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There’s no doubt that cars and racing
have become a lot more popular in recent
years, especially with the explosion of
popularity of Formula 1. Now, if you
suddenly want to dip your toes into
racing or want to try out racing in
general, there are a lot of avenues to
do so. For those of you guys who are a
bit younger, you could try go-karting. I
mean, that’s where most Formula 1
drivers started. Those a bit older can
consider circuit racing. There are
various events across the country from
the Toyota Gazu Racing, Philippine Cup,
and even the Miata Cup, which you can
join. But then again, there’s one thing
we all need if we want to go racing.
Money. A lot of it. I’m talking
literally millions. And there’s no other
way around it. You really need to spend
if you want to dip your toes or at least
be a professional racer. Thankfully, if
you’re on a budget, just like we are
here at the Yugate Studio, there are
other avenues you can try out racing.
And one of them is through sim racing.
It’s the next best way to get an
adrenaline rush, and it’s even more
affordable than trying to get into
go-karting or even grassroots circuit
racing. Best of all, anyone can do it
safely and comfortably from their own
homes. So, if you’ve been considering
sim racing or setting up your own sim
racing rig at home, in this video, we’re
going to be talking all about that and
everything else that you need to know to
get ready [music] for sim racing.
Specifically, we’re going to be talking
about the wheels, the pedals, and the
peripherals surrounding it in this
video. So, stay tuned. Of
course, when setting up a SIM rig, the
first thing we need to talk about is the
budget. If you happen to be one of our
viewers who has only budget, then by all
means, go all out and buy the best that
you can offer. I mean, what’s stopping
you? Money’s only paper, right? But then
again, those can run you up to seven
digits depending on what setup you
choose. So, it’s still going to cost a
lot. Unfortunately, if you’re like the
rest of us here at the UK studio, we
don’t have that kind of budget. For
reference, the budget we’re talking
about is just for the sim rig alone, and
we’re not talking about the computer,
the monitors, and all other peripherals
you might [music] need to do so.
Thankfully, anyone can get started
without having to spend over 20,000
pesos. For those who have a budget of
around 10 to 15,000 pes, you can
consider the Logitech G29 or the
Trustmaster T150, which are readily
available in the market today, whether
you go to Data Blitz or other computer
shops. If that’s still a bit too
expensive for you, then maybe try your
luck in the used market. In terms of the
gear, it’s a bit basic and you do get
what you pay for. So, if you’ve tried
out a more expensive sim, you won’t feel
the same. However, it’s a great way to
see if you want to continue sim racing
or, you know, it might just be a fad and
eventually it’ll just be a paper weight.
At least that way you won’t have to feel
too bad since you didn’t spend that much
money. Alternatively, you can allocate a
bit more money, something around 15,000
pesos for something like the Trustmaster
T300, and that will give you a much
better feel without having to break into
the bank. Now, if you want to move up
from there, that’s when you get into the
more affordable direct drive models like
the MOSA series, which roughly starts at
around 20,000 pesos. Now, if we’re
talking unlimited budgets, that’s where
the big name players comes [music] in,
like the Fanitech Podium series. You can
even get a motion rig simulate the
G-forces from cornering, breaking, and
shifting, as well as a VR headset. To
give you an idea though, most motion
rigs starts at around 150,000 and up,
and that’s for the basic setup. If you
want to get something similar to the
ones that Formula 1 drivers use, well,
prepare to shell out a lot more. Not to
mention, when you get the motion rig,
usually those don’t include the
peripherals like the wheels or the
pedals or the shifter and everything
else. So, all of that do add up and when
you do add them together, they become a
lot more. And mind you, if you don’t
have a PC or even a console yet, you’ll
have to factor those in as well. But
you’re probably wondering, what’s the
difference between an affordable wheel
setup and something that’s more
high-end? I mean, you’re paying a big
difference in terms of money after all.
Well, it all comes down to driver feel
and feedback. There are two main
differences between a budget wheel and a
high-end wheel setup. Most budget wheel
bases use either a gear or a belt driven
setup, and sometimes a combination of
both. Meanwhile, the high-end ones use a
direct drive setup. With a belt driven
setup, as the name suggests, it uses
belts and gears to transfer power to the
steering wheels. It’s a cost-effective
way of doing things, and depending on
the model, you can get some decent
feedback. However, it doesn’t feel as
complete as compared to a direct drive
system since there is a bit of dampening
and there might be some delay when you
input your steering wheel movements. In
comparison, the direct drive system had
the motor directly connected to the
steering wheel shaft. As such, you get
better feel and stronger force feedback,
similar to driving a real car. There’s
[music] no delay, which gives users a
more realistic and immersive experience.
There are also more parameters you can
adjust in the settings depending on the
model you’re using. There are also more
options for users out there, allowing
for better customizability. So, you can
change the wheel, can change the pedals,
and a lot more. I mean, just check out
the BMW M4 GT3 steering wheel. It’s a
steering wheel mostly made by Fanitech,
[music] and it’s something you can use
on the sim rig and the actual race car.
And it’s not just limited to the wheel
bases, too. There’s a big difference in
terms of the feel when you’re using a
budget pedal set as compared to a
high-end one. Budget friendly options
typically use a potentiometer sensor to
measure the pedal travel and there’s
little to no calibration available. So,
while it is decent, they’re not exactly
the most accurate or at least gives you
the most accurate feedback of how the
car is performing on the track. There
are ways to improve this slightly by
modding the wheel, but that’s another
rabbit hole we’re going to go into,
which I’ll talk about in a different
video if you guys enjoy this video. If
you opt for a high-end setup, these
typically use load cells or the actual
pressure being input to measure the
readout, giving users a more realistic
driving feel. More importantly, the
benefit of having a load cell setup
allows the users to choose to increase
or decrease the force feedback needed
for braking, similar to as if you were
driving a real car. With this, sim
racers can improve their lap times a lot
more easily. And these skills can easily
be transferred over to that actual car
should they choose to go into real
racing in the future. Now, at the end of
the day, the question remains, which one
is for you? Of course, if budget isn’t a
problem, then I would highly recommend
you get the most [music] expensive one
out there. Now, the motion sim, well,
that’s completely optional, but if you
want to get a fully immersive racing
experience, highly recommend you do so.
But maybe we’re just dipping our toes
into sim racing and we’re not really
sure if you want to get into it
completely. Well, then the budget setup
works. At least at the end of the day,
the money isn’t that big and no one will
really regret spending 10 to 15,000 on a
sim rig. Not to mention, you can easily
resell those for more or less the same
value. I mean, you do lose a bit of
money, but it’s not that bad.
Thankfully, most people can try them out
before even buying them. Given the spike
of popularity in Formula 1, there are a
lot of cafes [music] and sim arcades
that are popping up across the country.
Just head on to one of them, try without
and see if it’s for you. If you want to
try out the budget setup, you can go to
the malls, and sometimes they may have
setups available for you to try out. And
those are the ones you can already buy
off the shelf without having to go
through a bunch of other setups needed.
Now, do note that for the sim arcades,
you might have to pay a bit to try them
out, but again, what’s 300 pesos as
compared to setting up a 20 or 30,000 or
even more sim rig [music] at home that
you may not even enjoy in the future.
The great thing about building a sim rig
is that it’s easily customizable to your
liken
wheel that has similar style to what F1
drivers use. into drifting, then maybe
get three pedals, a shifter, and even a
handbrake. And the list goes on and on.
And you can do a lot more. Whatever you
want, how you want it. The combinations
are virtually limitless. In fact, the
only thing that’ll limit you, it’s your
wallet. By the way, if you guys are
interested in any of these products that
you’ve seen in this video, these were
all supplied by Apex Racing Philippines.
So, if you want, you can go check them
out. Overall, there’s no right or wrong
way to build a sim racing rig or even
getting into sim racing. If anything, I
would suggest that just dive right
[music] into it. As I mentioned earlier,
there are various places across the
country where you can try it out for
yourself and see whether or not sim
racing might be something we want to try
out as a new hobby this 2026. There’s
also a large esports community where
everyone can race and compete with other
people all over the world. Even locally,
people hold events where they can try
out their skills and see how they fare
against other drivers in the country.
Heck, you can even potentially represent
the country in some future races. For
example, Toyota hosts the GRGT Cup
Philippines, offering participants the
opportunity to compete on the
international stage while representing
their country. And as someone who’s
competed there, I can say that even if
you’d have a budget setup, you can go
toe-to-toe with some of the best drivers
that Asia has to offer or even the
world. In addition, sim racing could
also be a gateway into real motorsports.
Just look at Max Persan when he competed
at the Nurburg Ring in GD3. His teammate
Chris Lullham, a pro sim racer. But
overall, what do you guys think of sim
racing and possibly building a sim rig
at home? Would you pick it up as a hobby
this 2026 or is it something still a bit
too expensive for you? Whatever the
case, share your thoughts in the
comments below. And of course, if you
enjoyed this video, please do drop a
like and subscribe to watch more. Don’t
forget to follow us on our social media
platforms. That’s Facebook, Instagram,
X, and Tik Tok. And of course, visit
yukatech.com for the latest tech news
and reviews.
⚠️ This transcription is auto-generated from YouTube captions. Some text may not be 100% accurate.
Ever felt that rush watching Formula 1 and thought, ‘I wish I could do that’? We did too. But let’s be real, the price tag of real racing—from go-karts to circuit cars—can make your wallet cry faster than a rookie driver spinning out on the first lap. Thankfully, there’s a thrilling, far more accessible world waiting for you right at home: sim racing. It’s the adrenaline fix for gearheads on a budget, and it’s exploded in popularity. But where do you even start? In our latest video, we’re strapping in to break down everything you need to know about building your own sim racing rig. We’re talking wheels, pedals, and all the gear that turns your living room into a personal racetrack. Whether you’re a complete newbie or looking to upgrade your setup, we’ve got the insider track. Watch as we navigate the sometimes confusing world of sim racing hardware, so you can hit the virtual tarmac without hitting financial panic mode.
What You’ll See in This Video
- We break down the essential starting gear: from steering wheels to pedals.
- Get the lowdown on different force feedback systems and why they matter for realism.
- Learn about mounting solutions and peripherals to complete your immersive setup.
- We discuss how to approach your budget to get the best bang-for-your-peso experience.
Ready to shift your gaming into high gear? Hit play on the video above to get the full, detailed tour of sim racing rigs and start planning your ultimate setup!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is sim racing really a good alternative for Filipinos who want to try racing?
Absolutely! It’s the most cost-effective way to experience the thrill. Real-world racing involves massive costs for cars, maintenance, track fees, and safety gear. Sim racing gives you 90% of the adrenaline for a fraction of the price, all from your home.
How much should I budget for a decent starter sim racing setup in the Philippines?
You can get started for a surprisingly reasonable amount. While our video dives into various tiers, a good entry-level wheel and pedal set from brands like Logitech or Thrustmaster can be found locally. We discuss how to allocate your budget wisely between the wheel base, pedals, and a proper mount.
Do I need a powerful gaming PC, or can I use my console?
Both are great options! Many modern sim racing wheels are cross-compatible with PC, PlayStation, and Xbox. The video touches on compatibility, so you can choose gear that works with the platform you already own.
Where can I buy sim racing gear in the Philippines?
Major online platforms like Lazada and Shopee have official stores and reputable sellers. There are also dedicated local gaming and sim racing communities and specialty shops that import high-end gear. It’s all about knowing what to look for, which we cover in the video.
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