Endurance Racing
On A Simulator

What A Prototype Is

A prototype is a racing car built from scratch to a set of rules, rather than developed from a road-going model. Nothing about it has to relate to a car you could buy. Current top-flight prototypes are usually closed-cockpit, though open-cockpit prototypes have raced for much of the category history.

That freedom shows up mainly in aerodynamics. Prototypes typically generate more downforce for their weight than GT cars, and a large share of it comes from the underfloor, which is shaped to accelerate air beneath the car and reduce the pressure there. Aerodynamic grip rises with speed, though how it builds depends on ride height, aero balance and the specific car, so it is not a simple linear relationship.

They are also built for the specific problem of running a very long way. Driver changes, refuelling, quick-change bodywork, lighting for night running and cooling that survives hours at racing speed are all designed in from the start.

This describes prototype and endurance racing in general terms. Academy Sim Racing is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or licensed by IMSA, the ACO, the FIA or any other racing series, sanctioning body or car manufacturer.

The Thing That Makes It Different: Traffic

Most endurance racing is multi-class. Prototypes and GT cars share the same circuit at the same time, with a substantial speed difference between them, and both are racing their own class rivals while doing it.

That produces a skill particular to the category. A prototype driver plans a pass on a slower car ahead of time, ideally without compromising their own line or the GT driver’s race. A GT driver is expected to be predictable and not to surprise the faster car arriving behind them.

It is a different mental exercise from a single-class sprint, and it is a large part of what draws people to the category.

What It Asks Of A Driver

1. Consistency over one fast lap

   Running within a small window of your own best time, stint after stint, is what teams tend to value. Consistency is discussed in endurance circles at least as much as outright pace.

2. Managing what you are given

   Tires degrade, fuel load changes the handling as it burns off, and brakes have to last. Driving to preserve the car is a skill in its own right, and one that barely features in a short sprint.

3. Awareness of everything around you

   Mirrors and spatial awareness matter more when a much quicker car is closing on you. Knowing where you are on the circuit, who is behind, and what class they are in becomes constant background work.

4. Discipline when it stops being fun

   Long stints are physically and mentally tiring, and holding concentration when the novelty has worn off is part of what the discipline asks for.

Which Rig Suits It

Long stints reward a comfortable, stable driving position more than anything else, so the rigs with a fixed racing seat and a wide field of view suit endurance best.

Our library covers more than 170 cars across more than 140 circuits through iRacing and Assetto Corsa, including prototypes and the GT classes they share a track with.

Booking A Session

Sessions start at $40 an hour and no experience is required. Setup and a few orientation laps come with every booking. Stint length is part of what defines endurance racing, so a two hour booking suits the category better than one.

Coaching is available as an optional add-on: Basic Coaching ($40) puts an instructor beside you for the whole session, and Advanced Coaching ($60) adds telemetry review, which compares your inputs against a reference lap.

Walk-ins are welcome Friday and Saturday, 2 to 10 PM. Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday are by appointment. The lounge is closed to the public on Tuesdays.

Simulator time is practice and preparation. It is not a substitute for real-world driving instruction.

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