There's a special kind of zen you achieve after spending two hours meticulously practicing for a race, only to be taken out in the first corner by a guy who's apparently steering with a microwave.
NEWS FLASH
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Get a grip: Fanatec just dropped an “old”, but new wheel, the CSL Steering Wheel GT3, aiming to deliver an authentic GT3 cockpit experience without the professional price tag. This 300mm wheel is packed with features, including a unique rocker-style magnetic shifter for one-handed shifting, configurable analog paddles that can act as a dual-clutch, and an OLED display for real-time telemetry. Priced at an accessible $329.99 CAD, it connects to Fanatec's powerful Direct Drive ecosystem and is available now, making high-end sim racing features more attainable for everyone.
Porsche pivots its focus: The German automaker is pulling its factory-backed 963 prototype from the World Endurance Championship's top Hypercar class after the 2025 season. Citing a need to concentrate on the North American IMSA series and its all-electric Formula E program, the company also expressed dissatisfaction with the WEC's rules structure that pits different car types against each other. While the factory team is out, the 963 will continue to compete in IMSA, and customer teams are expected to keep Porsche's presence alive in other WEC classes.
SRN hits the expo: The world's leading event for virtual motorsport, the Sim Racing Expo, is gearing up for its 11th edition at the Dortmund Exhibition Center in Germany from October 17th to 19th, 2025. Following last year's massive turnout, Sim Racing Nation's own Jorrel Julius will be on the ground helping represent us with a media pass to bring you exclusive access to the latest hardware, real race cars, and industry leaders. It's the ultimate playground for enthusiasts, and you'll get a front-row seat to the action as Jorrel covers all of the stage entertainment and insider news.
SIM RACING SNIPPETS
Throwing it down: Patrick Mason with SRN Esports running our livery on his GR86 in the TGRNA series streamed on GT World had some insane battles a lots of broadcast attention in the season finale of the series. Way to hand it to them Patrick! Here’s a throwback to his article in Grid Geeks a while back to peep. Stop on by, watch the replay and take in the wild action! [HERE]
iRacing goes arcade mode: The sim racing giant is dropping a free PC demo for its new, more approachable title, iRacing Arcade, on October 13th, giving everyone a first taste of its "fast, fun, and playful" physics. The demo lets you whip the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup Car around Tsukuba with damage, tire wear, and fuel burn enabled, ahead of the full game's launch on PC this fall and a console debut in early 2026.
Your next weekend project: A YouTuber named CNCDan just dropped a fully open-source project for a DIY virtual reality headset that you can build for under $150, specifically designed to make sim racing more immersive on a budget. The build relies on 3D-printed parts and cheap components to deliver a 2880x1440p display, and while it's a bit choppy at a 60Hz refresh rate and lacks fancy features, it provides a super accessible entry point into VR that connects right to Steam VR. Find the project files [HERE]
🏆Join The Roster: Ready to move from the public lobbies to the broadcast stage? SRN Esports is recruiting competitive drivers with a B-Class license and a minimum 2000 iRating to join our official roster. As a team member, you'll get access to free high-tier coaching, priority for sponsored events, and a clear path to grow within a supportive group of racers. Click the link below.
MOTORSPORTS REPORT
Less celebrities, more racing: Formula 1 driver Carlos Sainz is calling out the sport's official race broadcast, claiming the production team goes "overboard showing celebrities and girlfriends" at the expense of actual racing action. He argued that key on-track moments, like his own overtakes and battles for position during the Singapore Grand Prix, were completely missed by the cameras in favor of cutting to VIPs and family members in the garage.
A surprise McLaren split: In a surprise move, Formula 2 driver Alex Dunne and McLaren have mutually agreed to part ways, ending his contract with the team's prestigious Driver Development Program immediately. The sudden split comes as a shock, especially since the 19-year-old recently drove the F1 car in two Grand Prix practice sessions, with Dunne only teasing that he's "very excited for what's to come" next.
The fans have spoken: After years of feedback from drivers and the community, NASCAR has finally confirmed it's boosting horsepower for the 2026 Cup Series season, cranking the engines up from 670hp to a beefier 750hp. This power increase will specifically target the tracks where passing has been a challenge, affecting all 17 road courses, street circuits, and ovals shorter than 1.5 miles in a bid to improve the on-track action.
If you enjoy this content and you’re looking to buy some gear. Please check out our list of affiliate links with discounts here: GRID GEEKS DISCOUNTS
THE SPOTLIGHT
The Unspoken Enemy of Your Sim Rig
Let's be honest… That beautiful, high-end Alcantara wheel you saved up for is being slowly destroyed by the sweat and oils from your bare hands. It's the uncomfortable truth of sim racing: our passion takes a toll on our gear.
This leads to the inevitable search for gloves, but many racers fall into the same traps—choosing flashy looks over function, ending up with cheap materials that trap heat, or using gloves with inside stitching that creates blisters during a long stint.
From a Home Office, Not a Boardroom
This exact cycle of frustration is where Syncmesh was born.
The company didn't start with a business plan; it started in a home office with a sim racer named Alex who was simply fed up with using gear borrowed from other sports. He wasn't trying to build a brand; he was trying to solve a real problem. He wanted gear that could survive marathon sessions, with a grip that actually worked and materials that breathed.
Once he held that first prototype, he knew it was bigger than a personal project. This was a solution for the entire community.
Engineered for the Win: The Syncmesh Difference
Alex obsessed over the details we all feel but rarely think about. This led to a purpose-built design philosophy:
Bye-Bye, Sweat: Syncmesh chose superior, moisture-wicking materials like polyester over cheap nylon that turns into a swampy mess.
Marathon-Ready Comfort: They insisted on the comfort of outside stitching to prevent the irritation and blisters caused by internal seams.
Locked-In Control: They engineered a grip that provides consistent, precise control without feeling overly restrictive or clumsy.
What started as one person’s quest for better gear has grown into a global brand, but the core mission—"by sim-racers, for sim-racers"—has never changed.
Your Exclusive Upgrade
You've invested time and money into the perfect setup; protecting it while improving your performance is a no-brainer. That's why we’ve collaborated with Syncmesh to get their gear in your hands.
ATTN: DON’T MISS OUT!
MEMBER FEATURE
Meet Sim Racing Nation member Alex Pelea, the man behind the mesh. Originally from Romania, he's now a digital marketer and family man living in Denmark, but his passion project is Syncmesh, his very own sim racing gear company.
While Alex calls himself an amateur racer who wishes he had more seat time, his ambitions are pure pro. He started with the Syncmesh gloves he rocks in his own rig, but he's already planning the next level: sim racing boots and even a jump into real-world racing footwear.
Outside of building his brand (and working on some hush-hush AI projects), he says his biggest achievement and most enjoyable time is spent with his family.
Get the full story and follow Alex's journey here:
Syncmesh: https://sync-mesh.com/about-us/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-pelea-356a693a/
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SRN RECAP AND UNFILTERED THOUGHTS
October 15th, we’re hosting a special event Community Race Night ft pro IRL driver, Daniel Oliver. Throughout the week we’re hosting an AMA where you can ask questions and he will do a video to reply to our communities questions to upload to his social channels.
The SRN Esports team is full force and geared up for NEC. We have a lot of events we’ll be competing in here that are outside of our usual community public endurance events, so keep an eye out for those cars on track.
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