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Combining VR and pioneering simulation gear for the ultimate sim racing setup

February 24, 2023
by Juuso Kääriäinen, Director of Sales and Marketing, Simucube, Melina Kantanen, Content Creation Specialist, Simucube
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Racing Sim

The world of sim racing has seen a significant rise in popularity over the last few years. It’s a speedy, adrenaline-spiking sport, where split-second decision can make or break performance. Whether you’re a casual driver or an avid sim racer, you want to get the most out of your rig and enjoy every minute of it.

Varjo and Simucube at ADAC Simracing Expo 2022

In this article we will be looking at a setup that combines gear from both Simucube and Varjo – a collaboration that has been designed for the ultimate sim racing experience. We’re going to highlight the anatomy of a sim racing rig and help you prioritize what’s most important when choosing the right gear for the most immersive setup. When it comes to simulation racing games, there are a couple of things that many gamers strive for, and that is both realism and immersion. The best way to achieve this is to carefully select the best simulation gear available and fully embrace your inner racing driver. Pairing VR and sim racing together makes for a winning combination.

A good sim racing setup means a life-like racing environment so let’s dive into the world of simulation gear!

SimRacing setup

The wheel base at the heart of the rig

The first step in every professional-grade sim rig is the wheel base. It is no surprise that a high-end sim racing setup needs a powerful wheel base. To get the best force feedback you need an effective direct drive wheel base. A setup with the Simucube 2 Pro provides an entirely unique immersion for seasoned racers. With the consistency and precision, you are guaranteed to succeed in every race.

One of the key factors to take into consideration when choosing a wheel base is the torque. Even if you are not using the full torque, the reaction speed of the wheel base is important to feel all the details. The 25 Nm torque of the Simucube 2 Pro is more than enough to provide you with full immersion with any car, track, or condition. Keep in mind that with this wheel base it is important to ensure your rig is capable of handling not only the weight but also the power.

The right wheel

The next step in the rig is the steering wheel. The wheel is your main physical interface with the sim racing environment, so you’ve got to feel comfortable with the device in your hands. There are plenty of styles, choices, and customization options to suite every taste. The first and most important thing is the choice between Formula-style wheels and GT wheels.

There are many things to take into consideration, depending on the car you want to simulate. The things you need to look out for in a sim racing wheel include a nice ergonomic feel to the wheel when you’re gripping it, high-quality grip materials, an intuitive and tactile feel to the buttons and encoders, compatibility to your wheelbase and lastly that you truly enjoy using it.

Naturally, build quality is critically important when choosing a sim racing wheel. For a round, robust, and functional wheel, the Simucube Tahko GT-21 Black Edition is the ideal choice. The features of this wheel are based on requests, conditions, and feedback from racers in the world of high-end sim racing. Some of these features include wireless technology utilizing the Simucube Wireless Wheel System, two digital and adjustable magnetic paddles, and ten high-quality industrial-grade buttons. This wheel is also the perfect choice for ultimate compatibility with Simucube 2 wheelbases.

Simracing setup wheel
SimRacing pedals

Pedals

High-quality pedals will have a large impact on your speed and consistency. They are one of the primary components that constitute a complete sim racing rig. Good pedals are useful for consistency, minimising mistakes, and fine control. A pedal upgrade can be the most significant update you can make to your racing rig.

For ultimate precision, our choice of pedal is the Simucube Activepedal. What makes these pedals unique is the possibility to customize easily and quickly. With the click of a button, you can turn it into a brake, throttle, or clutch. You can adjust the Simucube ActivePedal however you like – and once you find your perfect adjustment, the feel stays constant forever. With the ActivePedal software you can customize pedal travel distance, brake air gap, ABS, traction control, and more. In addition to that, there are no rubbers, no sloppy oil, no springs, no hydraulic cylinders, and no degrading parts to maintain and replace. Zero maintenance and total consistency with no mechanical adjustments necessary. This helps you truly to focus just on the race. The pedal has been designed to be the last pedal a professional sim racer needs. These pedals combined with the Simucube wheelbase and wheel give you a truly immersive experience.

VR headset

VR is a true achievement, and in terms of immersion, there’s nothing else quite like it. The best way to improve your racing skills is to practice in the most realistic conditions possible. And with the help of virtual reality, you can achieve just that. If you want more from your sim racing experience, a VR headset is the way to go. A VR sim racing setup puts you in the driver’s seat with an immersive, first-person view of the track, closing the gap between virtual reality and reality. This gives you a realistic feeling of speed, making it the perfect way to prepare for real-life racing.

However, traditional consumer grade VR goggles haven’t been able to meet the requirements for professional sim racing. To get the best visual immersion and the most realistic experience, the Varjo Aero headset is the best choice. Adding the Varjo Aero to your sim racing kit can be a game-changer. With the advanced ergonomics of the headset and the build-in cooling system, you are guaranteed to be comfortable even in endurance events. Not only is the Aero comfortable to wear, but it also offers you dual mini-LED displays and integrated eye-tracking for remarkable clarity.

Combining the exceptional visual quality of the Varjo Aero headset with Simucube’s pioneering simulation gear enables the highest-immersion racing simulation experiences. With the Varjo headset, you’ll get incredibly detailed visuals, while the Simucube wheel base delivers a lifelike response and feedback. If you’re serious about taking your sim racing skills to the next level, this is the setup for you!

 

 

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