Game Update (Patch Notes Beta 1.8.1)

Changelog – 1.8.1

  • Wiped all the leaderboards for all tracks with the MISSION R
  • Reduced power of the MISSION R
  • Disabled “Quali” mode of the MISSION R for the time being
    This mode will be enabled in a later patch again

Known Issues

  • Disabling the pit limiter as soon as the Pit Lane message disappears will result in a penalty due to a desync between the message and the detection point. Wait 1-2s after the UI message disappears to disable the pit limiter
  • Ghost car does not move in Time Trial Replays
  • Shadow textures in Time Trial occasionally do not load correctly. Resetting Time Trial resolves the issue  
  • “End on Crossing Finish Line” message will trigger when anyone goes back to pit during Race or Quali. This is only a UI issue, the race stage won’t actually end on crossing the finish line until all cars on track are finished 
  • In online races, if a car crashes at very high speeds into a wall, it can cause a mini-freeze for all connected clients 
  • Reversing with the Porsche Mission R will recharge the battery
  • Getting a black flag during Time Trial will soft lock the player. You have to leave the Time Trial and go back to the Main Menu. 
  • Updating your profile name will not update your name in any Time Trial Leaderboards unless a faster time is set with the new name
  • EV has wrong TC sound, fix in future patch

Game Update (Patch Notes Beta 1.8.0)

Check out the full patch notes for Beta Update 1.8.0 here.

New content

  • Added Goodwood Hillclimb Track
  • Added Porsche Mission R Car

New features

  • Implemented Time Trial mode
  • Added day-night cycle system for Spa-Francorchamps track.
    •  More tracks featuring full night time coming with future updates.
  • Implemented proper car lights for all available cars
  • Implemented car brakes heating visuals on brake discs
  • Implemented tire deformation and wear visuals
  • Implemented lock to horizon feature
  • Integrated Intel XeSS upscaling technology
  • Integrated Nvidia Reflex technology
  • Integrated Nvidia Frame Generation technology

General

  • Upgraded Unreal Engine from v.5.1.0 to v.5.3.2
  • Updated Nvidia DLSS to v.3.5
  • Improved overall game CPU performance and scaling with increasing number of cars on track
  • Improved frame rate stability for smoother experience
  • Improved server performance
  • Removed an option to set mirrors FPS
  • Added a possibility to change an email address assigned to account in the player profile page
  • Added Sharpness setting in Video Settings

Cars

  • BMW M4 GT3
    • Corrected aero balance
  • Porsche 911 GT3 R (992)
    • Corrected top end torque
  • All cars have had their shift lights corrected
  • All cars now have more drag

Physics

  • Improved GT3 tires behavior
    • More consistent grip
    • Reworked slip curve
    • Better tire cooling (Tires now last longer)

The changes to the GT3 tires are part of larger rework coming in a future update.

  • Using telemetry output will no longer affect CPU performance

Gameplay

  • Added possibility to perform actions during a locked-input countdown procedure
    • It is now possible to change TC, BB and ABS while waiting for countdown
  • Implemented in-game pause when player enters in-game menu in single player mode
  • Implemented pit lane lights
  • Improved wheel blur visual quality

SFX

  • Implemented tire lock up sounds for all cars

Input

  • Updated provided wheel presets:
    • Fanatec Podium DD1
    • Fanatec Podium DD2
    • Fanatec CS DD
    • Fanatec CS DD+
    • Fanatec CSL DD
    • Gamepad Preset 
    • Logitech G29
    • Moza R5
    • Moza R9 
    • Simucube 2.0 Pro 
    • Thrustmaster T300RS
  • Added a system to detect your hardware and match it with an existing default preset

UI

  • Added possibility to select favorite cameras in spectator mode
  • Added a possibility to set transparency for some modules in HUD layout editor
  • Added device-based button display on game UI
  • Updated splash screen

Bug Fixes

  • Fixed some problems with game servers sometimes not starting because of timeouts
  • Fixed problem with direct input wheel presets detection not working on game boot
  • Fixed some problems with car dashboards displaying invalid values in some cases
  • Fixed some problems occurring when using scrubbing functionality while in replays or live spectator mode
  • Fixed problems with replays not being saved correctly if contest name contains Windows-prohibited characters in its name
  • Fixed problem with on-track marshals sometimes not waving flags correctly
  • Fixed a problem with steering wheel rotation not being correctly replicated while spectating in certain scenarios
  • Fixed some problems with players being penalized for no reason during a rolling start procedure
  • Fixed some penalties-related bugs occurring when player enters or exits pit lane
  • Fixed some problems with ghost visibility when spectating ESL R1-like qualifications
  • Fixed problems with caching filters in quick session settings which led to new cars being hidden after a game update
  • Fixed some problems with holding buttons in menus leading to unexpected behavior
  • Fixed problem with cars in garage sometimes being flipped on their roofs
  • Fixed problem with losing UI focus in some cases
  • Fixed problem with “choppy” impression when looking at credits screen scroll animation
  • Added missing default controller bindings for garage view
  • Fixed a problem with car not being spawned for DNF:ed / DSQ:ed players if they disconnect and reconnect a server
  • Fixed a few typos in the UI
  • Fixed grass being too slippery

Known Issues

  • Disabling the pit limiter as soon as the Pit Lane message disappears will result in a penalty due to a desync between the message and the detection point. Wait 1-2s after the UI message disappears to disable the pit limiter
  • Ghost car does not move in Time Trial Replays
  • Shadow textures in Time Trial occasionally do not load correctly. Resetting Time Trial resolves the issue  
  • “End on Crossing Finish Line” message will trigger when anyone goes back to pit during Race or Quali. This is only a UI issue, the race stage won’t actually end on crossing the finish line until all cars on track are finished 
  • In online races, if a car crashes at very high speeds into a wall, it can cause a mini-freeze for all connected clients 
  • Reversing with the Porsche Mission R will recharge the battery
  • Getting a black flag during Time Trial will soft lock the player. You have to leave the Time Trial and go back to the Main Menu. 
  • Updating your profile name will not update your name in any Time Trial Leaderboards unless a faster time is set with the new name
  • EV has wrong TC sound, fix in future patch

Roadmap 2024

Welcome, racers, to the introduction of our official RENNSPORT Roadmap 2024!

Let’s take a glance at what we have in store for the upcoming months – FOR NOW!

While it might seem empty at first glance, remember though, that we’re just kicking off the year. This Roadmap is a dynamic document that will evolve together with us, being constantly updated and expanded. And who knows, along the way, we might just come across some exciting surprises for you!

Stay tuned! There’s much more to come.

Expanding our Online Services

We are thrilled to unveil a new development supporting our online systems today: the launch of the very first South-East Asian servers in collaboration with the amazing team at Vertex Esports. This marks a significant milestone as we open up directly to the Asian market. Partnering with the passionate community of sim racing enthusiasts in the APAC region, particularly under the banner of ASRF (Asia Sim Racing Federation), we are entering a new era of league races and remarkable events.

This series will showcase everybody’s darling, the GT3 class, pushing the boundaries of skill and precision across four of the most iconic and demanding tracks in RENNSPORT.

But that’s not all – in our continuous quest to engage with our communities, we are introducing dynamic track branding. This innovative feature allows leagues and communities to proudly display their unique logos and supporters, adding some personal touch to each event. This marks the next step towards customization for clubs on RENNSPORT, where every community can carve out its own unique brand identity.

We are very excited to embark on this journey alongside Vertex Esports and the entire sim racing community. Gear up for the ride of a lifetime on the other side of the world – the RENNSPORT South East Asia Servers awaits you!

If you are part of an established sim racing community and are interested in creating your community league in RENNSPORT, make sure to join our Discord Server and contact our Admin LucasB. He will listen to your ideas and wishes for the league and evaluate if we can set something up for you too!

Leap Year Hotlap Week (Race To Win)

Hello folks,

from today on we will offer you the chance to participate in our first-ever “Leap Year Hotlap Week”!

You have the chance to win a brand new VRS® DirectForce® Pro Formula Steering Wheel that is sponsored by VRS and comes to you fresh from the production line. This wheel is just a game-changer.


This competition will end on the 4th of March 00:01 CET and the only thing you need to do is to enter one official race on five different days where you cover one race each.

If you are disqualified or counted as “did not start (DNS) or “did not finish (DNF), those races will not count.

Keep your eyes peeled for more competitions like this to come very soon!!



Terms and Conditions

NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN.

1. Eligibility

The Hotlap competition is open only to legal residents of a EU country, the UK, the United States and Canada. Proof of residency and age may be required. Employees and directors of Competition Company Suisse AG and their subsidiaries, divisions, affiliates, and advertising or promotional agencies or individuals involved with the design, production, execution or distribution of the Challenge and the immediate family and household members of such individuals, are not eligible to enter or win. “Immediate family members” shall mean parents, stepparents, children, stepchildren, siblings, stepsiblings, or spouses, regardless of where they live. “Household members” shall mean people who share the same residence at least three months a year, whether related or not. In order to enter the Hot Lap Challenge or receive the prize, you must fully comply with the Terms and Conditions  and, by entering, you represent and warrant that you agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions and the decisions of the Organiser, whose decisions shall be binding and final in all respects relating to this activation. Void where prohibited.

A Deeper Dive In Physics

As we mentioned yesterday: all content and libraries used for the production, release and development of RENNSPORT are commissioned, licensed appropriately or created by us. 

Today we can finally talk more about it.

When we started the development of RENNSPORT, our goals were to build something from the ground up. That originally meant custom-made physics, tyre models, graphics and sound. Initially, we experimented in many ways and came to the conclusion that for some aspects, we require a baseline to accelerate development. We turned to an industry leader: Image Space Inc. to fully acquire a licence to use their physics processing system (known as “ISI Technology”) to act as that baseline. ISI has provided proven technology in the automotive and gaming industry for over two decades, so we believe it to be the best option for a strong foundation to build upon.

Custom Made

When we say custom-made, we do mean something that is created by our internal teams, but we’ve also been careful in building a platform which is modular so we can use external software libraries and technologies to combine that competence with our own.

Since the implementation of ISI’s physics processing; parts of ISI have been or will be tweaked, refined and changed to make it what we believe, eventually, to be the best possible racing experience. There already exist 100% custom additions on top of our licenced engine: collisions, contact points and damage models are but a few. 

Going Forward

Our ambition is still to create custom physics. Such an undertaking from scratch is a multi-year endeavour. A full rewrite will enable us to support more advanced racing experiences, such as implementing mixed weather systems, larger races and higher quality physics by increasing the physics thread frequency. We believe we can get there instead with incremental improvements on the strong foundations we have.

We have realised with these “revelations” that there is a significant need for more transparency. This works for us because the team is extremely proud to present their technical achievements; as such we will give more room on our “UNDER THE HOOD” blog to technical topics where we can show the community what we are working on.

If you want to keep up with the latest RENNSPORT updates check out our social media channels and our Discord.

The RENNSPORT Team

Addressing the online rumours about RENNSPORT

Hey everyone,

I want to address some of the rumours and accusations that have been circulating in our community recently. We are proud to say that all content and libraries used for the production of RENNSPORT are created by us, commissioned, or licensed appropriately.

RENNSPORT as an ecosystem is designed to be modular, where best-in-class solutions are available we would be remiss to avoid them. This is why we use Unreal Engine and some of our in-game content is licensed on commission, such as laser scans for our tracks and several other parts of our ecosystem. It is our desire to work with external partners for the lifetime of the project, so this has always been a core value for us.

Our current technical direction is to first improve what we can with state-of-the-art technology and if we find fundamental limitations, we rewrite it. One example of this methodology is already apparent in our network replication implementation. There are also cases where we have intentionally chosen compatibility and thus will have some code that resembles other software. For example, our simulator supports exporting MoTeC Telemetry. At some point, there is only one way to implement a particular format and you will inevitably have similar code to serialise data that every other implementation also contains. There are, no doubt, countless other examples of software that is used in developing software such as this. In our case, we also use licensed software such as FMOD for audio, and Sentry for crash collection. Unreal Engine itself is a licensed technology, and so on.

Creating a really good product requires using really good technologies, not all good technology is technology that you create.

In the end, we want RENNSPORT to feel like RENNSPORT, and we are tweaking, changing, and refining the systems all the time. When we do physics implementations in the game, we work closely with the different car manufacturers and their car-specific data to ensure that every car in RENNSPORT feels unique and represents its real-life counterpart. That combined with our own interpretations of what digital racing is, and the direct input from esports drivers and real-life drivers will let us push further and further forward, and evolve the racing genre.

Morris Hebecker

CEO & co-founder

Introducing the Porsche Esports Carrera Cup Challenge Road to Hockenheim in RENNSPORT.

With the 1.4.0 update to RENNSPORT we have a new car and a new way to compete in the game; the Porsche Esports Carrera Cup Challenge Road to Hockenheim.

Overview

We are excited to bring you our first ever hot lap competition in RENNSPORT! The Porsche Esports Carrera Cup Challenge – Road to Hockenheim! Starting September 22, 21:00 CEST, you will be able to set your fastest laps in the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car at the Hockenheimring for a chance to win an exclusive experience together with Porsche and RENNSPORT. 

How the enter

You need to have access to the RENNSPORT Closed Beta to be able to enter. Don’t have a key yet? Sign up for a chance to receive one. 

The Porsche Esports Carrera Cup Challenge – Road to Hockenheim will be held from September 22, 2023 to October 5th, 2023 on RENNSPORT. To enter the competition, simply sign up to the contest named PECCC – Road to Hockenheim. These contests will be held daily, several times per day. Leaderboards are updated automatically and can be viewed in the RENNSPORT App.

How it works

One track and one car is available for this event: 

  • Hockenheimring
  • Porsche 911 GT3 Cup

Tyres will refresh on every lap, meaning you can keep driving without worrying about degradation or managing tyre temperatures. Same goes for fuel load, every lap will reset you to the initial load for the fastest lap possible.

How to win

After October 6th, the three drivers with the fastest recorded laps are considered winners of the Porsche Esports Carrera Cup Challenge – Road to Hockenheim and will be contacted for confirmation and given further details.

Prize

The top three drivers will win an experience at the Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland finals together with Porsche, on October 22. Included in the experience:

  • Taxi Rides
  • Paddock Tour
  • Meet the Drivers
  • Gridwalk

More details will be given to the winners.

IMPORTANT: To be eligible for winning you must be a registered citizen of a European country and at least 18 years of age. 

Terms and Conditions 

All drivers that enter the Porsche Esports Carrera Cup Challenge – Road to Hockenheim must agree to abide by the Terms and conditions.

First RENNSPORT Closed Beta keys are underway

The time has finally come to distribute access keys! Community members who are on the waitlist should check their inboxes if they are among the ones who got a key during this drop.

You may have already heard the big news over the weekend. In case you didn’t – are you ready for some big news?
 
Today is the day you have been waiting for patiently! It is finally time to start handing out Closed Beta keys for RENNSPORT! As promised for months, a spot on the Closed Beta waitlist was worth it. Over the next weeks, Closed Beta codes will be sent out to the wait list, keep an eye on your inbox for more information. 

This is how the distribution works

50% of the available keys will be distributed among the first ones that signed up to the waitlist. The other 50% of the key drop will be distributed to randomly chosen members of the whole waitlist. If you don’t receive a key right away you don’t need to worry as we are increasing the capacity in the upcoming weeks. 

You are not already signed up? Make sure to secure your spot and get a chance to receive a key with the next drop. Furthermore, it is also a good idea to already put RENNSPORT to your Epic Store wishlist.

During the second RENNSPORT Summit last weekend, our CEO Morris Hebecker presented the official trailer for the Closed Beta. We can’t stop watching it and still get goosebumps when we do. We let it speak for itself – make sure to check it out.

WHAT TO EXPECT

We will add more features over time during the next weeks and months, so please be aware that when you start racing not all of the features, cars and tracks will be unlocked immediately. Currently, you can experience the following:  

  • Game Mode: Single player
  • Cars: Porsche 911 GT3 R, BMW M4 GT3, Audi R8 LMS GT3 evo II, Mercedes-AMG GT3
  • Race tracks: Hockenheim Ring, Nürburgring, Spa-Francorchamps, Autodromo Nazionale Monza

Since the simulation is still in an early development phase, we want to make you aware that the Closed Beta is not the final product so some errors might appear while playing it. However, you are ALLOWED to publish in-game footage or any other content of the RENNSPORT Closed Beta.

We have a dedicated Closed Beta tester area on our Discord for all people who have received a key. Our development team is keen on proceeding with the valuable exchange about your impressions on there. We are happy to enter this exciting next chapter and are excited to create the future of virtual racing together!

More information coming soon!

Get your tickets for the RENNSPORT Summit 2023!

For the first time ever, you will have the chance to celebrate this major milestone together with us live on-site. Tickets are now available for free!

The RENNSPORT Summit returns to Munich, with the Motorworld hosting the second edition of this thrilling virtual racing event on June 3 and 4. For the first time ever, you have the chance to experience this event live on-site. Secure a ticket for you and a friend now at summit.rennsport.gg.

HOW TO GET IN?

Enter the code “SUMMIT23” and follow the registration process to block your ticket and to join us for an unforgettable weekend. A confirmation mail will be sent one week before the event, ensuring you and your friend are ready to go. As the event draws near, anticipation builds, and all eyes turn to Munich for an incredible weekend of virtual racing action.

The official press release can be found at the end of the article.

Here’s what you can expect: Gain first-hand impressions of the latest version of RENNSPORT and test your skills on one of the professional sim rigs sponsored by our partner VRS inside the venue. Quick participants also stand a chance to win a €250 voucher from VRS and enjoy a free one-month trial of the virtual racing school. Additionally, meet well-known content creators from the virtual racing world and have a chat with them. Capture the moment at our photowall, with a professional photographer ready to take images of you and your mate in the best angles.

SCHEDULE   

Saturday: 

11 am: Location Opens 

12 pm – 8 pm: ESL R1 Races   

Sunday:  

11 am: Location Opens 

12 pm – 8 pm: ESL R1 

WHAT MORE TO EXPECT?

The RENNSPORT Summit will also provide updates on upcoming car and track releases, future developments, and innovative features within the sim. It’s an important weekend where we share our progress with the community.

If you’re from Munich, you’re likely familiar with the incredible venue hosting the Summit. Motorworld Munich is a Mecca for motorsports enthusiasts, showcasing a collection of historic and new cars from renowned brands. The venue exudes the racing adrenaline that motorsport fans adore.

To get a taste of last year’s atmosphere, check out the official aftermovie.

“The RENNSPORT Summit is gearing up for its highly anticipated second edition, and we couldn’t be more excited to celebrate it with you. Our goal is to bring together the world’s best drivers, our passionate community, and provide an immersive experience that celebrates the thrilling world of virtual racing,” said Morris Hebecker, CEO of RENNSPORT. “Hosting this event in Munich, a city that embodies our roots and serves as our headquarters, allows us to showcase thrilling races, engaging activities, and forge stronger connections within our community.”

If the excitement hasn’t grabbed you yet, fasten your seatbelt because this year, our esports racing series ESL R1 will feature its first Major of the season during the summit. Get ready for lights, camera, and action as our partner ESL sets the stage to host the finals of ESL R1. Two action-packed days of racing await you, where you can enjoy all the races in the venue and cheer for your favorite teams and drivers. Watch the world’s top racers battle it out for a chance to win a share of the €225,000 prize pool. Expect fierce competition and intense battles on the virtual racetracks. This video will help you to fresh up your knowledge around the ESL R1 Spring Season:

This high-stakes racing action adds another exciting dimension to the RENNSPORT Summit, further solidifying our commitment to bringing all relevant stakeholders of virtual racing together on one platform.

The RENNSPORT Summit is a must-attend event for virtual racing enthusiasts, industry professionals, and gaming enthusiasts alike. So, make sure to grab your FREE tickets now and bring your friends along for this incredible experience.

For more information about the RENNSPORT Summit and to stay up to date with the latest news and announcements, be sure to follow us on our social media channels. Don’t miss out on any of the exciting updates leading up to the event.

Mercedes-AMG GT3 added to list of models in RENNSPORT

The Mercedes-AMG GT3, a standout in the world of Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing, left its mark on international racetracks for some time.  

The Mercedes-AMG GT3 has been added to the list of race cars available in RENNSPORT and is already proving to be a top contender on the track in our internal testing. During the first races of our esports championship, ESL R1, two of the 12 teams in the grid, the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Esports Team and Mercedes-AMG Team Williams Esports, have been fighting for points with this impressive model. 

As one of the most successful GT3 cars in recent years, the Mercedes-AMG GT3 has a lot to offer in virtual racing. But according to early reports from the teams, it’s not only meeting expectations but exceeding them. Its aggressive styling and powerful engine make for a controlled but also exhilarating driving experience. Also, PROJECT PITWALL member René Buttler from OverTake.gg gave it high marks for its handling while testing it in the current development stage of RENNSPORT. Stay tuned on our Social Media channels to check out the video.

The world’s fastest family joined the RENNSPORT family, and we couldn’t be happier. With its reputation for competitiveness, Mercedes-AMG’s powerful race cars are synonymous with top-level performance and excellent drivability. Why not take a showroom tour around the Mercedes-AMG GT3 and see for yourself? 

Do you think you can tame this beast? Then you should sign up for our waitlist and get the chance to receive a key for the latest development version of RENNSPORT. You can find all information at www.rennsport.gg/beta 

If you want to know more about any further developments around RENNSPORT, the latest videos, in-game content, and many more interesting topics, sign up for our Newsletter here.

First-ever ESL R1 race weekend was one for the history books

The official kick-off of the ESL R1 Spring Season on February 10 and 11 was a blast.

The ESL R1 Spring Season kicked off with the first official race weekend during IEM Katowice, drawing attention to the world of virtual racing. Hosted by the ESL FACEIT Group, the championship saw teams from our automotive license partners compete against big names in esports such as FaZe Clan and G2 Esports. The complete lineup is available at eslr1.com.

Starting the esports division of RENNSPORT was something that we have worked on very hard since the beginning. As you could see over the past months, this process also came with some challenges, which influenced the fact that we needed to postpone the Closed Beta release. However, we hope we could entertain you with Round 1 and Round 2 of the ESL R1 Spring Season. You can check out the VODs of these two days here if you want to relive the vibe.

Multiple racers of ESL R1 teams during an official race.
Multiple racers of ESL R1 teams during an official race.

The weekend offered everything you need for an entertaining virtual racing event: a big stage, charismatic hosts, talented racers, and first and foremost, an amazing crowd on-site and in the stream. It has always been a dream of ours to create a sustainable professional esports series around the best racers from the biggest teams in virtual racing. Seeing the current top 48 racers finally participating in an official esports race weekend in RENNSPORT and bringing ESL R1 to life was an indescribable feeling. The vibe on-site was amazing, with everyone involved being absolutely motivated to put on a show for you guys, but also to get the first wins for themselves and their team to bring the first points to the leaderboard. You can always see the current and updated leaderboard here, or within the RENNSPORT companion app.

Maximilian Benecke of MOUZ Esports after winning Round 1.

Two racers of the 48-racer grid, MOUZ’ Max Benecke (Winner Round 1 on Spa-Francorchamps) and Porsche Coanda Esports Racing Team racer Josh Rogers (Winner Round 2 on the Hockenheimring), could gain the first wins of ESL R1. By bringing very concentrated efforts throughout the respective days and two outstanding performances from qualifying to the final lap, it was hard for the other competitors to get past the two. Max Benecke’s teammate Moritz Löhner showed an insane battle with Josh but had to admit defeat in the end of the Round 2 final.

Moritz Löhner of MOUZ Esports (left) and Joshua Rogers (right) of the Porsche Coanda Esports Racing Team after the final of Round 2.

With many engaged viewers in the livestream and on the social media channels of RENNSPORT, ESL R1, the teams, and drivers, it is safe to say that we created quite a buzz over the weekend. Those who followed the whole weekend in the livestream could get a good first impression of the current build of RENNSPORT and also received one of the limited ESL R1 liveries through our RENNSPORT Companion App – our first livery drop ever!

Official ESL R1 livery on the AUDI R8 LMS GT3 evo II in RENNSPORT.

We have seen that ESL R1 has the chance to excite and involve many fans and what RENNSPORT as a platform can bring to the professional esports scene. We took a huge first step into the future of virtual racing, and we know we have many more to take.

We have read your comments across all channels and believe that the RENNSPORT community liked what they saw. You also gave valuable feedback on what to improve from a gameplay and broadcast perspective. A long season lies ahead of us, with a lot of learnings to build upon now. The next big event will be our Spring Season Major in May. Until then, we are looking forward to a great online season and hope to see you guys in the stream.

Make sure to check out the official ESL R1 website here to not miss any updates around the season, and you can follow all races on Twitch, YouTube and TikTok.

Race control during the kick-off weekend of ESL R1.

Legendary racetrack Nürburgring featured in RENNSPORT

One of Germany’s most famous circuits has been added to the RENNSPORT list of racetracks.

The Nürburgring, located in the Eifel mountains of western Germany, has been a mecca for motorsports fans for nearly a century. Originally built in the 1920s as a way to boost tourism in the region, the track has since become one of the most iconic and challenging racing circuits in the world. Records have been broken, milestones have been achieved and heroes have been made: The 5,148 km long GP circuit is looking back on a history in motorsports spanning decades. As one of the racetracks being driven in ESL R1 races it can now add more milestones in the digital sphere of motorsport. We took a lot of heart and energy into implementing the GP course with pinpoint accuracy. 

In-Engine footage of the Nürburgring in the current development stage of RENNSPORT.

The Nürburgring’s history is long and storied, with some of the greatest drivers in history having raced on its twisting and undulating tarmac. The original track, known as the Nordschleife, was built in 1927 and measured over 22 kilometers in length. It quickly gained a reputation as one of the most challenging and dangerous tracks in the world, with narrow roads, blind corners, and unforgiving barriers lining the circuit. 

In the aftermath of Nicky Lauda’s incident in 1976, the German GP returned to the Nürburgring after major improvements to create a safer racing environment, including demolishing the start/finish area of the Nordschleife as well as major parts of the Südschleife. Ever since then, additions such as the Mercedes-Benz Arena and a rebuilt pit area added to the legend and gave the racetrack the face that motorsports enthusiasts can now recognize in RENNSPORT. Today, the Nürburgring is used for a wide range of events, including the German Grand Prix, endurance races like the 24 Hours of Nürburgring, and even music festivals and other cultural events. The close connection between the past, the present, and the future is also visible between race weekends. 

If you want to get more insights into how racetracks are being integrated into our sim, we kindly invite you to stay tuned to our channels…  

New Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) added to RENNSPORT

As Porsche opens another chapter in their motorsport history with the new flagship model in customer racing, RENNSPORT will provide you the digital twin with real adrenalin.

The Porsche 911 992 GT3 R is the newest addition to our digital race car collection. This breathtaking vehicle showcases Porsche’s dedication to producing high-performance sports cars which are tailored for the racetrack. This next-generation GT3 machine is built on the 992-generation infamous Porsche 911 and is purposefully designed for pure racing. Its predecessor has pretty much won everything that can be won throughout the GT3 scene since 2019. From 24-hour races at the Nürburgring or Spa-Francorchamps to countless other successes within the universe of GT3 racing. With that being in the books, we expect many more triumphs to come! 

With the 991 version already available in RENNSPORT, the family keeps on growing and we are more than proud to take the next step in our partnership with Porsche. Having the most powerful and successful race cars in our sim gives you the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of your real-world heroes and bring the euphoria around the vehicle from the racetrack into the virtual world. 

Its devilish look shows motorsport in its perfection. Bold and powerful. Check it out in the RENNSPORT showroom.  

Do you think you can handle it on the racetrack? Then you should sign up for our waitlist and get the chance to receive a key for the latest development version of RENNSPORT. The new Porsche 911 is awaiting you. You can find all information at www.rennsport.gg/beta 

If you want to know more about any further developments around RENNSPORT, the latest videos, in-game content, and many more interesting topics, sign up for our Newsletter here.

Hockenheimring impresses as first-ever racetrack

Summit guests and current Closed Alpha testers love the accurate implementation of the racetrack.

As you know, Germany has a long-lasting tradition in all aspects of the automotive industry and motorsports in general. For many motorsports enthusiasts of all racing series, the Hockenheimring counts as one of the most thrilling racing destinations in Germany. We are super proud that the digital version of it can be experienced as the first racetrack in RENNSPORT since we started our development.  

“The trust we gained from the team of the Hockenheimring was huge and it really paid off in the end. We couldn´t be happier with the cooperation and the results we have reached since partnering up. Having one of the most legendary racetracks in our sim right from the start creates a great foundation for all our next milestones.” explains our CEO Morris. 

We are very happy that we got the opportunity to integrate the Hockenheimring as the first racetrack in RENNSPORT. With that, we have been able to give everyone who tested the sim ever since a highly recognizable racing experience. Looking back to our milestones this year, we can tell that the achievements could not have been possible without them.  

Jamie Fluke of Apex Racing Team driving on the Hockenheimring during the RENNSPORT Summit 2022.

The same goes for the first-ever RENNSPORT Summit in May of 2022. More than 100 sim racing professionals and content creators out of the field of virtual motorsport was invited to be the first ones getting to try an early version of RENNSPORT. They had the opportunity to drive two different GT3 cars on the Hockenheimring and get a feel for the physics and handling dynamics firsthand. The feedback we gathered from all our guests was truly amazing and a big boost for our self-confidence going forward with our ambitious project. 

If you have followed our social channels over the last months, you may have seen that our RENNSPORT Roadshow brought the sim to a broader public. It was great to see how many people have been familiar with the Hockenheimring and enjoyed pushing their lap times in our sim rigs. 

A guest driving on the Hockenheimring during the RENNSPORT Roadshow stop at the IEM Cologne 2022.

As sim racing fans and motorsport enthusiasts, it was very important to us to bring the excitement the Hockenheimring offers to fans from all over the world. The entire racetrack has been laser-scanned and implemented into RENNSPORT, using the latest technology to make every bump and curb be accounted for. 

We are very happy that we partnered up with the Hockenheimring as this track will also play an important role within our esports project with the ESL which will kick off in 2023.  

If you want to know more about any further developments around RENNSPORT, the latest videos, in-game content, and many more interesting topics, sign up for our Newsletter here.

RENNSPORT x AUDI New model will be added to Closed Alpha

The brand with the 4 rings is widely regarded as both a successful factory team as well as an active part of motorsport customer racing. Audi’s achievements include a range of powerful race cars, and its latest one, the AUDI R8 LMS GT3 evo II, is now featured in the Closed Alpha of RENNSPORT.

The Ingolstadt-based company is already an institution in motorsports. In line with their famous slogan, “Vorsprung durch Technik”, we want to contribute through our next level engine to help all Audi fans experience the best possible racing with their most-liked brand.

We are very happy to welcome Audi to the growing RENNSPORT family. The company is an important addition and takes us one step closer to bringing all relevant stakeholders together on one platform.

Audi is your favorite brand, and you can’t wait to get your hands on driving the AUDI R8 LMS GT3 evo II in the RENNSPORT Closed Beta? Then you should sign up for our Closed Beta waitlist and get the chance to receive a key for the latest version of RENNSPORT. You can find all information here.

To stay tuned about all further developments around RENNSPORT, the latest videos and in-game contents and many more interesting topics sign up for our Newsletter.

Start of the Closed Beta waitlist has been a true success

Almost around 10 k registrations to the waitlist within the first week!

First of all, a big thank you to everyone who has engaged with RENNSPORT through various channels or events. You have already helped us a lot in drawing attention to our simulation and the journey around it.

In order to make the first preparations for the start of the Closed Beta, we wanted to collect everyone who is interested in racing in the RENNSPORT Closed Beta on a waitlist. Among those people Closed Beta keys will then be given out. Nobody could have expected how eager you were to participate, and we are still overwhelmed of your support! Alongside the crazy amount of new members on the waitlist, it makes us also super happy that around 10 K of you have also joined our Discord server after roughly 1 month. The exchange and discussion we had with you on that lately is helping us a lot in developing RENNSPORT.

Our CEO Morris and our Game Development Lead Krzysztof welcome everyone who is interested to the first AMA session which will be held for all our Discord waiting room members on Friday, October 28 from 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm. They will sit down with Lucas from the Marketing Team to give some insights about the current development phase, previews to the Closed Beta and further content releases. They will also answer some frequently asked questions of the Discord community. You can now hand in your questions in the respective Discord Talking Session question channel. We would be happy to seeing you on Friday. You can join our Discord with the button at the end.

In the next weeks, it’s all about getting the sim ready for the start of the Closed Beta. We want to repay your trust and go live with the best possible product. Only a handful of features will be available at the beginning, but you can already look forward to 4 cars (Porsche 911 GT3, BMW M4 GT3, Porsche Mission R, another release) and 3 race tracks (Hockenheim, Goodwood Hillclimb, another release). After that, we will test and implement more and more functions together with you. In this continuous process we will work with you to create a sim that offers the best possible racing experience.

We are very hyped about this and hope you are too. If you haven´t already, make sure to register for the Closed Beta waitlist here.

Besides checking your inboxes, you better follow our channels in order not to miss further Closed Beta key drops. See you around!

RENNSPORT Closed Beta waitlist is open now.

When starting the Closed Beta we will be moving on to the next stage of the development of RENNSPORT. You can sign up for the waitlist now.

Attending the RENNSPORT Summit in May was not only good fun for everybody as this event was one of the first ones that was held with a big group of people meeting in person again. During this weekend all guests were also promised to get the chance of becoming testers for the first ever RENNSPORT Closed Alpha testing. We are very happy that we managed to hold on to that promise in time and have been testing with those guys for over a month now. Lately we also had our first multiplayer races within the Closed Alpha – that was good fun!

From the Summit until now we have already implemented a lot of feedback. To track the updates we made, you can check out the overview here.

The Closed Alpha phase is currently running but we are already preparing for what´s about to come next. So, from today on, which is 16 weeks after the Summit, the Closed Beta waitlist is open for all RENNSPORT fans around the world. By signing up to the Closed Beta waitlist, you guys can increase your chances of getting your hands on RENNSPORT and test more features and functions. Besides giving you the possibility to make your rounds in RENNSPORT, a key to the Closed Beta will also grant you access to Discord channels where the exchange with the game development team will be extended. A focused and more direct way of communication for feedbacks, questions and ideas can be enabled there.

We will hand out keys with a 50/50 distribution way. To ease the wait you can already become a part of our Closed Beta waiting room Discord channel by signing up to the Closed Beta waitlist. If you want to sign up to the waitlist or check more information around the development stages just follow the button.

To stay tuned about the latest videos and in-game content from RENNSPORT and many more interesting topics you can also get our Newsletter.

RENNSPORT Closed Alpha testing phase has begun

Next step in the development process of RENNSPORT has taken off. Sim racing professionals are part of the Closed Alpha test group.

Since the first ever RENNSPORT Summit and the RENNSPORT Roadshow we have been implementing a lot of feedback to the game. In the list at the end, you can see what has changed during the last 2 months. To enter the next phase we have been sending out keys to all Summit guests to access and test the current status quo of the Alpha and gather their feedbacks to all possible contents.

All testers have got the exclusive opportunity to test RENNSPORT and be part of the further developments. There will be more and more features added by time during the next weeks so when starting to race not all of them will be unlocked right away. Currently there is the single player practice mode, the Porsche 911 GT3 R and the BMW M4 GT3, the Hockenheim Ring and Goodwood Hillclimb racetrack available.

We will keep you guys posted and create some new gameplay content of the current Alpha build shortly. Make sure to check out our socials.

Once the testing phase of the Closed Alpha is finalized, the Closed Beta stage will start, and the number of testers will be increased. To stay tuned about the Closed Beta registration process and many more interesting topics sign up for our Newsletter.

List of changes in the Alpha build compared to Summit build

  • Improved overall graphics quality and consistency (better materials)
  • Goodwood Map Graphical Improvements
  • Improved foliage
  • More objects added
  • Improved scene lighting
  • Added blockade behind the finish line
  • Added more details to objects close to the track
  • Hockenheimring Map Graphical Improvements
  • Adjustments for StartGrid line, curbs, grates, white lines and manholes
  • More banners added
  • Force-feedback fixes and improvements + added per-car scaling and adjustments
  • New loading screen
  • Physics adjustments
  • Improved damper parameters for both Porsche 911 GT3R and BMW M4 GT3
  • Minor fixes and improvements
  • Fixed and improved minimap behavior
  • Added possibility to change User First Name, Last name and used Car number via the in-game player profile menu.
  • Improved models and materials for both Porsche 911 GT3R and BMW M4 GT3
  • Car Mirrors Performance and Visual improvements, with more configurable settings added
  • Improved physics of the on-track loose objects
  • Added downshift protection to BMW M4 GT3
  • User Interface Legibility and User Experience improvements
  • Fixed bug in controller setting preset management
  • Single Player Main Menu overhaul

World famous Hillclimb racetrack included in RENNSPORT

Festival of Speed in Goodwood can be relived virtually.

When the past meets the future of motorsport. The RENNSPORT Roadshow brought us to the world’s greatest celebration of motorsport and car culture, Goodwood Festival of Speed. We had the chance to showcase the latest build of RENNSPORT to the festival guests. To make the fit even better the visitors of our booth have been able to race the original Hillclimb racetrack in the respective build of RENNSPORT that was shown.

Although the Festival of Speed is more of a tribute to motorsport than a serious race, the Goodwood Hillclimb racetrack probably draws the greatest notoriety among motorsport fans of any decade. Since 1993, this event has been held on the grounds of Goodwood House near Chichester in southern England and attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.

While the festival takes place only once a year, the feeling of driving up the hill can be recreated regularly in RENNSPORT as soon as our sim will be released. With the integration of the Hillclimb, we have reached another milestone in our young company history, because this is not only an addition to our currently available racetrack, the Hockenheim Ring, but also the starting point for an exciting future partnership with Goodwood Roads & Racing.

Impressed and inspired by the past and present of racing, the feeling of Goodwood also drives us at RENNSPORT to become an important part in the realization of the Festival of Speed. Thus, in the future, we want to add the digital layer to the real race. RENNSPORT can be another pillar of this event steeped in history, paving the way for emulating the heroes of the past and present digitally, but as real as possible.

Our first ever competitive RENNSPORT race

We develop RENNSPORT with Esports in mind and successfully hold our first race at the Summit in Munich.

Competing has been part of our cultural heritage for centuries and motorsport has captivated people since the early days. Now it’s time for the next evolution by proving how fascinating and realistic racing can be in the virtual world. That’s why we started RENNSPORT and our ambition for Esports is to set the stage for a new generation of athletes. Therefore, it was a special highlight of the RENNSPORT Summit for us to hold the first big Esports race, to test our systems and to generate learnings.

The final of the first competition won by Enzo Bonito of Team Redline is now published as a video. In the coming weeks and months we will continue to work hard on the development of the game. One area of development will be state of the art broadcasting tools which will enable fans and partners like the ESL to create an ultra-realistic racing experience for their audiences.

Porsche Mission R premiers in RENNSPORT

The Esports inspired concept car makes its digital debut in our sim.

It was an open secret before but becomes reality now. The all-electric model currently exists haptically only once in the world. With the release in RENNSPORT, the digital version will be available with the start of our Closed Beta.

During our first ever RENNSPORT Summit from May 27 – 29 the guests had the exclusive opportunity to get close to the only real model of the Porsche Mission R that exists so far. Thanks to our partner Porsche who made this happen the pro racers were able to take pictures with the car or even take a closer look at the interior. This unique concept car shall be the fully electric future of customer motorsport of the Zuffenhausen-based brand.

In addition to the real model, the Summit guests were also able to test the first version of the digital fast car in RENNSPORT and drive it on the famous Hillclimb racetrack at Goodwood. The unusual combination of a futuristic race car on an old-world racetrack was also noticeable in the driving experience. Many pro racers had trouble taming the 800kW powertrain without driving into the hay bale barriers. It was fun to play though because both, car and racetrack, are not available in this combination in any other simulation.

If you want to get more information about the Mission R visit the Porsche website.

RENNSPORT x Porsche I Partnership Announcement

German car manufacturer Porsche presented as a multi-year RENNSPORT partner

Racing is just not the same without Porsche! And that’s why we are proud to present the famous German car manufacturer as one of our partners for the future. Their iconic heritage impacts the world of motorsports to this day and now extends into the RENNSPORT family.

Over the past decades, Porsche managed to become one of the world’s leading brands in not only passenger cars but also state-of-the-art race cars across all motorsports categories. Across their engagements, the brand regularly achieves top-level results through its industry-leading knowhow in engineering and development. We at RENNSPORT are more than happy to now have the chance to bring the latest models of the Porsche Motorsport portfolio to our sim. 

To underline their ambitions in the digital motorsport sphere Porsche recently announced another partnership. They join forces with Esports team Coanda to form the Porsche Coanda Esports Racing Team. With this move the company from Zuffenhausen now has one of the best performing sim racing teams in-house. 

When considering the needs of professional sim racers throughout the development process of RENNSPORT, we will also be able to give the community the chance to compete on the same platform their heroes do. After all, that’s what our slogan “ForRacersFromRacers” is all about.

Stay tuned to find out more about the latest milestones, videos and in-game content from RENNSPORT and many more interesting topics by signing up for our Newsletter.

RENNSPORT x BMW I Official License Agreement

Future race cars of German car manufacturer BMW will be available in RENNSPORT

Performance from the heart of Bavaria: we are proud to announce that in the future we will be able to offer the most prominent models from BMW. Welcome to the RENNSPORT family! In true Bavarian style, we say “Servus!”

In 2022, the year of BMWs 50th anniversary, the collaboration with the Munich-based company marks a major milestone the still young history of RENNSPORT. For half a century the signature BMW M brand is part of the professional racing scene. A span during which BMW continued to produce powerful engines and fierce looking cars for both the private sector and the professional racing world. Having the latest racing models of the future included in our sim will take us one step closer to achieving a realistic sim racing experience.

Since 2020, BMW has included sim racing as an independent pillar in its racing program. With BS+ COMPETITION, G2 Esports and Team Redline, three successful sim racing teams are now racing under the blue-and-white icon. With these strong brand ambassadors and by aligning closely with the fast-growing sim-racing community, BMW is making a great contribution to bringing the overarching esports industry to an even more professional level.

This perfectly mirrors our ambition at RENNSPORT of driving attention to a sport that truly deserves it. We believe in building upon the fascination of racing through sustainable growth and modern technology that bridges the gap between professional athletes, amateur racers, sports enthusiasts, collectors and many more. In a nutshell, RENNSPORT aims to be a place for like-minded people with a shared passion.

To stay tuned about the latest milestones, videos and in-game content from RENNSPORT and many more interesting topics sign up for our Newsletter here.

We introduce RENNSPORT to the public

Whenever we have shown our vision for RENNSPORT to new developers, consultants from the motorsports industry or potential partners, we have subsequently gone jointly into raptures about what will be possible with this platform.

That’s why we couldn’t be prouder to share a first glimpse of our plans with the most important audience today: You, the community! The sim racing enthusiasts and motorsport fans around the world. We are coding this game for you following the slogan in our office: “For racers. From racers”. We want you to have the best possible experience no matter if you are behind the wheel or watching the broadcasts of professional Esports competitions.

Today we can show you the first images. We still have a long way to go and need to keep improving. At this point, however, we would like to demonstrate you that we are already having a convincing basis and we are slowly approaching to a first closed beta with selected sim racing experts.

If you want to be part of the open beta subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date and get all the necessary information in due time.