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

How to Reduce Latency in Iracing

Stuck on how to reduce latency in iRacing? This practical guide for iRacing drivers shows fast network and input-lag fixes so you can stabilize ping and race clean.

If you’re searching how to reduce latency in iracing, here’s the short answer: use a wired connection, pick the closest servers, and cut background traffic. For steering/brake delay, push higher FPS, disable V‑Sync, and use low‑latency GPU settings. You’re in the right place—let’s fix this fast.

Quick Answer: how to reduce latency in iracing

Lower ping by going wired (Ethernet), avoiding VPNs, and joining sessions on nearby servers. Reduce input lag by running high FPS on a high‑refresh monitor, disabling V‑Sync, and enabling your GPU’s low‑latency mode. Close bandwidth hogs and keep drivers updated.

What’s Really Going On

“Latency” in iRacing shows up in two ways:

Network latency (ping/jitter/packet loss): cars blink, warp, or you get “L/Q” bars warning. Caused by Wi‑Fi, busy home networks, or distant servers.
Input/display latency (what you feel at the wheel): a slight delay from your inputs to what you see. Caused by low FPS, V‑Sync, or heavy graphics settings.

Fix both to get stable racing and a connected car feel.

Step-by-Step Fix

Go wired and clean the network
Use an Ethernet cable. If you must use Wi‑Fi, use 5 GHz and sit close to the router. Disable VPNs and proxies.
Kill background traffic
Pause cloud sync (OneDrive/Dropbox), game launchers, Windows updates, and streaming on other devices during races. Turn off downloads on consoles/TVs.
Prefer nearby servers
Join sessions hosted in your region when possible. In hosted races, choose a server close to you. If a session shows high ping, pick another slot or region.
Tame your router (bufferbloat)
Enable QoS/Smart Queue on your router and set upload/download limits to about 85–90% of your real speeds. Prioritize your gaming PC’s MAC address.
Match iRacing’s network setting to your line
In Options > Network, set the connection/bandwidth option close to your real upload speed (with a little headroom). Don’t overstate it.
Cut input/display lag

Monitor: 120–240 Hz if possible.
Graphics: Fullscreen, V‑Sync off, frame cap just below refresh (e.g., 143 on 144 Hz).
GPU driver: enable Low Latency Mode (NVIDIA) or Anti‑Lag (AMD).
Lower heavy settings (shadows, reflections) to keep FPS consistently above refresh.

USB and wheel basics
Plug wheel/pedals directly into the PC (avoid unpowered hubs). Disable USB power saving in Device Manager to prevent sleep/lag spikes.

Extra Tips / Checklist

Test your line: run a bufferbloat test (e.g., waveform.com) and fix with router QoS if scores are bad.
Update NIC and GPU drivers; keep Windows Game Mode on.
If Wi‑Fi only: lock your channel, use WPA2/WPA3, and keep the router away from microwaves/cordless phones.
Watch iRacing’s L/Q/S bars; consistent yellow/red means network issues—retry a different session or time of day.
Avoid running telemetry streams to multiple apps at once on weak connections.

FAQs

What is a good ping for iRacing?
Under 60 ms is great; 60–120 ms is usually fine. More important: low jitter and zero packet loss.
Will a VPN lower my ping in iRacing?
Almost never. It usually adds latency. Only keep it on if your ISP routes are truly broken—and test both ways.
Does higher FPS reduce latency?
Yes, for input/display latency. Higher, stable FPS with V‑Sync off reduces the delay you feel at the wheel.
Can iRacing servers be the problem?
Sometimes. If many drivers see spikes, switch to another session/region or try again later. Check iRacing’s service status if issues persist.

Short Wrap-Up

Latency comes from your network and your PC’s display path. Go wired, trim background traffic, use nearby servers, and tune FPS/low‑latency settings. Do a short test session after each change so you can see what actually helps before race time.