A few weeks ago, iRacing started teasing possible content coming to the service in 2023 Season 3, which we expect to release next week on 6th June. One of the teased venues from iRacing did turn out to be Willow Springs as we predicted, and this has now been confirmed for launch in the next build.
It was basically confirmed during the most recent episode of the iRacing Downshift podcast, but now we have it in video confirmation as well.
Willow Springs International Motorsports Park includes a number of layouts, but the big one that is most commonly referred to is the 2.5-mile course called Big Willow. Another popular layout is the separate Horse Thief Mile, but only Big Willow has been shown and talked about so far.
Big Willow is the oldest permanent road course in the United States, having opened back in 1953. Right now, the only other title with the track in it is Gran Turismo 7 and some of its predecessors, but it’s also been featured in some capacity in select Need for Speed and Project CARS titles as well.
“We developed advanced multi-material shaders, we finally debut the foliage system, and we have completely re-done our off-track terrain process,” said iRacing Senior Vice President and Executive Producer Greg Hill in a tweet thread on Sunday (28th May). The whole thread was full of incredible pictures of the new venue.
This was also a track that had been previously scanned by iRacing, although this is probably a newer scan with newer technology. Back in 2011, iRacing President Tony Gardner unveiled in a post that Willow Springs International Motorsports Park was “scanned, with some production work done, but put on hold for now.”
Season 3 now has Willow Springs, the Ligier LMP3 and the Dirt Refresh confirmed. These two pieces of content will probably cost the usual prices, by the way, although neither of those prices have been confirmed yet either.
What else will we see as far as new content and changes to the iRacing platform? We should find out in the coming days, so keep it pinned for the latest on iRacing’s next build.
