Since few people will ever get the chance to race sports cars around famous tracks like the Nürburgring or Monza circuits in real life, many people find the idea of getting a similar experience from the comfort of their own homes appealing. But simulated or ‘sim’ racing is a way to do this that goes far beyond mere amusement. Rather than playing racing games with an ordinary controller like most people do, the goal of sim racing is to create an experience as close to getting behind the wheel in real life as possible. To do this, people have a physical setup which replicates the inside of a car.
However, there’s so much sim racing gear available that it can be difficult to know how to get started. This short guide is here to tell you what you really need to buy to begin your racing sim journey.
A sim racing chassis
While some people are content to just buy a steering wheel that they can link up to their console, most sim racing enthusiasts want to get as close as they possibly can to sitting behind the wheel of a real vehicle. Serious fans have sim racing rigs which, like a real vehicle, are built around a chassis. This is just a frame that you will attach the rest of your equipment to.
The key is to look for one that will be strong enough to support your gear and not bend or break under heavy loads. It should also be easy to assemble and customise, as you’ll likely be swapping items in and out of your rig in future.
A racing seat
Once you have a strong chassis in place, then you can start adding gear to it. The most important is the seat. This is probably the piece you will change the least even if you become really into sim racing. The key factors to consider are comfort and durability, but also think about what you’re trying to achieve by sim racing. If you’re training for real races, go for a seat similar to the real car you’ll be driving.
Pedals and a wheel
No sim racing setup would be complete without these. For pedals, you want ones that respond well to the pressure you apply with your foot. The wheel is really up to you, but you will also need a wheel base to hold it up and connect it with the pedals. That way, they can send feedback to the wheel, making it respond to what your feet are doing like a real car’s wheel.
Specialist screens and motion system
These are optional. You can use your setup with your TV, but some prefer to have up to three screens around them or a large curved one for an immersive experience. The motion system makes your entire chassis shake and vibrate for added realism.
Conclusion
That’s all you need to start sim racing, along with some games. There are more expensive and cheaper options for each component, but don’t feel the need to buy the rest right away. Start small to see if you really like it first. Some racers take years to put their rigs together, but you can also buy pre-made ones.
