Sim Racing and Esports News Roundup for October 6, 2022

This edition of the Sim Racing and Esports News Roundup will be perfect for you if you are a real world racer looking to create a sim mod of your car to train with.

Riley Philips created a virtual replica of the Fun Cup car that he races to enable him to train and practice when he cannot make it to the track, and I bring you the column where he explains how he did it.

What happens when you get a bunch of Twitch and YouTube streamers with no real-world racing experience on a real track racing real F4 cars? We will find out this weekend and you can read about it here.

I also have news on the 2022 Logitech McLaren G Challenge, the 2022-23 Le Mans Virtual Series, some tech reviews and much more.

From Sim Racing to the Real Thing

• In what has to be a first, F1 Feeder Series is reporting that this weekend, the Bugatti Circuit of Le Mans will host 22 YouTube and Twitch content creators with zero racing experience who will drive the Mygale M21 used in the French F4 Championship under the banner of Grand Prix Explorer. “The 22 drivers all come from the French-speaking YouTube and Twitch scene and have no experience in single-seaters. However, they have been intensively training in the FFSA Academy’s facilities at Le Mans. Physical training, theory classes, testing, testing, testing… all these content creators have been pretty busy during the last six months. Drivers are also receiving guidance from feeder series drivers, such as Hadrien David and Esteban Masson who sharing their knowledge of the Bugatti Circuit.”

Competitive Sim Racing News

• The 2022 Logitech McLaren G Challenge, a global sim racing competition has been announced. “Calling all Drivers! The Logitech McLaren G Challenge returns in 2022 with $150,000+ in prizes on the line and new ways to win! All drivers from eligible regions that participate can win weekly prizes no matter your skill level. Sign up for free today and compete for cash, Logitech G products, and a VIP trip to the 2023 F1 Austrian Grand Prix!” More details and to sign up can be done here.

• Motorsport Games has announced the entry list for the second round of the 2022-23 Le Mans Virtual Series, 4 Hours of Monza. The list is available (HERE). The high level of both real-life and sim drivers due to compete in the upcoming Monza event is a great indication that another closely contested race is likely from start to finish. A total of 40 cars will battle it out in two different classes – 24 in LMP, with all competitors using an ORECA 07 LMP2 model, and 16 in GTE, with teams having a choice of Ferrari, BMW, Porsche, and Aston Martin Vantage models. Manufacturer support also comes to teams representing Alpine and Mercedes AMG. Qualifying begins on Friday, October 7 at 6:00 pm BST, and all race action can be followed on the FIA WEC, Le Mans, and TraxionGG’s YouTube channels, on twitch.tv/traxiongg, and on multiple social media channels. Here is the full calendar:
  • Round 1 8 Hours of Bahrain, Bahrain September 17, 2022
  • Round 2 4 Hours of Monza, Italy October 8, 2022
  • Round 3 6 Hours of Spa, Belgium November 5, 2022
  • Round 4 500 Miles of Sebring, USA December 3, 2022
  • Round 5 24 Hours of Le Mans Virtual January 14/15, 2023

Sim Racing Tech Roundup

• PaddleUp explains how to make a mod for sim training as a way to get virtual track time with the race car you actually race in the real world. In this case, sim expert Riley Philips created a virtual replica of the Fun Cup car that he races. “The main idea came from wanting to use a training tool to get an advantage against other people I was racing against. I didn’t have the money to drive on tracks all the time so I decided the best way to go about it would be to use my simulator and basically practice every day in the build-up to a race. It helped a lot because I roughly knew my braking points, lines, etc. before I’d even been to a track.”

• Asetek has consolidated a lot of the online reviews of their products on their SimSports Reviews page. If you are looking to see what people think of their products, this is a good place to start.

• In the video above, Random Callsign reviews the Logitech PRO Direct Drive console experience. “The New Logitech PRO wheel and pedal set are really interesting. The direct drive provides for me the best driving experience on the Playstation, but it comes with a significant drawback!“

• A brand new setup app called Delta developed by the team at Coach Dave Academy aims at managing and installing your setups “buttery smooth.”

General Sim Racing News

• Coach Dave Academy answers the question of which GT3 car in iRacing is the best? “iRacing’s GT3 roster is a who’s who of blasts from the past and cutting-edge current contenders. With standalone series such as the VRS Sprint and VRS Endurance series on offer as well as weekly multiclass racing in IMSA and the IMSA Endurance series and the infrequent Nürburgring Endurance Series and Creventic Endurance Series, there’s always a bit of GT3 racing available for every enthusiast on the platform.”

• Asetek looks at the benefits of using sim racing shoes. “To achieve the best performance and fastest lap times, you need the right equipment, which you can learn more about here. Many races are determined within a fraction of a second, and sim racing boots can give a better grip on the plates, which can help you perform and achieve new PBs in the rig.”

• Saudi Arabia is now looking to take their billions to yet another sport as they have announced plans for a $37.8B gaming investment. “Savvy Games Group, owned in full by the country’s Public Investment Fund, is planning to invest $37.8 billion in gaming and esports with the goal of making the country a hub for gaming.”