Sim Racing in an Analog World

Sim racing in an analog world is a theme this week on the Sim Racing and Esports News Roundup. From the inspiration that sim racing had on one young driver to go racing in the real world, to a real-world racetrack building a state of the art sim racing simulator, the crossover between the two is only increasing.

I also bring you news of an impressive high-end sim you can (technically) buy, tech reviews and how you will be able to race a Toyota GR86 before it hits analog tracks in 2023.

All this and much more in the last Sim Racing and Esports Roundup of 2022.

From Sim Racing to the Real Thing

Sim Racing in an Analog World

In the documentary above on Isaac Johnson, his dad explains how online sim racing is what sparked his interest in racing in the analog (real) world.


Sim Racing Tech Roundup

Sim Racing and Esports News Roundup for December 22, 2022
Dynisma Motion Generator

Autosport goes inside the most realistic F1 simulator you can buy. “The DMG-1, built by company Dynisma, is reckoned to be the second most realistic simulator in the world. It’s beaten only by the bespoke official Ferrari sim that Dynisma built exclusively for the Maranello squad itself. It’s a company that knows its stuff.”


Sim Racing in an Analog World

In the video above, Traxion does a full review of the Thrustmaster T818. “This new sim racing wheel base offers 10Nm of force feedback, a supposedly unfiltered approach and compatibility with the existing Thrustmaster pedal and steering wheel ecosystem. Here, we try it with the Ferrari SF1000 steering wheel, but also tested it with the Leather 28 GT and Open Wheel add-on.”


Sim Racing in an Analog World

In the video above, Random Callsign explains “what I LOVED in Sim Racing EXPO 2022.”


General Sim Racing News

Sim Racing and Esports News Roundup for December 22, 2022

The 992 variant of the popular 911 GT3 Cup race car was made available for rFactor 2 on 21st December, expanding the Porsche roster. The 911 GT3 Cup (992) is the current incarnation of the one-make sportscar, the basis of several Carrera Cup championships around the world – culminating in the Formula 1 support Porsche Supercup.


iRacing and Toyota Gazoo Racing North America have announced that the Toyota GR86 Cup car, the exclusive vehicle of the all-new Toyota GR Cup that will debut in 2023, will be coming to iRacing in a future build. While the real-world car will take on its first season with 14 races at seven premier tracks across America, iRacers will soon have the opportunity to put the car through its paces on the industry-leading motorsports simulator as well.


Vision Gran Turismo

The Race looks at Gran Turismo’s untamed ambitions as they discuss Vision Gran Turismo. “Vision Gran Turismo started with the launch of Gran Turismo 6 in 2013 and was a proposal to car manufacturers to produce a forward-looking concept car that can then be driven in the Gran Turismo games.”


It’s getting pretty tight on time but Goodwood Road & Racing have five gift suggestions to help get into sim racing this Christmas.


Nico Hamilton, brother of F1 champion Lewis Hamilton, had the opportunity to make history in the Mercedes F1 simulator. Once wheelchair-bound, Nico learned to walk at 17. In 2015, Nico became the first adaptive driver in the BTCC with ROKiT and signed a multi-year agreement this year to drive for the team for 2023 and beyond. “Time in the sim is incredibly rare, and not something that is accessible for someone like my brother. It took custom modifications to the seat, steering wheel and pedals to make this possible. He spent the whole day in it, and is the first disabled person to ever do so,” Lewis wrote. Adaptive motorsports in the U.S. is gaining ground among race grassroots series, in multiple series including SCCA, sports car, Lemons, multiple NASCAR series, and more.


Circuit Booking is reporting that the Hockenheimring is re-surfacing the “Conti Kreisel” – the skid pad area at the entrance of the racetrack. But in an interesting nod to the growth of sim racing, “a new Welcome Center is also being built next to the Hotel Motodrom, replacing the old ticket office building. The new facility will include also the merchandise shop and a high-end racing simulator, contributing to the increased interest in e-Sports.”


This will be the last Sim Racing and Esports News Roundup of 2022. I am taking a break to recharge my batteries and relax with family and friends over the holidays. A new edition will be published on January 5, 2023. Happy holidays everyone!

Mark Boudreau
Author: Mark Boudreau

Mark is the publisher of Motorsport Prospects. As a former lawyer, he applies his legal background and research skills to assist race drivers by showcasing the resources they need to make their motorsport careers happen.