Cover image via Porsche Malaysia (Provided to SAYS)
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Racing has always been something I wanted to experience
The high-octane speed, the technical bends, the sheer thrill of the chase. Racing is undoubtedly one of the coolest sports on the planet. However, the entry barrier to motorsports is ludicrously high, so actually realising that dream felt impossible.
Then, at one of its events, Porsche hosted a sim racing tournament and invited us to give it a go. And whoa, it was nothing like what we expected.
Here are three key things we learned from the sim racing tournament:
1. Driving fast is terribly difficult at first
When you've spent years driving carefully on public roads, shifting into high-speed mode, even in a simulator, takes some getting used to.
Thankfully, on the day of the event, we had a dedicated coach taking us through the proper techniques for high-speed virtual racing. He covered crucial aspects like identifying key track elements and, perhaps most importantly, mastering the art of left-foot braking.
It took a couple of laps and plenty of crashing and spinning before I finally got the hang of it, but once I did, I was clocking some decent lap times.
2. Anyone can be faster than you, including a child
What's brilliant about sim racing is that it truly opens the door to everyone, regardless of age or gender! It was a real eye-opener watching one of the participants, just 9 years old, clock one of the fastest laps of the entire tournament.
This really made us think: while we adults rely on years of real-life driving experience, these young racers begin theirs much earlier, right in the virtual world.
Watching kids so excited and eager to compete against their peers on the virtual track really shows how accessible and fun sim racing can be for anyone.
3. While the cars are 'fake', the passion is very real
I got into the racing seat expecting just another run-of-the-mill simulation, but we couldn't have been more wrong.
What quickly became clear was just how driven every participant was to secure the top spot.
Every single driver was aggressively pushing for their best lap times, actively overtaking competitors, and fiercely defending their positions on the track. It genuinely felt like watching a high-stakes showdown between prime Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, yet the entire battle was unfolding virtually.
If you want to try out the thrill of racing without the risks and the exorbitant costs, here are a few places you can try out:
RaceRoom Racing Experience, located at Ara Damansara, provides a great starting experience for anyone who's keen on dipping their toes into sim racing. With state-of-the-art motion simulators, you'll feel like you're behind the wheel of a racecar.
Another good spot to try out sim racing is Cove Circuit, located in Bandar Sunway. It's a decent spot to bring your friends for a sim racing session. They also have other games you can play with your buddies.
