2023 iRacing Season 2 Patch 2 removes durability from select cars with New Damage Model

We’re only two weeks into the second season for iRacing in 2023, and already there is a second patch available for the build that released at the beginning of March.

While a lot of pieces of content are getting an update through the iRacing Update Manager, it is only a 430.3MB download for 100 percent content owners, so it shouldn’t take too long to take care of when logging back in.

One of the big changes in the Tuesday (21st March) patch is regarding the New Damage Model. While the car I mostly run, the NASCAR NEXT Gen, didn’t get these updates today, a host of cars were nerfed in terms of their durability. GT4 cars, a bunch of open wheelers and even the 1987 NASCAR Stocks will now be “more realistic” and be weaker when damaged.

Some other fixes, mostly looking to be fixes to make certain parameters in cars and track work properly, such as race control, were also dropped in the patch. One other notable addition was that a graphical option was added for better buffering capabilities.

The update went up around 8:00 am ET and was completed around 9:40 am ET. Check out the rest of the patch notes from iRacing below.

SOURCE: iRacing

iRACING 2023 SEASON 2 PATCH 2 RELEASE NOTES

SIMULATION:

Physics

• Fixed an issue where cars would appear to fly above the track surface at Charlotte Motor Speedway – Rallycross when back-patching was not in effect.

Graphics

• A new graphics option, ZBuffer32Bits, has been added to the “rendererDX1.ini” file.
• – – This option is enabled (set to 1) by default, and forces the Simulation to use a 32 bit depth buffer. This helps NVidia users who are seeing excessive z-fighting. This option uses double the video memory for the depth-stencil buffer (it will grow from 32-bits to 64-bits per pixel).

AI Racing

• AI Drivers have improved their racing behavior with the Skip Barber Formula 2000 and should be less likely to slide and smoke. Both were bad for their health.

New Damage Model

• With the systemic New Damage Model changes released with 2023 Season 2, many vehicles were in a place of unrealistically higher durability. This patch includes a variety of vehicle body panel adjustments that should generally weaken their strengths, and make the cars much more realistic. We continue to assess realism and balance for New Damage Model cars with the 2023 Season 2 changes, and additional updates to these or additional cars may be in future Patches. The vehicles affected by these changes include the following:
• – – <Car Class> GT4 Cars
• – – <Car Class> NASCAR Classic 1987 Cars
• – – <Car Class> Touring Class Cars
• – – Dallara F3
• – – Dallara iR-01
• – – Dallara IR18
• – – Dirt Street Stock
• – – Formula Renault 2.0
• – – Global Mazda MX-5 Cup
• – – Indy Pro 2000 PM-18
• – – iRacing Formula iR-04
• – – Mercedes-AMG W13 E Performance
• – – SCCA Spec Racer Ford
• – – Street Stock
• – – USF 2000

Replay

• Fixed a Simulator crash issue that could occur while fast-forwarding or rewinding a Replay for a Session that included driver swaps.
• Fixed an issue that could cause the window title bar to show the wrong message when saving a replay.

CARS:

ARCA Menards Chevrolet Impala / Gen 4 Cup

• (Gen 4 Cup) – Auto Fuel is now available for this car.
• (Gen 4 Cup) – Improved the higher revving external/trackside engine sounds.
• (Gen 4 Cup) – Pit board has been updated to display correctly.
• (Gen 4 Cup) – Opponent car rev limiter has been updated.

Audi R8 LMS GT3

• Fixed an issue with the Dashboard Box RPM not changing colors correctly.

Dallara F3

• iRacing setups have been updated.

Dallara iR-01

• Wing adjustment tooltip has been updated for accuracy.

Ford GT2 / GT3

• These car names have been adjusted slightly for clarity.

Honda Civic Type R

• Fixed an issue with the Dashboard Box RPM not changing colors correctly.

Late Model Stock

• The bumpstop packer allowable adjustment range has been narrowed.
• Maximum braking effort value has been reduced.

Lotus 79

• iRacing setups have been updated.

Modified – SK / NASCAR Whelen Tour Modified

• These car names have been adjusted slightly for clarity.

NASCAR Truck Toyota Tundra TRD Pro

• Fixed an issue with the display of this vehicle in the Paint Shop.

Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (992)

• The low fuel warning may now be cleared by mapping the low fuel acknowledge control and holding it down for 2 seconds.

Renault Clio R.S. V

• Fixed an issue where a Member joining an Open Practice Session with this car could cause all other drivers in the Session to crash-to-desktop.

Ruf RT 12R

• Fixed an issue where this car would fail to load at night.

TRACKS:

Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto

• (Both) – Fixed  an issue where drivers could receive an unsafe pit entry/exit penalty by driving next to the pit wall on the track side.
• (Moto) – Fixed an issue where DRS was not working at this track configuration.

Crandon International Raceway

• Fixed an issue with Race Control at this track.

Knockhill Racing Circuit

• (National & National Rev.) – A gain-time checkpoint has been added to the exit of the dirt area to prevent cutting wide to the service road for a better line.

Limaland Motorsports Park

• Fixed an issue with Race Control at this track.

Sebring International Raceway

• Fixed some terrain surface and environment artwork issues.
• Terrain near the pits has been updated.