Skip Barber launches sim racing competition with real-world racing prize

• Skip Barber Formula iRacing Series offers a real-world racing prize
• Entrants eligible for $200 Skip Barber Racing School credit

Skip Barber Racing School has teamed up with iRacing to launch the Skip Barber Formula iRacing Series, a six-round esports competition.

And the best part is, the overall winner earns a fully funded drive in the 2027 Skip Barber Formula Race Series.

Skip Barber Racing School is perhaps America’s most famous racecar driving tuition programme, with venues located at Lime Rock Park, Sebring International Raceway, Laguna Seca, Virginia International Raceway, Road Atlanta, COTA and New Jersey Motorsports Park.

Skip Barber has helped launch the careers of many professional racing drivers, with alumni including IndyCar stars Juan-Pablo Montoya, Josef Newgarden and Kyle Kirkwood.

Rules and calendar

The Skip Barber Formula iRacing Series will see separate qualifiers for each of the six rounds using the sim’s Time Attack mode and the FIA F4 car, with the top 20 going on to compete for championship points in the ensuing race.

After six rounds, the top three will go into a real-world shootout competition at Virginia International Raceway, where a champion will receive the prize drive.

To enter, competitors must pay $50 for each qualifier (a $250 Full Season Pass is also available) and be eligible to participate (see conditions below).

Despite the hefty entry fee, all full-season entrants are eligible for a $200 Skip Barber Racing School credit, which could kick-start a future racing career. The full list of prizes, which Skip Barber states is worth over $500k, is listed below.

“iRacing has been a cornerstone of our driver development philosophy for years, and the Skip Barber Formula iRacing Series is the natural extension of that,” explained Skip Barber Racing School Chief Marketing Officer Joe Monitto.

“We know that the drivers who compete on simulators have the skillset required to compete in the real-world. Now we’re giving the best sim racers in the world a chance to take those skills and compete on an actual circuit, in an actual race car,” he concluded.

2025 winner Ivan Machado Perez proves Monitto’s point perfectly, as he went on to dominate the Skip Barber Race Series with 10 race victories. 2026’s victor will be aiming for the same.

Skip Barber Formula iRacing Series calendar

• Week 1 – Lime Rock Park (Chicanes)
  • Qualifier: Fri, May 1 – Sun, May 3 (12:00AM–11:59PM ET)
  • Race: Thu, May 7 at 7:00PM ET
• Week 2 – WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
  • Qualifier: Fri, May 15 – Sun, May 17 (12:00AM–11:59PM ET)
  • Race: Thu, May 21 at 7:00PM ET
• Week 3 – Virginia International Raceway (Full Course)
  • Qualifier: Fri, May 29 – Sun, May 31 (12:00AM–11:59PM ET)
  • Race: Thu, June 4 at 7:00PM ET
• Week 4 – Sonoma Raceway (Cup Long)
  • Qualifier: Fri, June 12 – Sun, June 14 (12:00AM–11:59PM ET)
  • Race: Thu, June 18 at 7:00PM ET
• Week 5 – Richmond (Oval)
  • Qualifier: Fri, June 26 – Sun, June 28 (12:00AM–11:59PM ET)
  • Race: Thu, July 2 at 7:00PM ET
• Week 6 – Circuit of The Americas (Grand Prix)
  • Qualifier: Fri, July 10 – Sun, July 12 (12:00AM–11:59PM ET)
  • Race: Thu, July 16 at 7:00PM ET

Hot Lap Qualifier Entry & Participation Requirements

To participate, drivers must:

• Be an iRacing member with the required car and track content
• Pay $50 per week to enter each Hot Lap Qualifier
• Or purchase a Full Season Pass for $250 (includes all six Hot Lap Qualifier events)

To be eligible for the grand prize, drivers must also:

• Be at least 14 years old by the start of the 2027 Skip Barber Formula Race Series
• Be eligible for a USAC racing license

Prizes

• All entrants: $200 Skip Barber Racing School credit (one-time)
• Hard Charger (each week): 1-Day Racing School
• Top 5 overall: Racing school packages and entry into the SBRS Formula Car Shootout
• Top 3 overall: Entry to the Shootout at VIR for a chance to earn a full-season Skip Barber Formula Race Series seat

Communication and Official Rules

• All official announcements, event updates, competitor support, and the official competition rules are hosted exclusively on the Skip Barber Formula iRacing Series Discord server.
• Joining the Discord server is mandatory for all competitors. It is the central hub for race-day communication, rules updates, coaching opportunities, and direct access to Series staff.
• All participants are responsible for staying current with the rules and information provided via Discord.