🚜💨 Farm sim guys make a racing game.

Forget that Silicon Valley hustle... Real innovation? That's figuring out how to grow a prize-winning pumpkin the size of a Fiat in virtual dirt. And yes, that's my retirement plan.

…We know we’re a day early too. It’s because we don’t want you to miss the GT4 race with Alex Ellis tonight (see our News Flash articles below).

NEWS FLASH

A new level of immersion from your fave: GIANTS Software, the folks behind the wildly popular Farming Simulator series, are stepping into the publisher's seat for Straight4's upcoming Project Motor Racing. This new game, expected in 2025, is built from the ground up with a fresh physics engine focused on delivering a truly realistic and visceral racing experience, complete with detailed track modeling and a roster of unique underdog manufacturers.

Silly season, a possibility: Rumors are circulating that George Russell has held informal talks with Red Bull Racing principal Christian Horner regarding a potential move, reportedly as a contingency should Max Verstappen leave the team. Despite a contract until 2028, speculation about Verstappen's future persists, fueled by potential exit clauses linked to performance and concerns over Red Bull's 2026 power unit development. Red Bull's recent inconsistent performances have added to the uncertainty surrounding Verstappen, who has remained tight-lipped about his plans. This reported interest in Russell highlights the simmering F1 silly season and puts the spotlight firmly back on Verstappen's commitment to Red Bull long-term.

Everything's bigger in Texas: Including the Pirelli GT4 America three-hour showdown at COTA is going down later today, where the stakes are massive and the grid is absolutely loaded. This 3.41-mile, 20-turn track isn't just asphalt; it's a brutal test of nerve, precision, and tire management. With title battles tight across Silver, Pro-Am, and Am classes early in the season, expect championship hopefuls like Random Vandals Racing, Blackdog Racing, ACI Motorsports, and RAFA Racing Team to throw down hard. Plus, Texas weather is a wildcard, potentially bringing rain and turning the race into unpredictable chaos, all while Austin offers up live music, BBQ, and a buzzing paddock scene. Don’t forget Sim Racing Nation community member Alex Ellis with VPX will also be competing. Pop by the live stream and cheer him on. Race start is 5pm CST.

SIM RACING SNIPPETS

• Jarno Opmeer grabbed a record third F1 Sim Racing Drivers World Championship in Abu Dhabi, also snagging the teams' title for Oracle Red Bull Sim Racing. Despite starting P7 after a tough qualifying, Opmeer drove smart to secure the win, even with a penalty hitting competitor Thomas Ronhaar. While rookie Otis Lawrence took the final race, Opmeer is the one popping the champagne for the overall championship.

• The Grid Finder Discord Bot acts as an ultimate sim racing sidekick, automating race management and enhancing community engagement. This versatile bot offers features like broadcaster and driver profile management, real-time championship standings, automated race result updates, and simplified event organization. Ready to streamline your sim racing league? Check it out here.

• Are you ready to be moved? D-BOX's new HaptiSync Center is a game-changer, bringing all your haptic controls and content into one incredibly intuitive platform! Imagine having seamless access to thousands of coded titles and the power to customize your experience across all their immersive modes. Ready to dive into a world where entertainment truly moves you?

MOTORSPORTS REPORT

• Tony Stewart, the only driver with titles in both NASCAR and IndyCar, weighed in on the age-old debate: Daytona 500 vs. Indy 500. His take? "Smoke" says they're essentially the same – the biggest races in their respective series. Pretty straightforward from the veteran who knows a thing or two about both circuits, even if wins there eluded him.

• Adrian Newey, the legendary designer who just swapped Red Bull for Aston Martin, is putting all his brainpower into the 2026 car. Even with Aston Martin hitting a rough patch this season, team boss Andy Cowell says Newey's entire focus is locked onto those future regulations and designs due to tight deadlines. While he's buried in the '26 concept work for the all-new car, his expertise could still give the current car a little nudge through wind tunnel data.

• Lewis Hamilton's move to Ferrari was supposed to be a game-changer, but five races in, things look... tricky. The latest buzz from The Race F1 podcast dives into why his season seems to be shifting into reverse, with experts asking if the 2026 rule shake-up is his only hope to catch a break. It's got everyone wondering what's next if the struggles continue, not just for Lewis, but for the whole Scuderia setup.

THE SPOTLIGHT

The Racing Line: Your Best Friend or a Digital Crutch?

You may have seen the video above where we trolled r/Simracingstewards and received some passionate responses, if you didn’t see it, at least 3k other people had at the time of writing. This actually leads into our main topic, so let’s get real here... You fire up your sim rig, ready to shave seconds off that lap time. You load a new track, and there it is: the glowing, often colorful, racing line. For newbies, it's a lifeline. It shows you where to go, when to brake (supposedly), and when to smash the throttle down. Instant confidence boost, right? You're not just wandering around lost.

But hang around the sim racing community long enough, and you'll hear the whispers. The experienced folks, the aliens who make lap times look effortless, they'll tell you the line is the enemy. A crutch. Something that holds you back from true speed and understanding.

So, what's the deal? Is it a helpful guide or a path to mediocrity?

The Great Assist Debate

Think about it. When you start out, learning a complex track feels like trying to navigate a maze blindfolded. The racing line? It's like someone drew the map right there on the floor for you. Green means go, red means stop. Simple. It lowers the frustration, helps you see the basic flow – the outside-inside-outside thing starts to make sense.

But here's the catch, according to the seasoned pros:

1. Dependency Trap: You stop learning the track yourself. You're just following instructions. You don't build that internal map or feel for the car.

2. It's Not Always Right: That pretty line? It's often a generic, conservative suggestion. The real fast line changes based on your car, tire wear, fuel load, and even rubber on the track. The assist doesn't adapt.

3. Zero Adaptability: Need to take a defensive line? Overtake? Drive a wet line? Forget it if you're glued to the assist. It trains you to stick to one path, making you predictable and slow in actual race conditions.

4. Bad Habits: You start looking down at the line right in front of you instead of scanning ahead for braking markers, apexes, and other cars. Hello, tunnel vision.

Basically, the argument is that while it gets you going quickly, it caps your ultimate potential.

Enter the "Phased Approach"

So, if full-time assist use is a no-go for true mastery, and learning totally blind is a baptism by fire for newbs (that often ends in walls), what's the middle ground?

Some smart folks proposed a study on something called a "phased approach." The idea is simple:

Use the racing line initially to get your bearings. Get familiar with the layout, the general corners, maybe where the braking might be. Lower that initial "OMG where do I go?!" stress.

BUT – and this is the crucial part – after you've got the basics down, you turn the damn thing OFF.

Then, you're forced to start using the real tools:

• Environmental Cues: Those braking boards, the changes in asphalt, the kerbs, maybe even that weird sponsor banner or a distant tree. These are your new breadcrumbs.

• Car Feedback: Learning what the car is telling you – the tire noise, the feel through the wheel, how it behaves under braking and acceleration.

• Telemetry: Analyzing your data. Where are you losing time? Where are you braking too early? Comparing your laps to faster drivers piece by piece, corner by corner as you become more advanced.

Why It Might Work (Think Brain Power)

This phased idea lines up with how we humans actually learn complex skills. When you're first learning something difficult, your brain is overloaded. Using the assist initially takes one big thing off your plate (finding the path), letting you focus on controlling the car without crashing.

But once you're past that initial overwhelm, keeping the assist on prevents your brain from doing the harder work – the work that actually builds deep understanding. Turning it off forces your brain to engage, actively look for cues, make decisions, and build that robust internal map of the track. It's like taking off the training wheels. It's harder at first, but it's the only way to truly ride.

The Big Question

Someone is actually proposing a proper research study to test this. They want to see if sim racers who use the assist then turn it off end up faster, more consistent, and more adaptable in the long run compared to those who keep it on forever or those who never used it at all. They'll be looking at lap times, how much of the track drivers actually use (are they sticking rigidly to one line?), and how confident drivers feel without the aid.

The potential takeaway? A scientifically backed roadmap for how to use this common sim racing tool effectively, turning it from a potential crutch into a stepping stone. It could change how beginners are coached and even how future in-game assists are designed – perhaps assists that fade away as you improve, rather than just being on or off.

It's about finding that sweet spot between getting started quickly and building the deep, adaptable skills needed for true sim racing mastery.

You might have seen last week that we pulled a little pranks on Reddit with a couple SRN members with the racing line and incidents on. Full length Article about racing line benefits and when to take it off (ensure you use it as a beginner for a few laps then turn it off to maximize and then reveal the dark hack for night time in endurance races)

You still there?

Here’s a random tip in iRacing to actually utilize the racing line: Nürburgring 24H is coming up and if you smash up your headlights.. you’re in the dark during that night shift stint. Before you’re in the hot seat, consider turning on the racing line. It is completely visible in the dark. Maybe it feels cheap, but so does a brake check from the car in front and loss of headlights late at night.

AROUND THE WEB

During this month: The Ferrari 333SP clinched its first 1-2 victory at Road Atlanta in 1994, led by Jay Cochran. nisi.

That’s neat: Pro stock racer Jesse Iwuji shows Top Gear's Rob Dahm how to drift a custom C6 Corvette Z06, proving you can have serious fun with high-mileage iron and a little know-how.

Wow: Building a sim racing wheel from a hoverboard motor using tools like an arbor press and a lathe is either a dream DIY project or a total nightmare, depending on your technical skills.

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