RaceRoom Summer Update 2026

Steam post image

3rd August 2026. RaceRoom Entertainment GmbH today shares the following development notes from KW Studios, the studio developing RaceRoom:

Tomorrow, 4th August, we are aiming to release a new milestone update for RaceRoom.

The Summer 2026 Update introduces four new GT3 car models, the DTM 2026 Car Pack, an extensively updated Nürburgring Nordschleife, a refreshed Monza, major dedicated server optimisations and the first iteration of our completely new in-game HUD.

Behind the scenes at KW Studios, work continues on some of the largest technical projects in RaceRoom’s history. These include a new backend for the RaceRoom service, a complete revamp of the game menus and a brand-new rendering engine for the game client.

Those projects are not quite ready yet, but a recent breakthrough has allowed us to bring the first major piece of this research and development work into the current version of RaceRoom much sooner than expected.

Here is what you can expect from the update.

Four new GT3 car models

Four of the latest GT3 machines are joining RaceRoom, each featuring a very different design, engine configuration and approach to performance.

Ford Mustang GT3 Evo Steam post image

Unleash American V8 power with the Ford Mustang GT3 Evo. Combining an unmistakable naturally aspirated soundtrack with refined aerodynamics, suspension and braking, the latest evolution of the Mustang delivers greater stability, confidence and consistency across every lap.

Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo Steam post image

British elegance meets uncompromising GT3 performance in the Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo. Powered by a 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8, the Aston Martin Vantage GT3 combines its bonded aluminium chassis with extensively revised suspension, modern racing electronics and an aerodynamic package developed from nose to tail.

Built with KW suspension technology, the Vantage has been designed to provide predictable handling and a wide operating window. Its aerodynamic and suspension characteristics aim to give drivers greater confidence under braking and through high-speed corners while maintaining consistent performance throughout a race.

The Vantage brings a distinctive combination of British design, turbocharged V8 power and a deep endurance-racing pedigree to the expanding RaceRoom GT3 field.

Lamborghini Temerario GT3 Steam post image

The Lamborghini Temerario GT3 begins a completely new chapter for Lamborghini Squadra Corse.

It is the first GT racing car to be designed, developed and produced entirely by Automobili Lamborghini. Derived from the Temerario road car, the GT3 version uses an adapted version of its aluminium chassis and 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine, but without the road car’s hybrid system.

The turbochargers, intake and exhaust systems have all been redesigned for competition. The aerodynamics and cooling systems were developed specifically for GT3 racing, while the modular carbon-fibre bodywork and removable front and rear chassis sections allow teams to carry out repairs and adjustments more efficiently during a race weekend.

Equipped with KW suspension technology, the Temerario GT3 has been engineered to deliver a stable and balanced platform across the different demands of international GT racing.

Porsche 911 GT3 R Evo Steam post image

The 2026 evolution of the Porsche 911 GT3 R refines one of the most successful cars in modern GT racing.

The naturally aspirated 4.2-litre flat-six engine remains at the heart of the package, but the aerodynamics and suspension have received a wide range of detailed improvements.

New louvres above the front wheel arches work together with revised front suspension kinematics to reduce pitch sensitivity under braking. This helps maintain a more consistent aerodynamic balance and provides more precise and predictable braking behavior.

Further changes include additional power steering cooling and numerous endurance-focused refinements designed to improve consistency during long and demanding races.

Together, these four cars significantly expand the variety of RaceRoom’s GT3 field. From the naturally aspirated Mustang and Porsche to the twin-turbocharged Aston Martin and Lamborghini, every new model offers its own sound, character and driving experience.

Simracing Pro Moritz Löhner takes an early look at the RaceRoom Summer Update in this video:

DTM 2026 Car Pack

The four new GT3 cars also form part of the upcoming DTM 2026 Car Pack.

The pack features the latest liveries from the 2026 DTM season across all seven participating manufacturers:

• Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo • BMW M4 GT3 Evo • Ford Mustang GT3 Evo • Lamborghini Temerario GT3 • McLaren 720S GT3 Evo • Mercedes-AMG GT3 • Porsche 911 GT3 R Evo

The DTM 2026 Car Pack brings the championship’s current grid into RaceRoom, complete with the latest cars, teams and liveries from the new season.

Introducing the new RaceRoom HUD

Steam post image Work in progress. Final version will differ.

The new HUD is more than a visual refresh. It is the first major component built using technology developed for the future of RaceRoom.

Until now, RaceRoom’s HUD overlays and the dashboard displays inside our cars have relied on Scaleform, a Flash-based system that has been part of the game since its original release in 2013.

Scaleform is now old and obsolete. It has become increasingly difficult to maintain, and it is not compatible with the new rendering technology currently being developed for RaceRoom.

We recently managed to configure Adobe Animate to work with the legacy system, which allowed us to create the one-to-one replica of the real dashboard found in the LRT NXT1. We were pleased with the result and initially planned to use the same process for future cars.

That plan has now changed.

As part of the development of RaceRoom’s future rendering engine, we began creating a brand-new UI renderer from scratch. Its internal codename is COSMO, and it has been designed specifically around the requirements of RaceRoom.

COSMO was originally intended only for the future rendering engine. However, we found that it could be integrated into RaceRoom’s current DirectX 9 codebase relatively easily.

That is a much bigger deal than it might sound.

It means that we do not have to wait for the new rendering engine to be completed before players can begin benefiting from this new technology.

Just a few weeks ago, we started rebuilding the RaceRoom HUD using COSMO. The first iteration is planned to arrive as part of the 4 August update.

This breakthrough has also reshuffled our development priorities. Rather than continuing to create new dashboards using the old Flash-based system, our focus will now be on completing the COSMO integration and gradually converting the existing displays inside RaceRoom’s cars.

We already have experimental conversion tools that could help accelerate this process. Once the conversion is complete, future displays can be developed directly in COSMO.

We believe this approach provides the most value to players as quickly as possible while also preparing RaceRoom for its next technological chapter.

Customize your HUD layout

The new HUD provides far more flexibility than the old system could support.

Every individual element can be moved, resized and switched on or off independently. This allows you to create a layout that suits your display, field of view and personal preferences.

Press the key assigned to “Move and Resize HUD Elements”, which is key 7 by default, and each active element will become a labelled box. You can then drag the elements around the screen, resize them or disable them completely.

A reset option is also available to restore the HUD to its default layout.

Work in progress. Final version will differ.

New HUD elements

The first iteration includes a wide selection of new widgets.

Multi-function display

Work in progress. Final version will differ.

The MFD provides several pages of detailed information:

• Relative positions • Lap times • Vehicle information • Pit settings

Tyres

The Tyres widget displays detailed information about:

• Tyre temperatures • Tyre pressures • Tyre wear • Brake temperatures • Dirt collected on each tyre

Standings

The Standings widget changes depending on the session.

It displays lap times during qualifying, the running order during races and the leaderboard during Time Attack competitions.

Timing

Timing displays your current position, lap number, sector information, last lap time and best lap time.

Instruments

The Instruments widget acts as the main vehicle cluster, displaying information including:

• Gear • Speed • Engine revolutions • Vehicle condition • ABS activity • Traction control activity • DRS status

Status Strip

The Status Strip gathers important notifications such as slowdown penalties, invalidated laps and other race-control messages.

Message Log

The Message Log collects multiplayer chat and system messages in one dedicated element.

Returning elements, rebuilt and enhanced

Several familiar HUD features have also been completely re-implemented in COSMO.

Delta

Displays the live time difference between your current lap and your best lap of the session.

Track Map

Shows the positions of every car around the circuit. Multiclass colors have now been added, making mixed-class traffic easier to understand at a glance.

Starting Lights

Displays the red-light sequence at the beginning of a race.

Virtual Mirror

Provides a clear rear view when the physical mirrors are outside your field of view.

Radar

Displays nearby cars and helps you navigate close-quarters racing.

Input Meter

Visualizes your steering, throttle, brake and clutch inputs.

FFB Graph

Displays the force feedback output and helps identify clipping.

This is only the first iteration of the new HUD. Moving to COSMO provides a much stronger foundation for future improvements, new widgets and additional customization options.

Dedicated server optimisations and larger grids

Alongside the HUD and UI renderer, we have been working to eliminate another long-standing limitation: the strange ceiling of approximately 38 players that RaceRoom dedicated servers could never reliably exceed.

Recent optimisation work appears to have unlocked considerably more potential.

Previously, the server sent every car’s position to every player at the full update rate, regardless of where those cars were located on the circuit.

The server now determines which cars are relevant to each player.

Cars within 150 metres continue to update at the full rate. Cars located further away, such as on the opposite side of the circuit, drop to approximately 25 percent of the full update rate. You cannot see those cars directly, and the game client can smoothly fill in the gaps between the less frequent updates.

The reduction in position data sent by the server is substantial:

• Approximately 43 percent less traffic with 20 cars

• Approximately 60 percent less traffic with 40 cars

• A theoretical reduction of approximately 68 percent with 99 cars

During our latest impromptu test with members of the RaceRoom Discord server, we reached a grid of 50 players.

Nürburgring Nordschleife updated for 2026

The Nürburgring Nordschleife has received an extensive update to bring it in line with the circuit’s current real-world appearance.

This will be a free update for everyone who already owns the Nordschleife in RaceRoom.

The changes include:

• The Tourist parking area has been overhauled with updated posters, parking gates and exit gates.

• New buildings and electric vehicle charging stations have been added.

• A new exit road has been added before the Tourist entry.

• The driving line through the Hohenrain chicane has been moved closer to the barrier.

• Higher entry and exit kerbs have been added at Hatzenbach.

• Additional grass grids have been added at Piff-Paff, Exmühle, Eiskurve and the Small Carousel.

• Green carpets have been removed from the Grand Prix circuit and Hohe Acht, with the barrier also moved closer at Hohe Acht.

• New banners have been added at Breidscheid, together with the previously missing orange wall marker.

• The kerb at Brünnchen is now modelled in 3D at a height of three centimetres. It was previously flat.

• Reprofiling of the Pflanzgarten 2 hill

• Numerous areas of new asphalt and new track markings have been added.

• Electric vehicle charging stations have been added at T13.

• Various additional details and surrounding areas have been updated.

The Nordschleife remains every bit as demanding as before, but its surface, surroundings and trackside details will now more closely match the circuit as it appears in 2026.

Monza gets rubbered up

Monza is also receiving another free visual update.

Following the real circuit’s resurfacing and renovation work, we updated RaceRoom’s version of Monza to recreate its newly finished appearance.

At the time, the circuit looked almost spotless. The asphalt was fresh, the paint was clean and the kerbs appeared newly finished.

That appearance was accurate for about a week.

Once racing returned, the freshly painted kerbs quickly collected rubber and dirt. The pristine version in RaceRoom therefore became outdated almost immediately.

We have updated Monza once again to represent how the circuit looks after regular use, including worn paint, rubbered-up kerbs and the more lived-in appearance of a track that has hosted plenty of running.

A first look at the future of RaceRoom

The Summer 2026 Update combines new cars and current-season motorsport content with major improvements to the technology behind RaceRoom.

The new HUD is the first visible result of the research and development going into RaceRoom’s future renderer and user interface. The dedicated server optimizations open the door to significantly larger multiplayer grids, while the Nordschleife and Monza updates keep two of our most important circuits aligned with their real-world counterparts.

We are aiming to release the update tomorrow, 4th August.

There is plenty more happening behind the scenes, and we look forward to sharing more about the future of RaceRoom soon.

See you on track!