What is iRacing Retro CART League ?
The Retro CART Series is an iRacing league that attempts to recreate to glory days of 80s and 90s CART/IndyCar racing. As iRacing doesn’t offer an IndyCar from that era, we race the next best thing in open wheel racing: The Lotus 79 from 1978. This car offers great racing, is a real “driver’s car” and is well suited to provide exciting races on both road course, street course, ovals and speedways. The series runs tracks that were regularly used during the mentioned time period: Phoenix [legacy], Long Beach, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Belle Isle Detroit, Pocono, New Hampshire, Mid-Ohio, Road America, Watkins Glen and Laguna Seca. The series is open to all levels of iRacers and intends to be as accessible as possible by using ‘fixed’ set ups. Races are usually around 45-55 minutes long, with the exception of the ’crown event’ at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, which runs 100 laps and may last up to 120 minutes. The series is broadcasted live on YouTube by TURN3 Racing Network. The series aims to run 4 seasons per calendar year, similar to the iRacing official race calendar; retro CART Series runs 11-12 weeks per season with one week off and each season starts the same week as the iRacing official season.
Lotus 79
Chassis: Aluminum monocoque
Engine: 32 valve DOHC Cosworth DFV 3 liter V8. 475 HP at 10500 rpm
Transmission: Hewland FG400 5 speed manual
Body: Fiberglass and aluminum
Wheelbase 2718mm
Weight: 1268lbs/ 575kg
Suspension: Rocker arm activated inboard springs/shocks.
Click on the picture for an iRacing video on the Lotus 79 update.
DID YOU KNOW...
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That the idea of using the Lotus 79 as an "IndyCar" isn't even all that far fetched? In the 90-ies, when F1 had all kinds of problems and there actually was a split in F1 of teams loyal to FIA and others joining FOCA, Colin Champman designed an actual Lotus IndyCar and explored the idea of going to CART!
Even Ferrari had an IndyCar project in the 80-ies with the FIA troubles; The project was halted and went to the bottom drawer as the FIA and FOCA sorted out their problems.