Builds / Simulator Types
Simulator Types

Spec it for the racing
you actually do.

A rig built for endurance racing and a rig built for drifting want different things from the same budget. This section is about matching the configuration to the discipline, then routing you into whichever of our five builds fits.

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The spec follows the discipline.

Most people shop for a simulator by price tier, then find out afterwards that the configuration does not suit what they actually drive. A drifter and an endurance racer can spend the same money and both end up with the wrong rig.

What actually changes between disciplines

  • Field of view. Wheel-to-wheel racing and drifting need peripheral vision, which is a triple-screen problem. Time attack and hot lapping do not.
  • Pedal feel. Braking-heavy disciplines justify load cell or active pedals far more than throttle-heavy ones.
  • Torque. Higher wheelbase torque buys detail, not difficulty. It matters most where the front axle is doing subtle things you need to feel.
  • Controls. Rally and drift want a handbrake and a shifter. Formula and GT3 do not use either.
  • Motion and tactile. Useful everywhere, decisive in endurance, where you are reading the car over hours rather than minutes.

The pages below cover each discipline and end with the build we would actually put you in.

By Discipline

Pick your racing.

GT3 SIMULATOR
The most common request, and the easiest to spec well.
FORMULA SIMULATOR
Open-wheel seating, high torque, and why the pedals matter most here.
STOCK CAR SIMULATOR
Oval racing, close-quarters awareness and sustained loads.
ENDURANCE SIMULATOR
Multi-class awareness, long stints and why comfort becomes a spec item.
DRIFT SIMULATOR
Handbrake, shifter, fast wheel response and a wide field of view.
RALLY SIMULATOR
Handbrake, sequential shifting and surfaces that never settle.
TRACK DAY SIMULATOR
For HPDE and club drivers preparing for real events.
TRIPLE SCREEN
When peripheral vision is worth more than pixel density.
MOTION SIMULATOR
What a motion platform adds, and when it is worth it.
The Lineup

Five builds, real specs.

Every recommendation on these pages routes into one of these. Nothing on this site is a special edition invented for a landing page.

BuildPriceDisplayWheelbasePedalsHaptics & Motion
Rookie $6,995 34" curved WQHD 165Hz 8Nm direct drive Load cell None
Base From $10,000 49" curved 144Hz 15Nm direct drive Load cell Buttkicker
Club OLED $16,995 49" QD-OLED 240Hz 25Nm, DD2 or Simucube 3 Simucube Active Buttkicker
Club Triple $17,995 3 x 32" curved 165Hz 25Nm, DD2 or Simucube 3 Simucube Active Buttkicker
Pole Position $42,995 Triple OLED 25Nm, DD2 or Simucube 3 Simucube Active Buttkicker and D-BOX motion

Published lineup as shown on our homepage. Displays scale with the tier; the wheelbase and pedal philosophy is what changes the driving.

Elsewhere at Academy

Try before you buy.

Every build on this site is a rig we run daily in the Tampa lounge.

DRIVE ONE IN TAMPA
Book a session and drive the components before you commit to them.
NEED ONE FOR AN EVENT?
Academy Events delivers staffed simulator rentals across Florida.
Frequently Asked

Real answers.

Do I need a different simulator for each discipline?
No. Every build here runs every discipline. What changes is how well the configuration suits the one you spend most of your time in, and which optional controls you add.
Is more wheelbase torque always better?
No. Past a point extra torque buys detail rather than difficulty, and the pedals usually do more for lap time than the wheel does. We would rather put you on better pedals than more Nm you will never use.
Triples or a single ultrawide?
Triples for wheel-to-wheel racing and drifting, where peripheral vision does real work. A single 49 inch ultrawide is excellent for hot lapping and takes less space. That is the Club Triple versus Club OLED decision.
Can I add a shifter and handbrake later?
Yes. Drift and rally controls are additions rather than a different chassis, so a build can grow into them.
Can I try one before buying?
Yes, and we would encourage it. The components in these builds are the ones we run daily in the Tampa lounge, so you can drive the wheelbase and pedals before you commit.
Do you ship outside Florida?
Yes. Nationwide shipping, with a two to four week build time.
Next Step

Not sure which one?

Tell us what you race and where it goes. We will spec it against the real lineup.

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