iRacing open-wheel & formula racing: the series ladder
iRacing formula racing is a ten-step ladder of spec open-wheelers. It starts with a 60-horsepower Formula Vee at Rookie level and ends with the Mercedes-AMG W13 E Performance F1 car at Class A.
Every car is a one-make spec series, so results come down to driving rather than budget. Each rung gates the next on license, and the cars get faster as your Safety Rating earns the room to handle them.
Start here (Rookie → D)
Section titled “Start here (Rookie → D)”Two Rookie series teach the basics with no aero to hide behind. The Formula Vee Series by trophi.ai runs a tail-happy 60bhp car and races every 30 minutes. The Formula 1600 Rookie Series runs the Ray FF1600 on the same 30-minute cadence. Both reward smooth inputs over bravery.
Once you clear Rookie, the Skip Barber Race Series (Class D, Skip Barber Formula 2000, every hour) is the classic proving ground. It builds clean drivers by punishing mistakes hard.
The US open-wheel path (D → C)
Section titled “The US open-wheel path (D → C)”For an IndyCar goal, run the US Open Wheel D - USF 2000 Series at Class D, then step up to the Indy NXT Road Series (Dallara IL-15, Class C). The two series mirror the real-world Road to Indy.
The Formula A/B/C ladder (C → A)
Section titled “The Formula A/B/C ladder (C → A)”The road-racing spine runs from Class C to Class A.
Formula C. Class C, with two cars to choose from: the European-style Formula C - Dallara F3 Series and the Japanese Formula C - Super Formula Lights.
Formula B. Class B/A, the 550bhp Formula B - Super Formula Series in the SF23.
Formula A. Class A and the top of the ladder. The Formula A - Cosworth Cup Grand Prix puts you in the W13 F1 car.
Two more sit alongside the ladder. The Dallara Formula iR (Class C) is a fixed-setup F1-style entry point for the downforce without the setup homework. American open-wheel tops out at the INDYCAR Series (Dallara IR18, Class B/A) on road, street, and oval.
Which to run, and when
Section titled “Which to run, and when”The Vee, FF1600, Skip Barber, USF 2000, F3, and Indy NXT all race at least hourly, so a grid is almost always forming. Open the series page and the live countdown shows the next green flag.
The higher Formula A/B and INDYCAR series run every two hours, so the gap between sessions matters. Those pages list upcoming sessions in UTC and your local time. Startlight ($9.99, iOS/Apple Watch) surfaces the next one on your Home Screen if you would rather not check the site.
New drivers should read getting started first. The full race index lists every series.
Frequently asked questions
Which open-wheel series should a new iRacing driver start with?
The Formula Vee Series by trophi.ai and the Formula 1600 Rookie Series are the two Rookie-license open-wheelers. Both are low-power, no-aero spec cars that teach throttle and brake control before downforce complicates things. Move to the Skip Barber Race Series once you hold a Class D license.
What is the Formula A / B / C ladder in iRacing?
It is iRacing's road-formula license ladder. Formula C (Class C) runs the Dallara F3 and Super Formula Lights, Formula B (Class B/A) runs the Super Formula SF23, and Formula A (Class A) runs the Mercedes-AMG W13 F1 car. Each step adds power, downforce, and the license requirement to enter the next.