Race simulators have come a long way since their humble beginnings, and since the start of 2020, the sim racing market has been transformed by technology and extensive competition. We are in the age of modern race simulators and there's plenty to talk about, from high-end peripherals to top racing sim competitions with exciting prize money. In this blog, we will delve into the world of PC sim gaming, with a focus on high-quality brand names, the latest in the sim racing industry, and the crossover between sim racers and real racing careers.
Over the years, several high-end brands have been developing peripherals to deliver an immersive and realistic sim racing experience. Brands like Fanatec, Heusinkveld, and Simicube have taken the lead in this race, offering high-quality steering wheels, pedals, and shifters. Fully customizable sim racing rigs, such as those from Sim-Lab or Simetik, have become popular for their performance, durability, and attention to detail and the market is growing with many new and exciting entrants.
Top Race Sim Competitions
Since the start of 2020, we have witnessed remarkable growth in virtual races and competitions offering lucrative prize pools. Some of the top racing sim competitions happening in the coming year are the iRacing World Championship, F1 Esports Pro Series, and the GT Sport World Finals. The total prize money across all competitions in the sim racing world is estimated at around $3 million, with payouts for individual races ranging from thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Sim Racers Turning Pro
In recent years, we have also seen sim racers break into the world of real racing, proving the merit of sim racing as a legitimate training ground. Some prominent examples include:
1. Rudy van Buren: Rudy, a Dutch sim racing pro, won the 2017 'World's Fastest Gamer' competition and is now a McLaren Sim Driver and esports racer.
2. James Baldwin: James gained prominence by winning the "World's Fastest Gamer" competition in 2019 and started competing in the British GT Championship for Team Rocket RJN.
3. Igor Fraga: The Brazilian sim racer established himself in Gran Turismo and iRacing before making the successful transition to Formula racing. He now competes in the FIA Formula 3 Championship with Charouz Racing System.
Top Simulator Exhibits and Shows
For sim racing enthusiasts looking to experience the latest innovations and demonstrations in the sector, some of the top simulator exhibits and shows happening in the next twelve months include:
- SimExpo (September 2022, Nürburgring, Germany)
- CES (January 2023, Las Vegas, USA)
- Tokyo Game Show (September 2022, Tokyo, Japan)
These events showcase industry advancements and provide opportunities to network with fellow sim racers, creators, and teams.
In Conclusion
Since the start of 2020, the sim racing market has evolved dramatically, propelled by advancements in technology, extensive competition, and the integration of sim driving with real racing. This evolution can be experienced through high-end peripherals developed by top brands, exhilarating races and competitions offering exciting prize money, and the crossover between virtual and real racing for sim racers. As technology continues to advance, we can only look forward to how the sim racing world evolves even further in the coming years. So, buckle up and immerse yourself in the thrilling world of modern race simulators and don't forget to check out BDH Race Sim Hardware's H1 shifter, bringing race shifting to life!