Join hundreds of racers just like you! We love to help answer questions and race together.

How to Find Official Races in Iracing

Learn how to find official races in iRacing: a calm, step-by-step guide for iRacing beginners and newbies. Save time, join clean, ranked races confidently today.

If you’ve ever opened iRacing and felt lost between “Practice,” “Hosted,” and “Series,” you’re exactly where many new players start. This short guide explains, in plain language, how to find official races in iRacing and get you into your first proper event with confidence.

Quick Answer: how to find official races in iracing

Official races are the scheduled, ranked events run by iRacing (not user-hosted). In the iRacing client or member site look for the “Official” or “Series/Schedule” area, filter by car/license/region, then register or join the listed session at the posted time. (45 words)

Why this matters for iRacing beginners

Official races affect your safety rating and iRating, match you with drivers at similar skill/licence levels, and are the best way to learn real race craft. New to iRacing? Confusion comes from many session types (practice, test, hosted). Knowing where official races live saves time and keeps your ratings growing.

Simple step-by-step guide

Open the iRacing client or the iRacing Member Site and sign in.
Go to “Series,” “Schedule,” or “Racing” — look for entries labeled “Official” or a Series name (e.g., “Official Series”).
Use filters: choose car/class, track, your license grade, and region/time zone.
Click the event to read details (start time, practice/qualify windows, fixed vs open setup).
Register or join at the specified time. Practice and qualify before the race to avoid last-minute surprises.

Common mistakes (and easy fixes)

Mistake: Joining a “Hosted” session thinking it’s official. Fix: Confirm the word “Official” or check the Series name and whether it’s on the official schedule.
Mistake: Picking a race that requires a higher license. Fix: Check license requirements in the event details before joining.
Mistake: Ignoring time zones. Fix: Convert server time to your local time and arrive early to practice.

Quick pro tips (calm coach-style)

Start with races that match your license and low-power cars — less punishment, more learning.
Look for “fixed setup” races if you want to focus on driving, not setup changes.
Use the in-client filters to sort by server population so you join active events.
Save a short checklist (wheel, tires, fuel) to avoid setup panic.
Join a friendly iRacing Discord or community for race recommendations and help — great for iRacing beginners.

FAQs

Q: Are official races the only way to improve iRating?
A: Official races are what count for iRating and safety rating. Hosted events do not affect those stats.

Q: How do I know which car I’m allowed to drive?
A: The event details show required car(s) and license. If you don’t own the car, you’ll need to purchase it or choose another event.

Q: Can I practice before joining an official race?
A: Yes. Most official races have practice and qualifying sessions listed. Use them to warm up and check your setup.

Q: Where can I find beginner-friendly races?
A: Filter by license level and lower-powered cars; ask in rookie-friendly iRacing Discords or forums for recommended weekly races.

Final takeaways

Finding official races gets easier with a couple of tries: open the Series/Schedule area, filter for “Official,” check license and time, then join with a calm warm-up. Next session: pick one official race that matches your license and arrive 10–15 minutes early to practice. You’ve got this.