More content tweaks provided in second patch for 2023 iRacing Season 3

The second patch following the release of the 2023 iRacing Season 3 build dropped on Thursday (22nd June) and with it, some updates and tweaks to the new and existing content.

While the new cars, which include the Cadillac GTP, the Ligier LMP3 and the Porsche GT3 R 992, all received some further adjustments, fixes and BoP-ping, one of the key takeaways from this patch has to be in the graphic optimization that’s found in the Simulation section of the notes.

It’s no doubt that iRacing has an optimization issue that forces poor framerates and poor quality at times, even on higher end computers. Further fixing could lead to a better experience later down the road.

Speaking of graphical fixes, the only big track update in this patch comes with the new version of the Chicago Street Course. This track now has updated signage and branding around the circuit, although Barney’s flag stand still reads Windy City 110, the name of the eNASCAR Pro Invitational event from back in 2021.

The rest of the notes courtesy of the iRacing forums are listed below.

iRACING:

Hosted Sessions

• Hosted sessions using Fixed setups now display the setup names in the Session Info tab of the modal.

SIMULATION:

Optimization

• Improved the Enki worker thread pool allocation algorithm.
• – – This allocation adjustment should greatly improve performance for Enki threads on Intel 12th Gen CPUs.

Options

• Helpful text has been added to the voice chat notification dropdown menu.

Dirt Racing

• For the Dirt Refresh Project, reduced the variance in the amount of water in the track on dirt road courses.
• For the Dirt Refresh Project, dirt displacement from tires on dirt road tracks has been reduced slightly.

AI Racing

• AI Drivers now classify cars in lower classes more as obstacles rather than other drivers, which should allow for much more decisive passing. They are also hard-coded to think slower drivers are pathetic, so up your game!
• AI Drivers have improved their passing techniques for cars at very different speeds. They should move laterally to pass at a more optimal distance from the target.
• Further improved AI Drivers’ lateral positioning alongside other cars while racing on Road tracks.

Spotter

• The spotter message for setting the overall fastest lap will now only play for Open Practice or Race Sessions. In lone sessions, the personal best message may play instead.

Graphics

• Fixed an issue in Windows 11 where VSYNC could not be disabled when running the Sim in a window. This also fixes an issue in Windows 11 where the graphics auto-config always detected high-end GPUs as low-end GPUs, due to the test getting locked to the refresh rate and messing it up. This change also allows VSYNC to be toggled for windowed modes for the first time, and also now VSYNC setting changes take effect immediately without restarting the sim.
• – – NOTE #1: there are cases due to Windows and device drivers where VSYNC settings don’t work still, where VSYNC won’t turn on. For instance, usually it doesn’t work if running using NVIDIA Surround, etc.. Also device driver settings may be overriding the Sim’s application settings.  
• – – NOTE #2: When launching in full-screen mode with VSYNC off, if you Alt+Enter or Alt+Tab out of full-screen into a windowed mode, VSYNC will usually automatically enable until you Alt+Enter back into full-screen. It seems to be a DXGI limitation.

Force Feedback

• Fixed an issue that could cause the wheel force slider in the Options tab to fail to auto-detect your wheel if you had not yet entered a car.
• Some additional wheel models have been added to the force feedback auto-detect routine.

CARS:

<Car Class> GT3 Cars

• For the New Damage Model, a tuning update has been completed which lowered the stiffness of rub blocks.

Audi R8 LMS GT3

• Fixed an issue where some mirrors would appear at the incorrect location when the New Damage Model was in use.

BMW M Hybrid V8

• For the New Damage Model, fixed an issue where heavy damage to only body panels could erroneously cause a Meatball flag.

Cadillac V-Series.R GTP

• For the New Damage Model, aerodynamic model penalties have been updated.
• For the New Damage Model, fixed an issue where heavy damage to only body panels could erroneously cause a Meatball flag.

Dallara IR18

• Fixed an issue where vinyl wheel wraps were being duplicated.

Dallara P217

• For the New Damage Model, strengthened the rear wing and rear body panels.
• For the New Damage Model, fixed an issue where heavy damage to only body panels could erroneously cause a Meatball flag.

Dirt Late Model

• (ALL) – For the New Damage Model, a tuning update has been completed which increased friction on the right side-panels and tire sidewalls, stiffened the right rear corner, and lowered the break limit on the front wheels to make wall riding more dangerous.

Ferrari 488 GT3 Evo 2020

• Fixed an issue where suffering critical damage to only a very small area of the car could cause an unauthorized moon launch.

Ligier JS P320

• Downshifting has been made smoother, especially 3rd to 2nd gear.

Lucas Oil Off Road Pro 2 Lite

• Center of Gravity height has been adjusted slightly.

Lucas Oil Off Road Pro Trucks

• (ALL) – Center of Gravity height has been adjusted slightly.

Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (992)

• For the New Damage Model, fixed an issue where the nose panel was substantially heavier than it should have been, and adjusted the yield limits for the pieces.
• Fuel Pressure warning label has been updated to Fuel Level warning.

Porsche 911 GT3 R (992)

• 2023 Season 3 Balance of Power Adjustment: Engine torque has been reduced slightly.
• Fuel Pressure warning label has been updated to Fuel Level warning.
• Fixed an issue where the fuel hood cover would not be present at some tracks unless the car had taken damage.
• iRacing setups have been updated.

TRACKS:

Charlotte Motor Speedway

• Fixed an issue where the caution lights were not using the proper lightmap settings.

Chicago Street Course

• Track logo has been updated to the latest version from NASCAR.
• A variety of signs have been updated to match the current real-world track.