The online racing simulator
iRacing
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Looks like iRacing is dropping the prices on content.

If this brings in more memebers, I'm all for it. Kind of sucks for people who paid the higher prices for everything, but whatever. Happens with pretty much everything when you want to be the first one to have it. They still haven't posted the full details but its supposedly coming some time today.
Quote from UncleBenny :Looks like iRacing is dropping the prices on content.

If this brings in more memebers, I'm all for it. Kind of sucks for people who paid the higher prices for everything, but whatever. Happens with pretty much everything when you want to be the first one to have it. They still haven't posted the full details but its supposedly coming some time today.

that's cool... where did you see that?
Quote from UncleBenny :And I think if you go to the tracks/cars screen stuff is cheaper now. I'm at 100% so I can't check it to confirm.

Checked, it really is cheaper now... Everything is either $11.95 or $14.95...

Membership went down as well, it seems they dropped the iRacing Dollar-bonus in exchange though...
Quote from bbman :Checked, it really is cheaper now... Everything is either $11.95 or $14.95...

Membership went down as well, it seems they dropped the iRacing Dollar-bonus in exchange though...

Yeah, memebership didn't really go down at all I don't think. They just subtracted off the amount you would have gotten in iRacing dollars. Makes sense though, I think people would rather just pay $99 for a year and then buy what they want, than have to pay $159 and get $60 free credits they may or may not need.
This is awesome news! It can only mean a brighter future for iRacing.
Full press release for outsiders:

Quote :iRacing Announces Added Features, Lower Prices: Private Hosted Racing & Race Participation Program Introduced; Annual Subscription Cost Cut 37%; New Public Site Unveiled

BEDFORD, MA (October 15, 2009) – Members of iRacing.com’s popular motorsport simulation service will now enjoy additional features as well as lower subscription and content prices. The new pricing structure, which decreases the cost of an annual membership by 37%, goes into effect immediately. The new features, including private-hosted sessions and a program that awards credits for regular race participation, commence with the November 3rd start of iRacing’s 2009 - Season 4.

The announcement was made by Tony Gardner, iRacing’s president, who said the increased value for members was made possible by the service’s remarkable growth since membership was opened to the general public in August, 2008. Gardner also announced a brand new version of iRacing’s public Web site (www.iracing.com) designed to introduce prospective members to the inexpensive fun of online racing with authentic virtual versions of popular race cars and tracks.

“More than 15,000 people have joined iRacing.com since we fully opened our doors 15 months ago,” Gardner said. “Because our membership has grown rapidly, we are able to both lower prices and increase features. We anticipate that by adding value, we’ll increase the enjoyment of our current members and bring even more new members into our community.

“We are committed to making iRacing a thrilling experience for current and new members. The larger the membership, the better the racing will be for everyone. We believe that lowering our prices will open the doors to whole new segments of the racing community.”

Lower Prices

iRacing.com offers a variety of subscriptions, ranging from month-by-month to a new two-year plan that reduces the monthly cost of membership to less than $7.50. Additional content is also available beyond the three cars and seven tracks that come with every subscription. In each case, the new price is lower than its predecessor. A summary of the price reductions:


Term & Old Price:
1 month, was $ 19.00
Term, New Price, Reduction, New Monthly:
1 month, $ 14.00, -26%, $ 14.00

3 month, was $ 50.00
3 month, $ 36.00, -28%, $ 12.00

6 month was $ 90.00
6 month, $ 60.00, -33%, $ 10.00

1 Year, $ 156.00
1 Year, $ 99.00, -37%, $ 8.25

New Term, Price, Monthly:
2 Year, $ 179.00, $ 7.46


Cars were $15.00, now $ 11.95. -20%
Long Tracks were $20.00 or $25.00, now $14.95. -25% or -40%
Short Tracks were $15.00, now $11.95. -20%


Members who have recently purchased additional content are protected by a pair of price-guarantee programs. Any member who has bought content (cars and tracks) within the 30 days preceding the new pricing will receive within 14 days via e-mail a code for iRacing credit for the full amount of the difference between the old and new prices. Similarly, members who have purchased content between 31 and 90 days from the onset of the new pricing will receive a credit for 50% of the difference between the old and the new prices.

Racing Participation Program

Finally, the new Race Participation Program, an earned credit of up to $40.00 per year ($10.00 per 12-week season) will be available to all iRacing members regardless of subscription type, replaces the previous subscription purchase incentive program. Existing quantity purchase discounts of up to an additional 25% remain in effect.

“We want to encourage our members to race more frequently, and we’re going to reward them for doing so,” Gardner said in making the announcement. “Really, it’s a win-win deal for our members. People enjoy racing against other drivers, and bigger fields just add to the fun and make the racing better. Someone who takes full advantage of the ‘Credit for Race Participation Program’ will earn $40 per year.”

The details of the “Credit for Race Participation Program” are as follows:

• To qualify for iRacing credits a driver must participate in eight different race weeks in the course of a normal 12-week season in an individual official iRacing series. (Only Race Sessions in Official Series Count; sessions in Pro and Rookie series do NOT count, nor do sessions in Week 13.)

• For the purpose of the “Credit for Race Participation Program” a driver satisfies the participation requirement by scoring championship points in his or her race session, and completing at least 50% of the number of laps completed by the class winner. Races with an odd number of laps will be truncated. e.g. If the winner of an individual’s car class completes 17 laps other members of that class need to complete only eight rather than nine laps.

• In the case of a race with no finishers, the race will still count as an official session for the purposes of this program. Drivers who complete 50% of the laps completed by the driver in that class who has completed the highest number of laps will receive participation credit.

• For the purposes of this program a driver may participate at any series for which he or she is eligible. (e.g. A driver holding an A license may participate in B, C, or D level races.)

• Payouts are $4.00 iRacing credit per official C or D level series and $7.00 iRacing credit per official A or B level series. Maximum credit per season is $10.00.

• iRacing Credits earned under this program will be calculated during Week 13 of that season. A promotion code will be generated for the proper amount of credit for each member and then e-mailed to the member prior to the start of next season.

“By both reducing and restructuring our prices, we’re encouraging our members to have more fun by racing more frequently, with more cars on more tracks, thereby increasing the value of their memberships,” Gardner said.

Hosted Private Sessions


As a new option in addition to the official weekly schedules of more than 15 regular rookie, regular and pro series, iRacing will now offer its members hosted private sessions.

For a single $3.00 hosting fee any iRacing member may organize a private race, using a variety of cars and tracks in the iRacing inventory, which is open to any other iRacing members, without additional charge and regardless of their license level.

At the option of the organizer these race and/or test sessions may be open to any iRacing member or made private through use of a password issued to a group of members of the organizer’s choosing. While the race organizer may maintain a point structure for a series of these events, a member’s official iRating and Safety Rating are not affected by the results of any hosted private session.

Gardner noted that the creation of hosted private sessions opened the service up to a large group of online racers who preferred racing in a private-league format.

“A lot of sim racers have organized their own leagues – groups of friends who like to race together,” Gardner said. “Our existing structure organizes races basically according to skill level, which is what our current members want. From the start we planned to eventually add private racing to the mix. We believe that the private league racers will join the service to take advantage of this new functionality, but will also try out our structured racing, like it, and add that to their schedules.”

New Web Site

With the advent of each new 12-week season iRacing.com updates its Members Web site with new features and functionality, the place where iRacers go to race, socialize and keep up with all things iRacing. For prospective members who want to learn more about the iRacing service and community, an all-new version of the company’s Public Web site has been launched today. Reflecting what’s been learned in the 15 months since the service opened to the public, the new site provides a clearer and more complete introduction to the fun of iRacing and affords an easy way to become a member.

I like the participation plan the most. Getting $10 a season for competing in a couple series is a great idea. They do need to increase the number of people racing so I think this will help.
Man, those freaking whores are trying to suck me back in!
Quote from PMD9409 :Man, those freaking whores are trying to suck me back in!

you love it!
At those prices even I'm tempted to sign up again.
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(UncleBenny) DELETED by UncleBenny
the money off nascar must have helped them with this decission

btw did you see tims post asking for someone to wreck him? i wonder who was the lucky sod who did it to help and now finds they're on display in the nascar hall of fame.
This is great news.
Quote from StableX :you love it!

Can't really deny that, as I am a sucker for cheaper prices.

I'm still sub'd until May/June (haven't opened it in 2 months though), depending how much money I have (college is stealing it!) and how good those private leagues are will determine whether I go any further with them.

I got all excited about the Pro series, and then when it started they updated the cars by "dumbing them down" for closer racing (IMO). Killed me inside. Got a couple podium finishes, but cars were too simple to drive, so I just stopped racing.
Very good news indeed. With the dollar getting weaker by the minute this is looking more and more affordable. With the $40 rebate (which should be within reach for most) it's actually only $59 per year (plus cars/tracks of course). That's not bad at all!
And the new schedule is out. Corvette is on there for the full season, guess that means its going to be ready for the new build. I'm pretty pumped about that.
Indy Car and Mosport are on there too, very excited.
Only car with Homestead RC A is Corvette makes me a bit sad.

But next season is gearing up to be a good one
Got to say I am really looking forward to the Corvette.

And lets hope with the new pricing structure we get a load more people joining up, although somehow i'm not so sure unfortunately. I really think those that are likely to try and stick with iRacing will have already done so, from the sim racing world anyway. Maybe more non-simming motor sports fanatics will come.

I also think that there is a problem that stops younger members from joining is that you need a credit card/paypal account. Mind you listening to some old codgers on the iRacing forums you don't get any respect until your over bleedin 40 anyway

AJ , you up for a Radical battle next season? I'm going to run the DP, Radical and trucks full time and try and compete in whatever league i'm put in. Mind you no doubt I'll have to squeeze in the Corvette as well.

What are you guys planning on running next season?

Oh and Moose get yer candy butt back in there! and you PMD. StableX has cookies for everyone that rejoins!
Alien supposedly the price break came from the growth of the service, not because of a need of new members. It is definitely much less intimidating on the content side. The subscription is the same price unless you do the participation bonus thing...which people who like the service are probably achieving already. I am actually glad I reupped for my year a couple months ago. I like having the iracing credits in the account.

I am pumped to see the corvette on a full schedule. I guess that means they are planning for a release on build day. Tim said earlier this morning that it was undecided and may come out after the build.

The only thing I'm not liking is all the alternating days. I don't really like to see that...I don't think having two upper division classes running concurrently really affects each other. For the most part you're going to see people focus on one or the other.

I have a feeling I am going to spend most of my time with the corvette. I am definitely going to buy the indy car, but I'm not anticipating it to be much fun to drive. Somewhat sterile tbh. Like a faster mazda but not any more exciting to drive. I may be wrong, but super fast open wheelers aren't always fun to drive in other sims.

After watching the most recent Bathurst 1000 I think I'm wanting the v8 supercar the most

I can't wait to hear the corvette roar though....its going to roar right iracing
Quote from Gnomie :With the $40 rebate (which should be within reach for most) it's actually only $59 per year (plus cars/tracks of course). That's not bad at all!

What's this rebate you're talking about?
Quote from NightShift :What's this rebate you're talking about?

As previously posted.

Quote : Racing Participation Program

Finally, the new Race Participation Program, an earned credit of up to $40.00 per year ($10.00 per 12-week season) will be available to all iRacing members regardless of subscription type, replaces the previous subscription purchase incentive program. Existing quantity purchase discounts of up to an additional 25% remain in effect.

“We want to encourage our members to race more frequently, and we’re going to reward them for doing so,” Gardner said in making the announcement. “Really, it’s a win-win deal for our members. People enjoy racing against other drivers, and bigger fields just add to the fun and make the racing better. Someone who takes full advantage of the ‘Credit for Race Participation Program’ will earn $40 per year.”

The details of the “Credit for Race Participation Program” are as follows:

• To qualify for iRacing credits a driver must participate in eight different race weeks in the course of a normal 12-week season in an individual official iRacing series. (Only Race Sessions in Official Series Count; sessions in Pro and Rookie series do NOT count, nor do sessions in Week 13.)

• For the purpose of the “Credit for Race Participation Program” a driver satisfies the participation requirement by scoring championship points in his or her race session, and completing at least 50% of the number of laps completed by the class winner. Races with an odd number of laps will be truncated. e.g. If the winner of an individual’s car class completes 17 laps other members of that class need to complete only eight rather than nine laps.

• In the case of a race with no finishers, the race will still count as an official session for the purposes of this program. Drivers who complete 50% of the laps completed by the driver in that class who has completed the highest number of laps will receive participation credit.

• For the purposes of this program a driver may participate at any series for which he or she is eligible. (e.g. A driver holding an A license may participate in B, C, or D level races.)

• Payouts are $4.00 iRacing credit per official C or D level series and $7.00 iRacing credit per official A or B level series. Maximum credit per season is $10.00.

• iRacing Credits earned under this program will be calculated during Week 13 of that season. A promotion code will be generated for the proper amount of credit for each member and then e-mailed to the member prior to the start of next season.

“By both reducing and restructuring our prices, we’re encouraging our members to have more fun by racing more frequently, with more cars on more tracks, thereby increasing the value of their memberships,” Gardner said.

do you guys know when is the next update with new car/track going to be?
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iRacing
(13603 posts, closed, started )
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