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How Do I Record Races in Iracing

This answers how do i record races in iRacing: step-by-step fixes to capture, save and export replays and video. For iRacing drivers who want quick clean recordings.

If you need to know how do i record races in iracing, the short answer is: save the iRacing replay for analysis, and/or record live or replay playback with a recorder (OBS or NVIDIA ShadowPlay) to get a video file. You’re in the right place to fix this fast.

Quick Answer: how do i record races in iracing

iRacing itself records session data (replays). After a session save the replay file (for telemetry and playback) and use screen recording software (OBS, GeForce Experience) to capture video live or while playing back the replay for export to MP4.

What’s really going on

iRacing saves “replay” files that store game state (cars, positions, telemetry) — not MP4 video. Those files let you scrub around and create camera shots inside iRacing. If you want shareable video, you must either:

Export a movie from inside the sim (less common), or
Record your screen while playing live or while playing back a saved replay using external software (OBS, ShadowPlay). This gives you an MP4 you can edit and upload.

You might be confused because saving a replay doesn’t automatically create a video file. That’s by design to keep file size small and let you create videos later.

Step-by-step fix

Save the replay after the session: On the results or session screen click the “Save Replay” (or “Save”) button before leaving the session. If you quit without saving, the replay may be lost.
Find the replay file: Look in C:\Users<yourname>\Documents\iRacing\replays\ for the saved .rpy files. Back them up if you need to preserve them.
Choose recording method:
- Quick live video: Use OBS or NVIDIA ShadowPlay while racing to record an MP4 directly. Set “Game Capture” (OBS) or ShadowPlay to record iRacing.
- Polished replay video: Load the saved replay in iRacing (Main Menu → Replays → select file) and play it. Use OBS/ShadowPlay to record the playback for smoother camera control and editing.
Basic OBS settings (fast): Use Game Capture, 1920x1080, 60 FPS, encoder = NVENC (if available), bitrate 15,000–25,000 kbps, recording format MP4 or MKV. Test a short clip first.
Export or edit: Once recorded, edit in your software (Shotcut, DaVinci Resolve) and export to MP4 for uploading.

Extra Tips / Checklist

Always save the replay first — that’s your fall-back for making videos later.
If you want in-sim camera control, use the replay playback and the camera hotkeys for smooth shots.
If live recording impacts performance, reduce OBS encoder load (use NVENC) or lower in-game graphics while recording.
Keep an eye on disk space—high-bitrate recordings fill drives fast.
If replays aren’t saving, check folder permissions for Documents\iRacing\replays and run iRacing as your normal user (not restricted).

FAQs

Q: Where are iRacing replays stored? A: Replays are stored in Documents\iRacing\replays\ as .rpy files (Windows). Back them up before deleting.

Q: Can iRacing export MP4 directly? A: iRacing’s internal movie export is limited. The reliable method is recording playback with OBS or ShadowPlay to produce MP4 files.

Q: Will recording hurt my FPS or SR (safety rating)? A: Recording can reduce FPS if CPU/GPU is overloaded. Use hardware encoders (NVENC/AMD) to minimize performance impact. Recording itself does not affect SR (safety rating) but poor FPS can hurt your race quality.

Q: I saved the replay but it won’t show in Replays — what now? A: Check the replays folder for the file. If present but not listed, restart iRacing. Ensure file permissions allow reading and that the file isn’t corrupted.

Wrap-Up

Save your replay first, then decide if you want a quick live MP4 (use OBS/ShadowPlay) or a polished video recorded from replay playback. Try one short test recording next session to confirm settings before doing a full race.