Just got word from Pimax about something pretty cool that’s happening right now.

They’re not treating us like regular customers anymore. Pimax is opening up the whole platform and inviting real users—like you and me—to step up as builders, testers, and active community members who actually help shape the future of VR.

When you grab a Crystal Super QLED during this special event, you’re not just buying a headset. You’re joining a crew of innovators who are working together to create new VR experiences, accessories, and improvements.

Here’s what you get during the campaign:

• Save $200 on the Crystal Super QLED — special event pricing drops it to $1,599 (regularly $1,799)
• Extra 2% off with my code SKSimracing
• Instant access to the official Pimax Discord community
• Opportunities to join feedback sessions and beta testing
• Use Pimax’s resources to help develop new VR accessories or experiences
• Become a real part of the development journey instead of just watching from the sidelines

This is exactly the kind of move that keeps me excited about Pimax. They’re listening to the sim racing crowd and giving us a real voice in what comes next.

If you’re already thinking about leveling up from the Crystal Light (or jumping straight into the higher-end game), now’s a killer time to pull the trigger on the Crystal Super.

Grab yours here with my affiliate link and support the site: https://pimax.com/collections/vr-racing-headsets?ref=sksimracing

Just remember to use code SKSimracing at checkout for that extra 2% off on top of the $200 savings.

Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend gear I actually use and believe in.

After putting the Podium DD through multiple NASCAR league races, it was clear this wheelbase needs real race distance to understand what it can actually do.

The Podium DD is the wheelbase I’ve wanted to put through a true NASCAR-style test: long runs, worn tires, changing track conditions, and the kind of subtle steering feel that matters when you’re trying to save the right-front over a 40-lap green flag run.

So instead of unboxing it and immediately calling it “amazing,” I put it into the environment I know best.

Over the last 4 hours, I’ve used the Fanatec Podium DD in three Tuesday night league races driving the NASCAR Next Gen Cup Car in iRacing.

And so far?

It has been incredibly impressive.

If you want to see the same wheelbase I’m testing, you can check out the Fanatec Podium DD here: https://fanatec.sjv.io/aOvQYj

The First Thing I Noticed: Fidelity

The biggest difference between the Podium DD and the other wheelbases I’ve driven is the fidelity.

The force feedback is not just strong. It is detailed.

The Podium DD has an ability to communicate exactly what the car and track are doing without ever feeling harsh or exaggerated. Through the wheel, I could feel:

• Cracks and seams in the racing surface
• Small grooves developing in the preferred line
• The front tires beginning to slide before the car fully stepped out
• The difference between clean air and turbulent air entering the corner
• The subtle unloading of the front end over bumps

What surprised me most is that all of this detail comes through while still feeling extremely smooth.

Some high-torque wheelbases can feel raw, sharp, or overly aggressive. The Podium DD does not. It has a refined feel to it. Smooth when the car is settled, but alive with information the moment the car begins to move around.

That combination of smoothness and realism is what immediately stood out in these first few races.

If you have been considering an upgrade and want more detail without sacrificing smoothness, the Podium DD is worth a serious look: https://fanatec.sjv.io/aOvQYj

Why NASCAR Next Gen Cars Are the Perfect Test

The NASCAR Next Gen Cup Car is one of the best cars for testing a wheelbase.

Unlike a GT3 car where the steering can sometimes feel heavier and more planted, the Next Gen car constantly moves around underneath you. The steering gets lighter in dirty air, heavier on corner entry, and you can often feel the front tires start to give up long before you see it happen.

That means a wheelbase either communicates those changes clearly… or it doesn’t.

The Podium DD communicates them exceptionally well.

In all three races, I found myself catching small slides sooner and being more confident driving right on the edge of grip. Instead of reacting after the car started to get loose, I could feel the beginning of the slide through the wheel.

That may not sound dramatic, but over the course of a long race, that kind of information matters.

It helps you:

• Save tires – Drive closer to the limit
• Catch the car sooner when it starts to rotate
• Be more consistent over a long run

Those are the kinds of differences that can turn a top-10 car into a top-5 car.

My Early Thoughts Compared to Other Fanatec Wheelbases

I’ve spent a lot of time with other Fanatec wheelbases, including the ClubSport DD+ and previous Fanatec direct drive systems.

So far, the Podium DD feels like it combines the best parts of those wheelbases into one package.

It has:

• The smoothness of the newer Fanatec direct drive systems
• More texture and detail than I expected
• Incredible stability during long green-flag runs
• Enough torque that it never feels like it is running out of headroom

Even after multiple races, the wheelbase remained consistent. There was no sense of fading, clipping, or changing feel as the session went on.

That is especially important in NASCAR racing, where the car changes dramatically from lap 1 to lap 40.

This Is Just the Beginning

After only 4 hours, I’m not ready to call this a full review yet.

This is the first chapter in what will be a full series of articles on the Fanatec Podium DD.

Over the next few weeks, I’ll be testing:

• NASCAR Next Gen on short tracks, intermediates, and superspeedways
• iRacing oval and road course performance
• Comparison testing against the ClubSport DD+
• How the Podium DD feels with different wheels and settings
• Long-run comfort and fatigue
• QR2 performance and wheel-side options
• Whether the Podium DD is worth the upgrade for serious sim racers

I also want to answer the question many NASCAR and iRacing drivers are asking:

Is the Podium DD simply stronger than the ClubSport DD+, or is it genuinely better?

So far, based on these first three league races, I think the answer may be yes.

But I want more laps before I make that call.

If you want to follow along as I continue testing, be sure to keep checking SKSimRacing.com. I’ll be sharing setup tips, detailed comparisons, race-by-race impressions, and a full technical review once I have more time behind the wheel.

And if you are already considering the Fanatec Podium DD, you can see the exact wheelbase I’m testing here: https://fanatec.sjv.io/aOvQYj

Final Verdict After 4 Hours

After 4 hours and 3 NASCAR Next Gen Cup league races, my first impression is simple:

The Fanatec Podium DD feels special.

It delivers the kind of fidelity, realism, and confidence that makes you want to stay in the simulator for “just one more race.”

That is usually the sign that a piece of sim racing hardware is doing something right.

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FTC Disclosure: SKSimRacing.com uses affiliate links. If you purchase through the links above, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. That support helps me continue creating honest reviews, detailed comparisons, and NASCAR-focused sim racing content.

iRacing’s quarterly builds are always a big moment for the sim racing community, and the 2026 Season 2 update delivers one of the most comprehensive refreshes in recent memory. From new cars and a brand-new street circuit to sweeping physics improvements across multiple classes, this build continues iRacing’s push to mirror real-world motorsports as closely as possible.

For competitive racers and casual drivers alike, Season 2 introduces new opportunities to learn, compete, and chase faster lap times.

Let’s break down the most important additions.

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A New Street Circuit: St. Petersburg Arrives

One of the biggest highlights of the Season 2 build is the debut of the St. Petersburg street circuit.

Known to IndyCar fans as the season-opening venue, the Florida street track mixes public roads with part of an airport runway near Albert Whitted Airport. The layout features long straights, tight braking zones, and bumpy surfaces that reward precision driving.

Street circuits are always a unique challenge in iRacing because the margins are razor thin. Expect:

• Heavy braking zones
• Limited runoff areas
• Aggressive curbing and bumps
• High-risk overtaking opportunities

For road racers, this track will quickly become a favorite for intense wheel-to-wheel battles.

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New Cars Joining the iRacing Garage

Season 2 also expands the iRacing vehicle roster with several new additions that align closely with real-world racing series.

NASCAR Cup Series Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 (Next Gen)

The Next Gen Camaro ZL1 joins the NASCAR Cup Series lineup, bringing an updated body design and improved representation of the modern stock car platform.

NASCAR Ram Truck

The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series also gets a boost with the addition of a Ram truck, giving the class four manufacturers and matching the real-world championship grid.

Audi RS3 LMS Gen2 (TCR)

Touring car fans will be excited to see the Audi RS3 LMS Gen2 arrive in the TCR class. This updated model reflects the latest evolution of TCR racing and replaces the older Gen1 platform.

The TCR category has become one of the most competitive touring classes in iRacing, and this new car should only intensify the racing.

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Major Physics Updates Across Multiple Classes

One of the most impactful parts of the Season 2 build is the overhaul of several vehicle physics systems.

TCR Physics Overhaul

The TCR class receives a complete physics revision, including:

• Updated tire materials and parameters
• Revised engine performance curves
• More realistic drivetrain losses
• Updated aerodynamics and handling balance

These changes aim to deliver more realistic cornering behavior and improved consistency through entry, mid-corner, and exit phases.

GTE Class Improvements

The GTE class has also received updated setups, tire compounds, and Balance of Performance adjustments to maintain parity between manufacturers.

NASCAR Handling Changes

Several NASCAR classes have also received tuning updates, including drafting adjustments and revised ride-height rules to better reflect real-world regulations.

For oval racers, these tweaks could noticeably change how cars behave in packs and during high-speed drafting situations.

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Track Updates and Visual Improvements

Beyond new content, iRacing continues to improve its existing tracks.

Several circuits received major art refreshes, including:

• Lanier National Speedway
• Langley Speedway
• USA International Speedway

These upgrades include improved textures, lighting, and environmental details that make the tracks look more modern and immersive.

Additional updates to circuits such as Barber Motorsports Park and Long Beach further enhance realism across the service.

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What This Means for Sim Racers

The Season 2 update reflects iRacing’s long-term philosophy: constant incremental realism improvements.

Every quarterly build typically introduces:

• new vehicles
• new tracks
• physics refinements
• graphical improvements

Together, these updates ensure the sim evolves alongside real-world motorsport.

For racers, the biggest takeaways from this update include:

• A challenging new street circuit
• Fresh competition in the NASCAR and TCR classes
• Updated physics that may require setup adjustments
• More polished visuals across multiple tracks

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Final Thoughts

The iRacing 2026 Season 2 build may not introduce dozens of new tracks or cars, but it focuses heavily on what matters most to serious sim racers: accuracy and realism.

Between the St. Petersburg street circuit, the addition of the Audi RS3 LMS Gen2 and NASCAR Ram Truck, and sweeping physics improvements across several classes, the update gives drivers plenty of new content to explore.

For competitive racers chasing iRating or league drivers preparing for their next championship season, Season 2 is shaping up to deliver some of the most exciting racing yet.