events to look out for in 2024.
- Roar Before the 24, Daytona International Speedway, 12-14 January
- Daytona 24, Daytona International Speedway, 19-21 January
- Daytona 500, Daytona International Speedway, 13-19 February
- Bathurst 12, Mount Panorama, 23-25 February
- Sebring 12, Sebring Internationl Raceway, 22-24 March
- Road America 500, Road America, 12-14 April
- Nürburgring 24, Nürburgring, 17-19 May
- co*ke 600, Charlotte Motor Speedway, 21-27 May
- Watkins Glen 6 Hour, Watckins Glen, 14-16 June
- Brickyard 400, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, 16-22 July
- MS Charity, Dates and Circuit To Be Confirmed
- Spa 24, Spa-Francorchamps, 19-21 July
- Martinsville MX-500, Martinsville Speedway, 30 July-4 August
- Crandon Championship, Crandon International Raceway, 24 August
- Indy 6 Hour, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, 13-15 September
- Bristol 500, Bristol Motor Speedway, 17-23 September
- Knoxville Nationals, Knoxville Raceway, 27-29 September
- Bathurst 1000, Mount Panorama, 4-6 October
- Petit Le Mans, Road Atlanta, 18-19 October
- BRSCC iRacing FF1600 Festival, Brands Hatch, 3 November
- Fuji 8 Hours, Fuji International Speedway, 15-17 November
- SCCA Runoffs, Virginia International Raceway, 23 November
- Winter Derby, Five Flags Speedway, 26-29 November
- Chili Bowl, Chili Bowl, 14 December
What 2024 iRacing Special Events are you hoping to compete in? Tell us on Twitter at @OverTake_gg or in the comments down below!
