The first race will start soon, the qualifying for race 2 is available now. Will you set a best time at Silverstone?

The first race of the CUPRA SimRacing Series 2021 will start on Thursday 13.05 at 20:10 (CET). The Server 1 races will be streamed lbe streamed live with commentary on the RaceRoom <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjv1g76ZIWerlVyZt_zDGoA" target="_blank">YouTube</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/raceroom/" target="_blank">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/directory/game/RaceRoom%20Racing%20Experience" target="_blank">Twitch</a> channels. But there's no time to catch your breath if you want to reach for the virtual racing crown.
<h2>Leaderboard 2 (Silverstone) now open</h2>
Do you want to qualify for the 2021 CUPRA SimRacing Series multiplayer race at the Silverstone circuit in England? Then you now have the chance to do so. At the wheel of the virtual CUPRA Leon Competición, powered by a 2.0 TSI engine with 340 hp. The car uses the state-of-the-art HP Multi Jet Fusion technology for better aerodynamics at the air intakes. Up to 265 km/h and 410 Nm of torque, with a faster sequential 6-speed transmission and improved weight distribution.&nbsp;
The racing simulation "RaceRoom" serves as the platform for the fun and nerve-racking races. Further details, such as the rules and regulations or the other dates of the CUPRA SimRacing Series 2021, <a href="https://simracing-unlimited.com/en/news/cupra-simracing-series-2021-info-dates-and-rules-at-a-glance" target="_blank">can be found clearly listed here</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Your participation in the CUPRA SimRacing Series 2021 is free of charge and couldn't be easier. If you want to know exactly how you can participate quickly and easily, then our colleagues from RaceRoom <a href="https://game.raceroom.com/competitions/1333/leaderboard" target="_blank">will help you in the best way</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;
The official race of the CUPRA Sim Racing Series 2021 in Silverstone will take place on 27.05.21 at 20:10. We keep our fingers crossed for a successful qualification.

CUPRA

CUPRA SimRacing Series 2021: Leaderboards for Silverstone now open

Take your chance now until 07th of May 2021 to register for the Predator SimRacing Cup 2021. We have all the details.

R8G Esports and Acer offer you the chance to become part of Formula 1 driver Romain Grosjean's professional sim racing team and win gaming prizes. All you need is the PC version of Assetto Corsa and a Steam account.&nbsp;
SimRacers and racing fans take note! Exciting prizes await you for top placements in the national and international Predator Cup 2021 competition.&nbsp;
<h2>Register now!</h2>
You can easily participate by registering at <a href="https://predatorcup.acer.com/de-DE" target="_blank">predatorcup.acer.com/en-DE</a>. If you don't have the racing simulation "Assetto Corsa" yet, you will receive a promo link and can save 80% on the purchase of the actual racing game and the available downloadable additional content.&nbsp;
After signing up, you will be able to download the Predator Monza race track and the Predator-look Mercedes-AMG GT3 to start the training sessions. You will then set your fastest hot lap on the virtual circuit in Italy by 07 May 2021 to qualify for the national final.
<h2>National and international tournament format</h2>
The 20 fastest drivers per region will compete in a one-hour race on the legendary race track in Monza on Sunday, May 09, to determine the National Champion. The winner of the National Final will win the Predator Orion 3000 gaming desktop PC, a gaming monitor and the R8G eSports shirt. The second and third placed pilots will not go away empty-handed either.&nbsp;
The national champs will compete against five professionals from Team R8G eSports, and the winner will not only receive a full SimRacing hardware setup, but a spot on the Formula 1 driver's pro team. That means coaching sessions and participation in international competitions.&nbsp;

Predator SimRacing Cup 2021

Predator SimRacing Cup 2021: Last chance to win attractive prizes!

Milestone releases a promising new gameplay trailer showing the second spectacular game environment "The Skyscraper".

After the rustic and atmospheric garage with its underground character was presented in the first trailer, the new gameplay trailer takes things to the heights. In "Skyscraper", the little racing cars go vertical. You'll soon be able to compete against your friends and players from all over the world on three levels of the construction site.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBSlF0ELk8c" target="_blank">The new video</a> also shows off six more of the 60-plus vehicles that will be playable in the final retail version. The six new speedsters are: "Bump Around", "Mountain Mauler", "Sandivore", "Boom Car", "Buns of Steel", "Fast Gassin" as well as the "Motosaurus".
<h2>Vehicle tuning and track editor</h2>
"Hot Wheels Unleashed" will offer you the opportunity to play with the toy bullets just like their real-life counterparts from September 30. The gameplay is promising for the arcade genre and convinces with great and charming graphics as well as exciting races and a huge selection of the little Hot Wheels vehicles with different characteristics and rarity levels. On top of that, these can still be customized in a variety of ways.&nbsp;
However, this also applies to the track layouts, which are embedded in everyday environments and have special track pieces and interactive items ready. You can then really let off steam in the game's own track editor and share your creations with the Hot Wheels fan community.&nbsp;
The ambitious arcade racing game will be released on September 30 for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One X, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC. In addition, Hot Wheels Unleashed will be available on both Steam and the Epic Games Store.

Hot Wheels Unleashed

Hot Wheels Unleashed: Short trailer shows new game environment

The revolutionary TCR tournament format is open to all drivers and will soon be available on the Simracing.GP platform. 

WSC and RaceDepartment enter into a new partnership to produce "TCR Virtual". An innovative simracing esports tournament that will be held on the <a href="https://simracing-unlimited.com/en/news/simracing-gp-everyone-can-find-the-right-race-on-the-new-platform" target="_blank">new motorsports esports platform Simracing.GP</a>. The tournament will be held on the Assetto Corsa platform and will feature a brand new, officially licensed mod with up to 12 cars from the TCR portfolio. Using data from real teams and manufacturers, this will be the most accurate representation of TCR cars to date. The best part:&nbsp;
You don't have to pay a dime to participate in the tournament as well as to download the corresponding necessary content.
<h2>Everyone is invited</h2>
An important principle of TCR is to make motorsport accessible to as many people as possible, and "TCR Virtual" implements this principle accordingly. To make this competition more than just the same 50 fastest drivers every time, the rulebook has been rewritten and a fresh and innovative approach has been taken:
The hotlap qualification system was scrapped and a new type of tournament structure was introduced, where every single driver will participate in at least two races. Conversely, this means that skills such as racing skill and consistency will advance drivers, not the speed of a single lap – as has been the case in the past.
<h2>Simracing.GP as platform</h2>
The tournament will be held on the innovative new Esports platform Simracing.GP.<a href="https://simracing-unlimited.com/en/news/simracing-gp-everyone-can-find-the-right-race-on-the-new-platform" target="_blank"> You can find out everything you need to know about the new platform here</a> . With more than 14,000 drivers from around the world already registered on the site, the goal is to offer regional tournaments, similar to the TCR platform in the real world. "TCR Virtual" will be the first major esports competition to take place on Simracing.GP, with handsome cash prizes up for grabs.
In addition to the flagship competition structure, Simracing.GP will also feature year-round TCR races in the form of daily races, championships and one-off special events such as endurance races.
More and detailed information about the tournament structure, schedule, prizes and entry requirements will be announced in the coming weeks. We, and our colleagues at <a href="https://www.racedepartment.com/" target="_blank">RaceDepartment.com</a>, will keep you updated in this regard.

TCR Virtual

TCR Virtual: Innovative race series soon available in Simracing.GP

We had some more questions for Marco Massarutto from Kunos Simulazioni. Read the second part of our interview here.

<a href="https://simracing-unlimited.com/news/kunos-simulazioni-founder-marco-massarutto-in-our-exclusive-interview-part-1" target="_blank">After the first part of our exclusive interview</a> with Assetto Corsa mastermind Marco Massarutto, here are more interesting questions that the developer faces. What does the future of racing games look like and which game does Marco like to play in his spare time? The answers to these and more questions you can read here:
SimRacing Unlimited: What do you think will be the next big milestones towards realism in future racing sims?
Marco Massarutto: The answer is not easy, because every simracer has his own opinion and preferences about it. I think that the overall complexity of racing simulations (physics, tire model, graphics, sound, netcode, track accuracy, weather conditions) has reached a very high level of sophistication, so we can expect fine-tuning of all these aspects in the future. On the other hand, there are some aspects that still have a greater room for improvement, such as realistic damage: but this is something that requires a lot of work and calculations to be processed, and if you think about it, as soon as you hit a wall, even at 20kmh (that would mean zero feeling in a virtual environment), you should stop the car and the racing or driving experience would end there. Very few people would really appreciate that level of realism. Imagine playing a match in a shoot 'em up and getting hit in the leg by a single bullet, in a real world you would not be able to continue the fight in an effective way. The frustration would easily overpower the realism.
SimRacing Unlimited: On the future of the ACC and your new project, what about sublicensed national series, such as ADAC GT Masters, since SRO is the original license holder? Will these perhaps find a way into the game in the future?
Marco Massarutto: Assetto Corsa Competizione is the official video game of the SRO GT Series, so we are evaluating content and opportunities for this product that are limited to SRO's area of interest and expertise.
SimRacing Unlimited: Do you plan to offer GT2 models for ACC in the the near future? Almost all SRO series are already available, only GT2 is not yet.
Marco Massarutto: This is something that is being discussed with SRO, so I wouldn't rule out this possibility from the start.
SimRacing Unlimited: As one of the most popular PC racing simulations of our time, looking back, what are you most proud of in the development of AC/ACC?
Marco Massarutto: Several things: We started from scratch with no money and a lot of passion and determination, so it's very nice to see that the Assetto Corsa franchise is considered a benchmark for racing simulations in the international scene; we're even prouder when we consider that Italy, while celebrated for many things, is not necessarily known as an ideal country for video game developers, and it means a lot to our team to be able to spread the "Made in Italy" in this business as well. Last but not least, we proved that a hardcore racing simulation can also be popular on console and not limited to a niche of a few people: We bet on it, and we were right.
SimRacing Unlimited: Simracing and eSports have finally arrived at the car manufacturers. There are so many different series and events that it's hard to keep track of them all. Still, many players are put off because they think they're not good enough in comparison. Do you have a solution to get more players interested in eSports and take away this fear?
Marco Massarutto: That's a good point and a good question: we think we can get more people interested in eSports competitions if we let them compete on different fields and in different "contexts" without sacrificing the simulation value. It's still quite early to go in that direction, but we're working on it.&nbsp;
SimRacing Unlimited: The FIA GT World Challenge, whose virtual part is handled through ACC, combines real and virtual racing for the first time. Do you think this exciting model in scoring will become more common in the future?
Marco Massarutto: As SRO CEO Stephane Rathel said, 50% of the teams agreed to this possibility beforehand, and frankly I was pleasantly surprised. After the first race, I read a lot of enthusiastic comments. So I think that after we break through the wall of skepticism, many other legitimate virtual competitions will see the light.
SimRacing Unlimited: What is the significance of what appears to be a hissing cat making a hump in your company logo?
Marco Massarutto: Well, at Kunos we love cats, and "Kunos" was the name of the first cat Stefano had when he was a kid, so we thought that including a cat in the logo would have been representative of our team. A sleeping cat would not have worked well enough, an "aggressive" one would have been much better. We asked the same guy who eventually designed the AC logo to do some mockups, and we liked it at first sight.&nbsp;
SimRacing Unlimited: How big are the problems in team communication and development in times of pandemic? After all, it's hardly possible to scan routes or record audio for vehicles, etc.?
Marco Massarutto: We have been working in smart working since 2005, from that point of view the pandemic has not affected our habits so much, except for the few of us who also work in our studio near Rome. For me, business travel has been an important part of my job, and logistics have also suffered a bit, but we've been lucky because a lot of the data we need for production has been obtained well in advance.&nbsp;
However, like everyone else, we are waiting to get back on track for planned future activities.&nbsp;
SimRacing Unlimited: Would you like to develop something other than a racing simulation? If so, what kind of game would that be?
Marco Massarutto: I would like to simulate myself to have more free time! :D Jokes aside, we didn't create Kunos to produce driving sims, Kunos is a "consequence" of our will to produce driving sims, so I don't see that changing in the future.&nbsp;
SimRacing Unlimited: Away from racing sims: What other games have you enjoyed the most lately?
Marco Massarutto: Recently I tried Circuit Superstars, which is now in Early Access on Steam, and TrackDayR, a new motorcycle racing simulator produced by an Italian studio, but the game I've played the most in the last year is Flight Simulator 2020, I think it's great.&nbsp;
SimRacing Unlimited would like to thank the developers of Kunos Simulazioni and the publisher 505 Games for the opportunity to conduct this interview. See you on the race track!

Marco Massarutto

Kunos Simulazioni: Founder Marco Massarutto in our exclusive interview (Part 2)

A short trailer is supposed to show how the haptic features of the Dual Sense controller will be implemented in Gran Turismo 7.

In a new, short trailer, Sony presents the haptic extra features enabled by the new Dual Sense controller of the Playstation 5. A short scene puts the functionality for the upcoming racing game "Gran Turismo 7" in the foreground. Using the BAC-Mono, which has been seen in previous trailers for the racing simulation, as an example, you can see exactly what happens in the controller when the BAC-Mono's suspension starts to work by running over curbs or riding out into the gravel.
<h2>Dual Sense videos show off new games</h2>
In addition to the short scene for Gran Turimso 7, other games can be seen in the trailer that show a very good implementation of the new haptic features. Especially in the recently released action game "Returnal", these features are absolutely unique. Not only do you feel the recoil of the weapons, but also gentle raindrops hitting your spacesuit. In the new "Ratchet &amp; Clank: Rift Apart", the use of the different weapons is also supposed to be improved by the haptic possibilities. There's no doubt that the capabilities of the new controller will also contribute significantly to the immersion in "Gran Turismo 7". <a href="https://youtu.be/RJeEiSwMMtc" target="_blank">You can watch the short video here</a>.&nbsp;
<h2>When will Gran Turismo 7 be released?</h2>
As you probably already know, the new racing simulation "Gran Turismo 7" has been postponed from a date still within the year 2021 to the year 2022 in order to ensure the highest possible quality of the title. The editorial team of SimRacing Unlimited is currently betting on a release date in the second or third quarter of 2022. By then, the annoying delivery problems of the new Playstation 5 should finally be a thing of the past.&nbsp;

Gran Turismo 7: Short trailer shows the haptic features

The first Olympic Virtual Series includes international federations and game publishers for baseball, cycling, rowing, sailing and motorsports.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will now work with five international sports federations and game publishers to produce the Olympic Virtual Series (OVS), the first-ever Olympic-licensed event for physical and non-physical virtual sports.
<h2>Date of the Virtual Olympic Games</h2>
Taking place in the lead-up to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, the OVS will kick off on May 13 and run through June 23, 2021. The Olympic Virtual Series will engage virtual sports, esports and gaming enthusiasts around the world to reach new Olympic audiences while encouraging the development of physical and non-physical sports in line with the recommendations of the IOC's Olympic Agenda 2020+5.
IOC President Thomas Bach said, "The Olympic Virtual Series is a new, unique Olympic digital experience that aims to increase direct engagement with new audiences in virtual sports. Its design is in line with the Olympic Agenda 2020+5 and the IOC Digital Strategy. It encourages participation in sport and promotes Olympic values, with a special focus on youth."
David Lappartient, Chair of the IOC's Esports and Gaming Liaison Group (ELG) and President of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), said, "On behalf of the ELG as well as the UCI, I am delighted to be involved in the launch of the first-ever Olympic Virtual Series. A number of international sports federations have well-established virtual sports initiatives; and thanks to the collaboration between the IOC, international sports federations and publishers, the OVS is an exciting step forward for the virtual sports world and the Olympic Movement."
The following international federations and game publishers will be part of the Olympic Virtual Series:
- World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) - eBaseball Powerful Pro Baseball 2020, Konami Digital Entertainment
- Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) - Zwift, Zwift inc.
- World Rowing - Open Format
- World Sailing - Virtual Regatta, Virtual Regatta SAS
- Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) - Gran Turismo, Polyphony Digital
The OVS thus creates a stage to connect the physical sports world with the virtual and simulation sports gaming community and provides an opportunity to engage with the Olympic Movement. Each IF will offer its corresponding event in a format that maximizes online mass participation and prioritizes inclusivity and participation through the OVS. The mass participation series will allow participants around the world to compete from home or their training facilities to generate excitement in the lead-up to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
<h2>Everyone can be a part of it!</h2>
All five OVS events will differ in form and concept and will run through the respective publisher platform of the sport in which participants can take part. Fans will have the opportunity to participate and watch the events on the Olympic Channel. More information on how to participate, as well as prizes included in select events, will be announced soon. Information will also be available online at www.olympicchannel.com.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
In line with Recommendation 9 of the Olympic Agenda 2020+5, which states to "encourage the development of virtual sports and expand collaboration with video game communities," the launch of the first-ever OVS supports the IOC's digital strategy and aims to leverage the growing popularity of virtual sports to promote the Olympic Movement, Olympic values and participation in sport, and build direct relationships with young people. It supports IFs in further establishing virtual and simulated sports as a discipline in their regulations and policies. Building on the success of their respective events, both the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), as well as other international federations such as the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and World Taekwondo (WT), have reaffirmed their enthusiasm and commitment to consider inclusion in future editions of the OVS.

Olympic Virtual Series: With Gran Turismo as platform

We look back at the highlights of the past season of the 2020 CUPRA SimRacing Series.

CUPRA's successful virtual racing series is entering its third round this year. Thousands of participants already competed in the premiere season 2019 and the CUPRA SimRacing Series 2020 for the much-coveted top placings and first-class prizes. We take a look back at 13 races - from the Nürburgring to Macau - full of racing highlights in a strong SimRacing field of VIPs, motorsport fans and SimRacing professionals.&nbsp;
<h2>The boom of SimRacing</h2>
While most motorsport events had to take a break at this time last year, SimRacing experienced a real boom. With a DNA firmly rooted in racing, as well as the digitally implemented race cars in RaceRoom Racing Experience, CUPRA was at the forefront with the continuation of the popular CUPRA SimRacing Series 2020 after its debut the previous year.&nbsp;

<img src="/api/static/2bb492461d8e28c419dffa0ed08481d4.png" alt="CUPRA" style="height: auto;width: auto"/>
Thousands of motorsport and gaming fans put all their skills to the test at the wheel of digitally converted TCR bolides CUPRA Leon Competición and the Time Attack event at the Nürburgring in order to catch one of the coveted 24 driver places in the CUPRA SimRacing Series 2020. The CUPRA VIP race on the Ardennes roller coaster in Spa-Francorchamps with CUPRA brand ambassador and real racing drivers Jordi Gené, Sebastian Stahl and Mikel Azcona, top athlete and FC Barcelona goalkeeper Marc ter Stegen as well as actor and musician Tom Beck already offered a communicative kick-off and dramatic duels before the start of the season.&nbsp;
<h2>Modern high-performance on the race track</h2>
While the CUPRA brand ambassadors still had to admit defeat in the two action-packed VIP races against virtual pros Thorsten Dornried and Tim Heinemann under the eager eyes of 6,000 spectators on their home screens, the question was who would prevail over the following 13 challenging leaderboards and multiplayer rounds of the 2020 CUPRA SimRacing Series.&nbsp;
The series was contested in the 340-hp CUPRA Leon Competición with a 2.0 TSI engine and improved aerodynamics thanks to 3D printing technology. A high-performance vehicle with a high speed of 265 km/h, 410 Nm of torque, a fast sequential 6-speed transmission and optimized weight distribution.&nbsp;
<h2>Who would take the title in the second season of the 2020 CUPRA SimRacing Series?</h2>

<img src="/api/static/4e84de63b8d13ff108b0352a3bcca9ee.png" alt="CUPRA" style="height: auto;width: auto"/>
Motorsport fans and SimRacing enthusiasts around the world were able to collect points with fast laps at the CUPRA SimRacing Series 2020 and qualify for one of the 24 starting positions for a chance to win the prize money worth a total of €10,000. As in a real race, the participants competed against each other in the style of a real race weekend, including warm-up and qualifying.&nbsp;
Over the course of the season, the races were held in two modes - sprint races lasting two times 25 minutes and "endurance races" lasting 60 minutes with a pit stop. The mode was changed in stretches, starting with the sprint races at the Nürburgring. This was followed by the "Endurance Race" in Imola. All races were broadcast live on the CUPRA YouTube channel.

<img src="/api/static/b75a4065b5522818de25f88468bf3592.png" alt="CUPRA" style="height: auto;width: auto"/>
In addition to the Nürburgring, legendary circuits such as Monza, Red Bull Ring, Suzuka and Brands Hatch appeared on the calendar, before the big season finale took place in October on the notorious street circuit of Macau.&nbsp;
<h2>24 top SimRacers compete at the highest level&nbsp;</h2>
In a top international field of drivers, Adam Pinczes secured podium places in the exciting debut race ahead of Gianmarco Fiduci and Kirill Antonov. The second race was won by Red Bull Racing Esports driver Bence Bánki who, after several hard touches, managed to overtake long-time leader Kirill Antonov of LADA Sport ROSNEFT eRacing Team just 43 seconds before the chequered flag.
The majority of the season, with races at Imola, Zandvoort, Monza, Red Bull Ring, Slovakia Ring, Brands Hatch and other international circuits, was marked by close wheel-to-wheel duels between top favorite Gianmarco Fiduci of Team Fordzilla, Euronics Gaming SimRacer Florian Hasse, Red Bull Esports driver Bence Bánki, Triple A Esports SimRacing expert Adam Pinczes, Moritz Löhner from Williams Esports and David Nagy from M1RA Esports.&nbsp;
<h2>Title decision falls early in Hockenheim</h2>
The first pole position of the evening at the virtual Hockenheimring went to championship leader David Nagy from Hungary. His closest rival in the title fight, Moritz Löhner, started eighth. With a super start, Nagy secured the lead and the race win, while Löhner made up two positions in a nail-biting race and saw the chequered flag in sixth place.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<img src="/api/static/c07acd16551ac1f71887fd317f2e8d4d.png" alt="CUPRA" style="height: auto;width: auto"/>
In the second sprint race, Nagy started third, while Löhner again started only seventh. This meant he was in for a tough race to keep his championship chances alive. After two hard maneuvers and a major paint exchange in the hairpin, Nagy surprisingly dropped back in the middle of the race and had to fight his way back to eighth place in a crazy final phase.&nbsp;
Löhner crossed the finish line in third. This was the early title decision for the confident Nagy and he could enjoy the championship trophy in the 2020 CUPRA SimRacing Series.&nbsp;
<h2>Touring car dream finale on the streets of Macau</h2>
There is hardly a better circuit for a touring car finale than Macau. Champion David Nagy missed the two sprint races on the six-kilometer virtual Guia Circuit, allowing Kirill Antonov to dominate with two wins on the tight and challenging street circuit and put an exclamation mark on the season finale.&nbsp;
This marked the end of an exciting 2020 CUPRA SimRacing Series season. Which drivers will be on the grid again this year? Who can secure the championship title? We are looking forward to an exciting return of the CUPRA SimRacing Series 2021. More information about the virtual racing series from CUPRA can be found here at SimRacing-Unlimited.de.

CUPRA SimRacing Series 2020: Pure racing action in review

Very surprisingly, Fanatec's April Fool's joke was followed by the announcement of a new, low-cost Wheel Base. The details:

At a real bargain price of €349.95, SimRacing fans on Xbox and PC will be able to get their first Direct Drive Wheel Base for the home SimRacing rig from the third quarter. A PlayStation 5 version variant is still in development.&nbsp;
<h2>Low price attractive for SimRacing beginners</h2>
With the Fanatec CSL DD, SimRacing hardware manufacturer Fanatec presents a new, beginner-friendly Direct Drive Wheel Base - a small revolution in the SimRacing hardware market. The introduction of the high quality power technology into the CSL series is connected with a high development effort, but Fanatec creates with it a completely new access to SimRacing beginners. With an attractive price of only €349.95, the Landshut-based developer has a good chance of attracting numerous SimRacers to its eco-systen starting in the third quarter.&nbsp;
The Fanatec CSL DD comes with a carbon fiber composite axle, significantly increasing responsiveness and acceleration. A key success factor is the completely redesigned engine, which was developed in Germany specifically for SimRacing. According to Fanatec, the patented FluxBarrier technology achieves amazing efficiency for its size. The level of detail of the force feedback and performance is said to be a match for other products in its segment. On top of that, the Fanatec CSL DD is built by robots, which both increases quality and reduces costs.

<img src="/api/static/09cc83ee4018cc61566acb036b62d274.png" alt="Fanatec" style="height: auto;width: auto"/>

<h2>With Boost Kit to 8 Nm torque – a ClubSport variant to follow?</h2>
With the normal power supply, the maximum torque is 5 Nm, which is almost the level of a CSL Elite Wheel Base. The optional Boost Kit 180 releases the maximum 8 Nm of peak torque.
The CSL DD also uses an improved Quick-Release aluminum and is replaceable. The QR2 system will be available for this shortly. Fanatec is also working on more Direct Drive Wheel Bases, including PS5-licensed versions. In our opinion, with even more torque, a Direct Drive Wheel Base would be conceivable in the ClubSport line.
You can pre-order the Fanatec CSL DD as soon as there is a resilient shipping date. Shipping is scheduled for the third quarter of this year.&nbsp;

Fanatec

Fanatec CSL DD: New Direct Drive Wheel Base for SimRacing beginners

We had the opportunity to interview one of the founders of Kunos Simulazioni, the developers of Assetto Corsa Competizione. 

In an exclusive interview, studio boss and co-founder of the racing game developers Kunos Simulazioni, Marco Massarutto, answers some interesting questions. Here you can read the first part, the second part of the interview will be presented to you by SimRacing Unlimited next week.
SimRacing Unlimited: You developed ACC (AC) based on the idea that there should be a racing simulation for the PC that transports "Il gran turismo". Did you expect the success at the beginning of the development?
Marco Massarutto: Definitely not, we have far exceeded all our expectations, not only in terms of units sold, but also in terms of popularity. We have a very strong community that really loves the Assetto Corsa brand.
SimRacing Unlimited: Assetto Corsa ran on an engine that you developed yourself. Asseetto Corsa Competizione then ran on Unreal Engine 4. Do you plan to build your new project on Unreal Engine 5 in the future?
Marco Massarutto: The Unreal Engine is a very powerful engine, but it was not specifically designed for racing games that need special features and very high performance. After the experience we had with Assetto Corsa Competizione, we are not ruling out the option of working with Unreal again, but we are also considering other options.
SimRacing Unlimited: You are currently developing a version of ACC for the new PS5 and Xbox Series X|S consoles. What are the advantages of the improved hardware?
Marco Massarutto: Well, Unreal Engine 4 is quite demanding in terms of performance and the new generation of consoles can handle the whole process better, granting a more stable frame rate, a higher resolution, etc.&nbsp;
SimRacing Unlimited: After ACC, is your team already working on a new project? What can you say about the future of the franchise?&nbsp;
Marco Massarutto: It's still too early to talk about "what's next". As I said, Assetto Corsa is a very popular brand and we have to treat it with care, so we will take the time to do our work in the best possible way to meet the expectations of our community.&nbsp;
SimRacing Unlimited: ACC is the uncrowned king of force feedback implementation. How did you manage to implement this technology so brilliantly?
Marco Massarutto: Our goal since netKar PRO is to grant the best handling experience we can deliver: To achieve this goal, every aspect behind Assetto Corsa lives on physics. Our force feedback is not magic, it "just" reads the physics algorithms that control tires, suspensions, chassis and so on, without using wrong numbers. The accuracy of the track surface is not secondary to providing a very natural driving experience. I think that the combination of different factors is the secret behind the quality of our force feedback.&nbsp;
SimRacing Unlimited: After the great success of mods for AC, you integrated some modders into your team, who convinced you with their performance. What are the requirements to get your attention with a mod and maybe become part of your development team?
Marco Massarutto: Best quality, reliability and attitude: everyone at Kunos works for and with the team, not for themselves or for their personal "fame". Understanding the "AC philosophy" is the basis to make the best contribution to the team's success.
SimRacing Unlimited: How do you manage to integrate the physics models for the many different vehicles into the game? For some vehicles it is difficult to get the appropriate data to incorporate them into the physics model?
Marco Massarutto: We have a close partnership with several car manufacturers; moreover, the fact that our development studio has been located on an international circuit (Vallelunga) for 9 years has helped us to build a very strong network that we can use to get most of the data we need. Also, over the years we never stopped our R&amp;D activities to improve our physics model. Now that Assetto Corsa's reputation as a realistic driving simulation is very stable, it's not uncommon for automotive companies to provide us with all the data we need to reproduce their specifications in the best possible way.
SimRacing Unlimited: How do you ensure the high degree of realism of the physics model? To what extent does feedback from professional racers and race engineers, as well as manufacturer and tire data, feed into this process?
Marco Massarutto: Our approach is very rigorous and methodical, backed by more than a decade of experience. We take special care to get as much measurement data from the manufacturers of the real cars and tires, as well as environmental and track conditions and everything else we can collect. Everything goes into the simulation model as it is. We validate the real-world results with our simulation results, and we never change measurements that we know are correct. If we find a deviation from reality, we try to find the error in our physics model or we try to implement new features to better simulate the real-world counterpart. Feedback from real drivers is then taken into account to cover all the dark spots where data is unavailable or unknown, and with the help of telemetry we try to reverse engineer the unknown data and get an even better model. Even feedback from real drivers is carefully validated, as we need to have direct contact and understand how accustomed a driver is to driving simulators, what their expectations are, and how well they can describe the car's behavior under both real and simulated conditions. This type of approach yields objective improvements, not just a "fun to drive" model made up of subjective opinions. We believe that if we do our job right, the end result will always be driving fun because real driving.... is fun.
SimRacing Unlimited: The engine sound is an extremely important detail in a racing game. Normally a dyno is used for this and the microphones are placed accordingly. But there are certainly cars where you can't use a dyno to record the sound. In this case, how do you go about recording?
Marco Massarutto: There are two possibilities: The first is to actually drive the car on a closed circuit to collect interior sounds, sounds under the hood/exhaust, and pass-by sounds. The latter is what you miss when recording on a dyno.
The second way is through our audio archive: Over the years, we have collected recordings of many engines and exhaust systems. This allows us to reproduce a specific car sound by starting from different models equipped with the same engine and/or exhaust system.
End of part 1 of the interview
Really some very interesting insights into how the developers at Kunos Simulazioni work. You can read about how ACC is coming along in the future and what game the developers would like to make aside from racing games here next week.

Kunos Simulazioni: Founder Marco Massarutto in our exclusive interview (Part 1)

Lauf 1: 09.09.20 - Hockenheim National

Lauf 2: 23.09.20 - Loch Drummond Long Layout

Lauf 3: 07.10.20 - Anglesey Circuit International GP

Lauf 4: 23.10.20 - Atlanta Motorsport Park

Lauf 5: 04.11.20 - Portland Full Course

Lauf 6: 18.11.20 - Lime Rock Park West Bend Chicane

Lauf 7: 02.12.20 - Zwartkops Raceway

Lauf 8: 16.12.20 - Ahvenisto Race Circuit Park

Lauf 1 15.09.20 - NOLA C-Course

Lauf 2 29.09.20 - Watkins Glen Boot - No Chicane

Lauf 3 13.10.2020 - Road Atlanta

Lauf 4 27.10.2020 - Mosport

Lauf 5 10.11.2020 - Portland Full Circuit

Lauf 6 24.11.2020 - Lime Rock Park - Uphill Chicane

Lauf 7 08.12.2020 - Mid Ohio - No Chicane

Lauf 8 22.12.2020 - Bathurst Mount Panorama

Lauf 1 28.02.2020 - Sebring International Raceway

Lauf 2 27.03.2020 - Interlagos

Lauf 3 08.05.2020 - Le Mans

Lauf 4 19.06.2020 - Watkins Glen

Lauf 5 11.09.2020 - Mosport

Lauf 6 23.10.2020 - Suzuka

Lauf 7 04.12.2020 - TBA

Lauf 1 06.09.2020 - Red Bull Ring

Lauf 2 20.08.2020 - Istanbul Park

Lauf 3 04.10.2020 - Lausitzring

Lauf 4 18.10.2020 - Norisring

Lauf 5 01.11.2020 - Zandvoort

Lauf 6 15.11.2020 - Hockenheimring

Lauf 7 29.11.2020 - Misano

Lauf 8 13.12.2020 - Interlagos

Lauf 1: 14.08.20 - Red Bull Ring

Lauf 2: 30.08.20 - Spa-Francorchamps

Lauf 3: 13.09.20 - Silverstone 

Lauf 4: 27.09.20 - Baku

Lauf 5: 11.10.20 - Istanbul

Lauf 6: 25.10.20 - Zandvoort

Lauf 7: 08.11.20 - Budapest

Lauf 8: 22.11.20 - Fuji

Lauf 9: 06.12.20 - Suzuka

Lauf 10: 20.12.20 - Sao Paulo

Lauf 1: 21.11.20 - Sebering 12h Layout

Lauf 1: 09.09.20 - Nürburgring GP

Lauf 2: 23.09.20 - Shanghai GP

Lauf 3: 07.10.20 - Dubai Autodrome GP

Lauf 4: 21.10.20 - Spa-Francorchamps GP

Lauf 5: 04.11.20 - Road America GP

Lauf 6: 18.11.20 - Suzuka GP

Lauf 7: 02.12.20 - Paul Ricard 1C-V2

Lauf 8: 16.12.20 - Zandvoort GP

Lauf 1: 26.01.20 - Nürburgring

Lauf 2: 23.02.20 - Silverstone

Lauf 3: 22.03.20 - Bathurst

Lauf 4: 19.04.20 - Imola

Lauf 5: 17.05.20 - Zolder

Lauf 6: 14.06.20 - Spa

Lauf 7: 06.09.20 - Dubai

Lauf 8: 04.10.20 - Suzuka

Lauf 9: 01.11.20 - Monza

Lauf 10: 29.11.20 - Road America

Lauf 1: 03.02.20 - Nürburgring

Lauf 2: 02.03.20 - Silverstone

Lauf 3: 30.03.20 - Bathurst

Lauf 4: 27.04.20 - Imola

Lauf 5: 25.05.20 - Zolder

Lauf 6: 22.06.20 - Spa

Lauf 7: 14.09.20 - Dubai

Lauf 8: 12.10.20 - Suzuka

Lauf 9: 09.11.20 - Monza

Lauf 10: 07.12.20 - Road America

Lauf 1: 16.03.20 - Zolder

Lauf 2: 13.04.20 - Spa-Francochamps

Lauf 3: 11.05.20 - Brands Hatch

Lauf 4: 31.08.20 - Laguna Seca

Lauf 5: 28.09.20 - Mount Panorama

Lauf 6: 26.10.20 - Zandvoort

Lauf 7: 23.11.20 - Suzuka

Lauf 8: 21.12.20 - Nürburgring

Lauf 1: 11.02.20 - Imola

Lauf 2: 10.03.20 - Road Atlanta

Lauf 3: 07.04.20 - Zandvoort

Lauf 4: 05.05.20 - Watkins Glen

Lauf 5: 02.06.20 - Spa

Lauf 6: 22.09.20 - Laguna Seca

Lauf 7: 20.10.20 - Mugello

Lauf 8: 17.11.20 - Suzuka

Lauf 9: 15.12.20 - Brands Hatch

Lauf 1: 10.09.20 - Road America

Lauf 2: 24.09.20 - Mosport

Lauf 3: 08.10.20 - Watkins Glen

Lauf 4: 22.10.20 - Mugello

Lauf 5: 05.11.20 - Hungaroring

Lauf 6: 19.11.20 - Estoril

Lauf 7: 03.12.20 - Dubai

Lauf 8: 17.12.20 - Imola

Lauf 1: 25.09.20 - Deutschland

Lauf 2: 09.10.20 - Britische Inseln

Lauf 3: 23.10.20 - Südeuropa

Lauf 4: 06.11.20 - Westeuropa

Lauf 5: 20.11.20 - Nord-/Südamerika

Actually, Romain Grosjean was out of HAAS. But a fortunate circumstance now even makes him team manager of the racing team - somehow.

Romain Grosjean takes over management of HAAS-Esports team

The best sim racers and teams will have the chance to showcase their skills in a trio of new GT World Challenge Esports championships.

GT World Challenge Europe: Details about event and participation

The renowned racing game developers at Codemasters are fielding their own team for the Junior World Rally Championship 2021.

Codemasters: Now on the road with its own rally team

A new update for iRacing should provide more stability in the second season. We have summarized all contents for you.

iRacing Season 2 Update: Overview of all contents 

The ADAC SimRacing Expo 2021 offers you fascinating insights into the world of real and virtual motorsports. We have the details:

ADAC SimRacing Expo 2021: Experience the exciting world of motorsports!

For a 24H race, of course, an appropriately self-confident livery is required: Team SRU proudly presents the AMG GT3 Boomslang team car.

Team SimRacing Unlimited: Introducing the AMG GT3 Boomslang

In the footsteps of Michael Schumacher – How to improve your lap time in virtual and real motorsports with fitness.

Ex-Formula 1 world champion and Mercedes-AMG F1 team boss Niki Lauda was the first driver to realize in the 1970s that he could become faster than his main rival James Hunt with fitness and a healthy diet. But it was Michael Schumacher's idea to travel to Formula One races with a mobile gym that showed all racing drivers that fitness could play an important role in success. His former F1 race engineer Pat Symonds of Benetton once revealed how intensively Michael Schumacher worked on his fitness even as a young racing driver because he was firmly convinced that it would enable him to achieve faster lap times. That was all that mattered to him.&nbsp;
<h2>The world champion's tough training schedule</h2>
He trained his neck muscles for four hours a day alone so that they would not go limp at the end of an F1 Grand Prix despite the enormous centrifugal forces in the corners, which in turn could have led to time-consuming driving errors.&nbsp;
He took his fitness training so seriously that he even had blood drawn during test drives at pit stops to analyze it for its oxygen content under the stresses of a race. The goal was to determine these important performance parameters and thus get the best possible preparation for the stress of a race.&nbsp;
"So unlike another exceptional driver, like Ayrton Senna, Schumacher was able to perform as well in the second half of the race as he did in the first," explained Symonds, who worked with both F1 world champions as a race engineer, in an interview. The training program of Bundesliga soccer players was nothing compared to that of the record world champion in Formula 1.&nbsp;
According to the "Bild" newspaper, professional soccer players spend only eight hours a week on the training pitch, while Schumacher alone trains his fitness for up to six hours a day. Dr. Johannes Peil, who scientifically accompanied his fitness program as a sports physician, once explained that Schumacher rode his bicycle for two to three hours a day, always climbing 1,000 to 2,000 meters of altitude. In addition, there would be extensive strength training, which trains the numerous muscle groups that are used during a race. Conclusion: Schumacher trained as much as seven Bundesliga players put together in one week alone to achieve success, and his successes in motorsport prove him right that fitness is a basic prerequisite for fast personal lap times.
<h2>Do the rules also apply to virtual racing?</h2>
Since I already knew before the GT Academy national finals that I wouldn't have the time to gain driving experience on the real race track, I had to step on the gas all the more in the other disciplines. If I couldn't get the best preparation on the race track, I still wanted to be one of the fittest among the guys so that I could achieve fast lap times this way.&nbsp;
So in the multi-stage fitness test (Bleep Test) at the German GT Academy finals we ran back and forth between two points exactly 20 meters apart. The interval was indicated by a sound signal and gradually shortened. At that time, I counted in my head the time I needed to get from A to B in each step, so I didn't exhaust myself too early, but was able to reach the highest performance level thanks to my fitness training.&nbsp;
My plan to advance one round at the GT Academy via my fitness worked out and also at the RaceCamp in Silverstone victory in a sporty pentathlon - consisting of running, buggy and hovercraft driving as well as cycling and a lap in a racing vehicle - saved me from the first elimination round.&nbsp;
<h2>What demands await in real and virtual racing?</h2>
Record laps are being broken non-stop, and racing cars are getting faster and more durable every year. Motorsport is a technology domain. The lion's share of the money goes into vehicle development and racing. With the advancement of technology, however, the question arises as to how the drivers can cope with the ever-increasing stresses and demands?
Anyone who has ever spent a little longer on an indoor kart track or a racing simulator with proper force feedback and a professional sim-racing brake knows the sore muscles in the arms, hands, upper body, legs and buttocks the next day.&nbsp;

<img src="/api/static/8837eaae48fe1194fdad6b32b3a9a424.png" alt="Kevin Rohrscheidt" style="height: auto;width: auto"/>

But the mental and physical demands before, during and after the virtual and real races should not be underestimated either. In competitive motorsports, higher speeds as well as G-forces also mean more physical demands on a race driver. Most drivers in professional series are between 18 and 30 years old, but in the sport as a whole the age range is much wider.&nbsp;
To ensure that racers - regardless of age and class - are not left to their own devices when it comes to fitness and physical and mental performance, there are sports scientists like Lukas. 
The Cologne student at the German Sports University in his hometown has devoted himself to many sports, research projects and issues related to sports. From thermoregulation of different sports clothes, the influence of oxygen supply in the muscles as well as determining factors of running performance. But his passion has always been motorsports as well. This year he is looking after the drivers of the BMW M2 CS Racing Cup in the DTM.&nbsp;
Until recently, motorsports hardly played a role in sports science, and Lukas made it his mission to decisively change this. In addition to pioneering eye-tracking studies in motorsport between rookies and professional racers, Lukas worked closely with Max Hesse in 2018 as well as 2019, acting as his personal trainer and mental coach.&nbsp;
Thanks to training camps, sports sessions and warm-up programs during TCR Germany race weekends, the duo successfully clinched the overall championship, with Max now making it into the BMW Junior program. Lukas is currently working in Formula 3 and his holistic approach appeals to young drivers who, like me, are convinced that physical and mental fitness can make all the difference.&nbsp;
So what does it come down to when drivers have to withstand the G-forces, vibrations of the car and the physical demands of steering? And which of these are relevant for a SimRacer? 
Lukas briefly summarized the requirements from existing research in his master's thesis:
<ul>
<li>Rapid force development to extend the hip and knee for braking.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Generating and maintaining force and tension through the trunk and neck to resist sustained G-forces.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Shoulder, arm as well as grip strength for steering and control of the vehicle.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Spatial awareness and reactions combined with the ability to multi-task and simultaneously control a car at speeds up to 300 mph.&nbsp;</li>
<li>The ability to maintain elevated heart rates for extended periods of time.&nbsp;</li>
<li>The ability to maintain cognitive performance and decision making.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

<img src="/api/static/a1d133f89048eed93c20e1109d138952.png" alt="Kevin Rohrscheidt" style="height: auto;width: auto"/>

So you see - the requirements for racing drivers are versatile and multi-layered. In SimRacing, you also have comparable motion sequences and, apart from the sustained G-forces, the requirements are basically similar, even if they are less pronounced. So where can you set the athletic focus at home and thus also benefit in SimRacing? Find out in our next Fit for Racing article in the KEEPONRACING column on SimRacing-Unlimited.com/en.&nbsp;
You can reach Lukas Bastian for a personal fitness program and your questions <a href="https://www.instagram.com/lukas.bastian/" target="_blank">best on Instagram</a> or via email at <a href="mailto:info@lukas-bastian.de" target="_blank">info@lukas-bastian.de</a>.&nbsp;

Fit for Racing

Virtual and real races: Better lap times through the right fitness program

The legendary "Circuit Paul Ricard" is the subject of the new track guide from Codemasters. A video shows how you can best master the track.

The 5.84-kilometer Circuit Paul Ricard in Le Castellet in southern France was already one of the safest race tracks in the world when it was completed in the 1970s. The run-off zones, which were completely new at the time, ensure that driving mistakes don't have to end in a fiasco. Of course, the challenging track can also be found in the current Formula 1 racing game "F1 2020" from Codemasters. The manufacturers provide video tips on how to get the most out of the racetrack.
<h2>How to drive on the road to victory</h2>
A new tutorial video shows how you can best get to grips with the Circuit Paul Ricard, where you should ideally start to overtake and which gears should be used when you race through the corners to reach almost 300 km/h on the straights.
<img src="/api/static/6cfb4762e62bea312cd95634387ba590.png" alt="F1 2020/Codemasters" style="height: auto;width: auto"/>
Not least because of the mixture of different types of curves, which require a high, medium or slower driving style, the Circuit Paul Ricard is also popular as a test track for new vehicle models - this is also ensured by the usually ideal weather conditions, which enable testing at the limits.&nbsp;
In addition to the high-speed straight, the race drivers particularly love the centrifugal forces of up to 5G that prevail when they enter the fast Beausset curve after the straight. In addition, the track offers many opportunities for overtaking, which of course also benefits the excitement and spectator numbers.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPqCjBx1Nw0&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">You can watch the video here</a>, after which you should easily be able to burn better times into the asphalt on the course.

F1 2020

F1 2020 Track-Guide: Circuit Paul Ricard

We were at the opening event of Jochen Schweizer Arena, the future "Home of E-Sport".

You are a motorsport fan and want to get a taste of the world of SimRacing? Your best friend has challenged you to a direct race duel? We take an exciting look into different SimRacing lounges and show you where you can try a virtual ride in a high-end racing simulator in your area. In this article we introduce you to the Jochen Schweizer Arena and the Virtual Experiences section.

Bodyflying, indoor surfing, outdoor activities and helicopter flights - the Jochen Schweizer Arena offers spectacular and exciting experiences in every season. We visited the impressive location in Taufkirchen and took a closer look at the new "Virtual Experiences" area on 300 square meters with the racing simulators at the opening event.

Jochen Schweizer Arena Teaser EN

SimRacing Lounges: Jochen Schweizer Arena - racing simulators

In SimRacing the equipment plays an important role, so you can have as much fun as possible and get your best possible performance.

You want to follow in the virtual footsteps of Max Verstappen and Lando Norris? Your interest in SimRacing has been aroused recently? Just like a real racer, equipment plays an important role in SimRacing, so you can have as much fun as possible and get your best possible performance. In this article we will take a quick and compact look at the heart of the SimRacing rig – the wheel base – and take a look under the hood.

The possibilities to transmit haptic feedback in the racing simulator are limited. Since there are no G-forces acting like in a real racing car, we have to make do with information from pedals, wheel base, steering wheel and in special cases via a motion system. This makes it all the more important that this feedback reaches us as SimRacers in as much detail as possible so that we can feel grip, road surfaces, bumps and collisions.&nbsp;

<img src="/api/static/6a49b722a261d4a75fc07721d5edd2cd.png" alt="SimRacing Hardware Wheel Base Pic 1" style="height: auto;width: auto"/>

<h2>Perfect start</h2>

The Wheel Base plays a decisive role as steering unit and heart of the SimRacing Rig. The wheel base is the product behind the steering wheel in which electric motors or a belt drive and complex electronic systems are installed. Force Feedback (FFB) is the application of forces to the steering wheel to simulate the reaction of real vehicle components.&nbsp;

What I find exciting is that most manufacturers work with a 20-year-old force feedback technology in which forces and vibrations are generated from a selection of profiles and a limited library of haptic effects. This technology had to take into account the processing power at that time, which means that force feedback technology today has far more potential to reproduce the physics from racing games than we can imagine.&nbsp;

Nevertheless, SimRacers nowadays have a lot of possibilities in the wheel base segment. Basically, the more expensive the product, the higher the quality of the built-in technology. From simple electric motors and gear drives, belt drives and servo motors to the so-called Direct Drive models, you are spoilt for choice. You also have to pay attention to which steering wheels and which systems the respective wheel base is compatible with. The possible steering angles also differ depending on the wheel base.

<ul>
<li><a href="https://amzn.to/2Irc8Kr" target="_blank">Thrustmaster T150 PRO ForceFeedback</a> * (Bundle; RRP 249,99 €)&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://amzn.to/3jXWPXA" target="_blank">Logitech G923</a> * (Bundle; 388,95 €)</li>
</ul>

For SimRacing newcomers, Logitech G offers the Logitech G923 - paired with steering wheel and pedals. It promises to be the first steering wheel unit to take advantage of the new generation of force feedback software technology with TRUEFORCE – provided the racing game supports it. Logitech G relies on two motors and one gear drive. This drive allows the steering wheel to be offered at a comparatively low price, but it is also not exactly quiet and not as precise as more expensive models. Thrustmaster also plays in this price segment and offers the Thrustmaster T150 PRO ForceFeedback.



<ul>
<li>Fanatec CSL Elite Wheel Base V1.1 (RRP 349,95 €)</li>
<li><a href="https://amzn.to/33TClJJ" target="_blank">Thrustmaster T300 RS</a> * (Bundle; RRP 399,99 €)&nbsp;</li>
<li>Fanatec ClubSport Wheel Base V2.5 (RRP 549,95 €)</li>
<li><a href="https://amzn.to/3nK84Fd" target="_blank">Thrustmaster TS-XW Racer Sparco P310 Competition Mod</a> * (Bundle; RRP 649,99 €)&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

<img src="/api/static/3134004dff0d15f31e4140f198c83b5d.png" alt="SimRacing Hardware Wheel Base Pic 2" style="height: auto;width: auto"/>

<h2>Full power with belt drive</h2>

Belt-driven steering units offer more smooth running and performance than their gear-driven counterparts. Inside the Thrustmaster T300 RS, for example, a powerful brushless servo motor rotates together with a double belt mechanism.&nbsp;

Fanatec was one of the first companies to use a belt drive and currently has two products in this segment in its portfolio: the CSL Elite Wheel Base and the ClubSport Wheel Base V2.5. The inner workings of the CSL Elite Wheel Base deliver six Newton meters to the steering axle and can therefore guarantee an even power development as well as a precise and fast response without dead centers for all steering wheels of the CSL and ClubSport series. Large ball bearings also ensure low friction. The power of the servo motor does, however, provide audible ventilation, but this is to be expected in view of the long service life of the motor.&nbsp;

At the upper end of this segment is the Fanatec ClubSport Wheel Base V2.5. The belt drive with large ball bearings provides strong and fast force feedback effects. Due to the modular system Fanatec offers you the choice between different steering wheels that fit on the wheel bases.&nbsp;

In addition, for a vibration-free setup it is essential that the Wheel Base is firmly bolted to the frame of a racing seat. Alternatively, you can use a table clamp to mount the Wheel Base on a desk.&nbsp;

<img src="/api/static/11fd1ffde3e06cd38ed8a7fb2b663283.png" alt="SimRacing Hardware Wheel Base Pic 3" style="height: auto;width: auto"/>

<h2>High-end in every respect</h2>

The ultimate in the wheel base segment are the so-called direct-drive wheel bases. They offer the most authentic and precise driving experience on a racing simulator and are used by most professional racers and e-sports racing experts. The handlebars are directly connected to a large electric motor, allowing extremely fast power and data transfer. You can now feel every bump.&nbsp;

The possible torque is much higher than with belt driven wheel bases and requires responsible use. Especially in case of collisions with your virtual car or an impact you have to be careful – just like with a real steering wheel.&nbsp;

<ul>
<li>VRS DirectForce Pro Wheel Base (RRP 899,99 €)</li>
<li>AccuForce Pro V2 (RRP $999.00)</li>
<li>Fanatec Podium Wheel Base DD1 (RRP 1.199,95 €)</li>
<li>SIMUCUBE 2 Sport (RRP 1.270,00 €)</li>
<li>SIMUCUBE 2 Pro (RRP 1.470,00 €)</li>
<li>Fanatec Podium Wheel Base DD1 (RRP 1.499,95 €)</li>
<li>SIMUCUBE 2 Ultimate (RRP 3.170,00 €)</li>
</ul>

<img src="/api/static/1c1caa2e0576a242f9f4eaf066060535.png" alt="SimRacing Hardware Wheel Base Pic 4" style="height: auto;width: auto"/>

With its podium series, Fanatec measures itself in the high-end category against brands such as Simucube, AccuForce and the newcomer VRS, which were previously only known for SimRacing coaching. However, with the Fanatec Podium DD 1 and DD2, the manufacturer from Landshut has the only models that are seamlessly compatible with all PS4 and PS4 Pro systems. The engine reaches peak torques of 20 Newton meters for the DD1 model and 25 Newton meters for the DD2 version, comparable to the torque of most real racing cars with power steering.

The Finnish manufacturer Granite Devices with its Simucube brand is considered an expert in this segment. Within the SIMUCUBE 2 product range, you can choose between three options: Sport, Pro and Ultimate. The torque here ranges from 17 to a proud 32 Newton meters. Manufacturers such as AccuForce and Virtual Racing School also have their own steering units with direct drive, but are not as widespread as Fanatec and Simucube.&nbsp;

So, if you are a SimRacing enthusiast who wants to get the most realistic racing experience possible and train for real test and race applications like I do, investing in a wheel base with direct drive makes perfect sense. If the high price is still a deterrent, there is nothing wrong with a belt driven wheel base. For newcomers I recommend a Logitech G923 or Thrustmaster model for the SimRacing entry.
---&nbsp;
The links marked with '*' are so-called affiliate links, which are linked to the Amazon partner program. If a purchase is made via such a link, we will be paid a commission. This helps us to offer our content free of charge. Of course there are no additional costs for you!

SimRacing Hardware Wheel Base Teaser

SimRacing hardware quickly explained: Wheel Base

You want to follow in the virtual footsteps of Max Verstappen and Lando Norris? Your interest in SimRacing has been aroused recently? Just like a real racer, equipment plays an important role in SimRacing, so you can have as much fun as possible and get your best possible performance. In this article we will take a quick and compact look at pedals in SimRacing and what is important about them. 

Since I train with my SimRacing setup mainly for real racing, a realistic driving experience is very important to me. Above all, you can get a more constant performance with the right pedals. Why this is so is explained by the technology in the pedal sets.&nbsp;

<img src="/api/static/f34040f8d24edf21b0282eb5409d1c07.png" alt="SimRacing Hardware Pedals Pic 1" style="height: auto;width: auto"/>

<h2>What the racing heart desires</h2>

In the early days of racing games, wheel base, steering wheel and pedal unit were typically offered as a bundled set. With a rapidly growing market and further development of technologies, numerous new products and segments were created. Nowadays, there is almost everything the racing heart desires: from inexpensive bundle packages with pedals and steering wheel units to professional hydraulic pedal designs that are in no way inferior to a real racing car pedal set.

Currently, three types of pedals have established on the market – potentiometer-based pedals, pedals with Hall-effect sensor and pedal units with a so-called load cell unit. Translated this means that basically the difference between cheap and expensive pedals lies not only in the quality of worksmanship, but especially in the feel and response of the brake pedal.&nbsp;

The brake pedal in a real car creates an increasing resistance against your foot when pressed. The more you brake, the more force you have to apply. In a real racing car, this can be well over 100 kilograms of brake pressure. Low-priced pedals, on the other hand, feel more even and only stiffen at the end of the stroke. This means that you have to remember the pedal travel on these pedals, whereas on more expensive pedals you hit the right brake pressure more intuitively and repeatedly with the so-called muscle memory.&nbsp;

<img src="/api/static/eef4181cb4154b2a9f1ff879bab35806.png" alt="SimRacing Hardware Pedals Pic 2" style="height: auto;width: auto"/>

<h2>All beginnings are easy</h2>

A potentiometer is essentially a position sensor. Using a mechanical resistance such as a spring or damper, the position of the pedal is measured and interpreted by the racing game as braking force.&nbsp;

The progressive pedal suspension of the Logitech G923 as well as the Thrustmaster T300 RS even tries to imitate the behavior of a pressure sensitive brake system.

<ul>
<li><a href="https://amzn.to/3k6LEeU" target="_blank">Fanatec CSL Elite Pedals</a> * (RRP 99,95 €)&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://amzn.to/33QQUhk" target="_blank">Thrustmaster T150 PRO ForceFeedback</a> * (RRP 249,99 €)&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://amzn.to/3nJF5Bm" target="_blank">Logitech G923</a> * (RRP 388,95 €)</li>
<li><a href="https://amzn.to/2H4j7s8" target="_blank">Thrustmaster T300 RS</a> * (RRP 399,99 €)&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Hall-effect sensors achieve a result comparable to that of a potentiometer, but measure the distance between a magnet and the sensor itself, which is then converted into an electrical signal and detected by the play as braking force. While still measuring the physical position of the pedal and not the brake pressure, it is less prone to error because we do not have to rely on mechanically moving parts.&nbsp;

<h2>More bite through new technologies</h2>

In higher quality, but also more expensive pedals, durable load cells are integrated into the pedal arm and measure the force exerted on the brake. In contrast to pedals with potentiometers, you can build up a realistic and strong brake pedal pressure and at the same time brake precisely and sensitively with muscle tension just like in a real racing car.&nbsp;

They are insensitive to dust and dirt and wear very little, so they promise high accuracy and durability. In addition, various individual adjustments can be made to the pedals.&nbsp;

•	Thrustmaster T-CLM (RRP 199,99 €)
•	Fanatec CSL Elite Pedals LC (RRP 229,95 €)
•	<a href="https://amzn.to/3iRhCul" target="_blank">Fanatec ClubSport Pedals V3</a> * (RRP 359,95 €)&nbsp;
•	Heusinveld Engineering Sim Pedals Sprint (2 pedal set) (RRP 599,00 €)
•	Heusinveld Engineering Sim Pedals Ultimate (2 pedal set) (RRP 1.079,00 €)
•	SIMTAG Hydraulic Pedal (Silver) (RRP 2.286,90 €)

In general, these pedals are also much better manufactured and sometimes rely on stable aluminum and metal constructions to cope with the high braking forces. One or two pedal sets are also available as inverted versions.

Widely used are the price-performance <a href="https://amzn.to/3iRhCul" target="_blank">Fanatec ClubSport V3 pedals</a> *, which are equipped with a 90 kilogram load cell on the brake pedal and contactless Hall sensors on the accelerator and clutch pedal. The Fanatec CSL Elite pedals can be retrofitted with a load cell, while the Thrustmaster T-CLM pedals offer a 100 kilogram load cell and are comparatively new on the market.&nbsp;

<img src="/api/static/70469b621d673f88157c98e7329cebbd.png" alt="SimRacing Hardware Pedals Pic 3" style="height: auto;width: auto"/>

<h2>Footwork like the pros</h2>

If you are willing to make an even higher investment for SimRacing pedals, manufacturers such as Heusinveld Engineering or SIMTAG offer suitable pedal sets for the most realistic feeling in the SimRacing footwell.&nbsp;

These high-end pedals offer additional adjustment possibilities and are used in the most professional racing simulators. With a 120 kilogram load cell in Heusinkveld Engineering Sim Pedals Sprint and a 200 kilogram load cell in Heusinkveld Engineering Sim Pedals, they enable ultimate pedal forces that are otherwise found in formula and LMP cars. The gas and clutch pedals are equipped with hydraulic dampers. Of course, this also has its price.&nbsp;

However, a stable SimRacing Rig that does not bend backwards when the brake pedal is pressed harder is a prerequisite for use. From the Logitech G29 to the Fanatec CSL Elite LC pedals and Fanatec ClubSport pedals V3 up to the Heusinkveld Engineering Sim Pedals Ultimate, I have used several pedal units on my own SimRacing Rig at home over the last years.&nbsp;

With this experience I can confirm that better pedals can make you not necessarily faster, but certainly more consistent. Especially with pedals, a bigger investment in load cell pedals is worthwhile, because the driving experience feels much more realistic. For the Fanatec ClubSport pedals V3 I recommend the additional Brake Performance Kit. On the Heusinkveld Engineering Sim Pedals Ultimate, which I currently use, I left out the clutch pedal and did not miss it until now.
---
The links marked with '*' are so-called affiliate links, which are linked to the Amazon partner program. If a purchase is made via such a link, we will be paid a commission. This helps us to offer our content free of charge. Of course there are no additional costs for you!

SimRacing Hardware Pedals Teaser

SimRacing hardware quickly explained: pedals

You want to follow in the virtual footsteps of Max Verstappen and Lando Norris? Your interest in SimRacing has been aroused recently? Just like a real racer, equipment plays an important role in SimRacing, so you can have as much fun as possible and get your best possible performance. In this article we will take a quick and compact look at the link between the driver and the SimRacing Rig – the steering wheel.

The steering wheel is the interface between driver and vehicle or SimRacer and SimRacing Rig. It is the only connection to your sports equipment besides the pedals and the seat. In SimRacing, the better it feels, the more authentic your driving experience. But nowadays SimRacing steering wheels are in no way inferior to their real-life counterparts. Ergonomics, materials, dimensions, knobs and features can be completely identical and thus it would theoretically be possible to use the SimRacing steering wheel in a real race car – provided the electronics play along.&nbsp;

<img src="/api/static/bcbe120bba13387626c017016172a308.png" alt="SimRacing Hardware Steering Wheel Pic 1" style="height: auto;width: auto"/>

<h2>Pure racing feeling</h2>

Soft Alcantara, perforated leather, anodized aluminum or forged carbon - there are no limits to the ideas and SimRacing professionals usually have more than just a steering wheel at home. Different racing disciplines have different requirements for racing steering wheels. Formula or GT cars, rally or drifting – now there is a steering wheel on the market for every racing enthusiast. We present you a selection of the current available steering wheels.&nbsp;

Analogous to our SimRacing hardware-quick-explained-contribution to pedals and wheel bases, you as SimRacing beginners in the low-priced segment are bound to the respective bundle package. However, the steering wheels are also very well made in this segment. The Logitech G923 shines with brushed metal and leather seams like in a real car as well as center markings on the steering wheel rim. The integrated dials are adjustable and colored LEDs show the speed range in supported racing games. Recently even a programmable double clutch allows an even cleaner and faster race start.&nbsp;

In partnership with Sparco, Thrustmaster even offers a one-to-one replica of the Sparco P310 competition racing wheel, developed based on practical experience from the racing departments of leading car manufacturers. With a true-to-the-original diameter of 31.5 cm and a suede-covered steering rim as well as metal shift paddles, you will be able to drive very close to reality, even at a reasonable price. For Ferrari fans, there is even a replica of the 599XX EVO steering wheel in 8:10 scale and the same Alcantara material used for the real Ferrari steering wheels – directly imported from Italy.&nbsp;

<img src="/api/static/d08cb12fe47403d3ab25b349051d188d.png" alt="SimRacing Hardware Steering Wheel Pic 2" style="height: auto;width: auto"/>

<h2>Modular systems and limitless possibilities</h2>

Fanatec awakens your passion for collecting with steering wheel rims with a modular system and free choice in Formula, GT, Drift, Classic or Oval style. The Fanatec ClubSport Universal Hub as well as the Fanatec Podium Hub even allow you to mount original steering wheels from renowned manufacturers such as MOMO, SPARCO or OMP in addition to the Fanatec in-house steering wheel rims from the Fanatec product portfolio. A simple six-screw design allows you to switch between the steering wheels as you like and even position the five controls individually – depending on the chosen steering wheel.

The weight of the steering wheel plays an important role. The lighter the steering wheel, the more direct the force feedback of the wheel base. A light steering wheel allows even faster and more precise reactions if the rear end of the car breaks away or if the car is understeering.&nbsp;

The SimRacing hardware forge from Landshut also offers a wide range of steering wheels at a reasonable price. The CSL steering wheel P1 for Xbox One and PC is currently the most favorable steering wheel of the ClubSport series and presents itself with brushed, anodized aluminum as well as Alcantara cover solidly manufactured and beyond that it is very light with just 970 grams. The RevStripe with the three-digit LED display is also unusual in this price class. An illuminated stripe indicates the next gear change and the display can be used for tuning settings or to display telemetry data. Rally fans can look forward to a WRC edition of the CSL steering wheel P1.

<img src="/api/static/22c588ce566c56b937f8c8b8de63b3f2.png" alt="SimRacing Hardware Steering Wheel Pic 3" style="height: auto;width: auto"/>

<h2>Professional racers feel at home</h2>

In the ClubSport series, changing the steering wheels is even faster with the quick-release fastener system. The highlight of the series is the compact ClubSport Formula V2 steering wheel with a diameter of 27 cm and multicolored LED strips, OLED display and numerous knobs and rotary switches. It gets even more realistic with the upgrade to the Podium Advanced Paddle Module, which is equipped with a dual clutch system and magnetic shift lever with carbon fiber plates. GT3 and Porsche fans have the opportunity to prepare for endurance races with the Podium Button Module Endurance. With the true-to-original replica of the Porsche 911 GT3 R steering wheel, including a larger LED display and the matching buttons and rotary switches from the real racing car, you are well prepared for a long SimRacing night.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

With steering wheels there are hardly any limits to the price. The Italian manufacturer Cube Controls only offers Formula and GT steering wheels, but these offer a really good value. Designed for SimRacing pros and professional racers and all those who want to become one, the steering wheels have a 4.3 inch LCD screen, depending on the model, which you can configure individually, and illuminated buttons, which is absolutely recommended. The front panels in real carbon are a matter of course. Also the gearshifts are in no way inferior to those in a real racing car and the steering wheels are compatible with Wheel Bases from Thrustmaster, Logitech, AccuForce, Fanatec and Simucube. F1 pros like Lando Norris and GT aces like Kelvin van der Linde use the steering wheels from Precision Sim Engineering, which offer Formula and GT variants as well as a model for Le Mans prototypes. Individual steering wheels are also implemented by Precision Sim Engineering, but can only be delivered again from 2021.

SimRacing Hardware Steering Wheel Teaser

SimRacing hardware quickly explained: steering wheels 

In the KEEPONRACING column Kevin gives unique insights into real motorsport.

From fan to driver - what motorsport fan and SimRacing enthusiast doesn't dream of it? But who believes that this dream can actually become a reality for himself? Especially since, unlike many other young racing drivers, I didn't grow up in karting but had my first racing experience with Gran Turismo and my participation in the GT Academy competition. In the second part of my column you can read more about my new racing car and my new racing team this year.

So, I was delighted to be part of the successful RN Vision STS team and to have the opportunity to drive a Porsche Cayman GT4 CS in the hotly contested NES 8 class, another year in the DMV NES 500 Endurance Championship. In doing so, I have to improve my skills as a racing driver enormously again, when I have to fight for places and points, among others with professional drivers and factory drivers like Benny Leuchter in top racing cars from the well-known ADAC TCR Germany Touring Car Championship. It is clear that our team with the Porsche Cayman GT4 CS has the role of underdog in this class, but it is precisely this challenge for us that makes the championship and the races all the more exciting.


<img src="/api/static/38009f1fa35c87b7366d9f807f794b40.png" alt="KEEPONRACING Story 2 Pic 1" style="height: auto;width: auto"/>

This development towards the GT4 category means a lot to me, because since my entry into motorsports two years ago, I have been able to improve year by year, so that I am now very happy to be part of the successful team RN Vision STS around my team boss Veit-Valentin Vincentz this year and to share my further development steps and experiences with you on my KEEPONRACING blog.&nbsp;

<h2>David vs. Goliath</h2>

Especially important for me as a young motor sportsman is the fact that RN Vision STS - besides trophy hunting - also focuses on the further development of my driving skills. So every training session and race is accompanied by comprehensive data and video analysis, as I already know it from simracing. In the video on my YouTube channel, my team boss Veit and I also talk about the difference between simracing and real racing. In addition, I will introduce you to my new racing car in a unique predator design and take you for a spin on the Nürburgring Grand Prix circuit. Furthermore.&nbsp;

Before the test drives on the Nürburgring and Zandvoort started, I still lacked a bit of confidence in the car, especially in curves where the car became restless. With increasing confidence, my pace has also improved steadily. The tires usually have even more grip than the car gave me at the first moment, I just got a feel for it and that's a point I was able to improve on at the start of the season at the Lausitzring.

With our second place in the rain race at the Sachsenring, I proved that I have gained confidence in our mid-engine sports car even in wet conditions and it surprised myself how much fun I had in the race in such difficult conditions.&nbsp;

<img src="/api/static/e360831db1020bcb2db9994645aefb56.png" alt="KEEPONRACING Story 2 Pic 2" style="height: auto;width: auto"/>

You can follow my story of simracing in real motorsports this year again on my Instagram-(@keeponracing) and Facebook channel (KEEPONRACING.DE) as well as on <a href="https://keeponracing.de/" target="_blank">KEEPONRACING.DE</a> and my column on simracing-unlimited.com

Keeponracing Story 2 Teaser

KEEPONRACING: Level Up! New car, new team

From fan to driver! In the KEEPONRACING column Kevin gives unique insights into real motorsport.

Welcome to my KEEPONRACING story!

From fan to driver - which motorsport fan and simracing enthusiast doesn't dream of it? But who believes that this dream can actually become a reality for himself of all people? Especially since, unlike many other young racing drivers, I didn't grow up in karting but made my first racing experiences with Gran Turismo and my participation in the GT Academy competition. 

With the GT Academy competition, the car manufacturer Nissan and the video game brand PlayStation wanted to find out whether a fast PlayStation gamer can also cut a good figure in a real cockpit. Over 100,000 players in Germany took part in the competition. They all fought for a place in the German final and with it the further selection process in the race camp in Silverstone. The winner was offered a contract as a professional Nissan factory racer. Here I made my first experience in a race car on a real race track.&nbsp;

<img src="/api/static/6c6e42c032564fd54c81a5fc3ecc4d3e.png" alt="KEEPONRACING Story 1 Pic 1" style="height: auto;width: auto"/>

This experience was so overwhelming that after my seventh place in the race camp I wanted to do everything I could to become a race driver. So, in 2013, the idea for my mission #KEEPONRACING was born from the well-known radio message of the race engineers "Keep on Pushing", i.e. to always give everything in the race. Here, too, I have to give everything I have to go from being a motorsport fan to becoming a motorsport racer.

<h2>Life is too short not to try</h2>

Since I know from my own experience how difficult it is to realize such a dream, I had the idea to write down my story to motivate and inspire other motorsport fans and simracing enthusiasts in my #KEEPONRACING blog.&nbsp;

Because, as they say, without sweat there is no prize. So, I had to overcome many challenges with a lot of perseverance, dedication and passion in order to complete my third racing season as a late entrant, against all expectations in the racing scene.&nbsp;

On my way I learned one thing I want to share with you - there are always different ways into motorsports and you can take up this mission at any age. But you have to keep at it and motivate yourself again and again and literally "Keep on Pushing" yourself to push and push.&nbsp;


<img src="/api/static/01b088cbfe16bc3c1a8f4e3b0826828a.png" alt="KEEPONRACING Story 1 Pic 2" style="height: auto;width: auto"/>

<h2>Surprise debut season</h2>

So I started my first full racing season at the age of 26, after having participated in several virtual-to-real racing competitions and junior scouting. With the BMW M240i Racing in snow and rain at the Hockenheimring, with a Mini Cooper JCW at the Sachsenring, the KTM X-Bow GT4 at the Slovakiaring or at my first race ever directly through Raidillon de l'Eau Rouge in Spa-Francorchamps - with each race I learned a new aspect on my way to becoming a racer.&nbsp;

After my surprising third place in the DMV BMW 318ti Cup championship in my first year as a racer in 2018, I finally knew for myself that it was possible to enter motorsport via Simracing. But, after that, every motor sportsman inevitably has to ask the question: what is still in it for me with my talent and my financial possibilities thanks to my sponsors?&nbsp;
<h2>Passion for endurance races</h2>

That's why I made a conscious decision to participate in the DMV National Endurance Series 500 for an endurance championship. The races, which last several hours, take place on attractive race tracks, were always exciting and demanded everything from the team, drivers and vehicles. Here I was able to build on the success of my first year and win the championship in my class on a BMW M240i Racing with my two team mates.&nbsp;&nbsp;

So after the season I asked myself again the question: how and where do I want to do racing in the future and on which professional level can I drive with my talent and possibilities?

This is a question that every motor sportsman has to answer honestly and self-critically and so I was glad to have the opportunity to gain further experience in the "entry level" of professional motor sports - the GT4 class - during a test with HP Racing International in Portimão and to discuss the next steps in motor sports with the successful team manager and instructor Hari Proczyk.&nbsp;


<img src="/api/static/d8e6189b2d2fe57aefcd958033c872da.png" alt="KEEPONRACING Story 1 Pic 3" style="height: auto;width: auto"/>

You can follow my story of simracing in real motorsports this year again on my Instagram-(@keeponracing) and Facebook channel (KEEPONRACING.DE) as well as on <a href="https://keeponracing.de/" target="_blank">KEEPONRACING.DE</a> and my column on simracing-unlimited.com

KEEPONRACING Story 1 Teaser

KEEPONRACING: From fan to driver - how it all began!

In our article we take a look under the hood and dive into the meaning of SimRacing from our point of view.

Virtual Motorsports, E-Racing, SimRacing or E-Sports Racing? There are many buzzwords and terms that are mentioned around our passion. In our article we take a look under the hood and dive into the meaning of SimRacing from our point of view. For this purpose we will introduce you to the term E-Sports Racing. 

Many motorsport fans long for the chance to race a GT3 or GT4 racing car over iconic race tracks like the Nürburgring-Nordschleife and get as close as possible to the dream of a racing driver. Diving into the golden era of motor sports in the cockpit of a Group C monster or formula car from the seventies is now also possible in an authentic way in Simracing, also written Sim-Racing or SimRacing.


<img src="/api/static/60cbbcec661f42e50d47f3e6bd854bed.png" alt="SimRacing E-Sports Racing Pic 1" style="height: auto;width: auto"/>

<h2>Ideal training option for racing drivers</h2>

SimRacing is the abbreviation for "Simulated Racing". SimRacing is considered an umbrella term and refers to racing simulations that have implemented racing vehicles and race tracks, and especially the driving behavior, with a very high demand for realism. In contrast to other racing games along the spectrum, the driving dynamic limit range of the vehicles in racing simulations is rather narrow and therefore requires a lot of training laps and patience. This includes numerous other variables such as vehicle tuning, fuel and tire consumption, and changing track conditions. The more realistic, the better.

By simulating vehicle behavior more precisely, the racing simulation can pass on more data and information to SimRacing hardware such as force feedback steering wheels and wheel bases as well as pedal units. This makes SimRacing a tool for racing drivers to prepare for real test and race applications and to coordinate new vehicle setups together with the teams. Conversely, for motor sports and racing game fans, this means that they can train and practice the same motion sequences, driving techniques and working methods as a real professional racing driver with a significantly lower budget investment for SimRacing hardware and software compared to real racing.

Weight transfer, tire management and vehicle control at the limits play an equally decisive role both virtually and in reality, and many basic principles can be transferred from SimRacing to real motor sports and vice versa. Lando Norris and Max Verstappen have been active in SimRacing since their youth and have been able to train their skills there. SimRacing is also based on a mixture of driving skills, professional preparation and technical know-how. The biggest difference is the physical aspect of motorsport, especially the G-forces that act on the body in the real vehicle. In addition, there are also real consequences in the event of a claim.&nbsp;


<img src="/api/static/0bd8578a6541704aaa43c157799fe7ed.png" alt="SimRacing E-Sports Racing Pic 2" style="height: auto;width: auto"/>

<h2>Approved as a motorsport discipline</h2>

SimRacing has also recently become an official motorsport discipline. "In no other sport reality and digital simulation are as close to each other as in motor sports", is the opinion of Dr. Gerd Ennser, member of the DMSB's executive committee and responsible for the DMSB's SimRacing activities. "From our point of view, SimRacing can be the entry into motor sports, as it is relatively inexpensive and can be practiced by practically anyone - by the way, also by people with physical disabilities. Concentration, reaction speed and basic technical understanding are perfectly trained in SimRacing. This is also shown by the pilots who have been able to win through in the SimRacing area in junior scouting competitions and have already gained a foothold in real sport. Now we want to make this possible for even more drivers".

Even active racing drivers who hang up their racing shoes can continue to pursue their passion in SimRacing. But it is not only on the driver's side that SimRacing offers possibilities comparable to those in real motor sports. As moderator or commentator, photographer or organizer of virtual race series and races, designer of digital racing paints, team manager or engineer, there are numerous tasks and fields of activity within the SimRacing community with which one can spend even more time than actual driving.


<img src="/api/static/7337b03abd5f54552d69c89d08f7701c.png" alt="SimRacing E-Sports Racing Pic 3" style="height: auto;width: auto"/>

<h2>Reach boom of e-sports racing</h2>

The keywords "e-sports" and "e-sports racing" have recently become increasingly present in the SimRacing community. They refer to the competitive area of SimRacing, but can also include less simulation-oriented racing games. The first World Championship in Grand Prix Legends was held as early as 1998. At that time, 20 drivers competed with steering wheels, joysticks and a modem for a small prize pool in virtual Grand Prix cars.&nbsp;

Then in 2008, Sony PlayStation and Nissan Motorsport launched GT Academy on the popular Gran Turismo series, which took winning racing game enthusiasts on a journey into real racing. rFactor 2 was used, among other things, for the Visa Vegas eRace of Formula E, in which professional racers competed against SimRacing pros for a million dollars in prize money.

Both the Formula 1 with its F1 Virtual Grand Prix series and the virtual 24 Hours of Le Mans brought in record numbers of spectators this year. While Formula 1 generated 30 million hits on TV and digital platforms, the first official edition of the Le Mans Virtual 24 Hours, which took place from June 13 to 14, attracted 14.2 million viewers.


<img src="/api/static/c685845b24490bfcd1021f90e4452ad3.png" alt="SimRacing E-Sports Racing Pic 4" style="height: auto;width: auto"/>

<h2>Manufacturers and racing series have recognized the potential</h2>

Almost every racing series now deals with SimRacing and E-Sports Racing. Porsche and BMW, in particular, each have their own virtual racing series with attractive prize money at the start with the Porsche TAG Heuer Esports Supercup and the BMW 120 SIM Cup as well as the BMW M2 CS Racing Cup. With the Porsche SimRacing Summit and BMW SIM LIVE, there are even their own SimRacing events at the manufacturers' premises. McLaren and Ferrari are also active in promoting SimRacing drivers with their own programs. The WRC has its own Rallye E-Sports World Championship, the GT World Challenge hosts the SRO E-Sports GT Series, and American racing series such as NASCAR and Indycar also have their own virtual counterparts.&nbsp;

SimRacing and E-Sports Racing therefore offer numerous opportunities not only from a driving or personal point of view, but companies and brands have already recognized the potential and reach in a young and technology-oriented community.

SimRacing E-Sports Racing Title

What is SimRacing and what does E-Sports Racing mean?

In our article we will discuss what makes a racing simulation a simulation and how versatile the range of racing games really is.

Racing simulation, Sim-Cade, Arcade-Racer or just racing game? Many terms are mentioned in connection with racing games, but many definitions are more confusing than that they make it easier for interested people and beginners to understand. In our article we will discuss what makes a racing simulation a simulation and how versatile the racing game spectrum really is. 

Everyone knows them - with titles like Need for Speed, Burnout, Mario Kart, Colin McRae Rally or Wipeout, childhood memories are immediately awakened. Many of you grew up with these racing games and spent countless hours tuning, tricking and working on ever new time or point records. They are all considered racing games, and racing games in turn are considered the computer and video game genre. By definition, racing games are about driving a given route in a vehicle (or something like that) in the shortest possible time. Thus the whole spectrum - from Mario Kart to iRacing, Need for Speed to Assetto Corsa - falls into the racing game genre.


<img src="/api/static/1649beae280a4a50a597a65292e4c73f.png" alt="Finishline rFactor2" style="height: auto;width: auto"/>


<h2>The racing games spectrum</h2>

On one side of the spectrum, racing games are designed to be beginner-friendly and focus on maximum gaming fun with a steep learning curve. Start the engine and let's go! Without slowing down through the curves? No problem! Extreme speeds and unrealistic driving behavior are often the order of the day, and weapons or other objects can also throw unwanted opponents off track. Colloquially, this form of racing games is also known as arcade or fun racer. This type of racing games for consoles, Microsoft Windows and smartphones also find a home at simracing-unlimited.com.&nbsp;

Along the spectrum you'll find many more exciting racing games - from Forza Horizon and Live for Speed to the popular console flagship racing games Forza Motorsport and Gran Turismo, to the official F1 and rally titles and the Project CARS series. Often this very broad part of the racing games spectrum is simply titled Sim-Cade (or SimCade) - a mixture of simulation and arcade racer.&nbsp;

These racing games partly fulfill aspects of unambiguous racing simulations, such as faithfully reproduced vehicles and race tracks, tire wear and simulated vehicle weight and chassis models, but they make compromises in certain areas in order to keep the learning curve as flat as possible and the game fun high. Playability with the gamepad - often next to the steering wheel with pedal unit - is also an important factor.

<h2>Hot discussed</h2>

Driving aids, such as a brake and steering aid, make it easier for beginners or players without much simulation experience to master the first meters in a new racing game. Tires also do not overheat as quickly, and a trip to a virtual gravel bed or a grass carpet does not end so dramatically, which makes it easier for a new and younger target group to enter the world of more realistic racing games. That in turn is a great thing for the whole community.&nbsp;

The exact classification of the individual racing games is hotly discussed in the player community and can rarely be made clear, so we refrain from a clear classification of the individual racing game titles in this area. But one thing is clear, basic requirement for racing simulation is that the real world is the model for the digital world. All other aspects feel different for different players, different and individually different and therefore a clear classification can never be made.


<img src="/api/static/b4a651063ed244303fb2db7bbcf255cc.png" alt="Assetto Corsa screenshot" style="height: auto;width: auto"/>


<h2>What distinguishes a racing simulation</h2>

Not much less hotly debated is the question, which racing game actually deserves the predicate racing simulation. Of course there are different opinions, but one common denominator is and remains the claim of the racing game to be as close to reality as possible.

This means that the focus of the development team, and thus the available resources, is much more on a realistic implementation of the complex vehicle physics, instead of a presentation or an attractive career mode. Vehicle models are implemented accurately on the basis of CAD data - in some cases provided directly by the manufacturer - and a large part of the race tracks are virtually implemented with centimeter precision using the laser scanning method, including individual bumps. ABS and traction control systems are also implemented more precisely and the tire grip changes over a driving unit, so that more sensitivity is required behind the virtual cockpit. Brake points set too late and hard steering maneuvers have an effect on tire and brake wear. In addition, the track surface changes with increasing rubber abrasion and the outside temperature affects tire grip and vehicle performance.

<h2>Racing simulations as a tool for real racing drivers</h2>

By realistically simulating the wheels, tire surfaces as well as chassis and other chassis components, racing simulations also serve as a tool for real racing drivers to prepare themselves for test and racing missions. This also includes working with telemetry data from the respective racing simulation. In addition, setup changes can be adjusted based on numerous parameters, such as vehicle height and rear wing angle, and have a direct effect on lap times and driving feel.&nbsp;

However, for racing game beginners all this also means a flatter and longer learning curve as well as a lot of patience when mastering the individual vehicles and tracks. A domestic racing simulator with a steering wheel and pedal unit as well as a stable seat construction is ideal, so that the muscle movements can be memorized as well as possible. In addition, there is a lot of patience and fun in the challenge of becoming faster step by step and driving as error-free as possible.


<img src="/api/static/ae4a1d28b0f855c1f2a04fdba342697d.png" alt="iRacing model" style="height: auto;width: auto"/>


<h2>The right racing game for everyone</h2>

Current racing simulations include iRacing, Assetto Corsa and Assetto Corsa Competizione, RaceRoom Racing Experience, as well as the Automobilista and rFactor series. Due to complex physics and computational models, racing simulations generally unfold their greatest potential on powerful Microsoft Windows systems and continue to develop with new technologies over the years. Thus, it is possible that a racing game at a later stage of its development is at a different point on the racing game scale, for example even further towards racing simulation.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Whatever your preferences for racing games, we are grateful for the varied selection along the entire spectrum. Different racing games have their very own strengths and therefore the exact classification of racing game titles is not general, but rather a personal assessment. Meanwhile there is a suitable title for almost every racing game fan - racing game newcomer or experienced simracer - and it is certain that everyone will benefit from a growing racing game community. The most important thing anyway is that you have fun with it.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Race simulations and racing games explained

Race simulations and racing games quickly explained

Holistic - Exciting - Always Up to Date » SimRacing Unlimited got it all in store for you: Insights, News, Events » discover the SimRacing world here

World of SimRacing | SimRacing Unlimited

Rules

CUPRA SIMRACING SERIES 2021 R1 Hockenheim GP

CUPRA SIMRACING SERIES 2021 R1 Hockenheim GP - Multiplayer Race

CUPRA SIMRACING SERIES 2021 R2 Silverstone GP

CUPRA SIMRACING SERIES 2021 R2 Silverstone GP - Multiplayer Race

CUPRA SIMRACING SERIES 2021 R3 NORDSCHLEIFE

CUPRA SIMRACING SERIES 2021 R3 NORDSCHLEIFE - Multiplayer Race

CUPRA SIMRACING SERIES 2021 R4 Motorland Aragón GP

CUPRA SIMRACING SERIES 2021 R4 Motorland Aragón GP - Multiplayer Race

CUPRA SIMRACING SERIES 2021 R5 Spa-Francorchamps GP

CUPRA SIMRACING SERIES 2021 R5 Spa-Francorchamps GP - Multiplayer Race

Compete against the best SimRacers worldwide in 10 exciting leaderboards and multiplayer races! Qualify for one of 6 divisions for each race and have the chance to win a part of the 10.000€ prize pool and maybe wear the title "Winner of the CUPRA SimRacing Series 2021"!

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