Sim racing is a popular pastime for millions of people across the world, as it gives you the thrill of the racing experience from the comfort of your own home.
It is even a popular hobby of many professional racers, highlighting the excitement and realism of a sim racing setup.
However, it can be an overwhelming hobby to get started in, as it requires a qualified investment in both hardware and software.
It is possible to spend hundreds of thousands of rand on a high-end sim racing set-up – but such a steep investment is completely unnecessary if this is not within your budget.
Here’s how to begin your sim racing journey without breaking the bank.
Racing wheel
The first thing you will need to invest in is a wheel/pedal set. There are many options to fit different budgets – but the most important thing is to buy a wheel that has force feedback (FFB).
FFB is the technology that simulates the physical sensations you would experience with the steering wheel when racing a real vehicle – such as bumpiness when driving on gravel, and resistance when fighting the car’s momentum.
A popular wheel for first-time sim racers that features FFB is the Logitech G29 – which is available at most major tech retailers for about R8,000.
It comes with a triple-pedal set-up, too, and is compatible with both PCs and PlayStation consoles.
Xbox gamers will instead want to buy the Logitech G920. It is virtually identical, but is instead compatible with PCs and Xbox consoles.
Logitech’s biggest competitor at this price range is Thrustmaster – with a popular option from this brand being the T248 model.
As a first-time sim racer, these wheels are more than enough for your needs – but as your hobby evolves, you can always upgrade to higher-end wheels that cost tens of thousands of rand.
Other hardware
You can also invest in a racing seat, which is designed to simulate how you would sit inside a vehicle.
Your wheel and pedal will easily fit into this seat, making it feel like you are truly in a race car.
However, this is not a necessity as a new sim racer, as sitting at a computer desk and using your wheel and pedals is completely playable.
Whether you invest in a racing seat therefore completely depends on your appetite for spending on the sim racing experience.
Another area where you can spend more money is on additional screens.
While these make the gaming experience more immersive and realistic, this is a significant additional investment and should only be viewed as an optional extra for a new sim racer.
Software
Now that you have your equipment, it is time to choose the games you will use for your sim racing experience.
The most popular titles include:
- Assetto Corsa / Assetto Corsa Competizione
- iRacing
- F1 2025
- Forza Motorsport
- Gran Turismo
Of these games, the Assetto Corsa and iRacing games are considered the more realistic games for people who take the simulation side more seriously.
In comparison, the F1, Forza Motorsport, and Gran Turismo series are slightly more casual and have a more arcade feel, but are perhaps more accessible as a first option for new sim racers.
There is no right answer for a first-time sim racer – some newbies prefer to dive head-first into the toughest challenges, while others will enjoy easing into the hobby using more accessible vehicles and gameplay.
Either way, these games must be bought – and they come with varying price tags:
- Assetto Corsa – R185 on Steam.
- Assetto Corsa Competizione – R829 on Steam.
- iRacing – R159.99 per month / R849 for six months / R1,499.99 for 12 months.
- F1 25 – R999 on Steam.
- Forza Motorsport – R1,399 on Steam.
- Gran Turismo 7 – R1,369 on PlayStation Store.
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