{"id":3578,"date":"2020-07-31T09:40:05","date_gmt":"2020-07-31T09:40:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tegiwaimports.com\/blog\/?p=3578"},"modified":"2021-10-26T11:36:37","modified_gmt":"2021-10-26T11:36:37","slug":"racing-simulators-the-ultimate-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tegiwa.com\/blog\/sim-racing\/racing-simulators-the-ultimate-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Racing Simulators: The Ultimate Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"

Racing Simulators: The Ultimate Guide<\/h3>\n

With the rise of Esports receiving more and more coverage with each passing day, it\u2019s no surprise that racing simulators are becoming more commonplace in households. Not only is it a great way to compete against your friends and learn new tracks but it\u2019s also a shed load of fun too!<\/p>\n

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The majority of professional racers, including F1 drivers, regularly set aside time to practice driving on simulators which helps them improve their driving skills and learn the tracks. More frequently, we’re seeing talented sim racers being recruited into real world racing too, which makes it the perfect time to get yourself into this hobby!<\/p>\n

Why should I get into Sim Racing?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Safety<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

There\u2019s an inherent chance that something might go wrong whilst out on track in real life which could cause thousands of pounds worth of damage to your beloved pride and joy, or even worse, yourself. If something goes wrong on a simulator, it\u2019s simply a case of hitting the reset button and starting again.<\/p>\n

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A simulator will also help you improve your driving in the real world too. If you\u2019ve not been on track or in a race environment before then learning in a virtual world will better prepare you if any eventualities do happen.<\/p>\n

Cost<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Initially, it might look like building the ultimate rig might be quite expensive, especially if you\u2019re looking at some of the higher-end components.<\/p>\n

But when you compare this to actually racing in real life, a sim rig can then look like a more attractive way of getting some race action in. Not only have you got the cost of buying or building your race car but there\u2019s always money to be spent on fuel, consumables like tyres and brake pads, entry fees and so on and so on. Like we said in our previous point, there\u2019s always the risk of causing damage too, which is going to cost even more money to put right.<\/p>\n

Once you\u2019ve got your rig setup there\u2019s little to no costs to play, other than your electricity bill or subscription fees depending on your chosen simulator game.<\/p>\n

Time<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Ever heard the expression, \u2018there needs to be more hours in the day\u2019? Well, it\u2019s no myth that racing takes up a lot of your time, from test sessions for the day and racing often lasting a whole weekend. A simulator is perfect to work around your busy schedule. Once it\u2019s built you can be on the starting grid ready to go racing just a couple of minutes after switching on your PC or console.<\/p>\n

Learning<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Not only can you benefit from learning a cars characteristics, many professional drivers and drifters use sims to learn new tracks. That way, when it comes to driving that track in real life they\u2019ve already got an idea of where the track is heading and also have a rough idea of braking markers too.<\/p>\n

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What equipment do I need?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Steering Wheel<\/strong><\/h4>\n

It\u2019s no surprise that at the very heart of a setup is the steering wheel. It can be quite daunting to begin with as there is a large variety of different wheels on the market all at different price points. Let\u2019s start by talking about force feedback \u2013 this is what gives the wheel resistance to the steering wheel inputs \u2013 such as when the car oversteers the wheel will automatically try to rotate in the opposite direction, much like it would in real life.<\/p>\n

Higher end wheels use a direct drive system that produce stronger force feedback and therefore are able to deliver a more realistic driving experience. These wheels include a strong electronic servomotor and a detachable wheel with a quick release that can be compatible with a real race car, allowing the user to use a variety of different wheels in shapes and sizes depending on personal preference. Entry and mid-level wheels utilise either a gear driven or belt driven system, which will provide less torque and won\u2019t feel as engaging.<\/p>\n

A lot of brands offer a steering wheel and pedal bundle which are very good value for money, for example the Thrustmaster TMX pro kit<\/strong><\/a>. Something like this would be perfect as an entry level wheel that\u2019s compatible for both PC and XBOX.<\/p>\n

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Spend a little more and you\u2019ll be looking at something like the Thrustmaster TS-PC<\/a><\/strong> wheel. Featuring a 40-watt brushless motor and Motor Cooling Embedded that will prevent the motor from losing power due to high temperatures over time. The new cooling allows the motor system to have 50% more dynamic response and 4 times greater stall force \u2013 the force when you\u2019re holding the wheel steady, like in a long corner \u2013 than any previous Thrustmaster wheel.<\/p>\n

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Looking to get the ultimate wheel setup? Then you\u2019ll be looking at buying a base and wheel separately. The Simucube 2 Ultimate is designed with the \u201conly the very best will do\u201d mindset. It kicks out a massive 32Nm of torque and is sure to provide an immersive racing simulation experience. You\u2019ll then need a steering wheel to go with your base and you might be tempted with a Fanatec<\/strong><\/a> as they offer a range of different wheels suited to different disciplines. For example, if you race a lot of GT cars then a BMW GT2 wheel<\/strong><\/a> might be your go to option, likewise, if you play a lot of Formula 1 games then the specially designed F1 eSport<\/a><\/strong> might be the wheel of choice.<\/p>\n