Simracing: a passion that becomes reality

Simracing, or virtual racing, is gaining popularity among fans of car racing. It’s not just great entertainment, but also an excellent way to improve your skills.

From Games to Simulators

The passion begins with playing racing games on consoles. As this type of gameplay becomes more popular, more and more traditional gamers and fans of racing games, when they first hear about it, ask themselves, “Simracing? What is that?”

Console racing games are the first step for many simracing enthusiasts. Games like “Gran Turismo” on PlayStation or “Forza Motorsport” on Xbox offer realistic driving experiences that can inspire gamers to delve deeper into the world of racing.

As the passion for racing games grows, gamers start looking for more advanced experiences. Here is where racing simulators come into play, offering even greater realism. Simulators such as “iRacing”, “Assetto Corsa”, or “Automobilista” are known for their precise driving physics, realistic car models, and authentic racing tracks.

The simracing community plays a key role in the evolution of a console racing fan to a true simracer. Internet forums, social media groups, and websites dedicated to simracing are places where gamers can share experiences, advice, and equipment reviews.

Investing in equipment

Over time, as needs and engagement grow, gamers start investing in equipment for a greater sense of realism. It starts with the purchase of a steering wheel, pedals, or a static rig.

The steering wheel is a key element of any simracing setup. Various models are available on the market, differing in both price and functionality.

Pedals are another essential element of a simracing setup. High-quality pedals allow for precise vehicle control, which translates into better results on the track.

A static rig is the foundation of any simracing setup. Various rig models are available on the market, differing in both price and functionality. Among the most popular rig manufacturers for simracing, companies such as Sim-Lab, Alux, TREQ, and SimXPro can be mentioned.

However, for some, these solutions prove insufficient. They start thinking about full immersion, investing in actuators or motion platforms, and building a full sim.

Motion platforms are advanced devices that allow for the simulation of vehicle movement during driving. Thanks to them, the player can feel every bump on the track, acceleration, braking, or forces acting on the vehicle during turning. Among the most popular motion platform models for simracing, Qubic System can be mentioned.

The belt tensioner can be an intermediate solution, an entry level to full immersion. If game provides necessary data, then the full list of capabilities/effects supported for racing simulators are: braking, lateral accelerations, centrifugal force during cornering, wheel slip and wheel lock, rev limiter, engine vibrations, gear change, side slip, traction lost, oversteer, vertical g-force, road harshness, pre-impact protection.

Conclusion

Simracing is not just a game, it’s a passion that becomes reality. Thanks to advanced equipment and special accessories, the gameplay becomes as similar as possible to real racing. Regardless of whether you are a beginner gamer or an experienced simracer, remember that the key is to enjoy every moment on the track, even if it is a virtual one.