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How to Find Lap Time Deltas in Iracing

Answering how to find lap time deltas in iRacing: see where deltas appear on the HUD and timing screen, toggle the right display, and fix missing deltas fast.

If you’re asking “how to find lap time deltas in iracing,” the short answer: the delta is shown on your in-car HUD and in the timing/splits screen — enable the delta display or open Timing to compare your lap to a reference (session best, personal best, or leader). This guide walks you through what the delta is and quick steps to get it visible.

Quick Answer — how to find lap time deltas in iracing

The delta is the live difference between your current lap/sector and a chosen reference (green = faster, red = slower). Look at the small time next to your lap time on the HUD, or open the Timing/Splits window in the sim. If it’s not visible, enable the lap-delta or reset your HUD.

What’s really going on

A lap time delta is a simple comparison number: how much faster or slower you are compared to a reference lap. iRacing calculates it every time you cross a split or complete a lap. It’s used to judge whether your current lap is improving or regressing. If you don’t see it, either the HUD element is turned off, you have a different reference selected, or a custom UI is hiding it.

Step-by-step fix

Start a session and complete a lap so there’s something to compare against. The delta won’t appear until you have a reference lap (your best or session best).
Look at your on-screen HUD near the lap time or sector readouts — a small +/‑ number (red/green) is the delta. Green means you’re ahead of the reference; red means you’re behind.
If nothing shows, open the in-sim menu and go to the HUD / On-Screen Display settings. Turn on “Lap Delta”, “Split Delta”, or similar display items. Save and return to track.
If you can’t find the setting, open the Timing/Splits panel (the in-sim timing window). That view shows sector-by-sector times and a delta column you can use to compare against session best or leader.
Still blank? Reset your UI/HUD to default in Options, then re-enable the delta display. That clears custom overlays that might hide it.
Want a different comparison (personal best vs session best vs leader)? In the Timing/Splits window or HUD settings choose the reference type. The delta will then compare to your chosen reference.

Extra tips / checklist

Make one flying lap first — without a reference lap the delta won’t show.
Green = faster, Red = slower. Ignore small fluctuations inside a corner — focus on end-of-sector deltas.
If HUD buttons are confusing, use the Timing/Splits panel; it’s explicit and shows sector deltas in a table.
Third-party dashboards (Z1, CrewChief, etc.) can show clearer, customizable deltas if you prefer external overlays.
If deltas jump wildly, check that you’re comparing the same lap type (same fuel/track conditions) — iRacing compares raw times, not adjusted for fuel or damage.

FAQs — how to find lap time deltas in iracing

Q: Why don’t I see any delta on the HUD?
A: Either no reference lap exists yet, or the HUD delta element is disabled or hidden. Create a lap then enable the lap/split delta in HUD or open Timing.

Q: What reference does the delta use?
A: You can switch references (session best, personal best, leader) in the timing/splits view or HUD settings. Pick the one you want to compare to.

Q: The delta shows but it’s wrong — what now?
A: Reset HUD to defaults and re-enable the delta. Also confirm you’re comparing to the right session (practice vs qualifying vs race).

Q: Can I see sector deltas, not just whole-lap?
A: Yes — use the Splits/Timing panel or enable split/delta display on the HUD to get sector-by-sector comparisons.

Quick wrap-up

The delta is a simple, powerful tool: enable the HUD delta or open the Timing/Splits panel, run one reference lap, and you’ll immediately see where you’re gaining or losing time. Next session, focus on green sector deltas to shave tenths off your lap.