It’s gotta be pretty sweet to be a race car 
driver. Yeah, getting to the top isn’t easy, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth the ride. But if you’re like most of the rest of the world, you probably don’t have an in with a team owner and you probably didn’t start racing karts as a toddler.
Thankfully, technology is here to the rescue. Instead of springing for track fees and fresh slicks, many enthusiasts are turning to simulators to get their adrenaline fix. One such individual is YouTube gamer 6e66o, who can be seen here putting the screws to a RUF RT12R in a GT2 race around Mid Ohio in RaceRoom Racing Experience.
Consisting of a 40-inch Samsung LCD monitor, an OMP Trecento steering wheel attached to a Logitech G27 mount, and a Thrustmaster TH8RS gated shifter, the only thing I see missing is some kind of haptic feedback to simulate g-forces and the close proximity of a can of high-octane fuel to satisfy the olfactory system.
But that’s ok. This sim racer is obviously committed to the project, even dressing the part with Alpinestars racing gloves. And why not? Sure it’s not cheap, but how many chances will folks like you and I have to turn a GT car in anger around the best tracks in the world? This guy can do it every night. With a beer.
Click past the jump to learn more about racing simulators.
Why it matters
Simulation technology is so good nowadays, professional race teams are using them regularly. From touring cars to stock cars, rally racing to Formula 1, computer-simulated training is an integral part of the program. It helps to not only develop the driver, but give a good baseline for expectations of the car as well.
But past the mega-dollar systems, it’s also great for folks who just enjoy racing. Sims are easier, more accessible, and obviously, quite a bit safer — at least until they develop 80G crash-simulator seats. The technology is quickly approaching the point where it can offer all the sensations of real racing. Yeah, the threat of stuffing it makes the real thing much different, but in terms of skills behind the wheel, the playing field appears to be (somewhat) leveling out.
That being said, if you want to race and you have the opportunity to do so in an actual, physical vehicle, do it. Even the best sims in the world can’t compete with the real thing. Plus, walking around your kitchen with a crash helmet on is a bit absurd.