Sim racing vs real racing has been a constant debate and in this week’s Sim Racing Roundup you will better understand what transfers from screen to track. I also have details on two drivers transitioning from sim to real-world racing, suing a sim to prepare for a race and much more!
Overview
From Sim Racing to the Real Thing
Driven by The Dream: How Naquib Azlan and Porsche Malaysia are Putting the Country on the Map
Sim racing can be much more than a virtual pursuit—it can be a launchpad for real-world motorsport success. In this feature, Lifestyle Asia explores how Malaysian racing talent Naquib Azlan and Porsche Malaysia are helping put the country on the international motorsport map. Discover how sim racing, ambition and the right industry partnerships can help aspiring drivers turn their racing dreams into reality.
Genevieve Ooi: From Sim Racing To Thriving On Track
Here is another example of how sim racing is opening new doors for aspiring race drivers, offering a pathway from virtual competition to real-world racing opportunities. Genevieve Ooi is an exciting example of this transition, demonstrating how skills developed behind a simulator can translate to success on the track. In this feature from It’s Race Week!, discover her journey from sim racing to competitive motorsport and what her progress reveals about the opportunities available to the next generation of racing talent.
Sim vs Real Racing: What Transfers from Screen to Track
How much of a competitive sim racer’s skill translates to the real-world track? In this feature, Porsche Newsroom brings together three-time iRacing world champion Joshua Rogers and Le Mans winner Nick Tandy to explore the similarities and differences between virtual and real-world racing. From adapting to new sensory feedback and managing traffic to handling pressure and using simulators to prepare for races, their insights reveal how each discipline can sharpen the other. Rogers’ transition to real-world competition also highlights the growing opportunities for talented sim racers to turn virtual success into a motorsport career. offers further insight into this emerging route into professional racing.
How These Simulation Racing Centers Help Drivers Train for Professional Races
Sim racing offers far more than virtual seat time—it gives drivers a practical way to sharpen racecraft, learn circuits, refine braking points and improve consistency before hitting the track. This report from WFSB explores how simulation racing centers help drivers train for professional competition, providing a controlled environment to practice difficult scenarios, develop race strategies and build confidence through repetition. For aspiring and experienced racers alike, these facilities demonstrate how simulator training can complement real-world track time while making driver development more accessible and cost-effective.
A New Sim Tool to Help Ligier Teams Prepare for Each Race
Ligier Automotive and Applied Racing Dynamics are launching Ligier Sim by ARD, a lap time and vehicle dynamics simulation platform developed specifically for Ligier customer teams.
Built around a validated model of the Ligier JS P325, it allows teams to explore setup changes, assess their potential impact on lap time and establish baseline setups and performance targets before arriving at the circuit.
“We wanted to give out customer teams an easy-to-use, affordable simulation tool to help them prepare as thoroughly as possible for each race. Ligier Sim allows them to explore setup options ahead of a race weekend and make more informed use of their time on track.” — Franck Tiné, Motorsport Director, Ligier Automotive
Ligier Sim gives customers the ability to explore setup changes, prepare baseline setups for different circuits and understand potential performance gains before arriving at the track.
“For us, the partnership represents exactly what ARD was created to do: take sophisticated vehicle dynamics and simulation workflows traditionally associated with top-level motorsport and make them accessible to a much wider group of engineers and teams.”
“Simulation shouldn’t be reserved for the biggest budgets. Working with Ligier Automotive allows us to put genuinely powerful engineering tools directly into the hands of customer racing teams, backed by a manufacturer they already know and trust.”
- Oliver Belfiore, CEO, Applied Racing Dynamics
MegaRide and TRIDENT, a Closer Look at Race Preparation
Since 2019, MegaRide and TRIDENT Motorsport have developed a shared simulation environment for race preparation in FIA Formula 2 and Formula 3. MegaRide’s RIDEsuite tire models reproduce thermal behaviour, grip and wear, allowing drivers and the technical team to assess tire response and the effects of setup changes before heading out on track. This article from MegaRide explains how they do it.
Competitive Sim Racing News
PodiumOS Launches at SimRacing Expo Frankfurt to Connect Driver Progress Across Sims, Rigs and Venues
PodiumOS will launch publicly at SimRacing Expo Frankfurt, October 16–18, 2026, introducing a free platform that consolidates drivers’ sim racing profiles, session histories and performance data across supported games, rigs and venues. Its Portable Verified Driver Identity lets drivers take their records wherever they race, while Rig Intelligence links captured sessions to the hardware used, giving coaches valuable context for evaluating performance. The platform also supports coach collaboration, venue discovery and parental controls for drivers under 18. PodiumOS will be available on web, iOS and Android, with connected PC software required for automatic session capture.
More details can be found here and here.
Invitation to the American Formula Sim Series – Win $5000 AND a test session in an actual Formula 3 car
The American Formula Sim Series is selecting drivers for a 20-car championship using the Super Formula SF23 with fixed setups. The series is sponsored and promoted by Speedway Ventures Studio (https://svsinsiders.com/). The ten-race schedule will start in November and feature seven road-course events and three oval events, with live broadcasts by RaceSpot and simulcast on Speed Sport TV for maximum visibility.
The league champion will receive a $5,000 grand prize and a Formula 3 test session, subject to the series’ final eligibility and award terms. We are looking for drivers with real racing experience who combine speed with clean racecraft, dependable attendance, professional conduct, and a willingness to promote the championship.
Further details can be found here.
IAAPS Announced as Official Prize Partner of the 2026 British F4 Esports Championship
As part of the partnership, the winning team from the British F4 Esports Championship will receive an exclusive full-day Driver-in-the-Loop simulator experience at IAAPS, while the UK FF1600 Esports Champion will win a half-day experience in their simulator.
Using IAAPS’ F1-grade, full-motion Ansible Motion simulator, the winners will experience the same class of simulation technology used across professional motorsport for driver development, race preparation and performance engineering.
Sim Racing Tips & Techniques
A Free Sim Racing Course With 34 Videos
Sim racer Danny Lee has put together a free sim racing course with 34 videos on YouTube. You can access the course at: https://www.dannylee.co.uk/course.
Sim Racing Tech Roundup
- Simucube reveals more accessible ActivePedal Sport, test at SimRacing Expo Frankfurt (Traxion)
- MOZA Racing Brings Its Biggest-Ever Showcase to Sim Racing Expo 2026 (GamesPress)
- Simagic reveals authentic KTM Xbow GT2 steering wheel, public debut set for SimRacing Expo Frankfurt (Traxion)
- New P-ACTIVE active pedal added to Simagic’s SimRacing Expo Frankfurt line-up (Traxion)
General Sim Racing News
- F1 Arcade Brings Immersive Racing, Hospitality to SEMA Show Week (SEMA)
- SimRacing Expo 2026 Confirms 12 World Premieres for Frankfurt (Box This Lap)
- Rennsport confirms larger online grids, ahead of SimRacing Expo content unveil (Traxion)
- Race Sim Studio releases 2026-spec Formula 1-style mod for Assetto Corsa (Traxion)
- Rennsport teases LMDh Lamborghini for next content release (Traxion)
Author: Mark Boudreau
Mark is the publisher of Motorsport Prospects and the host of the Motorsport Prospects Podcast. As a lawyer, he applies his legal background and research skills to assist race drivers by showcasing the resources they need to make their motorsport careers happen.
