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How to Show Ghost Car in Iracing

Shows how to show ghost car in iRacing for iRacing drivers who can’t see replays or pacers. Clear steps to enable ghost cars in-sim and fix this issue fast in minutes.

If you’re wondering how to show ghost car in iracing, the short answer is: ghosts are enabled from the Replay/Session controls (or in hot‑lap/time‑trial sessions) — open the replay or session menu, turn on “Show Ghosts,” then pick which lap to display. You’re in the right place to fix it now.

Quick Answer — how to show ghost car in iracing

Ghost cars are turned on from the Replay or Session controls. In a hot‑lap/time‑trial session the ghost can be shown automatically. For saved laps or replays open the Replay panel, enable Show Ghosts, then select “My Best,” “Session Best,” or another driver’s lap.

What’s Really Going On

iRacing’s “ghost” is a translucent car used as a pace/reference to compare laps. It’s not a live opponent — it’s a replay of a lap (yours or someone else’s). Ghosts won’t appear in the same way during a live, competitive race (they’re typically for solo sessions or replays). If you can’t see a ghost, it’s usually because you’re in the wrong session type, the replay option is off, or the replay doesn’t include the lap you want.

Step-by-Step Fix

Confirm session type: Switch to a Hot‑Lap, Time Trial, or open a saved replay. Ghosts are available in those modes; they’re not shown as a driving car in live official races.
Open Replay/Session controls: From in‑sim menu, choose “Replay” or “View Replay” (or the session controls). This opens the replay/playback options where ghost controls live.
Enable ghosts: In the Replay panel look for “Show Ghosts” (often an eye/ghost icon or a checkbox). Turn it on.
Pick the lap to show: Select “My Fastest,” “Session Best,” or select a specific driver/lap from the list. The ghost will be drawn on track as a translucent car.
Tweak visibility: If the ghost is hard to see, change its color/opacity in the same panel or increase replay brightness. Save the replay if you want to compare later.
If you still can’t see it: Save and reload the replay, or restart the session. Make sure “Hide Other Cars” or similar filters aren’t enabled.

Extra Tips / Checklist

Ghosts need recorded lap data — make sure you completed the lap before opening the replay.
Use hot‑lap mode for immediate live ghost comparison with your current run.
If you’re spectating someone else’s live run, you may need to load their fastest lap from the Replay menu to see a ghost.
In VR or with some graphics presets ghosts can be faint — increase contrast or pick a bright ghost color.
Save replays of good laps so you can reload and compare later without redoing the session.

FAQs

Q: Can I see a ghost during an official iRacing race?
A: Not as a live car. Official races don’t show a replay ghost while you drive. You can watch the race replay afterward and enable ghosts there.

Q: Why is the ghost not matching my lap position?
A: Ghosts replay saved telemetry. If your ghost appears off, reload the replay or confirm you selected the correct lap (My Best vs. Session Best).

Q: How do I compare my current run to my best lap on track?
A: Use a Hot‑Lap or Practice session. Enable Show Ghosts and select “My Best” to see your fastest lap as a ghost while you drive.

Q: Can I change ghost color or transparency?
A: Yes — use the Replay or Ghost settings in the same panel to pick a clearer color or increase opacity for better visibility.

Short Wrap-Up

Ghost cars are a replay feature — enable them from the Replay/Session controls and pick the lap to display. If it still won’t show, switch to a hot‑lap or save/reload the replay; that fixes most issues quickly.