🦁The Enduring Roar of Watkins Glen

Sim racing isn't just about driving; it's about becoming an amateur IT specialist, a makeshift mechanic, and an expert in convincing your family that it's not just a game.

NEWS FLASH

Nürburgring 24 IRL: This weekend, another wild 24-hour race fired up at Germany's legendary Nürburgring, a treacherous 17.6-mile track famously nicknamed the "Green Hell." A massive field of over 140 cars are battling it out, with top contenders like Porsche, Mercedes-AMG, and Audi slugging it out in the powerful GT3 class. With the track having a history of claiming over 100 drivers, the real winner might just be anyone who survives the weekend.

In 2019, Kunos Simulazioni, the creators of Assetto Corsa, had the opportunity to develop an official, non-exclusive Formula 1 simulation for PC when Codemasters' exclusivity deal was under discussion. While the concept would have leveraged the structure of Assetto Corsa Competizione with advanced physics and laser-scanned circuits, it would have demanded 300% commitment from their team. Ultimately, Kunos decided to focus on expanding and improving Assetto Corsa Competizione, as the team felt it hadn't reached its full potential, and the massive implications of an F1 project could have overwhelmed their studio.

The 2025 Le Mans 24 Hours, while not a classic multi-manufacturer battle, saw unexpected dominance from Ferrari. However, the #83 AF Corse crew, particularly Robert Kubica with his "astonishing" and "legendary" drive, and the relentless #6 Penske Porsche, transformed the race from a potential Ferrari 1-2-3 into a gripping contest. Kubica's exceptional performance, completing 43% of the winning car's race laps despite past physical limitations, truly made this a memorable win.

Spire Motorsports driver Carson Hocevar is in the hot seat after calling Mexico City a "shithole" during a Twitch stream prior to this past weekend's race. His team, Spire Motorsports, swiftly responded by fining him $50,000, which will be donated to organizations serving Mexican communities, and requiring him to undergo cultural-sensitivity training. Hocevar has since issued a public apology, admitting he was embarrassed by his comments and that his opinion changed after experiencing the city and its passionate fans firsthand.

SIM RACING SNIPPETS

• For the first time ever, Fanatec is launching a Certified Refurbished program, offering a more affordable way to acquire their high-performance gear. This move benefits both your wallet and the environment, as every fully tested and restored product comes with a 2-year warranty, helping to reduce waste. Since Corsair took over Fanatec, they’ve really been stepping up their game lately!

• Oasis, the native SteamVR driver and former internal code name for Windows Mixed Reality at Microsoft, will launch in Fall 2025, offering full 6DoF tracking and motion controller support without needing the Mixed Reality Portal. Due to ongoing NDAs, reverse-engineering complexities, and the developer's experience with the practical challenges of open-sourcing in XR modding, Oasis will not be open source.

• Le Mans Ultimate is set to exit early access on July 22nd, bringing two free new cars, the Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR-LMH and Mercedes-AMG LMGT3, along with significant driving experience updates and 2025 WEC liveries. Looking ahead, the game will expand with European Le Mans Series content, including new tracks and the LMP3 category, while a comprehensive single-player career mode with sponsors, driver ratings, and a driver market is targeted for Q1 2026.

MOTORSPORTS REPORT

• The FIA World Endurance Championship has extended its successful Hypercar regulations until the end of 2032, providing long-term stability for the class and encouraging continued manufacturer involvement. This extension builds on the Hypercar platform's growth from three manufacturers in 2021 to eight in the current season, with at least three more set to join by 2027.

• For the upcoming film ‘F1,’ stars Brad Pitt and Damson Idris took method acting to the extreme, driving a reported 6,000 miles in real race cars for authenticity. This all-in approach included filming on iconic tracks like Silverstone during live Grand Prix events, an experience co-star Idris called "the most exhilarating feeling in the world."

• IMSA heads to Watkins Glen this week with a massive, fully subscribed 55-car grid for its grueling six-hour endurance race, featuring the return of the entire LMP2 class. The real story, however, is the flurry of driver changes and team comebacks, including fan-favorite Magnus Racing, which is shaking up the field after a sudden pause earlier this season. This leads us into a little bit about the history of Watkins below…

THE SPOTLIGHT

The Enduring Roar: A Legacy Forged at Watkins Glen

Nürburgring 24H is an epic event that brings the masses and global attention, but how about this event that happens every year and is action packed from start to finish… Bring on Watkins Glen International, "The Glen," is a living legend in American road racing. From its wild 1948 beginnings on public roads to its current status, it's a story of grit, speed, and reinvention.

Genesis of Speed: From Village Roads to Track Evolution

It started with Cameron Argetsinger's dream to bring European-style road racing to the Finger Lakes. This became reality on October 2, 1948, "The Day They Stopped the Trains" – the first post-WWII U.S. road race. Early races were "in and around the village of Watkins Glen," on mixed "asphalt, cement and dirt roads," weaving the sport into the local fabric.

But these perilous street course days carried a heavy price. Tragedies struck:

• In 1950, driver Sam Collier died, and three spectators were injured.

• In 1952, a car veered into the crowd, killing seven-year-old Frank Fazzari and injuring twelve others.

These incidents were a harsh wake-up call, forcing racing off village streets and directly leading to a fundamental transformation in track design.

Building a Permanent Home & Global Endurance Classic

Safety concerns led to the construction of a permanent 2.3-mile (3.78 km) circuit in 1956. Designed with input from Bill Milliken and Cornell engineers, it marked a shift to professional track design. This new Glen quickly attracted major events, including its first professional NASCAR race in 1957 and Formula 1 in 1961, a cherished tradition until 1980.

1968 marked the birth of the "6 Hours of Watkins Glen". This strategic move integrated The Glen into the prestigious FIA World Sportscar Championship (WSC) from 1968 through 1981, drawing legends like Jacky Ickx and Mario Andretti. To accommodate escalating competition, "The Boot" was added in 1971, extending the course to 3.377 miles (5.435 km).

Revival and Resurgence: The IMSA Years and Beyond

Financial woes hit after 1980; Formula 1 left, and The Glen declared bankruptcy, falling silent for two years. Corning Enterprises and International Speedway Corporation (ISC) intervened in 1983, rebranding and renovating the facility. The Glen reopened triumphantly on July 7, 1984. The 6 Hours of Watkins Glen returned as a key IMSA Camel GT Championship event, restoring its traditional six-hour format by 1996.

Today, the Sahlen's Six Hours of The Glen is a cornerstone of the IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship, a demanding endurance race showcasing multiple classes, including the flagship Grand Touring Prototype (GTP). The Glen remains North America's fastest road course, with modern track records reflecting incredible speeds. Recent years have shown remarkable parity in the prototype class.

Beyond professional racing, Historic Sportscar Racing (HSR) preserves the legacy with the "HSR Watkins Glen Classic 6 Hour," bringing vintage cars back to the circuit. This dual approach ensures the sport innovates while honoring its rich past.

The history of the Watkins Glen 6 Hour race is a powerful testament to the enduring allure of endurance sports car racing.

MEMBER FEATURE

Sim Racing Nation Member Feature: Chasing the Delta

"Chasing the Delta" (CTD) is a globally diverse sim racing program fostering a vibrant community where drivers from Canada, USA, Africa, South America, and beyond connect, race, and learn. Its coaching staff, spread across the United States, Puerto Rico, and Brazil, brings varied backgrounds but a shared passion for motorsports—from SRO to F1 and NASCAR.

Though new, the program is proud to have already graduated 13 drivers to a 2k skill level, with many more on the verge. This success is fueled by its community's constant feedback, helping to refine the program. CTD is continuously improving its coaching and streamlining its development process to boost driver proficiency.

Current projects include an MX5 league and an upcoming GT4 endurance league, reflecting its focus on driver development. For many involved in CTD, the sim racing bug has even sparked dreams of real-life racing. The program is growing every season and has no plans of slowing down!

Find there YouTube channel [here] and watch for announcements in Sim Racing Nation and on Reddit when they recruit new drivers for their program!

SRN RECAP AND UNFILTERED THOUGHTS

• My initial take on the Pimax Crystal Light though my “Unhinged” review: the visual clarity is incredible and I achieved a smooth 90 FPS in iRacing, though its field-of-view wasn't a huge leap over my HP Reverb G2. However, comfort was a major issue due to facial pressure and a head-strap design that's poorly suited for a bucket seat. While the default audio is flat, the sheer visual immersion makes it a compelling, if imperfect, headset. I'll be reviewing comfort upgrades soon; in the meantime, reach out for significant discounts: [email protected].

• Watkins Glen 6 hour is coming up for Sim Racing Nation. We have around 26 drivers participating and it’s set to be a blast!

• I am still working on building out another website. It’s going to be exciting for the sim racing industry once it lifts off. I can’t wait to share more with you.

• SRN Esports is kicking off nicely, we have our teams running in the Majors LeMans 24 Event, and the Watkins Glen 6 hour event. They’ve been training hard. Keep up the great work all!

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