At Sim Racing Expo 2026 in Frankfurt, Pimax headsets were running on rigs across the hall. Between sessions, we asked drivers, creators and developers one simple thing: what is the current state of VR in sim racing?
Watch the video here:
Loek Hartog, Porsche GT3 Racing Driver
"I tried the Pimax Dream Air for the first time and I was like, this is crazy. It's so detailed. For me, it's almost like real life. And it was the first time I thought, actually, in sim racing I don't need my triples anymore."
There was a practical side too. Living in a small apartment, his triple monitors had to go when they started blocking the window. An earlier headset proved too hard to set up because of its external base stations. The Dream Air solved both problems. "It's better than monitors for me. Right now, for immersion, it's the best thing. I'm hooked. I will keep using it."
Dan Suzuki, Sim Racing Content Creator
"I've always loved the concept of VR. But to me, it always felt like a compromise. The Dream Air is, for me personally, the first time that I don't have that anymore. It's so light on my head, I barely notice it, especially in a shaky sim rig. The visuals are so good that you don't spot pixels."
He is honest about the hardware demands: you still need a powerful PC to run it at full quality. But he believes lightweight headsets are where sim racing is heading:
"Many people chase immersion, and nothing is as immersive as sitting actually inside the car. For me, it feels like rediscovering sim racing, like 20 years ago when I started. It's the same urge to drive again."
Kireth, Sim Racing VR Headset Reviewer
"When I started doing sim racing in VR and reviewing headsets, it was always the question: is it going to be as good quality as a monitor? I actually think we've gone past that. With a top-of-the-range headset, you have the depth perception, it can be OLED, it can be ultrawide."
For him, the final frontier is convenience: after work, with wheelbase software, the sim and SimHub already to launch, the headset simply has to work every time. He also shared a conversation with Loek Hartog at the expo: "He swears by VR. He's using the Pimax headset."
Michi Hoyer, Sim Racing Esports Driver
Michi offered the competitive perspective. "If you want to have the most immersive feeling, then VR is your number one go-to. You can move your head, you can look with your eyes and see your surroundings, and you have full focus: nothing else but you, the car and the track."
Thomas (VoodooDE), VR Content Creator
This was Thomas's first time at the expo, and he was surprised by how many booths still used monitors: "I always think, why on earth are they doing that with monitors? I already tried the booth with the Pimax Dream Air headset, and this is just a completely different world. You sit in the car, you are inside the car. If you always play on monitors, try a VR headset. It doesn't need to be the most expensive one, but try one."
Kris (RevZED), Developer, TRZ Motorcycle Simulator
For motorcycle simulation, Kris explained, VR solves a problem screens cannot: "When you're riding a motorcycle, you're trying to look into the apex. With a screen, you get body crossed up: you're leaned over and looking back at the screen, which is bad body posture. The VR headset helps disconnect from that, and you can actually properly look into the apex. Once I experienced VR on the TRZ, there's no going back."
Ameer Assad, The SimPit
"For me, VR has become really great, especially when it comes to sim racing. The biggest advantage is being immersed in an actual 3D world. You can see the depth, so you can really pay attention to where the apex is, versus just being on a flat screen."
The main limit, in his view, is PC hardware. "Once PCs can catch up to what VR can actually do, I think that's really going to transform VR in the sim racing world."
Arnout, VR Streamer and YouTuber
Arnout's sim racing journey started in VR about five years ago. Since then, he says, headsets have become ten times better, both in visuals and in how easy they are to set up.
"People said to me that I should not do it in VR, it's not good for engagement. But I'm at almost 25k subscribers at this point. I think everyone can make it work in VR if they want to.
Reinhard Roscher, PCVR Content Creator
Reinhard has raced in VR since 2015 and never looked back: "To be able to use VR, to drive around the track, look at every corner, it was like: OK, I can never go back."
His message to anyone hesitating is that the cost barrier has dropped. "People sometimes say VR hardware is expensive, but not anymore. You can buy the Dream Air SE, a very nice entry level. For me personally, there is no reason not to try VR. It's not for everyone, but it's getting better and better, and you should definitely try it."
Pixelconnect
"The good thing is that with VR, you're in the middle of it. You look around, you see your own cockpit, and you're just in the race car. The disadvantage is normally the headsets are very big and heavy. With the exception now of the Pimax Dream Air and Dream Air SE, which are quite small headsets and lighter, which I absolutely like."
Our takeaway
Across ten conversations, a clear picture emerged. For immersion, VR is already ahead of monitors. Image quality has largely caught up. The remaining challenges are PC performance, setup convenience, and the habits of competitive drivers who rely on fixed reference points. Lightweight headsets like the Dream Air and Dream Air SE are removing the comfort barrier that kept many people on screens.
As Reinhard put it: try it.
Thanks to everyone who spoke with us, and to ACTORACER, MOZA Racing, PXN, CONSPIT, Caseking, DOF Reality, Simufy and Najam Simtec for running Pimax headsets on their rigs.