Sim Racing: Why do we do it?

Let’s be honest, if you are reading this article, the chances are that you are either already involved in sim racing or are looking to get started.

For those who are already turning virtual laps, you will already have a good idea about what you love most about our hobby.

But for those who are looking at starting out, you may be wondering, what is it about sim racing that keeps you coming back for more?

Well, let’s explore this question some more by diving into 5 key points.

Competition​

For some, the main draw card of sim racing is the ability to scratch that competitive itch.

There are so many virtual arenas where you can go toe-to-toe with drivers from all over the world. Whether that be in organised events or leagues, public lobbies or even hot lap competitions.

If you have the desire to put your skills to the test or simply enjoy some good hard racing, there are so many avenues that you can explore.

Of course, there are the higher echelons of professional Esports competitions and the eye-watering prize funds which they offer. But for the vast majority of sim racers, there are some great races to be found in the organised world of iRacing, the ranked servers of RaceRoom Racing Experience or daily races on Assetto Corsa Competizione.

If, for you, the best thing about sim racing is the competition element, there are no shortage of options to suit every interest and skill level.

Relax and Unwind​

On the flip side of that, some sim racers keep returning to their physical and digital drivers seat as a form of relaxing after a long, arduous day at work or school.

There is sometimes nothing better than to leave the cares of the world behind you and immerse yourself in a different world. A world where it is just you, your car and the road ahead. Nothing else matters.



Some will still find pushing a race car as hard as possible around a track, or a rally car through a stage flat out to be a relaxing and therapeutic experience. But for others, this relaxation takes a different shape in the form of cruising.

There are some sim racing titles that offer a much more laid back option to those who seek refuge from the rigors of daily life. For example, there is an increasing number of point to point, or real life road mods which have appeared for Assetto Corsa over the last few years. These allow you to take a favourite sports or supercar for a thrash down idyllic public roads without a care in the world. In fact you can even join others online and go for a therapeutic cruise with friends and strangers.

Live For Speed is another title that has a very active cruising scene. One that has been reinvigorated with the introduction of modded cars to the legendary title. The variety of cars and vehicles that you will find on various cruise servers really makes for an enjoyable online experience.

Social​

Speaking of the online experience, for some sim racers what keeps them coming back for more is the group of friends that they have come to know in the community, especially right here at RaceDepartment!

Sim racing is fun in general, but sim racing with friends is even better. The camaraderie, banter and enjoyment that can be found, particularly in the RD Racing Club, is a major part of sim racing for a lot of people and it is easy to see why.

You don’t even need to be on track to participate in the social element of sim racing, as many enjoy sharing their experiences or opinions on sim racing forums or groups. Some also love to discuss the hardware they use or seek advice on upgrades or optimisation, which brings us on to our next point.

Personalising Your Rig​

Many who have been involved in sim racing for some time will know that you don’t just buy a sim racing setup and then keep it the same forever.

There is always something that you are looking to upgrade, change or add to your sim racing cockpit. Whether that is a new wheel, pedals or even a cup holder, there is always something else that you can find to make your sim rig even more personal to you. In fact, with the advancements in sim racing products of late, this constant search for upgrades is showing no sign of slowing down.

Now it’s worth pointing out at this point that simply throwing money at your sim rig will not necessarily make you a faster driver, but what it does do is provide a level of joy and satisfaction in putting something together that you are truly proud of.

Improvement​

Speaking of trying to become a faster driver, another of the main things that draws us back in is a constant search for improvement.

Regardless of whether we have been sim racing for 20 years or 20 minutes, there is always something new we can learn. Something that we can improve on.

Whether it be our braking technique such as trail braking or heel and toe, our standing starts, or even wet weather driving, we can always find some improvement somewhere.

It is that underpinning desire to become better which makes us say “just one more lap” over and over again for the next half an hour or more.



These are just a few examples of what makes us keep firing up our computers and head out behind the wheel. But how about you? What is your sim racing addiction fuelled by? Let us know in the comments below.