James Baldwin Sim Rig

The Simucube 3 Pro represents James's latest upgrade after progressing through the Simucube 2 Sport and Ultimate over five years. The 25Nm peak torque provides the detail and responsiveness needed for professional GT3 preparation. The 23-bit absolute angle sensor delivers sub-degree precision for detecting subtle grip changes at the limit.

Upgrade Path: Simucube 2 Sport (~2020) → Simucube 2 Ultimate (2022–2024) → Simucube 3 Pro (2025–present). James has noted that each upgrade brought more detail in the force feedback, not just more power.

James's primary wheel for GT3 racing, officially licensed using McLaren's actual CAD data from the GT3/GT4 steering wheel. The "Ultimate" version connects via USB for zero-latency data transfer. James has customized his with personal logos and button colors — a benefit of the Ascher partnership.

Why This Wheel: The Artura replicates the exact button layout and grip shape James uses in his real McLaren 720S GT3 Evo with Garage 59, ensuring muscle memory transfers seamlessly between sim and track.

A modern formula-style wheel without an integrated screen, making it lighter than alternatives. James uses this for variety in training and content creation when he's not specifically preparing for GT3 races. Full metal construction ensures durability across thousands of hours of use.

James keeps a round wheel available for rally, drift, and road car applications where a formula-style rim isn't appropriate. The Tahko provides 320mm diameter with a deep dish design for high-rotation driving.

James considers the ActivePedals the most important component in his rig. Unlike traditional load cell pedals with springs and elastomers, the ActivePedals use high-torque motors and ball screws to generate resistance entirely through software. This means James can precisely tune pedal feel to match his McLaren 720S GT3 Evo — matching stiffness, travel, and response curves for muscle memory that transfers directly to race day.

Real-World Training: James runs ~60kg pedal force in the sim, which he notes "in the real car when you've got G-force throwing you forward you'll reach 60 kilos very easily." This allows him to maintain braking consistency between sim sessions and track time.

James has used the PSR1 for over four years in his partnership with Race Anywhere. The aluminum profile construction (160mm and 120mm proprietary profiles) provides the rigidity needed for 25Nm wheelbases and active pedals without flex. The 15mm thick aluminum wheel deck ensures zero movement under heavy force feedback loads.

Accessories: James has added a cup holder, wireless keyboard tray, and Elgato Stream Deck mount for his content creation workflow.

James upgraded from a sports-material Cobra seat to the leather Drive Lounge Edition specifically because it's easier to clean after long sessions. The leather upholstery handles sweat better and improves posture during multi-hour practice stints.

Setup Note: James uses the GT-style seating position (not F1-style tight bucket) with a slight knee bend and feet slightly lower than center body mass. He adds a lower back support pillow to prevent leg and back pain during extended sessions.

James switched from triple monitors to a single 49-inch ultrawide specifically for FPS performance. As he notes: "Triples just sucked all the FPS out of my PC... FPS is really really important" for competitive sim racing. The G9's 5120×1440 resolution at 240Hz provides enough peripheral vision for racing while maintaining consistent frame times.

FOV Setup: James calculates FOV using in-game monitor features and accounts for the 1000R curve. He positions his eyes halfway up the monitor center for optimal visual reference.

James uses VR specifically for real-world racing prep when he needs maximum depth perception for braking references and corner entry. It's not his primary display for competitive esports due to resolution and refresh rate limitations compared to the G9.

James's PC was supplied by PC Specialist and doubled his FPS output compared to his previous system. The Intel Core Ultra 9 285K's high clock speeds (up to 5.7GHz) handle the single-threaded physics calculations of iRacing and ACC, while 64GB RAM allows simultaneous streaming, telemetry analysis, and gameplay without memory paging.

James deliberately runs a static rig despite having the budget and access to motion platforms. His reasoning is twofold: cost, and more importantly, latency. He's found that motion systems introduce delays that provide "false feedback" rather than helping performance.

Philosophy: Instead of motion, James relies entirely on the ActivePedals for car feel. The haptic feedback through brake and throttle provides the real-time information he needs about tire grip and car balance — without the latency penalty of motion actuators.

James uses these for both sim racing and desk work. The wireless design allows freedom of movement during long sessions, while the audio quality helps identify engine sounds and tire slip that inform driving inputs.