Sim racing?
Sim racing?
I regularly race 3-4 times a week in Assetto Corsa Competizione. Your system seems to consume any racing game. I favor ACC for its realism and the competitive nature. What games have you played? Do you own a wheel?
I just upgraded my Thrustmaster T300RS to a T818 Direct drive. It's worth it.
I got really hooked on it, to the extent I made my own handbrake. I built rumble pedals, wind simulators, and am working on learning welding so I can construct my own motion simulator. I also have bass shakers and other rumble motors on the handbrake, plus a small shaker inside my shifter to mimic the sensation of pressing on the gas pedal and feeling it in the shifter. I really enjoy it—sim and just forza. Basically, I own all the Forza games, plus all the WRC titles and dirt games. I even bought a used Rift CV-1 on eBay for a cheap price so I could try sim racing in VR. Now I’m saving up for a better headset, or I might buy the cheapest one I can find and start building my own.
Great. Thanks for the update.
I recently upgraded my VR setup to the Quest Pro and came across someone discussing sim racing, so I spent a lot of time researching it yesterday. As mentioned, I used to race online back in the day—probably NASCAR 4. I’m a big fan of races, mostly in-person NASCAR events, but I have no issue with F1 or other formats. My latest race was the Daytona 500 in February.
I recently set up a system to handle almost anything, including MS Flight Simulator, and I’m thrilled to hear I’m ready for racing too. Many of the YouTube videos I watched last night referenced ACC.
I haven’t bought any gaming software yet, but I have ACC on my Steam wishlist—it’s going to be my first purchase. I’m also browsing the iracing website at https://www.iracing.com/ and am keen to check it out. If you have any thoughts, please let me know.
My research on wheels revealed several Logitech options (923, 920) priced around $300, and I saw the T300RS mentioned. Ultimately, I opted for the new Logitech Pro DD wheels and pedals, which are currently available.
Logitech Pro Direct Drive
Costly... but the reviews were positive, so I’m more confident about investing in quality gear for the best experience, just like with PC hardware.
I’m not concerned about not enjoying sim racing—I know I’ll appreciate it after my previous experience.
So here’s the plan: the wheels and pedals should ship tomorrow, and I should have them early next week. The PS5/PC version is sold out, but the Xbox/PC version is available, which is why I ordered an XSX. I reached out to the retailer today and they said it’s still pending shipment, so hopefully tomorrow.
Currently, I plan to secure the gear for my desk setup, similar to how I handle flight sim. I have a 48" OLED monitor plus VR, so either setup works. I’m thinking about building a cockpit-style configuration for both sim racing and flight simulation, but I’ll decide once everything is set up.
I already have an excellent gaming chair, which keeps me on the fence about a cockpit setup.
Anyway... these are my current plans. I should be testing them in the next few days.
Edit: Just received a shipment notification!
Hahah... I think I might be too. I remember being back then. Excited to begin.
I often describe iRacing as an outstanding tournament simulator. It stands out above all for its league structure, organized races, and many other features. Multi-driver endurance events, custom league creation, and everything else are all top-notch. I believe they have invested significantly in vehicle modeling and similar aspects. However, the main drawbacks are that the platform is quite outdated—sometimes a positive trait, as it can deliver around 200fps—and the graphics feel somewhat limited. More importantly, the cars don’t behave naturally, revealing the engine’s constraints. Certain vehicles feel unnatural, and some actions that work in real life don’t translate well. Still, there’s always a large community to engage with, offering plenty of customization options and variety.
During the pandemic, I spent a lot of time in iRacing mainly because other options were scarce. Friends organized races, but as real life resumed, I lost interest in the official engine. Consequently, my subscription ended. Plus, even with the subscription, they charge extra for cars and tracks. I likely have around $100 worth of unused tracks and vehicles that I can’t access now.
They really delivered value for the price. The T300RS and 923/920 models are solid choices, though direct drive is far behind what you’d expect. Load cell pedals are a notable upgrade, offering a much better feel compared to standard ones. All of these contribute to an enhanced experience.
I use triple curved 27" displays, which perform adequately—no VR experience needed. A dedicated cockpit significantly improves immersion. If your gaming chair doesn’t secure firmly, you’ll struggle with comfort, especially with direct drive wheels and load cell pedals. I’ve never felt truly at ease or fully engaged while using that setup (and even with direct drive).
I wouldn’t recommend the standard cockpit for a direct drive setup, as it doesn’t provide enough heft for a solid performance. It’s more of a toy compared to the newer versions available, which include better mounts and overall build quality.
[Link to product page]
I've been racing for a few years.
Logitech G29 with pedals, shifter and a stand mount for them.
It has a single 27" 1440p monitor mounted on an arm, so I can bring it close to me.
I run it on my 4790K and 1070 rigs with no issues.
Most races are a mess, especially the Nascar short tracks. Improve your ratings and join a league to escape that.
Thanks for all the details! I’m probably going with a cockpit, but I’ll definitely try the desk setup first. Still leaning toward the cockpit since I also enjoy flight simulators.
I’m planning to start with ACC and will check out iracing, seeing how it goes.
The wheel and pedals are really exciting—I’ve read great reviews and seen many people say they’re the best wheels I’ve ever used, which is reassuring.
I’ll update once everything is set up! Thanks!
Great to hear that too. I remember the wreck fests from back then... LOL... Daytona was probably my favorite track back.
I’m definitely going to try it in VR. I think flight simulators are the best in VR, and I’m confident racing will be too.
Will follow up! Thanks for the input!
I secured two victories at Talladega during the week it appeared on the calendar this year.
Failed to qualify, so I started towards the back, let them take two chances, then pushed myself forward.
Sounds good, the desk would work better and be more stable than the cockpit you shared. Next Level offers flight sim attachments, which should suit your needs well. I’m excited to hear your thoughts—I believe you’ll like it.