I have a love-hate relationship with my sim rig. I love it when I'm gaining a tenth of a second. I hate it when it's mocking me with its silent, judgmental presence after I've thrown away a podium finish on the last lap.

*Stay Tuned: Next week we’ll be covering the Sim Racing Expo in more detail once we get all the additional insight from the event. Follow @jorreljulius from SRN for live coverage of the event

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A new direct drive king: Simucube is setting a new benchmark with its Simucube 3 lineup, featuring re-engineered control algorithms for sharper, more detailed force feedback than ever before. This new generation introduces a rock-solid, zero-play quick release system and telemetry-based effects, allowing you to feel everything from road texture to ABS. The ecosystem is completed with a new control box for on-the-fly tuning and a redesigned Tuner 3.0 software, making it a significant leap forward for serious racers.

F1's new opening act: Formula 1 is cranking up the pre-race energy by launching a brand-new opening show, 'F1 Grid Gigs', which will debut at this weekend’s United States Grand Prix. Inspired by a hugely successful live season opener that drew 7.5 million online viewers, this new feature aims to blend the worlds of music and motorsport right on the grid. To kick things off in Austin, Texas-born country star Drake Milligan will perform his chart-topping music, bringing a local flavor to the track just before the drivers head out. The entire show is designed to elevate the pre-race spectacle for fans everywhere.

The real deal, simulated: Legendary engineering firm Cosworth is partnering with Sim-Lab to release the Cosworth Carbon Wheel Mk3, a sim racing version of the FIA-certified, full carbon fiber wheel used by nearly every team on the IndyCar grid. The 284mm-wide rim features a carbon fiber chassis, 12 RGB backlit buttons, four thumbwheel encoders, and up to six paddles, all stemming from Cosworth's deep F1 and motorsport knowledge. Set for its public debut at the SimRacing Expo from October 17th-19th, the collaboration aims to deliver an authentic experience that bridges the gap between simulation and reality.

* Stay tuned next week as we continue to unravel all the new equipment from the Sim Racing Expo!

Kalle Rovanperä, a double World Rally Champion by the ripe old age of 23, is making a jaw-dropping career move. He’s concluding his full-time WRC run after the 2025 season to pursue single-seater circuit racing. This isn't your average career shift; it's a strategic pivot away from rally’s dynamic physics to the extreme precision of downforce racing. Rovanperä already rewrote the history books once, becoming the youngest WRC champion ever in 2022, smashing Colin McRae’s long-standing record by more than five years. Now, with 17 WRC victories under his belt, he’s challenging the belief that a rally superstar can conquer the circuit world.

To understand this gamble, you have to know the driver. Rovanperä is a genuine prodigy, born in Finland where rallying is a religion. He’s the son of former WRC driver Harri Rovanperä, so you could say the sport runs in the family. Kalle was driving cars by age six and gained international attention at eight, expertly drifting a car in a viral video. His early career was characterized by strategic genius: his team used the "Latvian Strategy" to bypass Finland’s age laws, putting him in competitive rally sprints at age 12 to maximize seat time and accelerate development. This non-traditional, aggressive path demonstrates a driver who’s always prioritized professional progression and winning.

The ultimate target is Formula 1, and the path Rovanperä has chosen is deeply strategic. He’s committing to the high-level Japanese Super Formula (SF) series for 2026. This isn't a stepping stone; SF is renowned for its competitive parity with or superiority to Formula 2, making it an ideal gateway to F1 and the critical FIA Super License points. His ambition is fully backed by Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR), guaranteeing him a top-tier SF seat with factory resources—a crucial advantage that minimizes equipment quality as a variable.

For now, his partial 2024 WRC calendar is a structured, multi-disciplinary training regimen. He's diving into Formula Drift and high-grip GT racing in the Porsche Carrera Cup to intentionally broaden his skillset before the full single-seater transition. He even completed an F1 test, confirming the massive physical challenge: the car generates "a lot more lateral G-force" and requires him to "unlearn" years of rally technique that relies on managing slides. The stakes are immense. Rovanperä needs to be a frontrunner in SF right away to validate this calculated risk.

He’s the guy proving that countless hours on the sim can translate to real-world trophies. Meet SRN member Jorrel Julius, a UK-based content creator and racing driver who is blurring the lines between virtual and reality. With a 4k iRating in iRacing's Super Formula, he's a certified ace on the sim.

It all started on a PS2 with legends like GT4 and TOCA Race Driver 2. Now, he's a force in top-tier sims, but the virtual world was never the final destination.

He's not gatekeeping his secrets, either. Jorrel documents his entire journey, building a community that’s led to opportunities at major events like the SimRacing Expo where he is also representing Sim Racing Nation as well.

When he's not on track or wrapping up his Design degree, he's in the gym or playing basketball. And for the record, he promises he does go outside. The next big target is already locked: making the jump to car racing in 2026.

Follow Jorrel’s Journey Below: