Are using simulators a cost-effective way to launch a racing career? This question is frequently addressed in my weekly Sim Racing Roundup, and I have additional insights to share with you this week. You will also get an understanding on how sim racing helped Robert Wickens return to racing, why Max Verstappen has been told not to trust a sim and a look at Liam Lawson’s sim rig.
From Sim Racing to the Real Thing
Simon Holloway, Commercial Director of Dynisma – which provides advanced motion simulators to professional racing teams and OEMs – says cutting-edge full-motion simulators are transforming the traditional route to professional motorsport by helping drivers progress from karting to Formula 1 in a controlled, cost-effective and repeatable environment.
“Sim racing and esports provide valuable experience in learning circuits and race scenarios, but a full-motion simulator like Dynisma’s DMGs plays a pivotal role in bridging the gap between karting and single-seaters.”
Read more here.
In recent years, the world of motorsports has witnessed a significant transformation, with simulators playing an increasingly vital role in shaping the careers of aspiring racers. As technology advances, many drivers are turning to virtual racing as a cost-effective and accessible way to hone their skills and gain valuable experience. This article explores the rise of esports drivers and how they are making their mark in the competitive racing scene. If you’re curious about how simulators are revolutionizing the path to a racing career, I invite you to read the full article at Stadium Rant.
Amidst a less than stellar season so far, Max Verstappen has been told that he should “rely on his experience” rather than the simulator when it comes to finding the right setup for the Red Bull RB21 in the F1 2025 season. “According to German publication Auto Motor und Sport, Marko said: “Whenever the simulator promises us great lap times, things go backwards on the racetrack.”
Autosport looks at how Gran Turismo star Jann Mardenborough hopes his new racing chapter will lead to a Le Mans return. “I’ve still got ambitions and goals I’d like to achieve, and I’ve got more to do. There was time to really reflect within these four years to sit down and ask myself: ‘Do I want to continue to do this? Do I want to continue to push through the hard times of pain and rejection?’ – and yes…it’s always been yes.”
In their feature on Robert Wickens, the racer explains how the sim aided him in returning to real-world motorsport. “During the pandemic, esports took center stage, and I got a sim at home and raced IndyCars in the virtual world. From that first virtual race, I was like, “OK, how do I go racing again?” Then, in 2021, Bryan Herta called and offered me a test at Mid-Ohio in his team’s Hyundai Veloster N. It was raced in the Michelin Pilot Challenge by Michael Johnson, who uses hand controls. I’ll forever be grateful to Bryan for that opportunity. It felt fantastic to be on track again after almost 1,000 days.”
Competitive Sim Racing News
- Simucube and Ahlman Esport: One-year sim racing pilot program (Box This Lap)
- iRacing: But Then Adaptive AI Adapted (Box This Lap)
- This Week in iRacing: April 15-21, 2025 (iRacing)
- Virtual racers tackle Rockingham Speedway ahead of NASCAR’s return (Richmond Observer)
Sim Racing Tips & Techniques
The video above by Danny Lee explains how to improve your iRacing standing starts and launches. “iRacing launches can be practiced so easily! I show you how to set up the ‘Active Reset’ so you can practice launches over and over, and the 4 launch/clutch methods I know of that produce repeatable, consistent launches regardless of how basic your setup is.”
- Why Good Racecraft Beats Raw Pace When the Going Gets Tough (Apex Advisory Racing)
- How to Learn from Faster Drivers Without Copying Mistakes (Apex Advisory Racing)
Sim Racing Tech Roundup
- The Best Racing Wheels for Any Type of Driver (IGN)
- Next Level Racing launches F-GT Pro sim racing cockpit, its “most advanced” ever (Traxion)
- Next Level Racing presents the new F-GT Pro (Box This Lap)
- Next Level Racing cooked, F-GT PRO a multi-position racing simulator (Tech AU)
- Possible new Logitech sim racing wheel spotted (Traxion)
- Moza Racing CM2 HD Racing Dash – Ultimate In Depth Review (Box This Lap)
- Liam Lawson’s Sim Racing Setup (Box This Lap)
- A Simracer’s Week in Tech: You, the Wheel, and the Track (Box This Lap)
- A Sim Racing Direct Drive Wheel Will Change Your Life (Box This Lap)
- Tested: Simcraft Apex4 CT – a World-Class Racing Simulator That Makes You a Better Driver (Auto Evolution)
- F1 Authentics Offers Special Edition Red Bull Racing Simulator (Ministry of Sport)
- Simagic’s ‘zero-cogging’ Alpha Evo wheelbases available to pre-order now (Traxion)
- Asetek Simsports Announces An Easter Sale (Box This Lap)
General Sim Racing News
Think you’ve got what it takes to be the fastest? Time to prove it! Welcome to the Phantom Grid Simulator Competition — where your skills on the sim could earn you a real-life seat in one of ERA’s racecars. Set the fastest lap time and win an adrenaline-pumping session on track in our race machines. Are you ready to make the jump from simulator to circuit?
Who can enter? Anyone aged 14 and up, with a minimum height of 1m50.
Event Details:
Location: Circuit Zolder
Date: 28 April 2025
Entry Fee: €35
Tickets: https://dynamixx.be/product/phantom-grid-simracing-competition-ticket/
- Project Motor Racing set for 29th April unveiling (Traxion)
- Project Motor Racing will use scratch-built ‘Hadron’ physics engine (Traxion)
- F1 25 Brings Overhauled “My Team 2.0” and Driver Career Changes (GT Planet)
- My issue with the new iRacing Arca Car (Daily Downforce)
- Ian Bell’s new racing sim (Game Reactor)
- What’s Next Assetto Corsa EVO (KUNOS Simulazioni)
- Project Motor Racing complete car list (Traxion)
- The 10 best PC sim racing games in 2025 (Traxion)
- Sim racing facility in Berkley equipping car racing enthusiasts with state-of-the-art tools (WXYZ)
- Project CARS is back (Traxion)
- 20 Great Games That Are Even Better With Mods (How To Geek)
- MotoGP 25: Milestone predicts the 2025 season and reveals big changes to this year’s game (Top Gear)
- JDM: Japanese Drift Master Shows Off New Gameplay Video (Bleeding Cool)
- Photos and videos: new Sussex go-karting business aims to revolutionise racing scene with track ‘engineered for pure adrenaline’ (Sussex World)
- Motorsport Games secures $2.5m investment (Esports Insider)
- Motorsport Games Secures $2.5M Lifeline: Can Le Mans Ultimate Keep the Wheels Turning? (Box This Lap)
- Spreading the Catholic faith through sim racing (Aleteia)
Author: Mark Boudreau
Mark is the publisher of Motorsport Prospects. As a 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.
