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Chevy Impala (Mine is on the inside).

I’ve never really had top of the line equipment with my simracing, so I have managed to pick up a few tricks and now that replays are enabled within iRacing, I’m going to start using them again.

Basically, when all the software has to do is display the replay, there’s a lot of CPU, RAM and maybe a little Graphics Processor left over. Why are they left over? Well, because you’re not driving while watching that replay! So, simply turn up your graphics settings, open the replay and enjoy superb graphics your machine can normally only dream of during races… When you’re done with the glorious effects, switch them back!

Here’s the basic instructions:

1. Save your replay (preferably a cut segment of it so it’s easier to find what you want to capture).
2. Make a note of all the settings you currently have on your graphics page. If you have never altered the graphics settings before, then you’re using the defaults, just make note of that instead and follow the applicable instruction later.
3. Turn all the graphics to the maximum, but do not touch the memory slider in the center. You may also increase the resolution (as long as it is supported by your display) to a much higher one than you would normally be able to race with.
4. Exit the sim.
5. Go to the replays page and load the replay.
6. You should now have a viewable replay in high graphical settings. Take your screenshots, capture your videos…
7. When finished, exit the sim/replay viewer.
8a. If you were using the default graphics settings simply open the Instruction section of the members site, click Quick Start Guide, then select Configuring Your Hardware on the left side. Select Auto Configure and your settings are now back where they were.
8b: If you had configured your own graphics settings before this, simply open a test session and set all the graphics setting back to how you noted them, then quit the sim.
9. Open a test session to confirm everything looks as normal.

Note: Some hardware may not support maximum graphics. If the sim fails to load, go to #8a above (or click here) and follow instructions to reset your graphics settings. If the replay itself fails to load, then it is too large: Lower your graphics settings, load the replay, then cut it into sections.

The only real limiting factor for this whole thing, is texture memory. My graphics card has quite a lot of memory, so can show some really nice textures, yours may not, so things might not look quite so sharp. This is why you shouldn’t really fool around with what the default iRacing setting is for video memory because really your card has, what it has.

If any of you still run NASCAR Racing 2003 Season or Grand Prix Legends, both made by the same people behind iRacing, you can do similar to this with those simulations also.