With the Singapore GP now in its 13th iteration, and with Legend Cars making its local debut, it seems like there has never been a better time to be a motorsport enthusiast in Singapore.
But there’s no escaping from the fact that organised racing, even in its lowest tier, is really exorbitantly expensive. Along with the inclusion of virtual racing in various international e-Sports tournaments, it is no wonder that many are taking to the track in the 3D space to scratch their motorsport itch.
And whilst barriers of entry are fairly low, with literally anybody being able to jump into a sim title of their choice and join some fun races online, sourcing the equipment to even engage in this hobby can be daunting.
Which is where the guys at Sim Racing Association (SRA) come in.
Their mission? To spread awareness of the sport, whilst also enabling the consumer to make a more informed purchasing decision.
So, How Do They Achieve That?
Simple – by hosting open houses that allow event goers to sample various simulator rigs. This latest open house, the second of the year so far, features a whole suite of new setups, as well as existing rigs with new components.
Owner Mark Lange promises to “refresh” the variety of equipment on offer ever so often, to keep up with the rapid developments in this space. He reminds us that all of the Playseat chassis featured are brand new.
In the past 12 months, the market has also been saturated with a wide array of direct-drive wheel options, and SRA’s wheel lineup reflects that. DD incumbents (Fanatec comes to mind) share the space with mass market newcomers such as Moza.
The SRA guys also refresh their lineup based on feedback from the community. Singapore’s eSports community predominantly races Formula and GT cars, and the equipment that used to be present at SRA’s HQ reflects that. However, as the Rally and Drift communities continue garnering momentum, SRA has also added a set up with a handbrake and sequential shifter.
Future additions include a system to simulate G-forces, and even a motion rig, sourced from our friends at S5 Racing.
Not every rig present will cost you an arm and a leg though. Whilst most of the rigs are built seemingly without a budget in mind, pairing direct drive wheels with high end pedals, there’s a lone Thrustmaster setup. It sits proudly on its own, definitely holding its worth against wheelbases costing significantly more.
Proof then, that being wise in your spending will yield an immersive experience too, for not all that much cash all things considered! And there’s really no need to ball out on your first setup, as you aren’t likely to be able to extract all the performance from the higher end equipment anyways.
Start small, slowly get better and then upgrade your equipment to match – you’ll almost always have a better experience that way!
You May Be Interested In: What Does a Modern Car Look Like After 360,000 Kilometres?
