Development Update: Online Events Beta is Live & Growing thanks to the Zolder DLC
A new beta for online events has officially launched, introducing a fresh toolkit designed to support long-term community racing without trying to compete with existing platforms, but instead to complement them. I have groups of Brazil and Australia (incl Asia) that joined in on my
discord.
Drivers can now join events directly through a dedicated frontend, with the ability to connect across multiple servers and participate in structured long-term racing experiences. Alongside this, a new telemetry system is in development, designed to later link to user profiles and provide simplified MoTeC-style insights on your online profile giving drivers meaningful data without overwhelming complexity. It would be just cool to have more insight. My app also has a join server function that connects over a json from the website to launch you into the correct server.
On of the things that was brought forward by a dev, a version checker between the server and local side to inform users; please update/remove this or that would be a nice extra layer. The tool will go public later. As busy as it has gotten last 3 months, it also motivated me to continue the Super Formula and I did insert new 3D, new skins and will bring it exclusive on the server to gather feedback and fine tune later.
Not a Youtube expert but this shows the tool that works on just 125mb or ram
To keep things stable and scalable, a new EU-based server with 4GB bandwidth has been deployed, with the ability to expand as demand grows.
The system remains rooted in a free-to-use philosophy, highlighted by the Circuit Zolder branding within the concept (
motorlaps.com banners on track). The early phase has already seen global challenges, particularly users connecting from different regions. But progress and feedback has been respectful and is steady. A milestone moment was achieved with a full 10-driver grid running online after just asking who was around 3 hours upfront, marking the first of many steps toward larger events. You have no idea how happy it makes me #keeprf2alive
What makes this project especially meaningful is that it is currently self-funded through DLC revenue, essentially giving back what the community has supported. The goal is simple: rebuild a space for “old-school” style daily driving communities, but with modern tools and a ranking that works. Some made mistakes but everyone is respectful and cancels on time if they cannot make it without losing points by the rules I have thought about for weeks.
On Topic now of Circuit Zolder: There are still challenges ahead. Track limits remain a key discussion point, especially as the circuit’s forgiving real-world design doesn’t always translate well into competitive online racing. With updated tire stack meshes and real groove lines already integrated, the next step is updating the AIW for the circuit and submitting it for refinement. But I also do not want that wall kind of tire stack. Something that put your car on 2 wheels when hitting it would work better, it is also what usually happens but not in an extreme way. Bumpers crack, the stack might move 5 cm. So I have been experimenting with gentle hidden collidable meshes that are part of a heavy cone type. Not sure if it is even by the books but it gives a more realistic experience. Will it affect online performance etc. I need to make sure that what I do is possible and avoids issues later.
Time is currently the biggest constraint, but development continues with help from experienced server specialists. Infrastructure is also expanding globally, with active servers starting up in
Australia, Brazil, and Europe as the central hub of the system (only Canada is missing for global cycle). I have 3 admins now on top of myself that soon will bring some more good things forward.
More updates coming soon, but I have not been on my lazy ass.
Everyone is free to support our vision. Long term I will add in more external servers so their grids can be extended.
You can find a very basic early early at
https://motorlaps.com/events/ a secure backend on Laravel that I programmed with some cool admin and user friendly tools, including very early share friendly cards on your profile stats.
Feedback is welcome and I think we should do a 2.4/8/12 or 24h eventually on Circuit Zolder. If someone has serious experience in server, hosting big events. I need help here.
PS: If you are at Spa 24h this weekend and see someone in a black t-shirt wearing the Motorlaps logo. Yup that is me, come and say hello to me is great, beers welcome.
