In collaboration with toy manufacturer Mattel, Milestone Studios is tinkering with the fun racer "Hot Wheels Unleashed". We have the details:

That looks like a lot of fun: A first trailer for the upcoming fun racer "Hot Wheels Unleashed" - which unfortunately still lacks real gameplay scenes - shows you exactly what you can look forward to.
<h2>Mattel plus Milestone</h2>
Milestone Studios, which should be known for its ever-improving MotoGP games, has bagged a new cooperation with the toy makers from Mattel. The result of the collaboration is a micro-racer that will give you the opportunity to race with the crazy models of the Hot Wheels series. The little racing cars retain their original format, so you'll be racing in children's rooms, kitchens and living rooms. However, the tracks here are not formed from books, ironing boards or tables, as the name of the game suggests, you'll be racing on the "real" Hot Wheels tracks, which you can assemble in real life from the available parts in exactly the same way. So look forward to steep turns, loops and gigantic ramps, which of course will allow you to make fantastic jumps. According to the developers at Milestone Studios, when you're driving, it should feel like you're playing with the vehicles.&nbsp;

<img src="/api/static/ba219792f5fe55379c0d6641eb83c188.png" alt="HW Unleashed" style="height: auto;width: auto"/>

Executive Producer at Milestone, Michele Caletti, describes Hot Wheels Unleashed by saying, "Like many other team members working on the game, I've been playing with Hot Wheels since I was a kid and I'm still an avid Hot Wheels fan and collector today. That's why we're all so dedicated to delivering the purest and most authentic Hot Wheels gaming experience ever seen in a video game. We owe it to the Hot Wheels community and our inner children."
"Hot Wheels Unleashed" is scheduled to be available for consoles and PC on September 30. You can watch the <a href="https://youtu.be/iSM7xUCum_c" target="_self">launch video at this location</a> . As soon as there is real gameplay footage of the promising mini-racing game, you'll hear about it from us.

Hot Wheels Unleashed

Hot Wheels Unleashed: Childhood dream announced for September 30th

A new update for Automobilista 2 raises the game to version 1.1.2.0. What exactly has changed, you can see in the overview.

The recently announced major update for the racing simulation "Automobilista 2" from the developers Reiza Studios is now available for the PC. What exactly has changed in the game, you can now read here in the listing:&nbsp;
<h2>CONTENT</h2>
Tracks
<ul>
<li>Added Spa Francorchamps 1993 layout</li>
</ul>
Vehicles
<ul>
<li>Added Group C class featuring Sauber Mercedes C9 &amp; Porsche 962C</li>
<li>Added Stock Car 1999 Omega series</li>
</ul>
<h2>GENERAL</h2>
<ul>
<li>Implemented new LiveTrack wet weather rubber washing (rubber is now gradually washed away from track surface as it gets saturated with water)</li>
<li>Expanded available opponent classes to 9 (10 total)</li>
<li>Bumped headlight range from 160 to 240m for all cars</li>
<li>Corrected number of opponents in Championship mode to match the series current total number of opponents</li>
<li>Added function to set different presets of rubber depending on type of session (making option available to player will soon follow)</li>
<li>Added new functions to control when vehicle headlights &amp; tail lights should remain on and DRS rules remain disabled based on track wetness threshold (previously was solely based on environment light levels)</li>
<li>Replaced Spa 2020 with Spa 1993 on the calendar of pre-2005 championships</li>
</ul>
<h2>UI &amp; HUD</h2>
<ul>
<li>Re-styled event rules &amp; regulations page</li>
<li>Added help texts to online Opponent settings screen</li>
<li>Fixed wrong value link on gear 7/8 assignments</li>
<li>Fixed redundant adjustable wing setup option being available for cars without such aero components</li>
<li>Corrected tire names for various cars using street or semi-slick compounds</li>
<li>Fixed missing French &amp; German localization for track limits setting</li>
<li>Adjusted font size on track limit warnings labels for Rules &amp; Regulations UI screen</li>
</ul>
<h2>FFB</h2>
<ul>
<li>Introduced routine to reset FFB in case of FFB loss (game detects the loss and reset FFB automatically, should be seamless for player)</li>
<li>Adjusted default FFB profile for more accurate self-aligning torque, milder force spikes over big bumps and other such sudden tire oad.change; adjusted effect from braking torque (should provide better feedback during lockups); split FX signal from Low Force Boost setting</li>
</ul>
<h2>PHYSICS</h2>
<ul>
<li>Added slow damping function to all tires (generally improves tire damping &amp; fixes bouncing effect at very slow speeds previously proeminent in formula cars)</li>
<li>Added intermediate &amp; extreme tyre compounds for modern protos, GTs &amp; formulas</li>
<li>Adjusted tire tread for 60s touring cars, F-V3,, Opalas, Copas Fusca, Uno, Truck, Caterham Academy &amp; F-Trainer</li>
<li>Adjusted semi-slick tire tread (F-Trainer Advanced, Caterhams, ARC Camaro)</li>
<li>Increased RPM threshold for reduced engine life in 2-stroke karts</li>
<li>Moved Metalmoro AJR diffuser center of pressure rearwards by 2cm (slightly rebalancing overall aero distribution)</li>
<li>Slightly falloff rates in rain for all slick tires (addressing issues with tires losing all adherence beyond a certain saturation point)</li>
<li>Minor stifness adjustment to GT / Proto / StockCar tire carcasses</li>
<li>Added minor preload resistance to open diffs in cars with more powerful engines</li>
<li>Adjusted Porsche 911 GT1 engine compression curve</li>
<li>Adjusted default gear ratios for Mclaren F1 GTR &amp; Mercedes CLK in GT1 class</li>
<li>Minor crankshaft mass adjustments to F1 cars</li>
<li>Corrected 720S GT3 negative rear toe setting (setup reset recommended)</li>
<li>Moved default brake bias slightly rearwards for Copa Truck, F-Trainers (requires setup reset recommended)</li>
</ul>
<h2>AI</h2>
<ul>
<li>Various AI behavior improvements, adding car-specific parameters to improve their overtaking assesments both against human player and AI vs AI</li>
<li>Added car-specific overrides for previously global parameters controlling the amount of lifting off the throttle AI would do while running over puddles, &amp; introduced new car-specific parameter controlling the amount of lifting while on wet tires (generally less than on dry tires, improves their straightline performance when going through large amounts of standing water)</li>
<li>Added several car-specific overrides for previously global AI parameters such as brake and reaccelaration distance thresholds, start reaction times, distance triggers for defending position</li>
<li>Reduced likelihood of AI crashing into wall when side by side with human</li>
<li>Increased AI drivers performance range</li>
<li>Minor AI callibration pass for performance dropoff with tire wear</li>
<li>Azure: Smoothed corridors in several locations</li>
<li>Slightly adjusted AI grip @ Bathurst, Nurburgring GP &amp; Velocitta</li>
</ul>
<h2>TRACKS</h2>
<ul>
<li>Adelaide: reduced road mesh noise; smooth curb at entrance to T13</li>
<li>Imola: Fixed camera man pop up</li>
<li>Kyalami: removed glitchy helicopter animation</li>
<li>Silverstone: trimmed 3D grass clipping walls in some places; fixed a few object pop ups; consolidated some grand stands into larger objects (same materials); optimized shadows</li>
<li>Revised "Max AI participants" for various tracks, correcting when this differed from available garage slots</li>
<li>Disabled DOF blur in all trackside VR cams for tracks that have them (currently only Grade A tracks)</li>
</ul>
<h2>VEHICLES</h2>
<ul>
<li>&nbsp;F-V10 Gen2: fixed visual tire tread not corresponding the actual tire when switching from wet to dry</li>
<li>&nbsp;F-Classic (all gens): added Dirt/Scratch map + New UV channel 3 mapping for carbon fiber cockpit material</li>
<li>&nbsp;Copa Montana: added Dirt/Scratch map</li>
<li>&nbsp;BMW M6 GT3: Fixed red carpaint issue in cockpit view (car #91)</li>
<li>&nbsp;F-V10: Fixed visual glitch with windscreen in rain</li>
<li>&nbsp;Gol Classic B: Fixed front splitter glitch</li>
<li>&nbsp;Ultima GTR: Fixed oil pressure needle</li>
<li>&nbsp;F3 F309: corrected RPM bars range</li>
<li>&nbsp;Lancer R &amp; RS: Livery override entry added for windscreen and wing</li>
<li>&nbsp;Corrected cockpit POV in Metalmoro AJR, Mclaren 570S, Ultima GTR</li>
<li>&nbsp;Corrected rain tire tread for F-Retros</li>
</ul>
The developer studio definitely has an ear for the fans. Many of the bugs that have now been fixed have found their way into the racing simulation thanks to player feedback. But the most exciting ones are definitely the two iconic Group C race cars, Sauber Mercedes C9 and Porsche 962C.

Automobilista 2

Automobilista 2: All contents of the update V 1.1.2.0 in the overview

The new update for "Gran Turismo Sport" to version 1.63 brings a few sensible changes. Which things have been adjusted?

A ray of sunshine on the horizon: After the painful postponement of "Gran Turismo 7" to the year 2022, the developers from Polyphony Digital are coming around the corner with the update 1.63 for "Gran Turismo Sport"– as announced. Besides smaller improvements that are hardly visible, the discreet revision of the penalty system is especially welcome.
<h2>Patch 1.63 at a glance</h2>
By far the three most interesting innovations concern the soon to be launched FIA GT Championship, as well as the Daily Races and the Sport mode: For the latter, the times of a pit stop have been massively corrected upwards. Including entry, stop and exit, up to ten seconds more are now added. This is a huge change, as the pit strategy for the upcoming races of the FIA GT Championship now has to be completely rethought.
The changes to the penalty system are also likely to reverberate. Minor jostling or touching is no longer penalized as harshly or not at all – a blessing if you're dealing with players who have a somewhat shaky online connection.&nbsp;

<img src="/api/static/c3f8765005598747bfedd8f12bf5bf95.png" alt="SIE" style="height: auto;width: auto"/>

In addition, the "FIA Manufacturer Series" will now be held in three regions: North and South Americas, Asia-Pacific and Europe, Middle East and Africa. The Nations Cup is excluded from this change and remains a five-region event, with Asia, Oceania, North America and Central and South America remaining as separate entities alongside EMEA.
A change to the BOP is also included in the 1.63 update for "Gran Turismo Sport," but curiously this only applies to a single car: the Mazda RX-Vision GT3 (pictured above) loses both power and weight in this change. The weight drops by 4% to 102% and the performance by 3% to 92%. In addition, the developers at Polyphony Digital have adjusted some of the car's chassis settings, including the height of the suspension.

Gran Turismo Sport

New update for Gran Turismo Sport: What has been improved?

The sparrows have already whistled it from the rooftops: "Gran Turismo 7" will no longer be released on the Playstation 5 in 2021.

It came as it had to come in these times: In an interview, Sony's head honcho Jim Ryan reveals what many simracing fans with a PS5 on their shelf had already feared: The eagerly awaited racing game "Gran Turismo 7" will no longer roll out of the pit lane in 2021.
<h2>GT7 not until 2022</h2>
Sony hadn't mentioned an exact date for "Gran Turisimo 7" in the run-up, but only specified a time frame in the fourth quarter of 2021. Now we know why the Japanese hardware and software giant was so cautious. The "new" processes, which of course also massively complicate the development of complex video games at the moment, have led to the fact that "Gran Turismo 7" cannot be finished on time.&nbsp;

<img src="/api/static/21510130d1c6093e754f493665adc668.png" alt="GT7" style="height: auto;width: auto"/>

Of course, the developers - according to their Japanese nature - apologize kindly and sincerely to the fans and ask for understanding for the unexpected postponement of "Gran Turismo 7". Of course, they get that from us, even if the selection of really good, new sim racing games for the Playstation 5 is then a bit thin this year. At least the fact that Kunos Simulazioni is working on a next-gen-console version of "Assetto Corsa Competizione" certainly makes our tears dry a bit faster.

Gran Turismo 7

Gran Turismo 7: Sony postpones the game to 2022

Qualifying for the BMW SIM M2 CS Racing Cup begins on February 25. We explain how you can take part in the races.

The BMW SIM M2 CS Racing Cup 2021 invites you to six exciting races around the world. Are you in a position to qualify for one of the top places? More importantly, how will you take part in the races and what are the requirements?&nbsp;
<h2>The prize money</h2>
The top 3 drivers in the BMW SIM M2 CS Racing Cup will of course be rewarded for their efforts at the wheel with appropriate prize money. 500 euros await the first-place winner, second place receives 250 euros and the bronze medal is still rewarded with 100 euros. The winning driver of each race qualifies to take part in the BMW SIM M2 CS Racing Cup Final at BMW SIM Live 2021. If the winning driver of a race already qualifies for participation in the final, the best-placed driver who has not yet qualified will move up. The distribution of the prize money remains unaffected by this postponement.
<h2>The starting times</h2>
In this second season of competition, the BMW SIM M2 CS Racing Cup will be part of the GT Pro event package and act as support for the GT Pro Series. Each round will be held on the same tracks as GT Pro, with track activity completed prior to GT Pro qualifying.
Qualifying is open to all registered from rFactor 2 drivers and will consist of one two-hour track session per day, held three days before the race. The top 30 drivers from the three days (plus reserves) will be invited to the following race.
Dates of the qualification:
<ul>
<li>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;25.02 - 27.02 - Qualification for round 1.</li>
<li>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;11.03 - 13.03 - Qualification for round 2</li>
<li>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;25.03 - 27.03 - Qualification for round 3</li>
<li>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;08.04 - 10.04 - Qualification for round 4</li>
<li>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;22.04 - 24.04 - Qualification for round 5</li>
<li>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;06.04 - 08.04 - Qualification for round 6</li>
</ul>
Dates of the races:
08.03.21
<ul>
<li>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Round 1 - Grand Prix circuit of Imola</li>
</ul>
22.03.21
<ul>
<li>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Round 2 - Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps</li>
</ul>
05.04.21
<ul>
<li>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Round 3 - Silverstone Grand Prix Circuit</li>
</ul>
19.04.21
<ul>
<li>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Round 4 - Nürburgring Grand Prix circuit (without chicane)</li>
</ul>
03.05.21
<ul>
<li>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Round 5 - Sebring International Raceway</li>
</ul>
17.05.21
<ul>
<li>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Round 6 - Grand Prix of Indianapolis</li>
</ul>
Each race has a duration of 20 minutes and is held at 15:00 (in-game time). The events will consist of a practice session, qualifying and a race, which will be run according to the following schedule:
<ul>
<li>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;18:00 - Open practice</li>
<li>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;19:15 - Qualifying</li>
<li>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;19:30 - Start of the race</li>
</ul>
Central European Time (CET) will apply to all timings.
<h2>The transmission of the races</h2>
All race events will be broadcast live and exclusively <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/rfactorlive" target="_blank">on the rFactor 2 Twitch channel</a>, starting at 19:20 CET on the day of the race.&nbsp;
<h2>How does the event work?</h2>
Pre-qualifying begins on February 25 with three two-hour open qualifying sessions in the days leading up to each race event. At the end of the qualifying competition, the top 30 (+ reserves) will be invited to the qualifying races to qualify for the BMW SIM M2 CS Racing Cup and compete against the world on the virtual race tracks. Just follow the <a href="https://twitter.com/BMWMotorsport" target="_self">@bmwmotorsport Twitter channel</a> for the latest news!
<h2>What you need to participate</h2>
First, if you haven't already done so, you'll need to create a Steam account. Then you have to download the racing simulation rFactor2. <a href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/365960/rFactor_2/" target="_blank">You can do that at this point</a>. Make the settings for the game and your available setup best in single player mode of rFactor 2. The vehicle for the events, the BMW M2 CS Racing, <a href="https://store.steampowered.com/itemstore/365960/detail/41/" target="_blank">you can download here for just five euros</a> .&nbsp;
The pre-qualifiers are held in the rFactor 2 competition system, which you can find within the rFactor 2 user interface in the game. To register for the qualifying sessions, you'll need to navigate to the Competition tab in the UI, select the BMW M2 competition event, and click the Register button – this will register you for the entire series.
Once you've registered for the series, you'll find a listing of each qualifying event in the series, with registration for each opening 15 minutes before the session begins. Once the 15-minute counter is reached, you will be presented with a "Register" button that will allow you to join the server start queue once you click on it.
Curious? If you want to take part, the Simracing-unlimited-team will of course keep both fingers crossed for a good placement!

rFactor2

BMW SIM M2 CS Racing Cup: Everything about participation and the races

The VCO Cup of Nations has its first winning team. Everything about the exciting fight for the crown can be found in our race report.

Since its premiere last year, the VCO Cup of Nations on the simracing platform iRacing has provided exciting races on virtual tracks. After the competitive event kicked off in 2020 with professional Esports racers on the list of participants, this year eleven national teams consisting of professionals from the real world of racing competed against each other.&nbsp;
After the six races on different race tracks and in different vehicle classes, Team Australia with professional racers Matt Campbell, Nick Foster and Bart Horsten claimed the victory.
<h2>Versatility was required</h2>
The VCO Cup of Nations, organized by Williams Esports, RaceSpot TV and VCO, was once again a multi-faceted test of the drivers' skills. Be it at the wheel of a GT car, V8 supercar, rallycross car, IndyCar or F1 cars, those who wanted the title had to repeatedly adapt to the new conditions in the shortest possible time and more than once operate outside their comfort zone of the vehicles known from real racing. In the final part of the competition, in which points were fought for in a total of three races, Team Australia was virtually unbeatable.
The event kicked off with a 40-minute race in the Audi R8 LMS GT3 on the time-honored Le Mans race track. There, the Australians Horsten and Foster took first and second place. As only the top two drivers per country are included in the overall standings, the drivers were able to score the maximum number of points thanks to their placings. Third place went to Dani Juncadella of Team Spain. The second race of the finale was an adrenaline-pumping affair, with many Dallara IR18 IndyCar drivers falling victim to accidents and spins. However, after 25 laps of racing, victory once again went to an Australian driver. This time it was Campbell who crossed the finish line first, ahead of Juncadella and Horsten, whose third place brought further valuable points for Team Australia.
<h2>Decision at Monza</h2>

<img src="/api/static/379cfa2919264e4edaa088e2a2d43342.png" alt="iRacing" style="height: auto;width: auto"/>

The all-important final race took place at the wheel of the Williams FW31 Formula 1 car on Italy's high-speed Monza circuit. Fifth and 13th places for Horsten and Foster were enough for the Australians to claim overall victory of the competition with 502 points. Second place in the overall standings went to the team from the Netherlands, 35 points behind. Third place went to the team from Spain with a total of 452 points. Victory in the Monza race went to Phil Denes of Team USA ahead of Richard Verschoor of the Netherlands and Alex Palou of Spain.
The places for the final had previously been determined in a qualifying group phase. This started with a 15-minute race in the Audi R8 LMS GT3 at Spa-Francorchamps. The second race, in Australian V8 Supercars on the street circuit at Long Beach, was equally action-packed and characterized by many crashes. The top three teams in each group then competed in a third race to determine the grid positions for the final. Denes secured pole position for Team USA in a Subaru WRX on the rallycross circuit in Lankebanen near Hell.

iRacing

VCO Cup of Nations: Australian team takes the win

In the course of today, the update 3.0 for the racing game DIRT 5 will be released. We have the current patch notes ready for you.

"DIRT 5" has been the talk of the town since it went on sale on November 6, 2020. However, not for the desired reasons. Despite several updates, the first version of the game even liked to swallow your save game sometimes, the game is still not in a state that you could actually expect. Especially the Playstation 5 version of "DIRT 5" still struggles with numerous problems.&nbsp;
Apparently, Microsoft has once again made pressure, because "DIRT 5" should soon be available in Gamepass for Xbox. However, in a presentable version - the game was miles away from that until now. The new update, which will be available for download today for all platforms, addresses the following bugs:
<h2>CONTENT AND FEATURES</h2>
<ul>
<li>Energy Content Pack (separate pack, included in Amplified Edition and Year One Upgrade versions)</li>
<li>Junkyard Playgrounds Update – over 20 new themed Playgrounds items to use in Create mode</li>
<li>New official liveries: Ford RS200, Ford Escort ES Cosworth, Peugeot 205 T16 Evo 2&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li>New Playground location: Italy&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li>Level cap increase to 120&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<h2>VISUAL</h2>
<ul>
<li>PS5: Fixes and improvements to address reports of frame rate drops and stutters in all visual modes</li>
<li>Further visual improvements in cockpit/interior camera views</li>
<li>Multiple display and UI fixes for split-screen events</li>
<li>Fixed instances of shadows appearing overly dark in specific conditions and locations&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li>Fixed multiple instances of lighting and object pop-in during night conditions</li>
<li>PC: Mouse will now disappear from screen when game is running</li>
<li>PC: Fixes and improvements for players using AMD Ryzen CPUs</li>
<li>Fixes for the under-ice lighting in selected Ice Breaker events&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li>Fixes for instances of seams and flickers on Greece and China events when using the ‘Prioritise Frame Rate’ visual setting</li>
</ul>
<h2>GAMEPLAY&nbsp;&nbsp;</h2>
<ul>
<li>Changes made to post-race flow to increase speed and remove waiting time</li>
<li>Fixed instances of ‘invisible’ walls or objects allowing players to ‘wall ride’ in certain areas of locations</li>
<li>Fixed instances of unclear ‘out of bounds’ sections forcing cars to reset in Brazil and Arizona</li>
<li>Further AI behaviour improvements in multiple events and modes</li>
<li>Xbox: Fixes for minor instances of rumble disappearing on Xbox One</li>
<li>Xbox: Fix for instances of crashes during Ice Breaker events</li>
<li>Xbox: Fixed instances of crashes on start screen for some Series X|S players with previous save data from Xbox One version</li>
<li>Xbox One: Fix for graphical corruption when accessing photo mode on Xbox One with ‘Prioritise Framerate’ setting</li>
</ul>
Apparently, the developers have really addressed the existing problems of "DIRT 5" with this update. However, the numerous crashes on Xbox and PS5 are still missing from this list. With a bit of luck, the new update 3.0 will provide the gaming fun you've been looking for.

DIRT 5

DIRT 5: Will the new update finally bring the necessary improvements?

A new update for Gran Turismo Sport is heading to the starting line. What kind of content can players expect this week?

The developers of Gran Turismo Sport announce a downtime for the servers of the popular racing simulation. A new update is also to be rolled out. When this will happen and what you can expect from the new patch, we will tell you in the following.
The announcement that a new update for "Gran Turismo Sport" will be made available this week comes as a bit of a surprise. Additionally, the servers for the multiplayer races will be unavailable for some time. The new update is the first in the new year, the last one dates back to November 2020 with version 1.62.
<h2>What‘s in the new Update for GTS?</h2>

<img src="/api/static/ac1dedd68353ec93310521ee77953bf2.png" alt="SIE" style="height: auto;width: auto"/>

Fortunately, the installation of the new update will not be particularly disruptive either: In the night from Wednesday to Thursday, the server-side work will go over. Since the update will be installed only three days before the start of the new season of the FIA Online Championship, the assumption suggests that this patch is only intended to prepare the game for the upcoming events and their smooth execution.&nbsp;
In the last 12 months, "Gran Turismo Sport" has received a total of six updates, which have gradually made the game what it is today: arguably one of the best racing simulations for the Playstation 4 and Playstation 5. Unfortunately, there is still no further new information about the real successor "Gran Turismo 7". If you look at Sony's release calendar for Playstation 5 games in 2021, then we can probably only expect the new racing game in November 2021. We will of course keep you up to date on this.

Gran Turismo Sport: What comes with the new Update?

Two-wheeler freaks take note: The latest part of the racing simulation, "MotoGP 21", will be released on April 22nd. We have all the details for you.

MotoGP 21 is ready to conquer the next console generation. With the official 2021 season, will it shift into the right gear to really turn up the throttle?
A new strategic manager career mode, smart and advanced AI and life-like gameplay innovations, enhance the simulation experience as well as players' empathy for their bike. This year, MotoGP should feel more real than ever before!
<h2>A true MotoGP experience</h2>
The revamped manager career allows you to dive even deeper into the sport thanks to new features, both on and off the track. It's a matter of putting together the best possible team and finding the optimal settings for your bikes. The speed on the race weekend depends to a large extent on careful preparation.
The personal manager is a key figure. He helps the riders in their search for new promising contracts from the best teams. At his side is the chief engineer. He takes care of the research points, which are earned weekly or in the free practice sessions. Last but not least, the data analyst has an important function. He finds the perfect balance in each development, ensuring the maximum effectiveness and dynamism of the staff. These elements are ready to offer the best career experience ever seen in a MotoGP game. The path through a junior team is also available to any aspiring champion.
The path via a junior team will be harder, but at the same time more personal. Hiring the right people is the key to success. Starting with the team manager, who will be on the lookout for new sponsors and drivers, and ending with the technical director, who will be in charge of the R&amp;D department of the junior team. Of course, you can't forget to hire a rider who has what it takes to take the team to the top.
In both scenarios, the bike is the real protagonist in "MotoGP 21". With the help of the numerous settings, this year's title moves a bit closer to reality. Employees can take care of different areas of motorcycle development. R&amp;D points can be used to improve the engine, aerodynamics, frame and electronic features, such as traction control, brakes, anti-wheelie and power mapping. Of course, players can also give their bike the look they want. Therefore, the editor is integrated again this year. It is divided into five categories: Helmet, paint job, suit, stickers and race number.

<img src="/api/static/bd68cb6fe93d0eac9aa432c0bd50052b.png" alt="Milestone" style="height: auto;width: auto"/>

<h2>The future of two-wheel racing games?</h2>
Milestone promises an even more realistic racing experience than ever. Manager mode is just one of the many improvements in this year's version. The gameplay also offers some new iconic features:
<ul>
<li>Respawn: After a crash, the bike is not automatically teleported back to the track. From now on, the rider has to get back up himself, sprint to the bike as fast as possible and get back on. So you should be careful how you take the turns.</li>
<li>Braking temperature: When riding, it's not all about pure speed, but also about the right strategy. To keep the situation under control at all times, it requires taking a close look at the temperature of the brakes. If they are too hot or too cool, this will affect their effectiveness.</li>
<li>Long lap penalty: MotoGP 21 also implements this feature in the new part. This means that the penalties imposed will be even more specific to the offense in question.</li>
<li>Revised motorcycle suspension: The realism level has been increased once again! This feature will please all lovers of hardcore racing simulations.</li>
</ul>

<img src="/api/static/9b16a509b525d31af338540567608712.png" alt="Milestone" style="height: auto;width: auto"/>

2021 is the year of the new console generation and "MotoGP 21" is also ready to introduce many technical innovations. Players who can enjoy the title on the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X will benefit from the dynamic resolution of up to 4K and 60FPS. The general image quality has also been improved and, together with the new lighting, creates a unique world that should transfer the sensations of the real races to your screen. Loading times are reduced and for those who can't live without the action of competition, online races are now possible with up to 22 riders.&nbsp;
MotoGP 21 will be released on April 22, 2021 for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S|X, Nintendo Switch, PC, Steam and the Epic game store. You can watch the <a href="https://youtu.be/BBXLEj0SPY4" target="_blank">new video announcing "MotoGP 21" here</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

MotoGP 21

MotoGP 21: From April 22nd for PC and consoles

RaceDepartment, MAD Formula Team and Simracing.GP present a new, very unusual mod for Assetto Corsa.

Have you ever wondered what the world of Grand Prix racing might look like on a much smaller scale? Have you ever dreamed of racing on tracks like Spa-Francorchamps, Barcelona or Albert Park in a mini version? Without any unnecessary technology or aerodynamic tricks that affect the racing experience? Now you don't have to just dream about it, because RaceDepartment, MAD Formula Team and Simracing.GP present a brand new mod for Assetto Corsa!
<h2>Everything a little smaller</h2>
Featuring the beautifully recreated official "Formula Student MFTC3", this fun new mod offers drivers an incredible driving experience and, of course, extremely close racing – scaling down everything that's good about the world of Grand Prix racing and bringing back the most important element of all – the fun of the exciting clashes on the asphalt.

<img src="/api/static/60f0ee7b07c612623f4cb636760cd612.png" alt="Formula Student GP" style="height: auto;width: auto"/>

In addition to the joys of the open MFTC3 Formula Student car, virtual drivers will also have the opportunity to race on meticulously recreated versions of famous Grand Prix tracks – suitably scaled down to Formula Student size, of course, and packed with new and exciting racing opportunities!
If you want to download the new mod, you can find the necessary data at these locations:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.racedepartment.com/downloads/mad-formula-team-mftc3.36690/" target="_blank">Download MAD Formula Team MFTC3 here</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://www.racedepartment.com/downloads/formula-student-grand-prix-skinpack.39632/" target="_blank">Download Formula Student Grand Prix Skinpack here</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://www.racedepartment.com/downloads/ac-gpk-albert-park.39655/" target="_blank">Download AC GPK Albert Park here</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://www.racedepartment.com/downloads/ac-gpk-barcelona.39628/" target="_blank">Download AC GPK Barcelona here</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://www.racedepartment.com/downloads/ac-gpk-spa.39627/" target="_blank">Download AC GPK Spa here</a>&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Just try out the new min-mod for max-fun with your simracing colleagues right away, the potential is really huge!

Formula Student Mod

Formula Student Grand Prix Mod: Small doesn't mean it isn't mighty 

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

With the H&R 3h Race on Saturday, November 28th, the Digital Nürburgring Endurance Series presented by Goodyear starts into the winter season 20/21.

Ready for Hell – Digital Nürburgring Endurance Series presented by Goodyear starts into a new season

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

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

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

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

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

SimRacing hardware quickly explained: steering wheels 

Here's a list of the five new top racing games you can expect to sink your teeth into in 2021. 

For consoles and PC: These will be the top 5 racing games in 2021

Fresh blood for the bootcamp of the best: With immediate effect, simracing pros Michael Kiesl and Maximilian Skrzipczyk strengthen the cowana Academy!

cowana Academy: 2 new drivers for the simracing team

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

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

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

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

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

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

The third generation of the popular ClubSport pedals combine a proven design with new technology and numerous customization options. Can Fanatec hold its own in the competitive environment? You can find out in our hardware review. The pedals have been in our five-year endurance test. 

With an ever more authentic and realistic implementation of driving physics in racing simulations, there is hardly any way for racing game enthusiasts to avoid their own simracing setup at home with steering wheel and pedal unit. Fanatec promises high-quality simracing hardware with advanced technology and robust materials as well as a long service life. But can the Landshut-based hardware manufacturer keep its promises? We had the <a href="https://amzn.to/33RXzYs" target="_blank">Fantec ClubSport Pedals V3</a> * in endurance testing for more than four years.&nbsp;

With the ClubSport product series for more experienced Sim racers, the brand has made a name for itself in the racing game community and is now firmly established. Already in 2015 Fanatec heralded the third generation of the product series with the ClubSport pedals V3. The pedal set costs 359.95 € and is compatible with all Fanatec steering wheels for PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.


<img src="/api/static/6fb02dcc7d711fbfd1c52d4247eddc87.png" alt="Fanatec ClubSport Pedals V3" style="height: auto;width: auto"/>

<h2>Proven design, new technologies</h2>

The ClubSport V3 pedals are based on the simple and well-known design of the previous models and resemble a pedal construction from the real vehicle. The individual components are milled from high-quality aluminum and are based on stable steel axles. The pedal plate consists of anodized aluminum. During the development and construction of the accelerator pedal, great importance was attached to the fact that the spring can be easily replaced. Alternative spring strengths for gas pedal and clutch pedal are also included.

Additional development work has been done especially in the inner workings of the pedals. A new vibration motor on the accelerator pedal has the effect of making rear wheels spinning at the exit of a curve, for example, and thus oversteering noticeable. The racing simulations can also make use of the second vibration motor on the brake pedal to simulate ABS interventions and locking wheels. This gives you even more feedback via the pedals from the respective racing simulation than comparable pedals without these motors. Contactless magnetic sensors on the gas and clutch ensure a long service life, which we can confirm in our endurance test. Even after several years we did not have to change any component.

<h2>Brake like the pros</h2>

The same also applies to the new, so-called Load Cell Sensor, which is a custom-made product and designed for longer durability. The Load Cell of the previous model still had to be replaced regularly after intensive use. The new Load Cell can withstand up to 90 kilograms of brake pressure and is equivalent to a sports car. What effect does this technological innovation have on driving in a racing simulator? Whereas in a real racing car, more than 100 kilograms of brake pressure suddenly have to be applied at the braking point in some cases in order to build up the strongest possible braking effect, this is associated with considerably less pressure when using cheaper pedals.&nbsp;

Nevertheless, I would recommend every owner of the ClubSport V3 pedals to upgrade with the inexpensive 29.95 € Brake Performance Kit. This Brake Performance Kit reduces the pedal travel by spring inserts in the preload screw of the brake unit. This reduces the feel at the pressure point of the brake and allows a higher brake pressure absorption. Formula or GT racing cars now have hardly any pedal travel at all, but rather pressure sensors at the brake, because the human body remembers the muscle tension rather than the foot position.&nbsp;

The pure braking or so-called trailbraking into the curve up to the apex is simply fun with the ClubSport pedals with and without Brake Performance Kit and through more constant braking points and braking processes you will become sustainably faster. The accelerator and clutch pedals are equipped with contactless Hall sensors with 12-bit resolution, and now offer four times the resolution of the previous model. This results in a smoother and more sensitive modeling of the accelerator pedal and makes it easier for you to handle bitchy mid-engine or rear-wheel drive cars.


<img src="/api/static/f879a30b887ae504e31e429226996929.png" alt="Fanatec ClubSport Pedals V3" style="height: auto;width: auto"/>

<h2>Numerous setting and individualization options</h2>

The redesigned brake construction allows the adjustment of stiffness and pedal travel without tools. It's a pity, however, that the pedals cannot be inverted directly ex factory, but the inverted version is available for a not inconsiderable additional charge of 599.95 €.&nbsp;

So, while a noticeable development step has been made with the gas and brake pedal unit, the clutch still feels comparatively light and little changed compared to the previous model. Despite a stronger replacement spring, the clutch could offer a little more resistance and a longer pedal travel in the area after the grinding point. An optional damper kit is also available for the gas and brake pedals, which makes it easy to adjust the hydraulic damping continuously via a rotary wheel.

With matching color kits in black and gray, you can further customize the look of your pedal set. The pedal plates are not painted, but colored anodized. Personally, however, I find the black aluminum with red contrast color ex works the best. The set also includes D-shaped pedal plates as well as pedal extensions that allow you to adjust the angle of the pedal plates and the pedal arm.&nbsp;

<h2>Conclusion</h2>

With the Fanatec ClubSport V3 pedals, the Landshut-based simracing hardware manufacturer has an inexpensive pedal set with a precise gas and brake pedal as well as numerous adjustment options in its product range. In this price and quality class there are hardly any competing products. The high-quality construction and the solid load cell sensor have proven themselves even after several years of use and no parts have had to be replaced. So, if you are thinking about upgrading to the ClubSport V3 pedals, you can do so with a clear conscience. Even if you are completely new to Simracing and want to invest in an appropriate hardware setup, the pedals in combination with the Brake Performance Kit will give you lasting pleasure.

Get the pedal set Fanatec ClubSport Pedals V3 <a href="https://amzn.to/2H3CCAJ" target="_blank">here</a> *.
---
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!

Fanatec ClubSport Pedals V3

Review: Fanatec Clubsport Pedals V3

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

E01: 18.11.20 - TBA

E02: 25.11.20 - TBA

E03: 16.12.20 - TBA

E04: 02.01.21 - TBA

E05: 20.01.21 - TBA

E06: 10.02.21 - TBA

E07: 03.03.21 - TBA

E08: 31.03.21 - TBA

First of all, the Esports Racers compete with each other in the "Fun Race". A combination of track and vehicle, known only two hours before the start of the live broadcast, will be used. Then the "Championship Race" is on the program. All two-man teams drive identical virtual Dallara Formula 3 racing cars - each with a unique design. The "Pro" drivers contest the qualifying and final stint, while the Esports Racers take over the start and the first part of the 40-minute race. This order is reversed for the other events of the season.

Excitement through unknown tracks and attractive prize money 
The race track for the "Championship Race" will be determined by the Esports-Racing-Community via Twitter voting on the VCO Channel. The choices are Zolder, Phillip Island, Laguna Seca and Motegi. At the time this press release was sent out, Laguna Seca was ahead with 36 percent of the approximately 3,500 votes cast. Voting ends on Wednesday at 17:45 (CET).
&nbsp;
Motorsport and Esports Racing expert Ben Constanduros and Soumil Arora from RaceSpot TV, which is responsible for the production of the spectacular "World Feed" directly from the virtual race track, will lead through the live program.
&nbsp;
Each pilot will be rewarded with 500 US dollars for winning the "Championship Race". Based on this, the prize money grading will continue up to 20th place. Points are even awarded up to 30th position in the ranking. The winners receive 35 points. For the pole position, the respective driver receives three additional points - and prize money of 625 US dollars.

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

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

Race simulations and racing games quickly explained

Review: Fanatec Clubsport Pedals V3