There’s nothing more satisfying than overtaking opponents or trail-braking around a corner in sim racing. However, if you’re new to simulation racing, the concept of virtual races taking place on simulated software can be intimidating on the surface, especially for beginners. Plus, if you’re used to arcade-like video games, such as Need for Speed, Burn Out, or Forza Horizon, you’ve likely found that they’re geared more towards a pick-up-and-play style of play. In contrast, sim racing accurately mimics the cars and real-life racing conditions, making it much more difficult.
So, if you’re striving to beat your best lap times or finally score your first win, keep reading our guide on how to improve in sim racing. Our valuable tips might not turn you pro, but they could help you get better at several different aspects of this thrilling eSport.
Let’s get racing!
How to Get Better at Sim Racing
As a result of enhanced realism, simulation racing has become a rapidly growing niche in the e-gaming industry, where the skills between virtual and reality are easily transferable. Real-world motorsport teams like Ferrari or Mercedes use simulators for training. Therefore, as a sim racer, you have to understand different variables, such as suspension geometry, tire temperature, and your car’s reaction across the tarmac, to improve your overall skills. So, without further ado, let’s check out some valuable tips on how to improve in sim racing:
1. Be Realistic
Don’t be disheartened if you’ve only recently started and are constantly finding yourself in the mid-pack or the back. Depending on your age, equipment, or driving skills, it’s unlikely you’ll be as fast as James Baldwin or Michi Hoyer. However, you can gradually improve your game by keeping your head down and learning some of the techniques they picked up from an early age. Until then, you should set realistic goals and avoid looking at others no matter what game you’re playing. Instead, you should focus on beating your times to stay motivated longer.
2. Stick to a Particular Niche
Modern sim racers don’t strive to be the best in every racing discipline under the sun. Instead, they picked a particular niche and stayed with it throughout. Of course, this doesn’t mean you can’t have fun every once in a while. However, if you’re looking to get better, focus on one discipline, like single-seaters, GT, LMP, and trucks. Moreover, stick to a particular track until you hit a metaphorical wall where there’s no longer room for improvement.
3. Watch and Learn
Once you’ve picked out the car and your car, drive a few practice laps to get the feel of it before checking on others who have gone through the track in similar conditions. Many racing simulations allow racers to spectate others while they go round the track so they can watch their telemetry. If your software doesn’t allow that, focus on their gear shifts, especially when entering corners, to understand the optimal speed of entry. Moreover, pay attention to the line they take and check the difference in exit time.
4. Get Rid Of Any Distractions
Just like real-world racing or leisure driving, sim racing requires a certain level of focus, so there’s little room for distractions. Of course, this will depend on your circumstances, such as time of day, work, school, or other responsibilities. However, when you’re in the game, you should wear headphones to cancel out all other noises so you can solely pay attention to the sound of your engine. Another form of distraction is discomfort. Even if you don’t have a custom rig set up, you should at least set your seating position to support your posture correctly.
5. Stay Full and Hydrated
Sim racing can easily last for hours, meaning you won’t get the chance to get up from your rig for a quick drink or snack. Of course, if you’re playing offline, getting up isn’t an issue. So, if you like munching on chips and energizing with Mountain Dew or a Red Bull, make sure you have everything you need to hand. However, if you want to remain full for longer, you should opt for healthy snacks and drinks.
6. Set Up Your Field Of View
FOV or Field Of View is a common setting found in most racing simulation software. This setting allows racers to set how much they can see on the track to coordinate turns accurately, especially around corners. FOV varies from person to person and is determined by monitor size, the number of monitors, and the distance from the driver. By using the correct FOV, you can consistently hit those apexes with more confidence and easily shave off a few seconds off lap times.
7. Assists
Most simulation racing games have assists that make gameplay easier for beginners. If you’re just getting started, brake, line, and speed assists can help you get up to speed. However, they do have their limits, and if you want to go faster, you’ll eventually need to turn them off. Still, there’s no need to rush this. Instead, turn each assist off once you’ve mastered a specific aspect and gradually move on to others.
8. Join Racing Communities
Depending on your game of choice, there are several online communities you can join, such as Overtake and Sim Racing Rigs. If you’re a fan of Reddit or Twitter, you can find links to many racing communities in your area and even participate in races with other members. This can help improve your skills and experience as you’ll regularly compete against different opponents and styles.
9. No Fun, No Learn
Simulation racing, just like real-world racing, should be done for fun. If you don’t enjoy it for whatever reason, you’re never going to improve. So, try out different racing games and pick which one suits your style of play best. You can also ask different communities for more options or recommendations. For instance, many new racers who turn of assists for the first time can find sim racing more difficult or even annoying. The best solution here is to take it one lap at a time and gradually find your rhythm.
Conclusion
And there you have it, folks – How to improve in sim racing using nine highly effective and logical tips. Of course, there are several other ways you can get better at simulation racing. Still, the ones on our list don’t necessarily involve spending heavily on upgrades or building a custom rig. Before we go, remember; improvement in sim racing isn’t just about becoming the fastest driver and winning races. It’s more about gaining time and building the ability to feel your car and the conditions and get the best out of them.
