Racing history was made this year when the iRacing Daytona 24 event drew an unprecedented number of participants to the digital version of the famous Daytona International Speedway.
The 2025 iRacing Daytona 24 powered by VCO has set a new benchmark in virtual racing. For the first time ever, more than 20,000 drivers joined the digital version of IMSA’s premier event. The final count reached 23,397 drivers, showing a remarkable 26% increase from last year’s numbers.
How It Works
The event mirrors the real-world IMSA season opener, running for a full 24 hours. Teams race different types of cars, from high-tech prototypes to GT racing machines. Furthermore, iRacing’s smart matching system groups teams with similar skill levels, ensuring fair and competitive racing for everyone.
Making Racing Accessible
This year, nearly 100 different races ran simultaneously across four time slots, with 5,633 teams taking part. This represents a 21% increase from the previous record. The system allows drivers of all skill levels to compete, from hobby racers to professional drivers like Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen.
New Features and Improvements
The 2025 event introduced several exciting additions. Teams could now choose from an expanded 16-car grid, including new vehicles like the Ferrari 499P and Ford Mustang GT3. In addition, popular cars like the Acura NSX GT3 EVO 22 and McLaren 720S GT3 EVO made their event debut.
Impressive Statistics
The numbers tell an amazing story:
- Over 19,000 unique drivers participated
- Teams completed more than 2.9 million laps
- Drivers covered over 10.3 million miles
- Participants logged nearly 90,000 hours of racing time