Corsair Announces First Sim Racing Rig

Corsair-Sim-Racing-Rig.jpg
Images: Corsair
PC hardware manufacturer Corsair is making its first foray into sim racing hardware. The company unveiled a yet-to-be-named sim racing rig that will be compatible with numerous accessories.

Corsair has been getting attention in the sim racing world recently due to its planned purchase of Fanatec, but the company known for its PC components and gaming peripherals also looks set to dive into sim racing on its own already - a prototype of its first sim racing rig was recently unveiled. The cockpit uses steel tubing, and it is planned for it to be expandable using several accessories.

According to the announcement, the rig will support both Formula and GT-style seating positions. Wheel bases of up to 27 Nm of torque and pedal sets with up to 150 kg of braking force will be supported, making it capable of handling high-end gear.

Corsair-Sim-Racing-Rig-Front-White.jpg


Unlike many other cockpits, the still-unnamed Corsair rig comes with an integrated single monitor mount capable of holding monitors from 27" up to 49" ultrawide monitors. Additionally, a free-standing monitor mount is planned, which will be expandable to hold triple screens as well.

There is more to the rig, however. We had several questions about the upcoming cockpit as well as the company's expansion into sim racing, and Corsair provided some interesting answers - find the Q&A below!

Corsair Sim Racing Rig Q&A​


Why is Corsair interested in entering the market for sim racing products?
Corsair has a long history in engineering and producing exceptional PC hardware and cases. With our engineering and manufacturing expertise, sim racing is a natural fit for us. We are truly excited to enter the sim racing market and offer some great products to the community.


The big sim racing hype has decreased since the end of the pandemic, but how much potential do you still see in sim racing hardware?

The initial surge in interest due to the pandemic may have waned, but the underlying factors supporting sim racing hardware's growth remain robust. The industry has a solid foundation for continued development, driven by technological innovation, community engagement, and the ongoing popularity of esports and virtual racing.


How do you plan on realizing this potential?

We have built a competitive roadmap to introduce several innovative sim racing products which can be paired with the popular streaming equipment from our sister company, Elgato. These products will revolutionize sim racing and offer solutions sim racers have been waiting years for.



What advantages will Corsair be able to offer to sim racers, and what will make your products stand out?

Corsair can offer sim racers significant advantages through high-quality hardware with advanced features, innovative engineering and integration of modular, cross-platform components. User-centric design ensures comfort and easy setup, while active community engagement and comprehensive customer support enhance the overall experience. We will have exclusive partnerships and event sponsorships to further elevate Corsair’s visibility and credibility in the sim racing market.



Are you planning on releasing licensed products as well, i.e. in cooperation with car manufacturers or other automotive companies?

We are always exploring various opportunities for collaboration and innovation. Working with established industry partners is certainly one of the many avenues we will consider. Stay tuned for any future announcements regarding our partnerships and product developments.


How do you think you could facilitate a crossover between sim racing and more conventional gaming, considering your current line of products?

By focusing on hardware versatility and community building, along with enhanced realism, we can create a seamless crossover between sim racing and conventional gaming. This approach not only broadens the appeal of our products but also fosters a more interconnected gaming ecosystem.


How do you plan on advancing sim racing technology? Where do you see the most potential in this regard?

By innovating and making advancements across hardware, software, networking and accessibility, we aim to create a more immersive and engaging experience for everyone, from rookies all the way up to hardcore sim racers.



When it comes to logistics, sim racing rigs are not easy to sell globally. How does Corsair to minimize risks with shipping, both for the company and customers?

Corsair has the advantage of having some of the best professionals in the world working on each facet of our sim racing line up. We have invested a great deal of time in packaging and logistic planning for shipping our products safely around the globe.



Stability is the most important factor for sim racing rigs. What is the maximum wheel base torque your rig is designed for?

Our sim rig has been designed and engineered to cope with high torque DD wheels up to 27nm and load cell pedals rated at 150kg+. The design is inherently stable due to the steel 50mm round tubing with strategic bracing applied to the frame.




How customizable do you plan the rig to be? Is it going to be modular, or does it come with the same freedom for add-ons as an aluminum profile rig?

Unlike aluminum profile, the overall design of our sim racing cockpit encompasses stylish and ultra stable 50mm round tubing throughout; with key optional accessories added, the end user can mount virtually any product designed to be attached using industry standard T-Nut connections.

Our cockpit will arrive partly pre-assembled in two boxes. It has been designed to be assembled quickly and have the user racing within an hour of setting it up.

Aside from the features mentioned here, Corsair’s cockpit will have largely tool-less adjustment for all main controls and seat, with options for front-mounting or under-mounting wheelbases. We will also offer an optional inverted pedal kit, which will allow users to quickly and easily switch from under-mounted to inverted pedals in minutes. Built-in cable management is standard and strategically placed around the cockpit to hide away unsightly cables.

We have designed an optional dynamic two piece sim racing seat which can also be adjusted from GT to semi-reclined for a more open-wheel seating position. Most third-party seats with a bolt pattern of 290mm are also compatible.

The sim rig will support many OEM manufacturers’ products at launch.




What accessories are planned to offer to users looking to expand their setups? Will there be monitor mounting solutions as well?

Users utilizing our optional accessory mounts can easily add a PC tray, shifters, handbrakes, a keyboard tray, streaming equipment, cup holders and HMD hangers to our cockpit.

Corsair-Sim-Racing-Rig-Front-White-Triple-Screens.jpg


There will be multiple solutions for mounting monitors. First off, our cockpit is equipped as standard with an onboard monitor mount. It can support monitors from 27’’ up to 49’’ ultra-wides. Those who wish to have even more immersion, can opt for our matching freestanding single monitor mount which can support up to 65’’ screens. This single monitor mount includes an overhead mounting kit for screens up to 34’’ wide. For ultimate immersion, we have a triple screen expansion kit supporting screens from 27’’ to 55’’.



Balancing stability and weight is important in sim racing rigs – how are you planning to achieve this?

Laden with peripherals, seat and driver, most sim rigs tend to be heavy. We have striven to reduce weight where possible and strengthen areas of importance such as the main controls and seating, utilising thicker steel where needed and unique round aluminium profile for mounting multiple accessories to the cockpit.

What do you make of the yet-to-be-named Corsair sim racing rig? Let us know on Twitter @OverTake_gg or in the comments below!
About author
Yannik Haustein
Lifelong motorsport enthusiast and sim racing aficionado, walking racing history encyclopedia.

Sim racing editor, streamer and one half of the SimRacing Buddies podcast (warning, German!).

Heel & Toe Gang 4 life :D

Comments

Premium

That's awesome!

Yeah, there could be a market here for justageezer and his toolkit, if it flatpacks imagine the sales you could get.

I just thought it sounded pretty cool, and I'd love to see it.
You asked ...

The World's Best DIY Sim Rig ...

... that was built by me.

(So far).

Dear OT / RD reader, please allow me to humbly introduce:

The FanaWreck Rigmarole!

Featuring GustMaster wind gen, Dodgitech butt kicker and Sparko seat!

Built to some very specific and personal requirements, (spoilered below), so not for everyone, but hopefully you'll like the pics.

The rig should be able to split into a front part and a seat unit, (modular)
The front part should fold into a space about 50cm square for daily storage, (foldable)
The seat unit should be usable as a 'normal' seat,
The front part should be usable in front of the sofa, for mates who can't fit in a very narrow bucket seat,
It should be completely self-contained, with one mains power lead in and one USB 3.0 lead out,
I should be able to use the PC from the rig, so kb & mouse functionality,
It should have storage for my VR headset and controllers, with charging for the former, while stored or driving,
All cabling should be in clips set in recessed channels,
It should support simulating several types of vehicle:
Seat upright, three pedals flat (e.g. vintage cars, vans, trucks etc),
Seat middle reclined, three pedals middle raised (e.g. most normal manual cars)
Seat middle reclined, two pedals middle raised (e.g. most normal automatic cars)
Seat very reclined, two pedals high raised (e.g. modern F1 cars)
I should be able to switch between modes without tools in under a minute,
I should be able to get it out and set it up, or fold it up and put it away without tools in under a minute, (maybe two!)
It should look and drive totally awesome, man,
For a laugh, it should be built using old, inappropriate and/or blunt hand tools, to a very tight budget, by an idiot who knows very little carpentry.
Finally, I couldn't use anything metal in the frame construction - no screws, bolts, brackets or hinges* etc. Partly so it looks vaguely furniture-like, but mainly so that when I invent a time machine in a few years I can send the rig back to my younger self, who'll be blown away. (Not using screws was actually easier than covering the rig in synthetic human skin).

*A couple of non-frame bits like the wind gen mounts, pedal plate support bars or pedal hot-swap system do use screws, but the entire rest of the rig is held together solely with carpentry joints, dowels and wood glue. And hope. Lots of hope.

Features
On-board electrics
Tidy cabling
All black hardware (a few chrome bolts underneath, but hey)
Adjustable, removable, swappable swing-out left / right gear arm support
Adjustable, removable, swappable mini keyboard mount
Wheel adjustable up / down and forwards / backwards
Seat box position adjustable forwards / backwards
Pedal plate angle adjustable in five positions
Seat mount position adjustable in three reclined postiions
All rig adjustments tool-free, fast and (fairly) easy
Under seat / under pedal remote control RGB mood lighting
'Humourous' bling
Fluffy dice & show plate

Mods (basically everything):
Seat - custom Sparko logos sewn / stuck on
Seat rails - bar modified so it works on a flat board
Harness mounts - drilled & bolted down as welding tricky on wood
Number Plate - added green EV ends (so I avoid congestion charges!)
Gear Shifter - custom made short shaft and aftermarket knob
Handbrake - changed silly 3.5mm stereo connection to 1/4" jack in sensible place
Wheelbase - zero-play shaft so no broken pins / flex
Button Boxes - changed mounting and swapped one USB access point so boxes fold up
Wind gen - home-made Arduino based fully swivelable (I think that's a word)
Butt Kicker - USB audio interface under seat with 12v amp & Dayton transducer
Pedals - covered springs with black mesh, hot-swappable inverted clutch and brake
Heel plate - painted black, added industrial rubber mat
Fluffy Dice - replaced slow, heavy white string with faster, shorter black string.
(My lap times plummetted after this mod :))
Custom cables - single 10A transformer powering six 12v items


Oh, and total build time / cost? North of 600 hours - and counting. I'm still trying to avoid adding up the expense, but it wasn't as cheap as I'd hoped! And it does creak like an old row boat - but it feels great to drive and I'm still setting WRs. (You're welcome to have a crack at my lap times if you have AMS2.)
 

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Premium
I assume the hardest part to setting those World Records is convincing your cat to give up his seat!
 
Premium
I assume the hardest part to setting those World Records is convincing your cat to give up his seat!
:)

Yep, that's the tricky bit. His Lordship (the cat) will usually, albeit grudgingly vacate the cockpit if I ask really nicely, otherwise I have to bribe him with some milk, and hop in quickly while he's distracted. He's loved the bucket seat since I unboxed it - must smell nice or something.

Once I'm actually in the Rigmarole setting WRs is easy - just pick a car / track combination no-one's driven yet ...

oh, and complete a clean lap - that bit I'm still working on.
 

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Author
Yannik Haustein
Article read time
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Views
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Comments
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Last update

What is your next sim related purchase

  • DLC

    Votes: 182 25.0%
  • Full game

    Votes: 184 25.3%
  • CPU

    Votes: 85 11.7%
  • Graphics card

    Votes: 125 17.2%
  • Other PC related hardware

    Votes: 81 11.1%
  • Pedals

    Votes: 122 16.8%
  • Wheels

    Votes: 160 22.0%
  • Wheel base

    Votes: 120 16.5%
  • Monitors

    Votes: 77 10.6%
  • Something else?

    Votes: 73 10.0%
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