Overlays & Layouts in RaceLab
This page explains what the main RaceLab overlays do, how layouts work, and which features are Free vs Pro – including Pro streaming overlays like Twitch Chat and Chat Highlights. [1]
1. Overlays vs Layouts – how RaceLab thinks
Overlays
- Small “windows” that show racing or streaming information – standings, gaps, fuel, radar, weather, Twitch chat, etc.
- Each overlay has its own settings (columns, colours, themes, fonts, behaviour).
- Overlays can be used on your driving screen, in RaceLabVR or in OBS / streaming.
Layouts
- A layout is a saved combination of overlays plus their positions.
- You can have different layouts per sim, car, series, role (driver vs spotter), or even for streaming only.
- RaceLab adds layout and overlay features regularly, so the live app is always the final authority on what exists.
The overlay list changes as RaceLab updates roll out, and new overlay features appear in release notes over time. Treat the RaceLab app overlay picker as the “live truth”. [2]
2. Core driving overlays (Free tier base)
RaceLab ships with a set of core driving overlays that many users start with. Some overlays are Free base, while other overlays (and extra styling/options) may be Pro – the app will show a Pro badge where required.
| Overlay | What it shows | Typical use | Free / Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standings | Full race order, class, gaps, flags and more (varies by sim and settings). | Timing tower at the edge of your screen or on a side monitor / stream. | Free base + extra options on Pro |
| Relative | Cars directly ahead and behind you with live gaps and lap context. | Main “situational awareness” overlay when driving – great in traffic and multiclass. | Free base + extra options on Pro |
| Fuel Calculator | Fuel per lap, laps remaining, estimated finish fuel and how much to add in the stop. | Planning pit stops and endurance strategy. | Free base |
| Advanced Panel | Compact block of “smart” information (incidents, key stats, flags, etc. – varies by sim/settings). | Useful on streams or when you want “everything important” in one place. | Free base + Pro styling |
| Radar | Top-down view of cars around you, showing overlaps and side-by-side situations. | Catching divebombs and side-by-side moments; helpful in VR and triples. | Free base |
| BoostBox | Hybrid deployment / battery state where supported by the sim. | Hybrid cars (where supported) – seeing deployment patterns over a lap/stint. | Free base |
| Track Map | Track layout with car dots and other context (modules can vary by sim and settings). | Spotting incidents and traffic; useful for side monitors and broadcasts. | Check app |
Rule of thumb: if you see a Pro badge next to an overlay in the app, you’ll need an active Pro membership to use it. This page uses “Free base”, “Pro-only” and “Check app” labels to avoid false promises.
3. Advanced & Pro overlays
RaceLab also offers more specialised overlays (analysis tools, advanced maps/widgets, broadcast tools). The exact names and tier labels can change as RaceLab updates roll out. [2]
| Overlay | Type | Purpose | Free / Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Input Telemetry | Driving analysis | Shows steering/throttle/brake traces (commonly used for coaching and streams). | Often Pro |
| Head2Head | Comparison | Compares you to a target driver (delta, laps, key stats) so you can track a duel or benchmark. | Often Pro |
| Flatmap | Track map | Linear track map (compact traffic + gaps view). | Often Pro |
| Data Blocks | Widgets | Single-purpose blocks (speed/gear/etc.) you can sprinkle into layouts. | Check app |
| Weather Monitor | Environment | Weather/track condition info where supported. | Check app |
| RaceLabVR overlays | VR HUD | Overlays rendered inside VR via RaceLabVR. | Check app [4] |
4. Pro streaming overlays (Twitch chat, highlights & more)
For streamers, RaceLab includes streaming-focused overlays designed to be captured in OBS (or other streaming software). The Twitch Chat overlay and Chat Highlight overlay are documented in RaceLab’s release notes. [1]
| Overlay / tool | What it does | Where it’s used | Membership |
|---|---|---|---|
| Twitch Chat overlay | Shows Twitch chat as an overlay window and supports emotes (including BTTV in documented notes). | Captured in OBS or shown as an on-screen overlay. | Typically Pro [1] |
| Chat Highlight overlay | Lets you highlight specific chat messages and show them cleanly on stream. | Shoutouts, questions, featured messages during broadcasts. | Typically Pro [1] |
| Custom URL streaming overlay | A browser-style overlay that can show a custom URL (sponsor panels, custom pages, external widgets). | Primarily OBS / streaming layouts. | Typically Pro [3] |
| StatBot (chat bot) | A chat bot feature that can respond to chat commands with stats (as described in RaceLab notes). | Twitch chat + stream workflow. | Typically Pro [5] |
5. Building smart layouts
A good RaceLab setup isn’t “turn on everything” — it’s about building layouts that match how you actually drive and stream.
5.1 Example: Driver HUD (Free-friendly)
- Standings – top-left or top-right, smaller font.
- Relative – low and central, close to your road focus.
- Fuel Calculator – near your dash / wheel or bottom centre.
- Radar – just below your focal point for side-by-side confidence.
- Optional: small Advanced Panel for quick session info.
5.2 Example: Analysis layout (second screen)
- Input Telemetry – wide overlay on a side monitor.
- Laptime / pace tools – to see consistency across a stint.
- Flatmap / Weather – for strategy and race context (where supported).
5.3 Example: Streaming layout
- Standings / Leaderboard – for viewers, not necessarily where you look.
- Track Map – corner placement so viewers see incidents/traffic.
- Twitch Chat overlay – edge of frame, readable but not blocking the track.
- Chat Highlight overlay – a separate area for featured messages.
- Custom URL overlay – sponsor/logo panels, extra widgets.
6. Keeping this page accurate
RaceLab is updated frequently. If you notice something on this page doesn’t match the app anymore, assume the app is correct and this page needs updating. Release notes are the best place to confirm when an overlay/tool was added or changed. [2]
Sources & references (unofficial summary)
RaceLab (Release notes): Twitch Chat overlay + Chat Highlight overlay (RaceLab release notes) ↩ back ↩ back
RaceLab (Release notes): Example of ongoing overlay/layout feature changes (RaceLab release notes) ↩ back ↩ back ↩ back
RaceLab (Release notes): Custom URL streaming overlay (RaceLab release notes archive) ↩ back
RaceLab (Release notes): RaceLabVR update reference (RaceLab release notes) ↩ back
RaceLab (Release notes): StatBot reference (RaceLab release notes) ↩ back