I like browsing the simracing subreddit because there are always interesting discussions to be found. Both this content and the iRacing forum threads make the time we are not purely dedicating to the simulator much more enjoyable. If you want to immerse yourself in competition and its finer details, they are definitely an endless source of topics in which everyone ends up being involved at some point.
The world of racing simulation brings a special kind of person into the hostile behaviors of online competitiveness. Someone who is not used to the roughness of that world can quickly feel intimidated by the skill and ego of many individuals populating the servers. In this case, we also have someone inexperienced in gaming who wants to use a simulator to emulate their heroes on track.
About 95% of those who approach a simulator know that driving cars at high speed is not a trivial matter. Because of this, no matter how much practice you get, there comes a time when you have to put it into practice alongside rivals. And rivals are flesh-and-blood people, unpredictable, just like us.
Human beings are, as hard as it may be to admit, emotional creatures. Decisions on track are much more emotional than in almost any other setting, mainly driven by the tension of competition. In this context, many newcomers fear that their skill behind the wheel is not sufficient to race in a pack, and they suffer from anxiety and nervousness at the idea of ruining someone else’s race or failing to meet even a minimum target.
so glad to hear other people have suffered from the leg shaking thing
For your peace of mind, if you are suffering from these symptoms, you should know that they are part of a normal development. Time on track will help you build confidence in your car control, and getting used to racing in groups will improve your perception of danger and of those who might cause trouble on the asphalt.
It is a slow progression that never completely goes away, and it also contributes to making this hobby so rewarding. The adrenaline rush of truly competing does exist in simracing, even though the actual danger is zero.
incidents are going to happen. Some of them are going to be your fault. That’s an inescapable fate
Over time, you will learn to channel stress and that nervous tension into competitive tension, showing your desire to achieve a good result and to meet your race objectives. This positive tension is a way of proving that you are immersing yourself in the experience that simracing provides, and it will make you enjoy it even more once you start having good races.
Focusing first on consistency, and learning to drive in a safe and predictable way, will make your confidence grow and will consolidate that confidence through results. Results help confidence grow in a circular way, so you will keep improving and will be able to learn how to fight for positions on track in a more or less safe manner. Try to always drive defensively, meaning that you always imagine the worst from your rival, and in most cases you will at least make sure that no one ends the other person’s race.
Another important piece of advice is that, whenever the simulator allows it, you can race against AI and get used to driving with more rivals around. This will help you understand different racing lines and learn that you must master not only the racing line, but the entire asphalt surface.
As always, the main goal is to have fun and enjoy yourself, so don’t forget that you are here to do exactly that.
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