Forget cryptocurrency, my investment portfolio is 90% virtual tracks and race cars and 10% hope that my internet connection holds up during the main event.

NEWS FLASH

Former F1 drivers at LeMans: A whole crew of 19 ex-F1 drivers are running the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans. Familiar faces like Jenson Button, Mick Schumacher, and Kevin Magnussen will be there, who previously ran F1 cars, now taking a shot at endurance racing glory. With past F1 drivers like Fernando Alonso and Nico Hulkenberg having won the event, the big question is which of these stars will be the next to join that exclusive club? Here’s the full rundown on all the former Grand Prix competitors you'll want to keep an eye on during the big race here.

Massive update incoming: iRacing's 2025 Season 3 is officially live with a packed grid of new content. This season brings back legends with the laser-scanned 2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo and Ford Taurus, and introduces the brand new Ferrari 296 Challenge car. Drivers can learn a new circuit with the massive Shell V-Power Motorsport Park in Australia, while 12 NASCAR tracks have received major art overhauls. The update is rounded out by a complete physics revamp for the GT3 class, more cars getting rain-ready tires, and new AI capabilities to keep you on your toes.

Ram is in it to win it: Get ready for a shakeup, as Stellantis is bringing its Ram brand to the NASCAR Truck Series in 2026 with the ultimate goal of returning Dodge to the Cup Series. The company is currently on the hunt for team partners and aims to have four to six trucks on the grid for the season opener at Daytona. This marks the first new manufacturer to join NASCAR since 2007 and signals a strategic return after Dodge famously left the sport following a Cup championship in 2012. 

Get ready for an overview of a Pimax VR headset from my perspective. I will be openly reviewing one and sharing my unbiased thoughts with the community. Thanks to Pimax for sending one my way on loan. I'll be comparing it directly with the Bigscreen Beyond 2 as well further down the road once that comes in, discussing how much of an upgrade these VR headsets are compared to my HP Reverb G2. My plan is to involve some of our local SRN members to gather their feedback too over time. Pimax has also indicated they will be offering significant discounts to our community, so stay tuned for more details. We are currently affiliated with them and you can purchase through our link here to help support our community. Or you can wait till I do my full review. I may do some special edition, Tech Tuesday’s soon to review new equipment as we begin to develop relationships with the community.

SIM RACING SNIPPETS

• Scandalous… Last week in iRacing, the drama hit a fever pitch with everything from questionable penalties and cheating scandals lighting up the forums. A top Coke Series driver faced a suspension that was later overturned, a legendary track's removal threatens to erase racing history, and a premier sim racing team was caught exploiting a loophole at the Nürburgring 24. As iRacing lays down the law on exploits while also making controversial calls on legacy content, the community is left debating the future of the platform.

• The full force API is now live for Fanatec and Moza within iRacing, joining the ranks with Logitech’s True Force option. I had a chance to test it out and it feels nice overall. I personally run a few bass shakers already on my sim rig, but having the additional haptic feedback right at my wheelbase adds to the immersion slightly more. Fanatec posted an updated driver and have announced they are working on bringing some more tuning to the settings in their app.

• In a significant move to bolster customer confidence, sim racing hardware manufacturer Fanatec has overhauled its policies, extending its standard product warranty to three years and doubling the return window to 30 days. This change comes as part of a broader strategy by new owner Corsair to address long-standing community concerns and improve the overall customer experience.

MOTORSPORTS REPORT

• Watkins Glen is bracing for a full house, with a massive 56-car field set to battle it out in the upcoming Sahlen’s Six Hours endurance race. The real drama is in the driver swaps, as teams play musical chairs with their top talent and Magnus Racing makes a surprise return from its brief retirement. With a blend of new driver combinations and familiar faces in new places, the stage is set for some serious on-track action.

• While Alex Palou's hot streak may have cooled, a new driver is lighting up the IndyCar ladder. Norwegian rookie Dennis Hauger, a former F1 junior, has been on a historic tear in Indy NXT, winning four of the first five races at tracks he's never seen before. Despite many calling him a lock for a 2026 IndyCar seat, he still has to conquer a tight budget and his first-ever oval race this weekend.

• In a move that's shaking up the paddock, the FIA just fast-tracked a super license for 17-year-old Red Bull prodigy Arvid Lindblad, bending its own age-related rules. This decision couldn't be more timely, as it gives Red Bull a crucial new backup option just as Max Verstappen faces the looming threat of a one-race ban. While the team has other reserves, they now have a fresh-faced, fully-licensed teenager as a wild card to potentially throw into the world champion's car.

THE SPOTLIGHT

Le Mans 2025: The Ultimate Clash of History, Rivalry, and Raw Speed

The 24 Hours of Le Mans isn't just a race; it's the Super Bowl of speed and stamina, a brutal, 24-hour marathon where automotive giants invest fortunes to crush their rivals and etch their names into history. As the 2025 edition roars to life, the legendary Circuit de la Sarthe is set to host a spectacular collision of motorsport's past, present, and high-tech future. This year, the echoes of legendary feuds and the scream of cutting-edge hypercars will share the stage with the quiet ambition of hydrogen power, promising a spectacle you won't want to miss.

Forged in Fire: A Legacy of Innovation

Born in 1923, Le Mans was designed to be a torture test. It wasn't just about outright speed; it was about forcing cars to be better, stronger, and more reliable. This spirit of relentless innovation gave us some of motorsport's most iconic moments. It’s a place that birthed the dramatic "Le Mans Start," where drivers would sprint across the track to their cars, and also forced the adoption of life-saving tech like the revolutionary disc brakes that gave Jaguar a winning edge back in 1953.

But the pursuit of glory has always been shadowed by risk. The catastrophic 1955 crash, a dark day that claimed over 80 lives, became a tragic but pivotal turning point, forcing a global focus on safety that continues to define the sport.

The Rivalries That Wrote the Legend

The soul of Le Mans lies in its epic rivalries, the stuff of motorsport folklore. The 1960s gave us the most legendary grudge match of all: Ford vs. Ferrari. When Enzo Ferrari snubbed Henry Ford II’s buyout offer, Ford took it personally, famously vowing to "beat his ass" at Le Mans. The result was the iconic GT40, which ended Ferrari's dominance with a legendary 1-2-3 finish in 1966.

Before that, the "Bentley Boys," a crew of wealthy British playboys, dominated the 1920s with a mix of swagger and speed. Later, new dynasties rose. No name is more synonymous with Le Mans than Porsche, who built an unmatched legacy with a staggering 19 victories. Then, the 21st century belonged to Audi, whose diesel-powered and hybrid prototypes were virtually unstoppable for more than a decade.

The Main Event: A New Golden Age

Fast forward to 2025, and we're in a new golden age. The hypercar class is stacked with a dream team of manufacturers, each with a story to tell and a score to settle. The reigning kings, Ferrari, are riding a wave of success, hunting for a historic hat-trick with their 499P. Hot on their heels is a vengeful Toyota, desperate to reclaim the throne during their 40th-anniversary run at the track.

But the field is deep. The legends at Porsche are always a threat, BMW is looking to recapture past glory, and the thunderous American-made Cadillac is gunning for its first overall win. And adding a wicked twist to the plot is the highly anticipated return of Aston Martin to the top class with its absolutely radical Valkyrie hypercar.

To get you ready for the action, here’s your cheat sheet for the weekend:

• The Reigning Champs vs. The Avengers: Can Ferrari secure a historic third straight victory, or will Toyota's 40th-anniversary redemption arc spoil the party?

• The Dark Horse Debut: How will Aston Martin's stunning new Valkyrie stack up against the established players in its first top-class Le Mans outing?

• The Hydrogen Horizon: Don't miss the demonstration laps from Toyota and Bosch's hydrogen-powered prototypes—it’s a real-life glimpse into the future of racing.

• The Human Element: Keep an eye on the star-studded driver lineup, packed with ex-F1 stars like Kevin Magnussen, Robert Kubica, and Jenson Button, all chasing one of motorsport's ultimate prizes.

This year's 24 Hours of Le Mans is poised to be an unforgettable chapter in the annals of motorsport. It’s more than just a race; it's history in fast-forward.

UNFILTERED THOUGHTS

• The Nürburgring 24 hour event for Sim Racing Nation has come and gone. 5 teams, dozens of amazing moments and memories. Thanks for making this event such a success! The Watkins Glen 6 hour is June 27th and 28th, be sure to sign up for it over at our discord community. https://www.simracingnation.com we will be running the next event with up to 3 Esports teams!

• SRN Member Lolo Verra just qualified for the Ferrari Esports Challenge. Not only that but we will also be running the SRN Logo on the front hood of his DTM Esports series BMW GT3 through Race Room for the last couple rounds!

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