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How to Participate in 24 Hour Races in Iracing

Learn how to participate in 24 hour races in iRacing — a calm beginner guide for iRacing beginners. Clear steps, gear tips, and confidence to start — start now.

If you’ve ever opened iRacing, seen a 24-hour event, and felt overwhelmed, you’re not alone. This guide explains how to participate in 24 hour races in iRacing in plain language — no jargon, just the essentials to get you started with confidence.

how to participate in 24 hour races in iracing

Quick answer: Join a hosted endurance event (official or community), confirm your driver stint schedule, set up reliable hardware and voice comms, practise night and pit procedures, and race with consistent pace and clean pit stops. That’s the short path from curious to ready.

Why this matters for beginners

For iRacing beginners and those new to iRacing, 24-hour races feel like a different sport. They combine endurance, teamwork, and consistency rather than pure lap-speed. Many rookies are confused because they expect a single-driver sprint — endurance events require coordination, simple rules, and realistic expectations. Getting this right turns a scary menu item into a fun, social experience.

Simple step-by-step guide

Pick the right event: Start with community-hosted or club 12–24 hour races (less pressure than official endurance series).
Join or form a team: You’ll need teammates to rotate stints. Set roles (driver order, pit lead, relays).
Prepare your gear: Stable internet, reliable wheel/pedals, a headset with mic. Test everything for a continuous session.
Practice the schedule: Run at least one night stint and full pit stop sequence in practice so you know tire and fuel behavior.
Race basics: Stick to consistent lap times, follow blue flags, pit at scheduled windows, and communicate issues quickly.

Common mistakes (and fixes)

Mistake: Skipping night practice. Fix: Do at least one run in darkness so braking points and visibility adjustments are familiar.
Mistake: Ignoring pit procedures. Fix: Rehearse a full pit stop in test sessions (entry, service, exit) until it’s routine.
Mistake: Trying to drive every hour. Fix: Respect rest; fatigue causes mistakes. Use sensible stint lengths (1–2 hours common).

Quick iRacing tips

Use simple setup defaults first: stability > outright grip for long stints.
Set up a motion/stability profile in the wheel for night and heavy fuel.
Log driver times and remaining stint lengths in a shared doc or app.
Keep car fueling strategy simple — avoid over-complicated refuels that cost time.
Practice one full “lap + pit” under race conditions to build muscle memory.

FAQs

Q: Do I need a team to enter a 24-hour race?
A: Most 24-hour races expect multiple drivers, but some hosted events allow solo entries. Teamed events are easier and more common.

Q: How long should my stints be?
A: Typical stints are 45–120 minutes depending on team preference and fatigue. New drivers often start with 45–60 minute stints.

Q: What if my internet drops mid-race?
A: If possible, reconnect quickly and report via team comms. Practice a recovery plan (swap driver early, reset server reconnect). Host rules vary on penalties.

Q: Where can I find events and teammates?
A: Look on iRacing forums, community event listings, and iRacing Discord groups for hosted endurance races and teams.

Final takeaway Start small: pick a friendly hosted 12–24 hour event, join a team, rehearse one night stint and a pit stop, and focus on consistent laps. That single practice session will turn confusion into confidence — then build from there with these iRacing tips.