My wife walked in while I was racing in VR and saw me checking my blind spots. Apparently, watching a grown man frantically turning his head at a blank wall is 'the least attractive thing she has ever seen.'
Come join us in our F1 Fantasy League this year and try to beat us! SRN took home the title last year. Can SRN double up, or will someone else be crowned champion? https://gridrival.onelink.me/dLVy/k39nhjxs or use this code on the Join League screen: XE154T
NEWS FLASH
Inaugural Season 2026: Porsche is launching its first-ever virtual single-make series in North America, bringing the high-octane excitement of the Carrera Cup to the iRacing platform starting this season. The six-race championship features the debut of the Type 992.2 Porsche 911 Cup car, challenging 40 elite drivers from the U.S., Canada, and Mexico to compete with fixed setups for a test of pure driving talent. Qualifying kicks off on February 18 at Road America and Sebring, providing a high-stakes path for sim racers to chase a continent-wide title that mirrors its real-world counterpart.
Apple's F1 takeover: The tech giant is moving F1 coverage from ESPN to Apple TV, and Eddy Cue is promising an upgrade to the viewing experience. Fans can expect uncompressed 4K video and a "single button" feature to track specific teams and data, leveraging every Apple touchpoint from retail stores to the sports app to drive awareness. After the massive success of their F1 movie, Apple plans to treat the 24-race season like 24 individual blockbusters, utilizing unique iPhone camera angles to showcase the brutal G-forces and athleticism of the drivers.
Sim racing's new voice: An Australian commentator is launching an $9.99USD Crew Chief voice pack to fund a transition into professional sim racing broadcasting. This first release includes ongoing name updates for early adopters, with plans for a full explicit expansion if the community shows enough interest. You can catch his unfiltered commentary debut on February 22nd during the SRN Sunday Oval League stream. Find out more by joining our discord community through simracingnation.com.
🏠 In racing, success rarely comes from speed alone—it comes from preparation. Race To Approval applies that same mindset to mortgages, helping Ontario homeowners understand their options, plan ahead, and avoid last-minute surprises. Calm strategy beats chaos, on track and off.
SIM RACING SNIPPETS
North of the border: University of Calgary student Connor Yeroschak is dominating the College iRacing Series, holding a 20-point lead after winning two of the first three races in his sophomore season. Representing Canada in the American-heavy eNASCAR circuit, he is currently chasing a $10k scholarship while racing a Dinos-branded truck in front of 30k viewers.
Retro racing vibes: DJ Yee-J went back to iRacing’s 2008 debut to find that the physics of the past were actually more forgiving and "savable" than the punishing tire models of today. While the original version lacked modern grounded realism, it allowed drivers to slide and smoke tires with zero performance penalty, making for an unrealistically fun experience.
Server crash chaos: RaceRoom is investigating a "critical server failure" that nuked automated splits for the Daytona 2.4-hour Special Event, forcing racers into a single, unstable community server. The dev team issued an apology, promising transparency on the root cause and a replacement event for the frustrated sim racing community.
MOTORSPORTS REPORT
Late to the party: Williams finally debuted its real 2026 challenger at Silverstone, revealing a cooling package and an aggressive front suspension setup that mirrors high-end designs from Aston Martin. Despite the technical gains, the team starts the season behind the eight ball after missing early testing and opting for massive, drag-heavy radiator inlets to survive mid-pack traffic.
Titanic rookie showdown: The 2026 IndyCar Rookie of the Year battle pits F1 veteran Mick Schumacher against Indy NXT standouts Dennis Hauger and Caio Collet in one of the most talent-dense classes in recent memory. While Hauger and Collet bring crucial US-based oval experience, Schumacher is leaning on the technical expertise of Rahal Letterman Lanigan to bridge the gap and master the intensity of American open-wheel racing.
Daytona's harder road: NASCAR has overhauled its Daytona 500 qualifying, locking the two fastest open cars into the field while forcing the remaining non-chartered contenders into a high-stakes, single-transfer shootout in each Duel. Additional rule updates for 2026 include a strict ban on drivers using their hands to redirect airflow during qualifying and a return to "The Chase" championship format, which rewards season-long points consistency over single-race eliminations.
If you enjoy this content and you’re looking to buy some gear. Please check out our list of affiliate links with discounts here: GRID GEEKS DISCOUNTS
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
This week we’ve combined the two with a unique dual feature.
Sim Gaming Expo 2025
The Lifesaver Building Digital Dynasties
Most people spend their 9-to-5 dreaming of a hobby. Jorge Anzaldo spends his saving lives. For over 25 years, the Chicago-based paramedic has navigated high-stakes reality, but when the sirens stop, he’s the architect of a different kind of intensity. After a decade-long run operating the Lionheart Racing Series, Jorge realized the sim community needed something more than just Discord channels and pixelated podiums. They needed a physical home.
Enter the Sim Gaming Expo. Launched in 2025, the event was born from a vision to take the immersive "prodigy" feel of high-end hardware and put it in the hands of the public. Jorge isn't just a founder; he’s a fan who spent years in the virtual trenches, and he’s using that "champion’s mentality" to bridge the gap between niche hobby and mainstream tech phenomenon.
The Playground for High-Torque Junkies
The 2026 edition is headed back to the Schaumburg Renaissance Convention Center from September 18-20, and the vibe is less "trade show" and more "digital IMSA." It’s a multi-disciplinary training ground where the gear is the star. We’re talking:
Active Pedals & High-Torque Bases: The kind of tech that makes you "unlearn" casual gaming and start respecting lateral G-forces.
The "All-Simulation" Umbrella: From flight decks to long-haul trucking, it’s a celebration of everything VR and tech.
Live Competition: Watching top-tier racers hunt for wins with ferocious intensity on a massive stage.
Beyond the Screen
For Jorge, the goal is simple: growth. While he’s currently renovating his office and learning the ropes of OBS to start streaming, his focus remains on the community. The Expo is the "secret sauce" that turns online handles into real-world handshakes. It’s a symbiotic relationship where industry leaders like Heusinkveld and ButtKicker get to meet the enthusiasts who push their hardware to the limit.
Whether you're there for the "show-only" deals or to see if the rumors of new Simucube reveals are true, the event is a masterclass in community building. Jorge created the Expo to bring people together and, quite simply, to make them happy. In a world of digital silos, he’s building a physical bridge.
Find Jorge’s through his social handles below:
Facebook: facebook.com/SimGamingExpo
Instagram: instagram.com/SimGamingExpo
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SRN RECAP AND UNFILTERED THOUGHTS
Bathurst 12 is coming up, rosters will be going together this week
We’re following Outlier on their journey through the Road to Pro Coke Series. Watch for website posts updating them on their journey in the coming weeks.
Audio king crowned: We got our article published this week on the official Pimax website blog. See it [HERE]
🏆Join The Roster: Ready to move from the public lobbies to the broadcast stage? SRN Esports is recruiting competitive drivers to join our official roster. As a team member, you'll get access to free high-tier coaching, priority for sponsored events, and a clear path to grow within a supportive group of racers. Click the link below.
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