Always curious about Ryan Hunter-Reay and his sim rig? I have you covered on this week’s Sim Racing Roundup. In addition to that I have a few more drivers that have moved from sim racing to real-world motorsport, whether AI can enhance your skills as a sim racer and an excellent sim training webinar you can attend.
From Sim Racing to the Real Thing
IndyCar champion Ryan Hunter-Reay joins SimCraft co-founder Sean Patrick MacDonald for a deep dive into high-fidelity racing simulation. From the physics-driven design of the APEX2 CT chassis to the critical role of YAW and PITCH motion, Ryan breaks down what makes SimCraft’s motion platform the most realistic system he’s ever used.
If you’re using a simulator (or thinking about it) to train for real-world driving or just want to up your sim racing game, Ross Bentley from Speed Secrets wants to share a few resources that will help you get more out of every lap on your sim.
From experience, I’ve seen firsthand how valuable a simulator can be—not just for going faster, but for sharpening skills, building confidence, and having a blast while doing it. And yes, everything you practice on the sim does translate to the real track.
Join me and Sim Racer Academy Chief Instructor, Balázs Remenyik (pro sim racer and simulator development driver for the Maserati Formula E team), for a live 60-90 minute session, where we’ll answer your questions about using a sim to improve your driving. It’s a casual, fun Q&A session, so join us with your questions.
Sign up here: https://event.webinarjam.com/register/188/pq1gvhqg
Can AI enhance your skills as a sim racer? This is the question that Top Gear aimed to explore. “There is a quiet revolution happening, though, and it’s taking its first faltering steps in racing sims. iRacing and Assetto Corsa Competizione are the proving grounds for the first AI driver coaches. Rather than seizing the wheel and doing the driving for you, the idea is to make you a better track driver. And while it’s currently a tool for the virtual world, there have already been experiments with in-car telemetry and real life track days.”
Young Malaysian Mikael ‘Mika’ Hakimi is making his mark in the world of motorsports after rising through the ranks in the sim racing arena and SAYS took a look at his journey. “If the name sounds familiar, it’s because Mika made headlines in the 2024 Malaysia Games (SUKMA) in Sarawak, bagging two gold medals in the esports sim racing category.”
Fox Sports looks at how Hailie Deegan is tempering her expectations during her maiden INDY NXT by Firestone season while using her fiance’s sim racing expertise to learn fast.
“He’s really good on simulators,” Deegan said. “He’s been doing it since he was 14. When I’m at home, we both have simulators at the house so we’re able to literally drive right next to each other. He pulls all the telemetry and the data, and I can overlay it with his. He was in the (sim racing) pro league during COVID, so he was doing all that. I’m not a sim person. I’m learning to be and want to be. It takes me time, so having something to reference of is really nice.”
The Birkenhead News looks at the journey of race driver Nathan Williams who has progressed from virtual racing success to a debut race win in the real world. Incredibly, he turned virtual race wins into real-world wins by winning his debut race in the OT Coupe with Toyo Tyres race at Oulton Park. Read more here.
Competitive Sim Racing News
- Race-Rigging Scandal Hits Gran Turismo World Series (GT Planet)
- Beyond the Finish Line: The Rise of Virtual Racing Communities (RacingGames)
- Thibaut Courtois partners with Hull-based esports and sports hub (Esports Insider)
- Gran Turismo World Series 2025 Official Nations Cup Season Begins This Week (GT Planet)
- PAGID Racing Partners with Nürburgring eSports (The Brake Report)
- This Week in iRacing: April 22-28, 2025 (iRacing)
- Racing Prodigy announces partnership with Rosetta Stone
Sim Racing Tips & Techniques
Sim Racing Tech Roundup
- Someone connected a racing simulator setup to their RC car using an Arduino, and I’m seriously jealous (XDA)
- SimCraft Showcases Pro-Level Simulators at Ten Tenths Motor Club Grand Opening (SimCraft)
- Fanatec Porsche Vision GT Wheel Review (GT Planet)
- Tero KONTKANEN: from overclocking to revolutionizing Sim Racing (Overclocking)
- 5 Best sim racing cockpits for immersive driving at home (Gadget Flow)
- Fanatec Unveils CSL Elite Porsche Vision GT (Box This Lap)
- I used a haptic vest for gaming – here’s how it went (XDR)
- The Hori Racing Wheel Apex is a good budget option for PS5 sim racers, but don’t expect much in the way of compelling features (Tech Radar)
- Razer Freyja HD Haptic Gaming Cushion on a racing sim (Tech AU)
- Asetek SimSports warns of possible tariff-related US price increases (Traxion)
- Thrustmaster T598 direct drive racing wheel review (PC Gamer)
General Sim Racing News
- Le Mans Ultimate completes 24-hour multiplayer test race, ELMS visit (Traxion)
- Gran Turismo Sophy 2.1: Behind the Scenes with Sony AI (GT Planet)
- Every Forza Horizon game, ranked worst to best (Traxion)
- New Houston racing spot taking pole position (KHOU)
- Adrenaline rush meets cafe aesthetics in this unique Metadrive Sim Arcade & Cafe in Bhowanipore. Here’s the first look (T2 Online)
- EA Sports F1 25 preview: LIDAR scans, increased accuracy (ESPN)
- F1 25 Is Giving The Series A Presentation Overhaul (Game Rant)
- Race your way – EA Sports F1 25 deep dive (F1 25)
- Codemasters explains F1 25’s extensive car handling changes (Traxion)
- Drive the Indy 500: SimCraft Simulators Debut at IMS Museum Grand Reopening (Simcraft)
- Gran Turismo 7 vs. Forza Horizon 5 on PS5: Which game rules the road? (Times of India)
- What are the Best Racing Games on Steam? (Hardcore Gamer)
- New Rallysimfans update adds legendary real-world rally stages to Richard Burns Rally (Traxion)
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.
