If you want to start a driving experience in the world of virtual motorsports, this article is definitely for you, in fact we'll discover how to begin a successful SimRacing Career.
SimRacing requires a professional and serious approach right from the start.
Virtual cars simulate their real-world counterparts using official data released by the manufacturers themselves.
So, the accuracy with which the cars are replicated is extreme.
This extends to how the car reacts to setup changes.
The behavior of the car changes every time you adjust elements like tire pressure and suspension geometry.
Additionally, the car will react differently depending on the track temperature and the type of asphalt used.
But why is SimRacing so popular?
The cost of simulators is much lower compared to real track racing.
Also, if you were to go to a real track, you’d need to buy appropriate tires, repair the car in case of an accident, and pay for flights or trains to get to the track.
You can race whenever you want, even right after coming home from work or school.
How many driving simulators are there?
Lots! For any platform, there is a wide range of driving simulators, starting from consoles and moving into the world of PCs.
On PlayStation, for example, you can find titles like Gran Turismo 7.
On Xbox, there’s Forza Motorsport 7.
As for the PC world, there’s a plethora of simulators, including those also available on consoles like the F1 titles and Assetto Corsa / Assetto Corsa Competizione.
Exclusively on PC, the most important driving simulators are:
- rFactor 2 and Automobilista 2, which come with a basic package to start from, with the option to download mods.
- iRacing, which operates on a subscription basis (monthly, quarterly, or annually). Without a subscription, you can't drive on iRacing. You get a basic package of cars and tracks, and the rest can be purchased separately for around €10-15 per track/car.
- Raceroom, a free simulator with a large selection of cars and tracks.
How can I improve my driving performance?
Set steps and goals for yourself.
In a challenging world like SimRacing, it’s impossible to be strong right away.
It takes time, dedication, and patience to improve gradually.
For example, set a goal without looking at others’ times.
Today, I want to be three-tenths faster, tomorrow another three-tenths, and so on.
Step by step.
You've understood that this is a mental factor because potential on the track needs time, calm, and concepts to be expressed.
Without knowing the right driving techniques to apply (braking, downshifting, accelerating, etc.), how to make a setup, strategies, and how to best configure your equipment, it will be very difficult to go fast in SimRacing.
Prepare a Routine Work Program
Before hitting the track, think about what you want to achieve from the session, as mentioned in the first point.
Do you need to learn the track, understand how to adjust the ride height?
Perfect, but never make the mistake of hitting the track without criteria and objectives, because it leads nowhere.
You will never understand if you are improving or not, and you will never solve any of your problems.
You would only waste time, and in motorsport, time is precious, especially if you have little of it available.
So create a work program, set goals, and take breaks which are very useful to reflect on what still needs improvement.
There are simulators like iRacing and Assetto Corsa that have races every hour of the day.
Maybe you can participate in a number of races a day and set, for example, the goal of finishing in the top 10, and later maybe in the top 7, top 5, and so on.
This way, you can improve in every aspect.
Also, note down in a notebook everything you did in a session: what setup parameters you changed, what went well, what needs improvement, and so on.
Your goal is to be better than the previous day.
Use telemetry
Telemetry, the tool that never lies and shows all your activity on the track: what you did right, wrong, what needs improvement, and where to improve.
In SimRacing, you can also use real-time telemetry data to better understand, through graphs, how the session is going.
Since one of the key aspects to being a Top Driver is being as consistent and solid as possible on the track, telemetry is of great help.
Fortunately, by joining UniSimRacing, you can be guided by top telemetry experts who will show you all the areas where there is room for improvement in your lap time, race pace, and so on.
Can you become a real driver starting from SimRacing?
Absolutely yes!
This is because virtual motorsport requires the same skills and abilities as driving a real car, so it is not impossible at all to race with a real car.
Firstly, we can tell you that there are championships where the main prize could be driving a real car.
Assetto Corsa Competizione, for example, hosts the SRO GT-ESPORT Series, where manufacturers can offer Simdrivers the opportunity to drive real GT cars.
Another example comes from rFactor 2, which offered the winner of the official Esport Formula E championship the chance to drive a real electric single-seater.
Our Enzo Bonito has managed to get behind the wheel of real race cars multiple times: we are talking about the Formula Predator and Formula Griip championships in which he participated.
Fast single-seaters, aerodynamically sensitive and difficult to control, yet he achieved several podium finishes.
But Enzo's real feat was beating, at the real 2019 Race of Champions in Mexico City, drivers like Ryan Hunter-Reay (2012 Indycar champion and 2014 Indy500 winner) and Lucas Di Grassi (2016-17 Formula E champion).
Another great story comes from the USA and is that of young William Byron, a very strong 25-year-old driver.
Byron started as a simdriver, winning over 100 races on iRacing.
His father was fascinated by his son's talent to the point of investing in him and letting him try real tracks at the age of 15.
Willy confirmed the talent seen in the simulator and became a powerhouse in reality, winning in all the minor NASCAR series, including the Xfinity title in 2017 (NASCAR's F2, so to speak).
Since 2018, William has been racing in the Cup, the premier class, with Hendrick Motorsports, the most successful team in NASCAR history, driving the historic No. 24, once driven by legend Jeff Gordon.
Today, he is one of the pillars of this team and he won the 2024 Daytona 500, NASCAR's most important race.
Well, there are all the foundations to soon become a real NASCAR Cup champion, all starting from SimRacing!
It all seems so easy...
Exactly, it all seems so easy.
The main problem why it’s not easy to pursue a career in real motorsport is the budget.
Economically, a single test on the track could cost as much as a year's salary.
You can be very strong on the simulator, but if you don’t have the cash, you won’t get anywhere.
That's why SimRacing is full of very fast drivers who all share the same dream and passion.
But it’s not impossible for them to have sponsors.
Sponsors can primarily guarantee the budget a Simdriver would need to get into a real car.
That's why it's important to take virtual motorsport seriously, because you never know who you might meet.
Mentally, try to improve your memory.
When you enter a corner, your brain instinctively understands how much brake to use, how much steering angle to give, and what trajectory to take.
By improving your memory, you can also increase the number of scenarios your brain is prepared for if something should happen, like a loss of grip.
Do various tests, train hard on the track, and memorize every single corner of any circuit.
There’s no doubt that if you go on the track, your body will be overwhelmed by the accumulation of external stimuli.
But by creating a training program as we have advised, you can really enjoy the experience on the track.
Can you become a Top Driver?
Absolutely yes, anyone can achieve great satisfaction on the track.
But it takes willpower, commitment, dedication, and above all, passion for this wonderful world.
So, you need to invest in yourself, believe in your abilities, and put yourself out there, whether you want to become a professional driver or simply lower your lap times and have more fun.
You need to have a positive, motivated, but above all, winning mentality.
Because remember: on the track, you are no longer the student, the lawyer, the engineer, the doctor, the person you are in everyday life.
You are a Driver, and that's how you need to think!
The time to bet on yourself has already arrived.
Join UniSimRacing.
We'll help you to boost your performance in SimRacing.
See you soon!