RaceLab Support – First Overlay Setup (Step by Step)

First Overlay Setup (Step by Step)

This page is the “small first win”. We will go from a clean desktop to seeing one simple RaceLab layout on top of your sim. No fancy tricks, just a clear route to your first working overlays.

What we are aiming for By the end of this page you should have:
  • RaceLab running and logged in.
  • Your sim connected to RaceLab.
  • One layout with a few basic overlays (Relative, Standings, Fuel, Radar).
  • Those overlays visible in-game while you drive a few laps.

1. Before you start

Make sure you have already:

  • Installed RaceLab and can log in without errors.
  • Installed at least one supported sim (for example iRacing, ACC, LMU).
  • Verified the sim runs normally on its own.
Tip – pick one sim for this first test For this guide, choose a single sim to keep things simple. You can add more games later once you know overlays work for this first one.

2. Start RaceLab and your sim

  1. Launch the RaceLab app and log in.
  2. Leave RaceLab open. If possible, move it to a second monitor, or just leave it in the background.
  3. Start your chosen sim (for example iRacing or ACC).
  4. Load into a simple test session:
    • Practice or test drive, not a serious race.
    • Daytime, clear weather, familiar track.
  5. Once you are sitting in the car, Alt-Tab back to RaceLab.
If RaceLab does not see your sim Some sims need extra settings (for example enabling shared memory or UDP telemetry). Check the sim-specific setup pages on this site for those details if the game is not detected.

3. Create a new layout

  1. In RaceLab, go to the Layouts section.
  2. Click the option to create a New layout.
  3. Give it a friendly name, for example:
    • “Starter – Race Overlay”
    • “iRacing – First layout”
  4. Make sure the layout is associated with the sim you are testing (if RaceLab has a per-game setting).
  5. Save or confirm the creation of the layout so you start with a blank canvas.
Tip – keep a “clean” copy Once you are happy with this starter layout, you can duplicate it later and experiment without losing your known-good base.

4. Add the core driving overlays

Now we add a small set of overlays that almost everyone finds useful:

  1. In your new layout, click Add widget or equivalent.
  2. From the overlay list, add:
    • Relative – cars ahead and behind you.
    • Standings or mini-standings – full session order.
    • Fuel – fuel remaining, laps left, fuel to add.
    • Radar – cars around you, useful in traffic.
  3. Place each overlay roughly where you want it:
    • Relative – near one side of the screen.
    • Standings – top or opposite side.
    • Fuel – near your dashboard or bottom area.
    • Radar – lower centre, above your wheel or dash.
  4. Resize them so they are readable but not covering your braking points or mirrors.
Tip – bigger at first, smaller later For your first test, make everything slightly bigger than you think. Once you confirm they work, you can shrink and fine-tune the layout.

5. Activate the layout and check in-game

  1. In RaceLab, make sure your new layout is enabled or “started”:
    • There is usually a toggle, start button or similar.
  2. Return to your sim (Alt-Tab back to the game).
  3. Drive out of the pits and do a couple of laps.
  4. Look for:
    • Relative updating as cars move around you.
    • Standings changing as laps are completed.
    • Fuel counting down as you drive.
    • Radar reacting when other cars are close.
If you see nothing at all
  • Confirm that the layout is started in RaceLab.
  • Verify that RaceLab is connected to the correct sim.
  • Check any required telemetry settings for that game.

6. Quick comfort adjustments

Once you know the overlays are working, spend a few minutes making them comfortable to use:

  • Move overlays that block mirrors, flags or the racing line.
  • Increase font size if you struggle to read small text at speed.
  • Adjust background opacity so text is readable but not a giant box.
  • Keep important racing information close to your normal eye line.
Tip – record a short replay Recording a quick replay (or short video) of your new layout lets you check readability without trying to rewire it in your head while driving.

7. Common first-time problems

  • Overlay windows behind the game:
    Make sure RaceLab is using its normal overlay system for your sim. In most cases you should not need to Alt-Tab during a race; overlays should be drawn on top automatically.
  • Overlays only show on desktop, not in full-screen:
    Many sims work best with borderless or windowed full-screen when using external overlays. Check the VR & Displays section or sim-specific pages if full-screen causes problems.
  • FPS drops:
    Try disabling one overlay at a time. If performance improves, you may need to simplify your layout, especially on older PCs.
  • Data is obviously wrong:
    Check that the correct sim is selected in RaceLab and that there are no leftover layouts from another game conflicting with this one.

This page was created by a RaceLab community member Scottozy, based on personal experience using RaceLab overlays together with publicly available documentation and community feedback. It is an unofficial help page and is not an official RaceLab publication.

Sources & references

  • RaceLab – general overlay and layout setup flow.
  • RaceLab Garage – notes on supported games, telemetry and overlays.
  • Real-world first-time setup questions from RaceLab community users.