5 key features in Le Mans Ultimate’s new Version 1.4 update

Driving standards features

The way sim racers protest on-track disagreements is set to change significantly. To cut down on processing time, for intentional wrecks only, complaints will be submitted from within race replays, finding and sending across from the exact timestamp.

Drivers will now have a protest credit system: three protests each month, one credit back for each successful protest.

The computer-controlled LiveSteward system, which arrived in Version 1.2 last December as a background system to monitor poor driving, will henceforth automatically govern stationary vehicles and kick them back to the garage.

Those who quit mid-race (Alt+F4) will “no longer escape the consequences”. Now your penalties and damage will follow you.

Updated multiplayer foundations

While these shouldn’t affect (hopefully) the general multiplayer experience (for now) or add shiny new features, changes will happen behind the scenes.

Publisher Motorsport Games states that a third-party “online service layer” will be replaced with a native system it’s calling “RaceOS”. 

“The new backbone is custom-built for our own eco-system, more specific to our racing genre, and built to scale with us,” it claims.

Le Mans Ultimate’s ‘netcode’ (game-to-game, car-to-car, contact and stability) is already among one of the better regarded systems in sim racing. This will change from Transmission Control Protocol (TCP, which can pause data flow if packets are lost), to “reliable UDP” (which should avoid delays typically seen with TCP).

A lot of jargon there. Simply, fundamental netcode changes that Motorsport Games and Studio 397 hope will see long-term improvements, but warn that “there may be some teething issues in the first weeks.”

Cadillac and Alpine 2026-spec upgrades

Missing in last month’s update, which included the latest liveries plus Toyota and BMW car upgrades, now the Alpine and Cadillac Hypercars are up to date.

This free addition means the A424 and V-Series.R have the latest aerodynamic upgrades and present-season paint schemes selectable. For the American machine, this means a noticeably lower rear wing, as discussed in our ‘future of Le Mans Ultimate’ predictions article and video recently.

Longer practice servers, joker system

Those who pick up the optional RaceControl Pro or Pro+ subscriptions (which, among other perks, unlock the Online Championships mode, custom liveries and hosted events) will now receive access to longer ‘Practice+’ servers. Those who are used to iRacing’s practice setup should feel more at home now.

A second new subscriber-only feature is an event joker. These can be played every 10 races, with a maximum of three held at any one time.

These do not remove race results, but can wipe driver rank and safety rating from a particular (solo driver only) race that may have dented your scores. The rating damage from an unlucky incident, network failure or PC crash can be eradicated provided you have one of these in your (virtual) pocket.

Brake thermals, Brazilian Portuguese and pitlane tweaks

Another new native language option will be added through Version 1.4, this time Brazilian Portuguese.

On track, changes to the brake thermal system promise mean it should now simulate brake disc surface and core temperatures independently. In theory, this allows for more consistent braking performance, in particular in LMP2, LMP2 and ‘some’ Hypercar vehicles.

Elsewhere, to help with circuits that don’t feature pitlane garages (such as Laguna Seca), there’s an option for your car to be placed onto the pitlane automatically upon selecting the ‘start driving’ prompt. If you don’t drive from there into the main lane quickly, you’ll receive a penalty.

The first of three US Track Pass packs will be launched on the same 28th July date. These are Daytona and Laguna Seca, available as a duo pack, or part of the full six-track pass. Those with RaceControl Pro and Pro+ subs will receive access (while being active members) for no additional charge.

It will be $19.99 for each two-circuit pack, or $44.99 for the six-venue pass. For one week, there will be a 10 per cent discount. The full patch notes are expected next week.

Traxion recently conducted an interview with Motorsport Games CEO Stephen Hood, covering fundamental multiplayer changes, DLC pricing, console versions and community feature requests. We’ve released the whole interview on YouTube and Spotify.