Experiencing Sim Racing in Virtual Reality

While sim racing strives to bring users closer to realism through exceptional force feedback and high-quality hardware, Virtual Reality (VR) has further revolutionized how we interact with digital worlds, and in the realm of sim racing, it’s taken the experience to a whole new level. No more staring at a flat screen and struggling to immerse yourself in the race. With VR, sim racers can finally experience the thrill of the track in 360 degrees, with all the depth and intensity that comes with behind the wheel.

VR immerses users directly in the car with a 360-degree view of the track, other racers, and the cockpit. This natural perspective allows for easy mirror checks, better distance gauging, and improved track awareness, resulting in more precise driving and a lifelike racing experience compared to traditional monitors.

VR eliminates distractions that are common with flat-screen setups, offering a wider field of view and allowing full use of your natural sight. This enhances focus, making it easier to react quickly and maintain concentration, ultimately leading to faster lap times and improved race strategy.

VR allows for a more realistic relationship between the car and the track. You can visually experience how the car reacts to different racing conditions, such as grip levels, surface types, or weather conditions. This makes it easier to fine-tune your driving technique to suit different track characteristics, helping to improve your overall racing skills.

While PlayStation VR provides a more budget-friendly option for console users, VR still demands powerful hardware. For the optimal VR experience on PC platforms, high-performance computers with powerful graphics cards are necessary, and the cost of VR-ready hardware can be a barrier.

Some sim racers experience motion sickness in VR, often caused by low frame rates, poor motion smoothing, or excessive head movement.

To reduce this:

• Aim for at least 90 FPS for a smoother experience.
• Adjust in-game settings to ease the graphical load.
• Start with shorter races and take breaks if needed.
• Ensure the headset is well-fitted, the lenses are clean, and the visuals are sharp. Adjusting the IPD (interpupillary distance) can also alleviate eye strain.

Recent advancements in VR technology have significantly reduced this issue.

VR requires a suitable physical space to move around, and a dedicated racing seat or rig is often necessary for maximum comfort and immersion. For those with limited space or a smaller setup, integrating VR into their racing simulation experience can be a challenge. But there are still some options, like mounting your setup on a desk, where thanks to a table clamp you can attach your wheel base and steering wheel.

The future of VR in sim racing is incredibly promising. With continued advancements in hardware, software, and AI, sim racing will become more immersive, realistic, and… accessible? As technology becomes more refined and widespread, VR may eventually become the standard for sim racing.

PS VR compatible:

• Gran Turismo 7 (PS5 with PSVR 2)
• Gran Turismo Sport (PS4)
• WRC 10 (PS4/PS5)

PC VR compatible:

• iRacing
• Assetto Corsa
• Assetto Corsa Competizione

PS and PC VR compatible:

• DIRT Rally 2.0 (PC/PS4)
• Project CARS 2 (PC/PS4)
• F1 22 (PC, PS5/PSVR 2)

Xbox VR compatibility:

Currently, Xbox does not support VR for racing games or other genres.