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Pro Drivers

Pro Driver Insights – From the Track to the Racing Simulator

Over the years, we’ve had the chance to work with a number of professional drivers, helping them fine-tune their simulator setups to better reflect the real cars they drive. These are drivers we've built genuine relationships with - people who rely on racing simulators as a valuable tool for training, preparation, and development.

We asked them a few key questions about the crossover between real and virtual racing, the tracks they enjoy most, and their go-to advice for improving lap times in the simulator. Their answers offer practical insight backed by real-world experience - useful whether you're just starting out or chasing that next tenth.

Andre Heimgartner

Jimmy Golding

Jaxon Evans

Bryce Fullwood

Brendon Leitch

Macauley Jones

about

Andre Heimgartner, born on 8 June 1995, is a talented motor-racing driver hailing from New Zealand. Presently, he is a prominent contender in the Repco Supercars Championship, where he races for Brad Jones Racing, commanding the No. 8 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. In April, 2024, Andre triumphed in Race 1 of the ITM Taupo Super400, securing a recent win.

What's your favourite track to race on, both in real life and on the simulator? Why do you enjoy them?

"Real Life: In real life Bathurst is an obvious one but another that I like is the Adelaide street race. This is always a mega event and the track rewards putting it on the line.

Simulator: On the simulator I don't have a favourite but I like ones with plenty of overtaking opportunity's as its hard to pass."

What's one key tip or piece of advice you'd give to improve lap times on a racing simulator, based on your experience and expertise?

"Having a goal/focus for each corner so you don't rush the entry's and compromise the exit if there is a long straight to follow."

"They are similar in some ways but obviously there are a few differences. For me I have the sequential shifter and roll bars like in supercars. Also with the lack of G force how the brake pedal feels is very different."

about

Jimmy Golding is an Australian racing driver from Warragul, Victoria, competing in the 2025 Repco Supercars Championship with PremiAir Racing in the No. 31 Chevrolet Camaro. He started in karting, becoming a multiple Victorian champion, then moved to Formula Ford, finishing third in the national championship in 2014.

Golding made his Supercars debut in 2016 and returned full-time in 2022. In 2024, he secured his first pole position at the Darwin Triple Crown and continued to build on his career with consistent results.

What's your favourite track to race on, both in real life and on the simulator? Could you share why you enjoy racing on these tracks?

"Favourite track to race on I have the opportunity to is Bathurst. On the Sim it would be Nürburgring which I'd really love to drive in real life. Both public roads with a lot of blind corners and undulation."

What's one key tip or piece of advice you'd give to improve lap times on a racing simulator, based on your experience and expertise?

"Practice is the the best thing to get better. But also practicing with others that are faster and learning from them by asking advise and watched their onboard footage."

"I have put a lot of focus into replicating my Sim rigs Simulator to my supercar cockpit, with seat position, gear stick, pedal position and feel and very importantly monitor placement with realistic field of view. That way everything is the correct size and feel as the real thing."

ABOUT

Jaxon Evans, born on September 19, 1996, hails from New Zealand and is competing in the Supercars Championship, GTWC Australia & Selected International GT races with Porsche AG. Prior to this, he showcased his skills in the FIA World Endurance Championship.

What's your favourite track to race on, both in real life and on the simulator? Could you share why you enjoy racing on these tracks?

"Real Life: Redbull Ring always provides good racing no matter the category. Seems simple on paper but it’s very technical and requires you to be so perfect for the ultimate laptime.

Simulator: Charlotte roval just enjoy the layout of the track and different elements of the oval/infield. Big curbs, good racing."

What's one key tip or piece of advice you'd give to improve lap times on a racing simulator, based on your experience and expertise?

"I’m not much of a sim wizard, but I always find the biggest improvement for laptime comes from braking - understand the braking limitation of your choice of car!"

"I would say very similar in terms of ergonomics. I have pedal and wheel distances correlate to my race car (supercar) to try and mimic as much as possible."

about

Bryce Fullwood is an Australian Supercars driver from Darwin, currently racing the No. 14 Camaro for Brad Jones Racing. He won the 2019 Super2 Series and debuted in the main Supercars Championship in 2020. Known for his consistency and endurance race strength, he continues to build his career in the series.

What's your favourite track to race on, both in real life and on the simulator? Could you share why you enjoy racing on these tracks?

"Favourite track would have to be Bathurst. For me it’s a track that is really on its own here in Australia from a risk/reward point of view. You really feel alive driving it in the race car and you are always moment away from disaster. The thing I love about the sim is you get all the same feelings of how hard it is to really nail a track at that place. It also feels just as special on the sim and with the quality of the SIMRIGS equipment you can feel every bump and crack in the road which is awesome!"

What's one key tip or piece of advice you'd give to improve lap times on a racing simulator, based on your experience and expertise?

"Everyone has their own little tricks on how to improve on a sim. For me, if someone is much faster than me, I usually exit and watch their live on board. Sometimes I can see a bit of a different line that might allow them to attack the corner different. It’s interesting to see how people can make lap time quite different. Otherwise keep trying different things and use your reference to gauge how your going and what your finding!"

"It’s so awesome as to how adjustable all the SIMRIGS gear is. I set up the pedal box the same as my race car with the medal pad spacings and what not. It means it feels quite natural for me when I jump on the sim. I’ve been able to do the same with the steering wheel to make myself quite comfortable. I’ve even gone as far as making most of the key buttons on the steering wheel function the same as they do in my car. That way when I jump on the sim I know where everything is and it all feels pretty bang on!"

about

Brendon Leitch is a New Zealand-born racing driver from Invercargill, renowned for his achievements in international GT racing. He clinched the 2023 Lamborghini Super Trofeo Europe title and has secured victories in the GT World Challenge Australia and the Bathurst 12 Hour. In 2025, Leitch made his debut in the Repco Supercars Championship, testing a Matt Stone Racing Camaro at Sydney Motorsport Park, marking a significant step in his Australian motorsport journey.

What's your favourite track to race on, both in real life and on the simulator? Could you share why you enjoy racing on these tracks?

"My favourite circuit in real life is Spa. On the sim my favourite tracks are Bathurst and Sebring! They are all super commuter tracks, but also very long laps with many opportunities to make mistake or gain time."

What's one key tip or piece of advice you'd give to improve lap times on a racing simulator, based on your experience and expertise?

"I’d say that car placement is the most important thing before anything else!"

"The sim is really good to be honest. I like to tune my wheel base and get the damping right. Apart from this the brake pedal feeling is the next most important thing, being able to hit the correct pressure and bleed off at the right rate is crucial."

about

Macauley Jones is an Australian racing driver from Albury, New South Wales, known for his dedication and consistency in the Repco Supercars Championship. A second-generation racer, he is the son of former champion Brad Jones and has built a strong career with Brad Jones Racing. Jones has competed in marquee events such as the Bathurst 1000 and the Adelaide 500, steadily establishing himself as a mainstay on the Supercars grid. His technical insight and adaptability have also made him a key figure in the team's development and engineering feedback.

What's your favourite track to race on, both in real life and on the simulator? Could you share why you enjoy racing on these tracks?

"Bathurst is our most iconic track and event but it is everyone’s favourite, so in real life I really like Adelaide’s street circuit and on the Sim Road America or laguna Seca are both awesome tracks."

What's one key tip or piece of advice you'd give to improve lap times on a racing simulator, based on your experience and expertise?

"Sim racing is amazing for repetition, the ability to do as many laps as you can and dial in on the detail like being able to watch all your own footage is an awesome way to improve quickly. Also being able to focus on the basics is important, you have a lot of info to be able to improve techniques and to try things with little to no consequences."

"My Sim is pretty similar to my seating position in the race car. I have the same steering wheel, I have measured pedal positions and to the extreme I have poured seat in my simulator to make it as comfortable as possible which is important, sometime you sit in the sim longer then any race car stint."