Recently, I have been playing more racing games at home using my simple racing setup. I have a Logitech G29 with pedals attached to my desk, not really in a racing style, but more as an addition to my home office. The G29 fits right within my budget. Of course, it doesn’t compare to the more expensive gear you can find from other brands. I have paired my setup with the Quest 2, and I have had a blast racing in Monaco, Barcelona, and Silverstone, not only in Formula, but also in other racing series. My current setup truly provides me with a lot of fun – something I wish to continue during this summer break with the F1 23 game.
Simulation racing at home is probably not as authentic as the sims used by the top F1 teams. While home racing is for fun, F1 teams simulate both the driving experience and use massive amounts of data to simulate race outcomes. In other words, they conduct a total simulation that test various racing scenarios and virtual car parts. Since free practice time and development testing are limited, these simulations serve as valuable tools for teams to enhance their performance during race weekends. I found this video by Mercedes quite fascinating which explains some of the methods and reasons for the use of simulation.
I have tried several popular PC racing games available today and had exhilarating experiences in VR during online races. Currently, F1 22 offers an engaging arcade experience, although I often encounter challenges from reckless online drivers. Nothing is more infuriating than getting taken out in turn 1. Nevertheless, participating in clean driver lobbies and engaging in intense battles with other drivers in VR is awesome and physically demanding. It’s the closest experience to driving a real F1 car that I will have (at least in the foreseeable future). Considering the handling issues in F1 22, I eagerly anticipate improvements in the upcoming installment of the series, as Codemasters has promised revised car handling in 2023. I also hope for enhanced VR performance compared to the previous year’s game, resulting in a more immersive experience.
Because of the lack of quality graphics and sluggish gameplay, I have also tried out other racing games. My current favorite racing game is Automobilista 2, which has a lot of historic tracks and F1 cars, as well as other racing series. The core of the game was Brazilian motorsports, but it now includes even more disciplines of racing. One of the highlights of Automobilista 2 is its excellent performance on my PC in VR. The force feedback of the racing wheel is noticeably different compared to F1 22, which has compelled me to re-learn throttle control and steering techniques to improve my racing skills. During my first race at the Canadian GP in a 2022 generation F1 car, I often spun out while navigating the first corner. However, with a few hours of practice, I can now drive the track cleanly, attempting some nice overtakes and fighting for better positions. While I’m not the best driver and don’t even possess a driver’s license, this practice gives me confidence that I can perform well in a future driving test, despite it not involving a racing car.
Let me know in the comments what you think! I would love to hear about your experiences with racing games and any recommendations you might have.
