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15 or 30 minutes? Why the half hour makes the difference
Ready for the half hour? Find your lounge and book your 30 minutes.
Ready for the half hour? Find your lounge and book your 30 minutes.
Lots of people book 15 minutes for their first drive. That's enough for a taste. But if you want to know what racing in a simulator really feels like, plan for half an hour. Let's run the numbers using Spa Francorchamps.
The first minutes belong to the car
Adjust the seat, grab the wheel, head out. And you quickly realize: this is no video game. The car moves, the brake needs careful modulation. Every corner has its own braking point.
Most people need five to ten minutes to get a feel for the car. To know how hard they can brake and when the rear starts to step out. That's normal and part of the experience.
Spa by the numbers: what's left of 15 minutes
At around seven kilometers, Spa Francorchamps is one of the longest circuits on the racing calendar. GT3 pros lap it in around 2:17 in the race. As a beginner, you'll be closer to three minutes per lap, sometimes more at first.
Let's do the math:
- 15 minutes: After settling in, you have 5 to 10 minutes left. That's two, maybe three laps.
- 30 minutes: After settling in, you have 20 to 25 minutes left. That's seven to nine laps.
On the short drive, you find your rhythm right as the checkered flag falls.
When everything narrows
From the fifth or sixth lap, something happens that every racing driver knows. At Spa, that's after around 12 to 15 minutes. You stop thinking about the brake. You just brake.
Your eyes look further ahead. Eau Rouge suddenly isn't a scary moment anymore. The lounge around you disappears, there's only the next corner and the next braking point.
Racing drivers call it the tunnel. Everything narrows down to the track in front of you. That's exactly the moment we want to show you, because it's the reason people come back after their first session.
In 15 minutes you rarely get there. In 30 minutes you have enough laps to arrive.
Finally working on your lap time
With seven or eight laps, you have time to try things. You notice you're losing time in the Bus Stop chicane. Next lap you brake ten meters later and see from your lap time whether it paid off.
Half an hour is also enough for more than free driving. A qualifying session and a race against your friends fit in.
Who the 30 minutes are for
- Anyone coming for the first time who doesn't want to stop after three laps.
- Groups who want to run a proper race after practice.
And if you're giving a drive as a gift, 30 minutes means giving the full experience.
Book the half hour next time. The laps in the tunnel are worth it.
FAQ
How long should my first sim racing session be?
We recommend 30 minutes. You need the first five to ten minutes to settle in. After that there's enough time for seven to nine laps at Spa.
How many laps can I do in 15 minutes at Spa Francorchamps?
As a beginner, around five laps. But after settling in, usually only two or three are left where you're really driving.
Is the 30 minute session suitable for beginners?
Yes. Beginners benefit most, because settling in takes them the longest. Our lounge team will help you get started.
What's the difference between 15 and 30 minutes?
The 15 minute ride is the taster. In 30 minutes you can also run a qualifying and one or two races, for example against your friends.
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