IndyCar Thrustmaster iRacing Pro Series Roars Back for 2026 Season

The iRacing platform is bringing back the much-anticipated IndyCar Thrustmaster iRacing Pro Series for the 2026 season. This sim racing competition promises intense action as 33 drivers vie for a share of a substantial $50,000 prize pool over eight thrilling rounds.

Return of Top Sim Racers

The upcoming season will spotlight the top 12 drivers from the 2024 championship, featuring Team Redline’s defending champion, Diogo Pinto. The remaining 21 spots will showcase talent from the INDY NXT Thrustmaster Qualifying Series, with noteworthy appearances like former iRacing World Champion Peter Berryman making their series debut. Drivers will compete on a mix of street, road, and oval circuits from January 8th to February 26th, with fans voting to decide the location of the seventh round.

Broadcast and New Developments

Fans can catch all eight rounds live on iRacing’s social media platforms and the NTT IndyCar Series YouTube channel. IndyCar and iRacing continue to strengthen their partnership, having signed a multi-year licensing agreement in January 2024, which has already led to the return of the popular iRacing Indianapolis 500 Special Event and a new standalone racing title from iRacing Studios set for release in late 2026.

Is Sim Racing Slowing Down?

Since its rapid growth during the COVID-19 pandemic, the sim racing scene has reached a plateau, despite continued investment from significant motorsport stakeholders. In late 2025, the FIA hosted the MENA Esports Championship, the first to operate under its International Sporting Code with an esports framework. Moreover, May saw Porsche open a sim racing facility at its Cologne headquarters for its factory team. The resurgence of IndyCar’s premier esports competition marks a vital development for sim racing, hinting at a revival in interest amid a dwindling number of recent competitions.