--- title: "iRacing’s Long-Awaited Career Mode Is Nearly Here and Sounds Really Good" date: "2026-08-28" modified: "2026-08-28" authors: - name: "Adam Ismail" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/adam-ismail" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/iracings-long-awaited-career-mode-is-nearly-here-and-sounds-really-good" categories: - "Culture" - "News" - "Video Games" tags: - "video game" --- # iRacing’s Long-Awaited Career Mode Is Nearly Here and Sounds Really Good ![Screenshot of iRacing from inside a stock car]() *\iRacing\* To date, *[iRacing]()* has primarily been a platform for multiplayer racing. Eventually, the simulator added computer-controlled opponents, and you were always free to hot lap in solitude, but the single-player experience was never really a focus. That's changing, though, with the addition of a career mode to the platform. It's been brewing for some time—*iRacing* says it still needs "a little more time in the oven"—and few details were previously given, until today. *iRacing's* August development update [is lengthy](), diving into everything on the horizon for the simulator, from the upcoming debut of the [Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR-LMH]() and Caterhams, to track updates, performance updates, and quality-of-life UI enhancements. It's all appreciated, but our main focus here is the career mode. As the team describes it, this experience is based around "racing, learning, advancement, objectives, leaderboards, realistic progression paths, and an unprecedented amount of included content." That last point is extremely good to hear, given that the recurring complaint against *iRacing* since its inception is that you pay a monthly or annual fee to use the service—which [isn't cheap](), at $14.75 per month for existing members and $124.50 for the year—and *then* need to buy every car and track on top of it a-la-carte, beyond a limited amount of base content. Career mode will be an exception to that rule though, as "no additional car or track purchases \[are\] required" for it, and "access \[to all content\] is exclusive to this mode and does not transfer to the broader *iRacing* service." ![]() *A screenshot of the career interface. We can see a pre-season testing option, which appears to make it possible to sample a car before committing to a full season. *iRacing** A great start, then. Beyond that, the experience sounds very broad, with seven unique careers (and more to be added down the line) that the developer describes as "a full game's worth of content." These will naturally span many disciplines and steps along the motorsport ladder, so whether you're pursuing sports car or oval racing, there won't be one set path to reach the top of your desired category. Difficulty is adjustable, and rising through the ranks will be based on meeting certain goals, rather than simply winning events—just like in actual racing. That said, this is *iRacing* after all, so there will be consequences to repeatedly coming up short, including the threat of having to start over from scratch if you choke a few too many times. Fair enough; this isn't exactly a game known for being forgiving. Frankly, I'm surprised that race length will even be adjustable, to some extent. *iRacing* adds that when this feature does eventually launch, it won't be complete on day one. Deeper elements, like budget and team management, won't be present, at least not "right out of the gate." Again, that'd be nice, but it's so far outside the realm of what the service has historically been that even simply offering the framework of career progression is a big step, not to mention giving players all the content required to enjoy it out of the gate. ![]() ![]() In terms of an ETA, *iRacing's* Greg Hill wrote in Friday's blog that "We were so close to making this post an official release announcement rather than another progress update." While no specific timeline was given, that statement makes this all sound near-imminent, so the fall seems like a reasonable ballpark for launch. Having recently gotten my sim rig sorted again after years off the track, I'll be ready. *Got a tip? Reach out to tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Adam is a Senior Editor at The Drive, concentrating on curating and developing the site's slate of daily journalism, from initial pitch to final copy edit. When he's not at his desk researching leads and working with writers, he's testing vehicles or reviewing racing games, new and old. He joined The Drive in 2023, following seven years of covering consumer technology and cars. A car lover and gamer since his earliest memories, Adam came to know the automotive world through video games. First it was Daytona USA, Sega Rally, and Ridge Racer; then came Need For Speed, which inspired an encyclopedic knowledge of '90s supercars, and, of course, Gran Turismo. If not for them, he'd assuredly be doing something else right now. Adam is based in the suburbs outside Philly, where there are ample roads for his hot hatch to stretch its legs. In his car, he's probably listening to indie rock, drum and bass, or Yankees baseball. ### Author social links [Bluesky]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()