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How Do I Use Hosted Sessions in Iracing

Struggling with how do i use hosted sessions in iracing? This direct guide for iRacing drivers explains joining vs hosting with clear steps so you can fix it fast.

Short answer: Hosted Sessions let you join or create custom races that don’t affect your Safety Rating (SR) or iRating. Use the Hosted tab in the iRacing UI to join an existing room or build your own with your choice of car, track, rules, and password. If you came here asking “how do i use hosted sessions in iracing,” you’re in the right place.

Quick Answer: how do i use hosted sessions in iracing

Open the iRacing UI, go to Hosted. To join, pick a session you own content for and click Register. To host, click Create a Race, choose car/track and rules (fixed or open setup), set a password if needed, pick a server region, review the hourly cost, and Launch.

What’s Really Going On

Hosted Sessions are private or public custom events. They’re perfect for practicing with friends, testing an iRacing setup, or running league-style races. They do not impact SR (your clean-driving metric) or iRating (your skill-based matchmaking number). You and anyone joining must own the selected car and track. Hosting has a small hourly fee shown on the create screen.

Step-by-Step Fix

To join a hosted session:

  1. Open iRacing UI > Hosted > Join. Filter by car/track or search the session name.
  2. Check content: If you see a lock, you don’t own the car/track. Buy it or pick another session.
  3. Pick a low-ping server (US/EU/AU) if you have a choice. Lower ping = smoother racing.
  4. Click Register. If it’s password-protected, enter the password. Join when the server opens.

To host your own session:

  1. Go to Hosted > Create a Race. Choose the car(s) and track. Everyone must own these.
  2. Set the format: Practice/Qual/Race lengths, laps or minutes, rolling or standing start.
  3. Choose fixed or open setups. Fixed keeps things simple; open allows custom iRacing settings.
  4. Set rules: incident limits, cautions, fast repairs, fuel and tire limits, damage on/off.
  5. Pick server region nearest most drivers for best ping. Add a password if you want it private.
  6. Review the hourly cost and time window, then click Create/Launch. Share the link or tell friends to find it under Hosted > Join.

Extra Tips / Checklist

  • Content check: Verify everyone owns the car and track before you pay to host.
  • Naming: Give the session a clear name (e.g., “GT4 at Road Atlanta — Fixed Set”).
  • Fixed vs open: For mixed-skill groups, fixed setups reduce confusion and iRacing setup headaches.
  • Track state: Start with “Auto” or a modest rubber level; extreme rubber can confuse new drivers.
  • Passwords: Use one to keep randoms out; share it in your Discord or group chat.
  • Admins: Add trusted friends as admins so they can advance sessions or clear black flags if needed.

FAQs

Q: Do hosted sessions affect SR or iRating?
A: No. Hosted sessions don’t change SR or iRating, so they’re ideal for practice and testing.

Q: How much does hosting cost?
A: There’s a small hourly fee shown on the create screen. Check the UI for the current rate before launching.

Q: Do all drivers need to own the content?
A: Yes. Each participant must own the selected car(s) and track to join.

Q: Can I make it private for my team?
A: Yes. Set a password when creating the session, or run it under your league for extra control.

Short Wrap-Up

Hosted Sessions are the fastest way to run custom, no-pressure racing in iRacing. Join via Hosted > Join, or create your own with clear rules, a nearby server, and fixed setups for easy entry. Try a short practice/qual/race sprint tonight to get everyone comfortable.