In probably its most requested feature, iRacing now allows for racing in the rain and this week you will find tips on how best to handle the downpour. I also have updates on more sim racers gone real-world racing, set-up guides, Aston Martin’s new sim rig and more.
It’s all in this week’s Sim Racing Roundup on Motorsport Prospects. It’s sim racing news for racers not gamers.
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From Sim Racing to the Real Thing
In yet another example of a sim racer moving over to real-world racing, Rajah Caruth and his No. 71 Spire Motorsports team won the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Victoria’s Voice Foundation 200 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway last weekend. After earning his first career pole earlier in the day, Caruth followed it up with his maiden Truck Series victory to become the third Black driver to win a NASCAR national series race, joining Wendell Scott and Bubba Wallace.
Rajah started in sim racing. “This 21-year-old got his start racing on simulators. That pathway alone created many questions and doubts about one’s ability to jump from a computer to the track.”
I have mentioned Max Esterson numerous times as a great example of someone who used sim racing as a platform to go real-world racing. Last weekend he debuted in Formula 3 for Jenzer Motorsport and finished 6th in Race 1 and 24th in Race 2 due to severe tire degradation. Notice a prominent sim racing company on his livery?
The Potaytona online sim race is a community 10-hour race this coming weekend seeks to raise over €9,000 to support the next generation of motorsport talent. The plan is to support eight up-and-coming real-world racing drivers in their quest to be on the grid in 2024.
The plan is to run a 10-hour iRacing event, multi-class, which will see 60 grid slots and a live broadcast. Between three and four drivers can be driving each entry, with around 180 drivers expected.
A cool feature is that those who donate before the event, or during, a minimum of €5 via the GoFundMe page will be entered into a prize draw for sim racing equipment.
“The point is, this is the closest that most sim racers will ever get to real racing. When a driver lifts a trophy. Imagine they thank the sim racing community. That would be insane. We’re trying to build something around the drivers.”
It all kicks off on Saturday, 9th March 2024, 10.15 am GMT.
Speaking to CNN, Daytona 500 champion William Byron credits ‘really unique’ computer racing background for success.
“I feel like I definitely grew up in the sport very differently,” he told CNN Sport’s Amanda Davies on Tuesday. “I just was racing online on the computer, sim racing, and that’s how I learned how to drive. It was just a completely different start than a lot of people but I was really fortunate for that background because I felt like that allowed me to learn a lot at a quick rate and once I got into real cars I was able to translate a lot of that.”
Competitive Sim Racing News
Here are more headlines from the world of competitive sim racing
- Screen to Speed Event on March 8: Celebrating Women’s International Day with an Epic NASCAR Race (Screen to Speed)
- Alejandro Sánchez wins first race of 2024 in Porsche TAG Heuer Esports Supercup Mid-Season Tournament at Watkins Glen (iRacing)
Sim Racing Tips & Techniques
In the video above, pro GT racer and Rolex 24 winner Daniel Morad goes over 4 tips to help you become a better driver in the rain.
- AMS2 – Our First Time / Beginner’s Setup Guide (Sim Racing Cockpit)
Sim Racing Tech Roundup
Here is a roundup of the latest sim racing tech news, reviews, and recommendations from around the world.
- Best Racing Wheels for PS5 (IGN)
- Simrig Revolutionizes Sim-Racing with Powerful SR3 Motion System: A Game-Changer in Immersive Gaming (BNN)
- Aston Martin Aramco joins forces with Memento Exclusives to launch F1 race simulators (Aston Martin F1)
General Sim Racing News
- Juncos Hollinger Racing adds Base Performance Simulators as Official Sim Partner (Juncos Hollinger)
- Endurance Motorsport Series: A New Simulator That Mixes Driving And Management (Race Department)
- Why Assetto Corsa Competizione’s GT2 DLC Took 18 Months To Complete (Overtake)
- This Week in iRacing: March 5-11, 2024 (iRacing)
- Most Played Racing Games On Steam In February 2024 (Race Department)
- Monza Barcade Thrills Pinoy Motorsport Fans with Sim Racing at Formula 1 Watch Party (8List)
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.