Sims: From Basic to Extravagant
With the 2024 racing season well underway, whether it is Nascar, Endurance, Rally, F1 or even Moto GP, motorsport fans have plenty to watch on the tube every weekend. And for many passionate fans, it would be a dream come true to be able to be at some of the racing in person although that is not always possible.
So, if you can’t go to the races, why not let the races come to you? And just how can this be achieved, you ask? Quite simply; there exists a myriad of racing simulators from the most basic steering wheel-pedal combination to full fledged, heart-pumping and adrenaline-rush racing simulators. Heck, there are even online championships for SIM racing.
Daniel Morad, a Canadian-born professional race car driver who won the Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona in 2017 and recently in 2024 in the GTD category also takes part in SIM racing championships and has some great videos on YouTube for many SIM-related issues such as the proper seating position, a crucial part of any SIM racers’ success. (https://youtu.be/AXXqPWqnno8?si=qS4llGEwgZQw9cDp)
These simulators are used by many drivers, including F1 drivers who want to get to know a track and “visually” memorize what’s needed to get the most out of a lap around any given circuit around the world. These sims can also be used by you and me, just to have some fun.
SIM Racers to Consider
If you have limited space, Next Level offers a basic steering wheel and pedal combo at an entry-level price of around $250 that you can consider. On the other hand, if you have a dedicated space and some budget, you can install a full frame with seat, pedals and steering wheel, as well as a monitor for a little over a thousand dollars.
And if you are serious and in need of high adrenaline, there are racing simulators that can easily relieve you of tens and even hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Luxury sports brands such as Aston Martin have partnered with Curv Racing Simulators to design some of the higher-end sims. Together they created the AMR-C01 (https://youtu.be/OslKljNJ-mw?si=I-r49Gndg-zw9nUT) that will fetch USD 80K. Marek Reichman, who is the chief creative officer at Aston Martin, says, “This was a challenge for the design team, as the simulator isn’t a car, it is inspired by our racing cars. It needed to exude the same elegance, boasting the same dynamic lines and balance of proportions as any Aston Martin with a racing lineage. I can picture the AMR-C01 in the most beautiful residences as a sculptural work of art in its own right.”
TCCT and eClassic have produced two limited-series racing simulators in collaboration with Pininfarina and Zagato, respectively. If you’re willing to splurge, you can race the famed Mille Miglia in a “forward-looking, vintage-inspired” cocque. The auction held at RM Sotheby’s saw this incredible cocque being sold for a staggering $218K! (https://youtu.be/knyU3Faaeo8?si=WPA-hDYAbfflKukx)
Probably the most realistic and adrenaline-boosting systems we’ve tried here at AutomotiveWoman.com, are made by D-Box Technologies. D-Box Technologies Racing Simulators offer the most realistic haptic feedback worldwide and are the first licensed by the FIA. With extreme accuracy and precision, users are immersed in a complete haptic experience. Even celebrity host, podcaster and disruptor, Joe Rogan recently purchased a $70,000 USD sim racer using D-Box technologies.
From basic to advance to just plan extravagant! These sims will add a boost of emotion as you “virtually” hurtle down your favorite track. Sim-you-later!
Article by AutomotiveWoman.com Insider, Piero Facchin, aka @pieffeuno online.
IMAGES: D-Box Technologies + Curv Racing + Zagato-Pininfarina + Podium 1 Racing + Samsung Canada
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