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

How to Make a Racing Line in Iracing

This guide explains how to make a racing line in iRacing. Clear steps for drivers to fix bad lines fast, understand apexes, and practice a consistent, faster path.

If you want to know how to make a racing line in iracing, the short answer is: pick smooth entry and exit points, aim for the correct apex, and practice consistent braking and throttle. You’re in the right place — below are plain steps you can use inside the sim to build a real, repeatable line.

Quick Answer: how to make a racing line in iracing

A racing line is simply the fastest, most stable path through a corner. To make one in iRacing: slow enough to hit a consistent braking point, turn in to clip the apex (the inside point of the corner), and unwind the steering with progressive throttle to the exit. Repeat until it’s consistent.

What’s really going on

iRacing shows you the track and car behavior, but it won’t draw a perfect line for you. A good line balances speed vs grip: enter wide, clip the apex, exit wide to carry speed. If your car understeers or oversteers, your path shifts. Practicing the same points reduces lap time variance and improves consistency — which improves your safety rating (SR) and race results.

Key terms:

• Apex: the inside point of the corner you aim to clip.
• Braking point: where you start slowing down for the corner.

Step-by-step fix (do this inside iRacing)

1. Start a practice session at slow speed: use low fuel and default setup or a novice-friendly setup. Focus on learning the corner shape.
2. Pick a visible braking marker (a board, shadow, or road marking) and brake steadily to a speed that lets you turn without fighting the wheel. Note this point.
3. Turn in towards the inside and target a single apex — aim to just touch the curb or inner road at the middle of the corner. Don’t over-rotate.
4. From the apex, gradually roll on the throttle while unwinding the steering. Let the car drift to the outside of the track on exit. Smooth throttle wins over aggressive.
5. Use iRacing’s replay or onboard camera to review your laps. Look for inconsistent braking, early/late apex, or steering corrections and fix one at a time.
6. Repeat laps and move up speed incrementally only when your line is reliable for several consecutive laps.

Extra tips / checklist

• Use a low-traffic practice session to avoid interruptions.
• Mark three visual points: brake, turn-in, and apex. Make them repeatable.
• If you understeer, brake a touch earlier or reduce entry speed; if oversteer, ease throttle or tighten the exit line.
• Warm up tires for 3–5 laps — cold tires make the line feel different.
• Record one consistent lap and compare new laps to it in the replay tool.

FAQs

Q: Can iRacing draw a ghost racing line for me?
A: No built-in ghost line exists. Use replays and your own visual markers to build a repeatable path.

Q: How do I find the apex on unfamiliar tracks?
A: Slow reconnaissance laps. Look for the inside curb or a consistent visual cue where you can clip the car’s nose.

Q: How many laps to make a line stick?
A: You should see consistency in 10–20 focused laps; muscle memory and confidence improve after several practice sessions.

Q: Will a perfect line always be the fastest in traffic?
A: No — adapt for other cars. The fastest solo line may need to be altered to defend or overtake.

Wrap-up

Making a racing line in iRacing is about repeatable choices: braking point, turn-in, apex, and throttle out. Practice those four items, review replays, and only increase speed when your line is steady. Next session: pick one corner and nail it for 10 clean laps.