The real-world motorsport field is expanding rapidly, with revisions and all-new models flooding the grid from 2026. Here’s a list to keep an eye on for new sim racing additions across the year.
The clue is in the genre’s name – sim racing. In order to accurately simulate real-world motorsport, the virtual platforms must have contemporary machinery.
Which is often easier said than done. Not only is there time spent recreating the cars visually, but they must also drive right, crash right and sound right. Then there’s the balance of performance. And before all of that, complex and sometimes costly licencing agreements.
Not every game can have every real race car. But most, behind the scenes, are at least trying.
For this list, we’re mainly looking at GT3, GT2, GT4, TCR and Hypercar (LMH, LMDh and GTP) models that are new or updates for 2026 and 2027. Simply, these are the most popular circuit-based formulas for pro teams and customers worldwide, plus we have a smattering of one-make vehicles too.
As titles such as iRacing, Le Mans Ultimate, Project Motor Racing, RaceRoom, Automobilista 2, Assetto Corsa EVO and Rennsport will all take motorsport as a menu for future releases, you can use this as a checklist to see which is the most up-to-date the quickest.
Let’s begin with what is believed to be the most commonly driven class of car in circuit-based sim racing presently – GT3 cars.
Over the past two decades, their ubiquity has made the genre somewhat stale – but the mix of engines and designs still keep sim racers coming back for more, and there is a slew of new additions on the way very soon to breathe life back into the category, starting with ‘Evo’ spec upgrades.
The stylish 296 was first introduced for GT3 racing in 2023, taking on the mostly German field with a sonorous mid-mounted V6.
For 2026, there is a new ‘Evo’ specification upgrade yet to be seen in sim racing.
The engine continues, but there is, according to Ferrari, a “newly developed gear train” and, from the outside, a fresh bonnet design for enhanced brake and cockpit cooling.
Another Evo-spec update for America’s front-engined V8 bruiser. Despite only being on track for two seasons, it will enter its third with an upgraded brake system, revised suspension and a new aero kit, with noticeable double diveplanes at the front.
While Lamborghini has withdrawn from WEC and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, it is developing a new GT3 machine to replace the old Huracán.
Gone is the V10 engine, replaced by a twin-turbo V8 (boo), but the supercar looks nearly make up for it.
Unveiled at the Goodwood Festival of Speed last year, it will hit the tracks in select championships this season.
If the speed of the road-going version’s appearance in racing games is anything to go by – it’s already in The Crew Motorfest and confirmed for Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown – then the GT3-spec model should be in sims soon.
Le Mans Ultimate may miss out, however, what with Lambo’s exit from the series it portrays – unless a private team enters ELMS with one, for example.
The second generation of the Mercedes-AMG GT went on sale in 2023, yet the Affalterbach brand continued to race with the old model up until now.
At last, after a switch of who is building its GT3 car (formerly external agency HWA, this new model will be AMG internally), 2026 will see a replacement on track, with the majority of customers receiving their models in 2027.
All that’s been seen so far are camouflage test mules, labelled “Concept AMG GT Track Sport”, but they seem to preview another V8 engine and a more curvaceous body compared to its predecessor.
Then there are the Evo editions of BMW’s M4 GT3 and Aston Martin’s Vantage, plus the C8 Chevrolet Corvette, which are not rolled out to all sims yet – although most by now have added these.
While not officially labelled ‘Evo’, the 2026-spec 911 brings with it significant aerodynamic changes.
In a typically German way, Porsche describes these as “optimisations”, but you’ll be able to spot the giant new louvres atop the front wings and journey flap atop the rear wing.
Under the skin, there’s updated rear suspension geometry and enhanced cooling for the brakes and driveshaft.
This car actually debuted in Rennsport before the real-world – expect other sim platforms to follow.
Now onto the all-new vehicles, and we kick off with the long-nose Japanese brute. It sits on an all-new platform, which will form the basis of the hybrid V8 Toyota GT and electric Lexus LFA in the coming years.
The former will also be available in GT3 race form, although in the 2026 FIA WEC season, the outfit will continue to use the aged Lexus RC F LMGT3. The new GR GT3 will make its competition debut this year, but in smaller-scale local championships, before being seen on the world stage in 2027.
Odds on Gran Turismo 7 to add this first?
Next up, we’re going to use the blanket ‘Hypercar’ term for the current pinnacle of endurance racing – that being the LMH, LMDh and GTP spec cars competing across the IMSA SportsCar Championship and the FIA World Endurance Championship (including the 24 Hours of Le Mans).
In the American IMSA series, the only championship this car runs in presently, Honda’s premium Acura brand will play a joker.
For the main part, the ARX-06 is the same, but now there will be a new front splitter, dive planes and rear diffuser, alongside sidepod and exhaust tweaks.
This isn’t an all-new car, nor a really heavily modified one, but there will be a new aero kit, especially at the rear, for Alpine’s contender.
BMW’s recent adventures in sports car racing have been… middling. Certainly, a 24 Hours of Le Mans victory seems a distant dream.
However, for this season, there will be significant upgrades to its GTP/LMDh machine, the most noticeable being a new front-end, with revised styling, cooling and aerodynamic properties.
Check out that low rear wing…
It’s unlike any other GTP/LMDh, and so Caddy can now add strange aero alongside its thunderous V8 engine to a long list of endearing quirks.
It looks like a setup with top speed in mind, maybe sacrificing other circuits for a Le Mans glory run – let’s see.
A new brand for the endurance racing scene, Hyundai’s ‘premium’ (think how Lexus is to Toyota) moniker Genesis will enter both IMSA (GTP) and WEC (LMDh) this year.
With a strong driver lineup and hefty financial backing from the Korean giant, we’d also expect this to appear in video games and sims soon – just look at Hyundai’s recent Gran Turismo 7 and Assetto Corsa EVO push for its road cars. It seems to actively see virtual racing as a marketing vehicle, whereas other brands just see it as a way of making more money from licencing.
One that isn’t expected to compete this year, but will be seen on the test tracks next season, is McLaren’s return to the top level of sports car racing.
Zak Brown and friend Richard Dean, of United Autosports, will spearhead this attack on WEC and Le Mans, with a demo model already displayed at the likes of Goodwood and Silverstone’s 2025 ELMS round in anticipation.
Ford, like McLaren, is also waiting until 2027 to join the party in the top category – however, unlike the British team, there is no clue as to how this model will look yet.
Toyota’s GR GT3 isn’t the company’s only new race car this year, as the venerable GR010 looks like it will be replaced with a heavily updated LMH.
The first car to adopt the Hypercar rules, the once dominant machine is in need of an update (or perhaps more favourable BoP, but if the ACO is reading, we didn’t say that…)
The front and rear appear to be dramatically different, based on testing photos. With the focus on Ferrari in recent seasons, don’t discount the world’s biggest car manufacturer.
In 2025, the LMP3 (entry-level prototype) cars were dramatically overhauled with a new ruleset. Now, every entrant has a twin-turbo Toyota-derived V6 engine, new aero, different cooling and updated chassis.
Only one sim title has these right now, and that is Le Mans Ultimate via its ELMS DLC (the third of three to be completed later this year). But, even then, it will be missing the ADESS AD25 as that only currently competes in Le Mans Cup.
Expect other sim titles to replace their old-spec LMP3 cars over time.
In a category that seems to be shrinking in relevance – smaller grids and less car variety in 2025 – Leeds’ Ginetta has seen an opportunity to enter SRO’s GT2 category.
They must have been using a microscope, but apparently there’s a market for these cars, somewhere…
Still, we’re not complaining, it has an 800bhp naturally aspirated V8!
Sadly, the GT2 class isn’t well represented in sim racing, with only really RaceRoom and Assetto Corsa Competizione making an effort, and the latter is no longer supported. We’d be surprised if this turned up in an official sim capacity, sadly.
Let’s keep this one briefer, as compared to GT3 and Hypercar, there is seemingly less demand for the entry-level GT4 machines in sim racing.
Which is a shame, as they can be the ideal gateway, and in multiplayer, still deliver close and frenetic racing. 
Most sim platforms do support the category, but it’s scattergun at best. Assetto Corsa Competizione, for example, did one big GT4 DLC pack, and then never revisited the class. iRacing sells the current Mustang, BMW, Porsche and AMG, but its other offerings are noticeably outdated.
Automobilista 2, randomly, has the latest ‘Evo’ spec Alpine and Aston Martin Vantage Evo, but lacks in other regards. Meanwhile, the Lotus Emira GT4 is only available in Real Racing 3, a mobile title that will soon shut down.
As it stands, the one title that has the most current-spec GT4 cars is, surprisingly, Project Motor Racing with most ‘Evo’ specs, plus the Nissan Z and Toyota Supra EVO2, which don’t feature anywhere else.
So let’s hope for two things in 2026 – an improved Project Motor Racing, and further current-spec GT4 machines elsewhere.
The front-wheel drive touring car category that, from the outset, tries to replicate the GT3 and GT4 customer racing model.
While undoubtedly a successful formula, several TCR series have started to struggle in recent years. TCR Europe, South America and TCR World Tour, however, are still active.
And recently, there have been some new, or updated, models – with RaceRoom and iRacing leaning on this category more than most other sim platforms.
The Lynk & Co 03 TCR was recently updated, although developed by Swedish outfit Cyan Racing. For 2026, Cyan will create a new Geely Preface TCR model, while development of the 03 will now be done in China directly.
Then there’s Hyundai’s Elantra TCR, which has since been facelifted since the model was added to iRacing and RaceRoom. The Honda Civic has also been replaced, the FL5 generation succeeding the FK8.
There is a fresh Peugeot 308 created in Australia, and various Toyota Corollas, although all are seen as privateer developments, so don’t count on sim inclusion.
Alongside the major Hypercar, GT3, GT4 and TCR competitions, there are several ‘one-make’ championships that have received some recent car upgrades.
Namely, the McLaren Trophy has introduced an ‘Evo’ spec of its Artura-based model, which is more aggressive than the GT4 model based on the same car.
The ever-popular BMW M2 Racing – which is in iRacing, Rennsport, rFactor 2 and more – has also been replaced for 2026 with an all-new model. Controversially, it replaces the six-cylinder engine with a four-banger.
Then there’s the relatively recent Ferrari 296 Challenge, currently only available for iRacing and the Porsche 911 Cup car, 992.2 update, which is in a similar boat. You can buy a matching sim wheel for that, too, thanks to VPG.
It’s completely Free
You must be logged in to post a comment.

source