Hands-on: Ekartraceway opens first Driving Simulator center

A new race has begun at Ekartraceway, first all electric indoor go-kart racing place in the Philippines, as they soft open the only full motion Driving Simulator center in the Philippines. Located at the 3/F, SM North EDSA, race fans everywhere can now rent a sim racing rig, fulfill their initial dream of being the fastest, and feel every twist and turn along the way.

As we walked through the upper deck of the Ekartraceway track, we saw a selection of 5 different sim racing rigs all attached to a full motion simulator that tilts and rumbles to simulate roughness of the road, the hard turns and braking, and all the little scrapes and scratches you make, almost as if you were on a real road. This brings a whole new level of immersion and fun for both rookies and pros alike as it satisfies everyone’s need for speed. Trying it for the first time ourselves, it was an eye-opening experience compared to the humble sim racing rigs we have at home. Now we can truly feel the rush of adrenaline, the g-forces of breaking, and how good Direct Drive wheels are!

The equipment used was especially impressive as the wheelbases available ranged from (what appears to be) the Moza R5 to the Fanatec CSL DD, giving racers a very tactile and authentic feeling from their wheel. Let me just say, it really does feel different from our Logitech G29’s at home! The games available (as of writing) were Assetto Corsa, Project Cars 3, Dirt Rally 2.0, and Forza Horizon 5, all well-known games perfect for those who want to experience their favorite game with the additional feedback or even try a different game. 

Renting the rigs would cost PHP 700 for 15 mins, PHP 1000 for 30 mins, and PHP 1500 for an hour. A reasonable price for the quality of equipment available. Do note that this all may change down the line.

Some say the best way to get started is to just go for it! If you’re looking to get into sim racing, try out different games and equipment, or just want to have fun with your friends, there’s no better place than Ekartraceway. And while you’re there, why not try the go-karts?