Sim Racing System; A good alternative for iRacing?

Most of the time, using the base multiplayer in racing games can be a disastrous experience with almost no enjoyable racing. And although it’s true that the more hardcore simulators do filter unexperienced drivers or just plain idiots, some still remain. Introducing a fee to play is indeed an amazing filter to get clean, very competitive and fun racing, but is it absolutely necessary?

In this article we will be talking about the Sim Racing System, which is a tool similar to iRacing that has been somewhat recently added to Assetto Corsa, Rfactor2 and Automobilista. We will also be answering the question whether this a good alternative for the subscription based iRacing or not.

Rules and regulations

The way this system filters drivers with different skills is by having multiple servers. Each driver gets assigned to a server according to their rating and incident average. You’ll get more points for your position on better ranked servers, so keeping your rating up and your incident average down is important.

First place on Server #1: 102 points
First place on Server #2: 80 points

With each incident taking away 3 points from your rating.

Registering for races is easy and done through a downloadble application inside Assetto Corsa.

Unlike iRacing, you don’t have to pay to use any new circuit or car implemented in any series, and getting them is as easy as searching the download link on the same registration screen.

After you have registered to a race you can choose what car to use (if there are different cars, like in Gr.A or GT3 races) and all the other races will become blocked until you complete or un-register the current race (before it starts). Not showing up to a race you registered to will get you a 2 day suspension.

Races

3 minutes before the servers close you will be prompted to join. You will have around 3 minutes of warm-up (depending how fast you joined) followed by 10 minutes of qualifying, and finally, 20 minutes of very competitive racing.

I’ve done around 7 races by now and turn 1 incidents are very minimal while the racing is very close. In series like Formula Abarth knowing how to setup your car is very important, since everyone is using the same car, and leads to a very competitive front pack. Have I mentioned that almost every race is broadcasted live to Youtube? Now you and your friends can see how terrible you are at online racing! (only server 1). The broadcast looks like professional racing for real, and it’s very cool watching yourself after a race.

Once the racing is over, you can check your rating after leaving the server inside the game. In the browser you can check a full race analysis with fastest sectors, laps and a graph showing the position changes throughout the race.

Available series

There are currently 15 on-going series.

1- M 235i

Features the BMW M235i. (with Sim Force)
Races are held in the following tracks:

• Brands Hatch GP
  -Automotodrom Grobnik
  -Monza
  -Barbagallo Raceway
  -Silverstone International
  -Mugello

2- Mazda 787B

Features the Mazda 787B, obviously. (with Sim Racing Paddock)
Races are held in the following tracks:

• Spa
• Daytona Road Course
• Silverstone GP
• Red Bull Ring GP (the only paid track and it’s not a mod, it’s part of the base game)
• Virginia International Raceway (full course)
• Paul Ricard Blancpain

3- North American MX5 Cup

Features the Mazda MX5 Cup. (with The Simpit)
Races are held in the following tracks:

• Road America
• VIR North Course
• New Jersey
• Riverside Short
• Bridgehampton
• Daytona Road Course

4- Lotus 98T

Features the classic Lotus 98T.
Races are held in the following tracks:

• Spa
• Zandvoort
• Paul Ricard Blancpain
• Donington Park GP
• Imola
• Nurburgring GP

5- GT3 America, Oceania, Asia and Europe

Features 3 cars;

• Mercedes SLS GT3
• Mclaren MP4-12 GT3
• BMW Z4 GT3

Races are held in the following tracks:

-AMERICA-

• VIR Full Course
• Bridgehampton
• Circuit de La Sarthe 24 Hours
• Daytona Road Course
• Road America
• Riverside

-OCEANIA-

• Barbagallo Raceway
• Spa
• Brands Hatch GP
• Symmons Plains Raceway
• Circuit de La Sarthe 24 Hours
• Monza

-ASIA-

• Tsukuba Circuit Full
• Paul Ricard Blancpain
• Sentul Circuit
• Baskerville Raceway
• Bridgehampton
• Donington Park GP

-EUROPE-

• Silverstone GP
• Monza
• Red Bull Ring GP
• Nordschleife Endurance-Cup
• Barcelona GP
• Spa

6- GT4

Features the Ginetta G55 GT-4.
Races are held in the following tracks:

• Nurburgring GP
• Sentul Circuit
• Imola
• Paul Ricard WTCC
• AIA
• Zandvoort

7- Formula Abarth

Features the TATUUS FA1.
Races are held in the following tracks:

• Mugello
• Vallelunga Classic
• Tor Poznan
• Snetterton 300
• Spa
• Baskerville Raceway

8- DTM 90s

Features 3 cars: (with Sim Racing NC)

• BMW M3 E30 Gr.A
• Mercedes 190 EVO II
• Alfa Romeo 155 V6 TI

Races are held in the following tracks:

• Monza
• Salzburgring
• Brands Hatch GP
• Paul Ricard Blancpain
• Brno
• Nurburgring GP

9- AE-86

Features the *Toyota AE-86. (with RC)
Races are held in the following tracks:

• Magione
• Nurburgring Sprint
• Vallelunga Classic
• Zandvoort
• Brands Hatch GP
• Imola

10- Lotus Exo

Features the Lotus Exo 125. (with Gamer Muscle Videos)
Races are held in the following tracks:

• Mugello
• Silverstone GP
• Red Bull Ring GP
• Imola
• Spa
• Barcelona Moto

11- GT2

Features the Porsche 911 RSR 2017. (with Aussie Stig)
Races are held in the following tracks:

• Nurburgring GP
• Zandvoort
• Barbagallo Raceway
• AIA
• Albert Park
• Thruxton

12- Ginetta GT4 Supercup

Features the Ginetta G55 GT4. (with Jimmy Broadbent)
Races are held in the following tracks:

• Thruxton
• Brands Hatch GP
• Nurburgring GP
• Silverstone National
• Donington Park National
• Brands Hatch Indy

And that’s only the series that are being raced now, there were and there will be more.

A bit of a conclusion

• Series

At the moment iRacing has about 40 on-going series, while SRS only has 15. While it is true that iRacing blows SRS away with the number of series, it really comes down to what you’re going to be playing (I can’t imagine someone participating in over 40 series at the same time). And it’s good to remember that iRacing has about 9 years of development, while SRS has less than a year.

Want NASCAR? Sorry, iRacing wins.
Want Dirt racing? iRacing again…
Don’t want to pay for new tracks or cars? SRS has got you covered.

• Tracks

Base Assetto Corsa has 18 tracks with different configurations and there are plenty track mods that pump that number up to +40 tracks, and im talking good quality tracks. iRacing has 31 ROAD circuits (without counting Ovals and speedways, since we’re comparing it to what SRS can cover) with some configurations, while it’s a pretty fair fight here, you don’t have to pay for tracks in SRS.

• Cars

iRacing, without counting NASCAR, Indy, and every car that races in an oval has 36 track cars, while with SRS you can race 16 cars.

iRacing definitely wins with the car selection, but the “selling” point of SRS is that you’re not paying a single dollar for the service, nor the cars.

• Prices

SRS: Free (Well you do need a licensed copy of Assetto Corsa)

iRacing: $15/month, $100/year. You get 15 cars and 15 tracks for free when you sign up, which is not bad at all, considering that SRS gives you 16 cars. Want to try out that amazing new car, or that track? That’s going to set you back $12 and $15 respectively. And there are about 80 cars in total… (note: If you end up buying Assetto Corsa, you can get way more than 80 cars with mods. The 16 cars portrayed on SRS are just the ones that race in the series)

Is it a good alternative?

Definitely yes, while it’s true that iRacing already has a great reputation with amazing partners. I’m certain that SRS will be much better tool in the future, and right now it’s amazing. Most of the drivers respect the racing etiquette and are very noble racers.

And let me be honest, SRS is not perfect. But there’s always going to be one little troll driver, whether it’s iRacing, SRS, rF2, etc…

So who would enjoy SRS?

• Sim racers on a budget,
• People who like Assetto Corsa more than iRacing physics.
• Frustrated iRacing drivers
• Your dad probably?
• New sim racers
• Guys who like being broadcasted live

So yeah, what are your thoughts on Sim Racing System?
Happy racing!

note: this is not a paid promotion or anything.
note 2: not sure if iRacing prices are correct.
note 3: uploading to correct community this time.