Red Bull’s $120,000 F1 Simulator Would Look Great in Your Basement
It costs more than a Porsche 911, but it’ll make you feel like a real F1 driver. Or at least that’s what the pamphlet says.
If you're just getting started with sim racing, you've probably got a couple of nice monitors and an affordable wheel propped up on an ironing board. If you're looking to upgrade, though, this Red Bull Racing Formula 1 simulator could be the perfect companion to the washer and dryer in your basement.
You can now get a racing sim setup built into the body of a Red Bull RB18 show car. Sold by memorabilia merchants F1 Authentics, the shells are manufactured by Memento Exclusives using the same processes as genuine F1 cars, Formula1.com claims. It's not entirely clear what that means, but the sweet-looking build ends just behind the airbox. The company also has full-scale show cars on sale.
The sim rig is outfitted with a large curved display mounted just ahead of the cockpit, as well as a speaker system. There's also a force-feedback, paddle-shift Racing Formula Wheel Mayaris steering wheel with a quick-release design fitted to a Simucube 2 Pro steering wheel base. That's about $5,000 worth of kit alone before you get to the Heusinkveld Ultimate+ adjustable pedal kit. The simulator runs on a PC from OCUK fitted with "the latest gaming hardware," with the listing noting that the sims can be networked for multiplayer competition.
The simulators are available in two versions: the simpler Race Edition and the Champions Edition. The latter comes complete with a full nose and front wing assembly. The sims retail at £74,999 ($90,500) and £99,999 ($120,700) respectively, excluding shipping. Each can be optioned with liveries themed for Red Bull drivers Max Verstappen or Sergio Perez.
"Driving a Formula 1 car is something most of us can only dream of, but this simulator is as close as it gets to the real thing," said Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner, clearly forgetting the multi-million dollar simulator rig that exists at his own team's HQ. The simulators employed by F1 teams themselves obviously far eclipse what is available to mortals for a mere six figures.
The rigs are a nice way to get into sim racing if you have a ton of money and a taste for all things Red Bull. Obviously, there are much cheaper options out there. However, few will look anywhere near as cool as two-thirds of an F1 car sitting in the room of your choice.
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