I've learnt that 'sending it' into a corner works about 10% of the time. The other 90% of the time is a great way to test the structural integrity of the catch fencing in-game.
NEWS FLASH
LMU V1.No? With Le Mans Ultimate hitting version 1.0: it boasts some of the best Hypercar and GT3 physics out there according to Traxion.gg, making its online racing a go-to for sim enthusiasts. However, they felt the game still feels incomplete, launching without the single-player career or championship modes you'd expect from an official World Endurance Championship title. While new cars and updates are welcome additions, the experience is held back by graphical glitches and a serious need for more single-player substance.
Infinite praise for new Red Bull TP - Incoming Racing Bulls team principal Alan Permane is giving a major nod to Laurent Mekies, who is stepping in to lead the Red Bull F1 team. Permane, a 36-year veteran of Formula 1, considers Mekies "up there with the best," highlighting his skills as a racer and a people person. While Mekies is expected to put his own spin on things at Red Bull, his history with Racing Bulls ensures the close partnership between the two teams will continue smoothly.
Soaking up the sun: It looks like IndyCar is eyeing a trip south of the border, with reports suggesting Mexico City could join the calendar in the back half of the 2026 season. This potential new venue might come at the expense of Iowa Speedway, which saw alarmingly low attendance—just a few thousand fans—at its recent doubleheader weekend. The move has sparked questions about Penske Entertainment's ability to promote its own races, especially as it struggles to fill the stands at a long-standing U.S.
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SIM RACING SNIPPETS
RaceRoom Completely Free: For the next month, sim racing platform RaceRoom is making its entire catalog—over 250 cars and 60 tracks—completely free for all players between July 18th and August 18th. To keep things interesting, they're also running weekly hotlap competitions where the fastest driver can win a Special Summer Pack.
Simucube has unveiled the Valo Evo, its first-ever open-top bullhorn-style wheel, specifically designed for the dedicated open-wheel sim racer. This premium wheel features a leather-wrapped rim for enhanced comfort and control, while retaining the proven technology of their flagship Valo series, including a host of programmable buttons, encoders, and joysticks.
Thermaltake is entering the sim racing scene with its G6 Direct Drive Racing Wheel, a complete bundle powered by a 6Nm direct drive motor for ultra-precise control and lifelike force feedback. The package includes a 13-inch wheel with a quick-release system and a fully adjustable, high-strength steel pedal set, designed to offer a true-to-life racing experience right out of the box. This looks like a solid all-in-one option for those ready to jump into direct drive.
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MOTORSPORTS REPORT
Danny and Alex Podium Finish: After getting shut down on an earlier pass attempt in the GT4 America Challenge Virginia Race, SRN community member Alex Ellis refused to settle for fourth place on the final lap. He sent his Porsche around the outside of the rival BMW in a high-stakes, last-second move that stuck just before the checkered flag waved claiming their first podium finish of the season. Danny topped it off earlier in the weekend with a pole position award too!
A massive 49-car grid is set for the IMSA SportsCar Grand Prix at Road America, featuring all four WeatherTech Championship classes in a packed sprint race. This will be the last time we see this format at the track, as the event switches to a six-hour endurance race in 2026, so expect everyone to be pushing for the win.
In a historic move, NASCAR is taking its racing to the streets of San Diego in 2026 for a first-of-its-kind event on the active Naval Base Coronado. This unique race will replace the Chicago street course for the year and celebrate the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Navy. How will racing on an active military base change the feel of a NASCAR weekend?
Wow: In a terrifying moment at the GT World Challenge in Misano, Georgi Donczew’s Lamborghini Huracan was sent spinning into a wall and immediately burst into a massive fireball, from which he thankfully escaped without injury. Lambo fireball
MEMBER FEATURE
Johnny Avila, The Driver Behind the Setups
Some people just have the drive. Toronto's own Johnny Avila is one of them. By day (and probably most nights), he's a co-owner of Outlier Speed Co. and XPress eSports. If you've been in the sim racing scene for a bit, you've likely seen his name battling it out in some of the toughest lobbies.
So, who is the person behind the wheel?
Avila's not new to the winner's circle; his track record shows a history of consistent performance. He locked down an impressive 2nd place in the overall C Open points back in 2023, laying the groundwork for his reputation as a top contender. He’s built on that success year after year, making it to the second round of the highly competitive Road to Pro Series for three years straight.
It's not just virtual victories, either. He recently participated in a charity sim racing event for Sick Kids, racing alongside fellow SRN members in a real-world setting that he described as "a blast."
When asked about his current goals…
Avila is laser-focused on what's next. It's this quiet confidence and clear objective that seems to propel him forward.
But his ambitions don't stop at his personal race craft. Avila and a few partners recently took the reins of Outlier Speed Co. a setup shop dedicated to one thing: making drivers faster. As Avila puts it, they're looking to "improve it and make it grow."
This isn't just a side hustle; it's a direct extension of his passion. He's even been getting his hands dirty in the real world, competing in more karting events and even trying his hand at dirt oval racing for the first time this year. He’s hooked and plans to do more.
The connection to our group is what makes this special. As we announced in our Discord, we've formalized a partnership with Outlier Speed Co. to give every driver here a direct line to professionally built setups.
🎵 Stop fighting with a bad setup and start battling for the lead… Consider Outlier your new baseline for speed.🎵(don’t worry I made that one up, not Johnny 😂)
Ready to stop guessing and start winning?
Use discount code OSCNEW15 for 15% off all their packages.
Find your next setup here: outlierspeed.co
Think you've got what it takes to build setups with the best? Reach out, and we'll connect you with Johnny.
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SRN RECAP AND UNFILTERED THOUGHTS
Now with the longer break in-between special events, I have put my head down and am back to recruiting members again, tweaking our Grid Geeks game in discord and working on some more projects internally.
We’re looking at bringing an oval league in within the next few months. Leagues are something I’m usually hesitant about managing myself so our main goal is to take the time to line someone up who knows how to properly manage a league and build off of it. That is the reason why it takes a while for us to onboard leagues now since we bring in a league manager and allow them to run under their league name while utilizing the SRN Network.
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