The world’s biggest sim racing event was a runaway success this year, with sold-out exhibitor slots, record visitor numbers and several world-firsts.
It has evolved from a small, hardcore equipment-based event into a booming, star-studded show, featuring large booths and the first look at unreleased games. There are even keynotes that unveil the latest and greatest in both software and hardware.
Amidst the SimRacing Expo’s crowds and panopoly of hardware, here are the seven key announcements from the exhibition that caught the Traxion team’s eye.
Cube Controls Taurus wheel
Cube Controls has recently spoken to Traxion about its journey from the back of a bike shop to the race track, thanks to Mercedes-AMG and Honda’s TCR program, but the Italian company has a wider role to play in motorsport, having supplied several top teams and manufacturers with its high-tech steering wheels.
Its new high-end Taurus sim racing wheel follows this lineage, being closely based upon a design that will be used in real-world motorsport next season.
Which car specifically, we couldn’t possibly say, but Traxion notes that the Taurus name is similar to Tauros, which was a bull-based Pokémon…
The prototype shown at the SimRacing Expo was far from final, with stickers where shiftlights will reside and two different sorts of non-final button designs, both promising rapid response times. But the light-weight carbon fibre chassis and overall shape are locked in, hinting at its kinship.
Assetto Corsa EVO’s future plans
One year after its public debut at last year’s expo, Assetto Corsa EVO returns to the SimRacing Expo this year with a first look at the much-anticipated v0.4 update.
The next significant update is expected in November and will add nine new cars and three new tracks, including the Ferrari F40 Competizione, Nürburgring Nordschleife and Road Atlanta. Ranked multiplayer is also expected to debut through a SimGrid portal.
The full car and track list was confirmed at the Expo, including a drift-spec Toyota Supra and Honda-engine-swapped Mini. There were also teases at even more content down the line, such as the first look at Ferrari’s SF25 F1 car and further free-roam footage. This much-hyped mode is expected to be added next year and then built upon.
Gravitom, and the return of Aris
Gravitom is set to be a revolutionary new driver training tool that can produce sustained high G-forces via a “direct force-application system”.
Two Gravitom sims debuted at this year’s SimRacing Expo, running Assetto Corsa Competizione and Le Mans Ultimate, allowing visitors to experience up to 3G of deceleration forces through a VR headset.
Gravitom also marks the return of legendary sim racing physics developer Aristotelis Vasilakos to this industry niche, who famously masterminded both Assetto Corsa and ACC’s unique driving feel (and was a driving force behind the GTR 2’s historic Power & Glory mod).
Vasilakos is not only backing the project masterminded by Slovenian pair Ales and Matic Zajc, but he is also taking a strategic adviser role with the company, which hopes to attract manufacturer interest to help develop its unique technology.
“I’ve never been so all-consumed by a simulator experience,” said Traxion’s John Munro during a Gravitom test session, before having to go have a lie-down. It’s intense.
Project Motor Racing is close to release
SimRacing Expo visitors could play Project Motor Racing, one of the most eagerly anticipated new racing games of this year, from the creators of Project CARS, over a month before its release.
We were able to test new cars, tracks with the dynamic weather and single-player AI – there was even its competitive esports debut on stage as part of a live final.
It continues to show promise ahead of a November release, but there are also areas for improvement still. More than that, publisher GIANTS Software went all in, putting on a staggering show for visitors and stating its lofty expectations with intent.
BDH Active Shifter
It’s a sim racing gear shifter that will cost around £1,700 before taxes. For most people, the BDH Active Shifter is completely out of reach. But part of the SimRacing Expo’s appeal is testing equipment that is aspirational, and who knows, maybe similar technology will filter down eventually?
All we know is that we tried this Yorkshire-built special, set for production next year, and every other shifter somehow feels inadequate.
You can twizle a small dial to magically change the h-pattern layout to match the car you are simulating – so it could be a traditional five-speed, a seven-speed or even a dog-box. There’s another dial to change the tension, too.
But the real party piece that made us exclaim “by ‘eck!” is the force feedback, which vibrates the gear lever as the car is stationary and even prevents you from engaging a cog should you not depress the clutch at the right time.
Rennsport finally showed AI racing
Ahead of its 13th November release date on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC, Rennsport exhibited AI racing for the very first time at SimRacing Expo.
Throughout its prolonged Early Access development period, Rennsport has showcased its online capabilities via the R1 Esports series but never displayed computer-controlled cars in action, a crucial feature for console players.
Rennsport was available to test on a dedicated stand, which also played host to live content creator races, a visitor leaderboard and a glorious Alfa Romeo 155 from the 1994 DTM season, which was confirmed as future DLC content.
Fanatec finally delivers a Podium pedal set
Despite legions of Podium-branded wheels and wheel bases over the years, Fanatec has never used its flagship moniker on a set of pedals… until now.
The Fanatec Podium Pedals – not an earth-shattering name – includes a patented design to help avoid elastomer over-stress. Called the Patented Elastomer Compression Control System – now, that is an earth-shattering name – it relies on a series of tool-free adjustable cups which not only look after the cylindrical flexible pieces, but also change the feel and pedal travel.
The brake pedal is also cast aluminium, and there’s a two-pedal premium set with carbon fibre foot and ankle plates. The three-pedal set includes a clutch bite-point adjuster, too.
Still, despite these benign range-topping and looking like something from a science fiction movie set, they aren’t active. Pricing will be key, which will be confirmed next year, when they will launch alongside a new 25 Nm (up to 33 on ‘overshoot’) Podium DD wheel base.
Much more
Of course, those were just seven items that stood out to the Traxion team. On the more affordable scale, there were Jimmy Broadbent-themed GT Omega seats and cockpits, Thrustmaster re-launched its T818 wheel base alongside the long, long, awaited Raceline Load Cell upgrade and some prototype wheels.
Sim-Lab debuted its maiden wheel base, the DDX TorqueSync, in near-final form. Trak Racer had a new Alpine Formula 1 cockpit, and VPG’s Porsche 911 GT3 Cup 992.2 wheel went on sale. Visitors also got to try the Simucube 3, too, on multiple stands and Simagic showcased its 2026 range, including the Zeus wheel with removable display.
Ultimately, the sim racing consumer won, with over 24,000 visiting the event ahead of a 2026 expansion that visits Charlotte and Frankfurt. See you there…
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