How to Get Into Sim Racing

Sim Racing, like all forms of sports simulation such as golf, cricket or baseball, will take a little equipment to get into. Cost as a barrier to entry is reducing with more cost-based market-friendly products such as Trak Racer’s upcoming TR5 Hybrid Racing Cockpit, and with consoles and PCs becoming more widely available.

What Do I Need to Start Sim Racing?

In terms of hardware, Sim Racing only requires four to five items: a PC or console to run the game, a wheel and wheelbase (generally a combo in the beginning), a set of pedals that work with your wheel, and a monitor and/or TV; A love of motorsports doesn’t hurt either.

With the above basic gear and a desk, you can get away with a relatively cheap setup to experience Sim Racing in a basic way. Using desk clamps limits your ability to specialise, as you will generally be sitting on a couch or an office chair, a seat that doesn’t mimic the seating position of any motorsport vehicle.

What’s the Software of Choice?

The final thing you’ll need is a racing game or simulator that will work with your newly acquired gear. Some sim racing fans will swear black and blue that iRacing or Assetto Corsa is the best, but it’s better to explore simulators based on your interests, as each one will do something a little better than the others.

Here’s a quick cheat sheet of games and the categories that they represent:
Le Mans Ultimate | World Endurance Championship | ELMS and GT
iRacing | A mixture of all categories, tracks and cars
Assetto Corsa | A mixture of all categories, tracks and cars, drifters love it and Max Verstappen swears by it for his preparation
Assetto Corsa Rally | Dirt rally stages specifically
WRC 24 | Dirt rally stages specifically, focused around the 24 season
F125 | FIA Formula One Championship

On consoles, Gran Turismo 7 and the Forza series do a great job of catching all different types of racing series, but the ideal racing format on these games tends to be GT3 racing.

Does a Sim Racing Rig Come Next?

From here, Sim Racing can sometimes feel like a choose-your-own-adventure, with a multitude of products built to mimic different categories of motorsport.

For instance, fans of Formula One may look at a rig like the Racing TRX, developed alongside the BWT Alpine Formula One™ Team. This rig is built to emulate the seating style and position well known in modern Formula One™ cars, while also having compatibility to work for GT seating positions.

On the other hand, a traditional aluminium extrusion rig, such as the TR120s cockpit or TR160V5 are less specialised but can be built to emulate the vehicle format of your choice with the right seat and pedal plate position. This style of rig can also be used as a composite flight and race rig if one was so inclined.

If you’re looking for neither of these things and want a more casual experience, small-footprint rigs like the TR5 Hybrid Cockpit can help fill the need, as it is aimed toward a family and lounge room racing experience.

Costs will vary heavily based on what you’re looking to do, but to upgrade off a desk it’s worth putting aside between 500 and 1,000 dollars to get what you want the first time.

What About Electronics?

Racing electronics are where your costs can balloon, with an almost endless number of electronics across wheels, pedals, wheelbases, button boxes, shifters, handbrakes and other minor accessories. If you don’t know what you need, keep it simple and upgrade your pedals, wheel and wheelbase.

By upgrading these parts first, you’ll get a better feel for sim racing overall and, alongside your game of choice, quickly understand what other racing peripherals you may need. For instance, a two-pedal set from Simagic with a Simucube wheelbase and a Rexing Formula Wheel (or Simagic GT Neo) will be enough for any single-seat enthusiast.

If you’re more aligned with rally driving though, you’ll need a clutch pedal, shifter, handbrake and a different round wheel to better emulate the driving experience.

These combinations are near endless, and if you enjoy the pull of more than one racing category, you may find yourself looking at a wall of wheels pretty quickly.

Keep It Simple

While all of this may seem like a lot and makes the question of “How do I get into Sim Racing?” feel more complex, it’s best to keep it simple with a sturdy rig, a wheelbase, a wheel and pedals. From here you’re always welcome to explore other peripherals and categories, but by keeping these three peripherals in mind, you shouldn’t blow your costs out too significantly.

Final Thoughts

Getting into Sim Racing does not need to be complicated. Start with the basics: a wheel and wheelbase, a set of pedals, a monitor and either a PC or a console. From there, choose a simulator that suits your interests and consider whether you want a desk setup or a dedicated rig like the TR5 or TRX. Upgrading your core electronics first will give you the biggest improvement, and you can expand into extra peripherals once you know the driving styles you enjoy. Keeping it simple at the beginning will help you get the most out of Sim Racing without unnecessary cost.

Why Trust This Guide

This guide is based on real experience with sim racing gear and feedback from everyday racers. It reflects practical knowledge of beginner and advanced setups to help you start with confidence.