Join the Discord! →

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


How to Find Ghost Laps in Iracing

Quick, clear guide for iRacing drivers on how to find ghost laps in iRacing, view and save ghost replays, and fix missing ghosts — restore hot-lap practice fast.

If you’re searching for how to find ghost laps in iRacing, the short answer is: check the session type, load the replay from the iRacing UI or your Documents\iRacing\replays folder, and enable ghost display in the replay controls. You’re in the right place to get this fixed fast.

Quick Answer: how to find ghost laps in iracing

Ghost laps are stored as replay/ghost data you can load from the iRacing replay system or the replays folder on your PC. In the sim, open Watch → Local Replays (or load the file from Documents\iRacing\replays), pick the session, then enable ghosts or select a lap to “Add as Ghost.”

What’s really going on

“Ghosts” are non-collidable reference cars used for time trials, hot laps, and replays. They’re not live racers — they’re recorded best laps you can drive against. If you can’t see them it’s usually because the session wasn’t a hot-lap/time-trial, the replay wasn’t saved, or the replay/ghost display option is off.

Step-by-step fix

  1. Confirm session type — Ghosts appear in Hot Lap / Time Trial sessions and in replays. If you ran a normal race/practice you may not have a ghost available.
  2. Open the iRacing replay browser — In-sim, go to Watch → Local Replays (or from the launcher choose View Replays). If you prefer the file system, open Documents\iRacing\replays.
  3. Find the right file — Sort by date/time and pick the session that contains your lap. The file name includes car and track info.
  4. Load the replay — Open the replay in iRacing. Use the replay controls to select drivers or laps. Look for an option to “Show Ghosts” or to add a lap as a ghost.
  5. Add or enable the ghost — Select the fastest lap or the driver you want as a reference and choose Add as Ghost / Set as Ghost Lap. The ghost will appear as a non-collidable car during playback or when you rejoin a Hot Lap session.
  6. Save if you want reuse — If you plan to practice against the same ghost later, keep the replay file or export the ghost if the UI offers that option.

Extra tips / checklist

  • If you don’t see Local Replays, check that replay saving is enabled in Options → Gameplay/Replay settings.
  • Replays are in Documents\iRacing\replays; copy those files to back them up.
  • Ghosts won’t appear in live hosted races unless the host enables ghosting (hot-lap style).
  • If a ghost looks like it’s “missing” sectors, the lap may be incomplete or corrupted — try another replay.
  • Use the replay timeline to jump to the exact lap and then add that lap as a ghost.

FAQs

Q: Where are iRacing ghost files stored?
A: Replays are stored in Documents\iRacing\replays. Ghosts are part of those replay files or created in Hot Lap sessions via the UI.

Q: Why can’t I see ghost cars in a replay?
A: Either the session didn’t record a ghost lap, replay saving was off, or the replay’s ghost display option is disabled in the replay controls.

Q: Can I race against someone else’s ghost?
A: Yes — load their replay and add their fastest lap as a ghost, or join a public hot-lap session that offers someone’s ghost.

Q: How do I save a ghost for later?
A: Keep the replay file in Documents\iRacing\replays or export/save the lap using the in-game replay options if available.

Short wrap-up

Ghost laps are just saved replay data you can load and enable. If you can’t find them, confirm the session type, check Documents\iRacing\replays, and use the replay UI to show or add a ghost. Try it next time: load a replay, add the fastest lap as a ghost, and run a controlled hot-lap to learn from it.