How sim racing can help you achieve real-world success is the focus of this week’s Sim Racing Roundup as I bring you the details on how sim racers fared at the recent Nürburgring GT3. All this and much more!
Overview
From Sim Racing to the Real Thing
Sim Racing Stars Dominate Nürburgring
Misha Charoudin says Max Verstappen’s Nürburgring GT3 win with sim-racing ace Chris Lulham, on top of Jann Mardenborough’s P2, shows sim racing is a credible, cost-effective pathway to real-world racing success and should kill the “just gamers” stigma. It is clear that sim racing is becoming a viable and effective addition to the driver development path and a new tool to be exploited for those looking to race in the real-world.
“We have Chris Lulham, who started – of course he had some karting experience – but he went more professionally in iRacing as a sim racer back in 2019 up until now. And he was so good that Max Verstappen chose him among also other drivers to participate in his Verstappen.com race team where he wants to give opportunities to drivers who come from sim racing and put them in the real race car driver seat.”
Here are two articles that look at last weekend’s incredible results:
- Sim-racer-to-driver path should no longer carry a stigma after Max Verstappen’s Nürburgring win (Motorsport.com)
- Verstappen and Lulham Win NLS 9: Simracing Stars Dominate Nürburgring on Ferrari GT3 Debut (Box This Lap)
From Spa to Silverstone: Inside the Sim
Sim Racing manufacturer Virtex Simulation looks at how a number of real-world racers have utilized the sim to prepare for upcoming races. “It’s been a busy few weeks at the sim. Drivers and teams keep dropping by to prepare for their races, and each session tells its own story about how simulation shapes performance.”
Mercedes Sim Failure Contributed to Antonelli’s F1 Slump
Kimi Antonelli has been praised for a “good rebound” from his recent Formula 1 struggles, as Mercedes has owned up to some responsibility for things going awry. Mercedes have revealed that problems with its simulator had wrecked preparations for the double-header in Zandvoort and Monza, from which he took away just two points.
“Beyond the simulator breaking down and limiting the amount of mileage Antonelli was able to do for those events, The Race has learned that the running he did do was also with a too high grip level – which may also have caught him out when reality bit in Zandvoort.”
The Role of Simulation Software in Building the Perfect Racing Car
Box This Lap looks at the role of simulation software in building a race car. “With the advent of high-powered computers and sophisticated software modelling tools, engineers have been able to study options which were simply unthinkable a few decades ago. From aerodynamics to tyre wear, just about anything related to performance can now be simulated with extraordinary precision. This technology has not only made racing cars faster, but also more efficient and safer.”
Competitive Sim Racing News
FIA Launches New Sim Racing Survey
- FIA launches new sim racing survey to shape the future of esports (Traxion)
- 2025 FIA Esports Community Survey (FIA)
- Virtual Racing Is Thriving and More Relevant Than Ever (PRI)
- Road to SimRacing Expo 2025 complete, LAN finalists determined (Traxion)
- Esports Racing League: Coanda Esports wins Le Mans Ultimate round (Traxion)
Sim Racing Tips & Techniques
5 Racing Mistakes I Wish I Knew Earlier
Sim Racing Tech Roundup
- SimRacing Expo 2025: Moza to make its debut (Traxion)
- Next Level Racing presents the new ES2 Elite Seat (Box This Lap)
- The Turtle Beach Racer isn’t a racing wheel for sim heads, but it’s an excellent entry-level choice for casual players (Tech Radar)
- Prodrive’s Sleek New Racing Simulator Is Too Stylish to Hide in Your Garage (Robb Report)
- Thermaltake Launches GR300 Racing Simulator Cockpit (Tech Power Up)
General Sim Racing News
- Gran Turismo 7 Update 1.63 Now Available: New Cars, Ten Engine Swaps, New Races, and More (GT Planet)
- Gran Turismo Celebrates 100 Million Copies Sold Worldwide (GT Planet)
- Confirmed: Forza Horizon 6 is heading to Japan (Grassroots Motorsports)
- Assetto Corsa EVO 0.3 is already available (Box This Lap)
- iRacing: What Really Remains (Box This Lap)
- LMP2 and LMP3 cars confirmed for RaceRoom (Traxion)
- SimRacing Expo 2025: Where Racing Meets Innovation (Novus)
- Which Sim Racing Games Have the Biggest Car Grids? (Box This Lap)
- Beyond Sim Racing: Creative Everyday Uses for Simulators (Box This Lap)
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.
