This week the Sim Racing Roundup looks at leveraging sim racing to hone your real-world racing skills. I also bring you details on the latest competitive sim racing news, tech reviews and a tribute to the late great Ryuji Urabe.
All this and more in this week’s edition of the Sim Racing Roundup on Motorsport Prospects. Its sim racing news for racers not gamers.
From Sim Racing to the Real Thing
Max Esterson is becoming the poster boy for transitioning from sim racing to real-world motorsport and he describes this transition in a recent interview with Feeder Series.
“Born in New York City, Esterson didn’t have the chance to gather as much on-track experience as his competitors; the 21-year-old relied on the next best thing, sim racing. He quickly became one of the fastest virtual racers in the world on platforms like iRacing, enjoying great runs of form and becoming one of the top 35 drivers in the entire world out of hundreds of thousands of users.”
Asian Motorsport recently visited Drivers Lab Dubai, a high-tech motorsport simulation center located near the Dubai Autodrome in Motor City, Dubai to find out how it can benefit race drivers. Drivers Lab is a collaboration between Hong Kong-based driver Dan Wells and Taiwanese racer Oscar Lee, who are reigning Pro-Am Champions in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia championship with DW Evans GT.
Speaking about Drivers Lab, Wells said, “It’s a great place for drivers to really hone in on their technique. It gives them that space, away from the engines and distractions at a racetrack, to lock-in, engage in one-to-one sessions with their coaches, and focus on what they need to improve.”
Lee added, “There’s no other place like this in the Middle East that offers these services to drivers competing at a high level. It’s encouraging to see the amount of interest in our facility, especially with the numerous championships racing in the UAE at the moment.”
Dan Wells: Drivers Lab Dubai “a great place for drivers to really hone in on their technique” | Asian Motorsport
In August 2020, Grassroots Motorsports asked the question, can virtual coaching turn into real-world winning?
At 38, racer Patrick Long is the only American Porsche factory driver, still has plenty of years left as a sports car racer. After all, his mentor, fellow Porsche shoe Hurley Haywood, scored a podium finish in the 2012 Rolex 24 At Daytona at age 64. But Long has seen a quantum shift in professional racing since he began his top-level pro career in the American Le Mans Series in 2003, when he was 21. And it makes him feel just a little bit old.
That quantum shift: online racing and coaching, specifically using iRacing. “I absolutely wish I had access to laser-scanned race circuits to utilize on simulations as an up-and-comer,” Long tells Grassroots Motorsports. For new drivers, he says, “it’s a huge tool.”
Can virtual coaching turn into real-world winning?
Box This Lap has a wonderful feature on 93 year-old sim racer Ryuji Urabe who sadly passed away recently.
“Beyond the realm of virtual racing, Ryuji Urabe’s story holds deeper significance. It speaks to the resilience of the human spirit and the enduring power of passion to transcend limitations. Urabe’s unwavering determination to pursue his love for driving serves as an inspiration to us all, reminding us that age is no barrier to following our dreams.”
Competitive Sim Racing News
- Green light for season 6 of the Porsche TAG Heuer Esports Supercup (Porsche)
- Are you the National Motorsport Academy’s fastest Sim Racer?
- ESPORTS: Real life and Virtual Racing combine to bring more success (Williams Racing)
- 3 Filipino sim-racers will be representing a Singapore-based esports brand for 2024 (Top Gear Philippines)
- MOZA Racing gears up with Motorsport Australia (Motorsport Australia)
Sim Racing Tips & Techniques
Coaching time – How to brake like a pro – the fastest way to improve lap times and consistency! 
The iRacing Ultimate Guide is now available! “Advanced Motorsports have created the resource to finally unlock the pace you always wanted to have and it’s called…”The Art of Driving at the Limit With simplified theory for easy understanding and actionable exercises (yes, exercises) By doing these exercises, we went from rookies to winning national championships (Porsche Esports Sprint Challenge, Red Bull Ring Masters) This mini-course is your at home sim-racing training facility. Through vision, braking, steering and throttle, learn how to perfect vehicle dynamics fundamentals Get yourself a lifetime ressource of pace sign up now for The Art of Driving at the Limit. “
Sim Racing Tech Roundup
Here is a roundup of the latest sim racing tech news, reviews, and recommendations from around the world.
- Decoding the Mystery: Why VR Isn’t the Go-To for Sim Racing Pros (Box This Lap)
- Best PC racing wheels in 2024 (PC Gamer)
- Sim Racing: Meet the GeForce RTX 4070 Super (Box This Lap)
General Sim Racing News
- Motorsport Australia extends partnership with Next Level Racing (Motorsport Australia)
- MOZA Racing gears up with Motorsport Australia (Motorsport Australia)
- Gran Turismo 7’s First Big 2024 Update Is Letting Everyone Down (The Drive)
- Grid Finder poised to grow after joining US based motorsports group, RAFA Racing Club (GridFinder)
- Sim Racing Market: Current State, Trends and Insights (Box This Lap)
- Three Weeks Until Release – What’s Up With Le Mans Ultimate? (Race Department)
- The next Forza Motorsport update will add the most daunting race circuit in the world (Windows Central)
- XR Immersive Technologies and RaceRoom Forge a Transformative Partnership to Elevate Virtual Reality Racing Experiences (Global Newswire)
- Gran Turismo 7 Update 1.42: The Worst Update Yet? (Box This Lap)
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.