Skip Barber Racing School Embraces SimCraft Racing Simulators
In a move that blends motorsport tradition with cutting-edge technology, the Skip Barber Racing School has officially adopted SimCraft’s advanced racing simulators as part of its core driver development program. The integration marks a pivotal evolution in how new and seasoned racers alike will prepare for track time—by first logging translational seat time in a motion simulator that moves like a real car.
The collaboration was recently showcased at Virginia International Raceway during a three-day program featuring students from both the Formula Race Series and Three-Day Racing School. SimCraft’s role went far beyond demonstration—delivering coaching, simulator configuration, and more hands-on technical instruction.
“As a Skip Barber graduate myself in 2006, it’s rewarding to return full circle and now support today’s drivers with technology that didn’t exist when I was learning,” said TJ Halsema, SimCraft’s Director of Driver Development.
Reinventing Racing Education Through Simulation
For decades, driver training has leaned heavily on classroom theory and real-track repetition. While those tools remain foundational, racing simulators like SimCraft’s products now bridge the gap between cognitive understanding and muscle memory.
Skip Barber’s new curriculum enhancement reflects a deeper recognition that sim racing is no longer just for hobbyists—it’s a strategic tool for skill development.
Why it matters: SimCraft’s products aren’t built for entertainment. They are grounded in rigid body vehicle dynamics, designed to replicate the exact center of mass motion of a real racecar. Unlike brute force motion platforms that push from the corners, SimCraft’s physics-first approach means more students feel the correct forces in yaw, pitch, roll, and more—without mechanical latency.
This precise feedback accelerates learning in a safe, repeatable environment, reducing the risk of forming bad habits from misaligned cues.
For a detailed explanation of this principle, see The Science of Driver Development.
Inside the Simulator: What Makes SimCraft Different
SimCraft simulators stand apart through one core philosophy: simulate the way vehicles actually move. That means independent degrees of freedom and motion around the center of mass—the same physics that govern a car through turn-in, mid-corner rotation, and throttle-driven exit.
Most racing rigs today still fall short by tying motion axes together or keeping screens stationary while the cockpit moves. They provide an experience that leads to a cognitive disconnect between what the driver sees and feels, degrading skill transfer.
SimCraft solves this with a complete motion architecture:
- Yaw-first platforms, especially in the GRID1 and APEX CT, and APEX GT products
- Visuals that move with the driver to prevent cognitive fatigue
- Tuned systems for realism across motion, force feedback racing wheel, pedals, and body
“Skip Barber drivers are now training in systems trusted by IMSA teams, NASCAR Cup Series engineers, and drivers like Denny Hamlin and Scott Pruett,” Halsema added.
A Game-Changer for Drivers at Every Level
Whether a teen in the Skip Barber Formula Series, a corporate track day guest, or a rising IMSA Pro, the simulator becomes a leveler. Everyone can practice more—decision-making under load, trail braking, late apex turns, threshold braking—without burning fuel or tires.
And unlike pure theory, this kind of simulator training doesn’t end when the instructor stops talking. It’s hands-on. It’s adaptive. It gets drivers thinking in laps.
The experience is now much more than classroom prep. It’s kinetic. And it’s controlled.
More Than Seat Time: Training That Translates to the Track
There’s a reason professional teams invest six figures or more in sim racing technology: done correctly, it builds race instincts faster than real laps alone.
This is translational seat time—the hallmark of SimCraft’s design. Skip Barber is tapping into this with its Holbrook, NY simulator center and trackside systems like those used at VIR.
Analogy: “It’s like boxing with headgear and pads. You still learn to duck, jab, and counter—but without the brain damage.”
Skip Barber’s drivers can now test setups, rehearse corner sequences, and improve mental rhythm—all before the first warm-up lap. That’s why many drivers continue with SimCraft rentals or in-home installations after graduation.
A Shared Vision from the SimCraft and Skip Barber Teams
Skip Barber Racing School has trained thousands of drivers the traditional way. SimCraft lets SBRS extend that instruction into a repeatable virtual format, where drivers learn faster and safer.
“We’re not just adding tech—we’re refining what it means to be coachable. When the simulator gives accurate feedback, the coaching process moves forward much quicker,” added SimCraft’s Matt Nix, Director of Client Services.
The team effort was clear throughout the weekend: real-time feedback loops between instructor, simulator, and student created a more dynamic training environment than static classrooms ever could.
Real-World Racing Simulators with Championship Pedigree
Skip Barber’s adoption of SimCraft isn’t an isolated case. In fact, the racing simulator is now a common fixture in garages and race shops across the globe—from Alpha Prime Racing to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum and the Atlassian Williams Driver Academy.
Racers who’ve trained on SimCraft include:
- Lucas Palacio, WSK Super Masters Champion
- Sebastian and Oliver Wheldon, sons of Dan Wheldon
- Ty Gibbs, NASCAR Xfinity and Cup driver
- Rafa Racing Club and Miami GP Precision Drive Club
That same championship-grade product lineup is now available to every Skip Barber student—from the BUILDER Edition to the APEX 6 GT ELITE configuration used by teams in NASCAR.
How This Partnership Expands the Simulator Experience
SimCraft’s role at Skip Barber isn’t confined to a few days at VIR. This is the foundation for more immersive, more accessible, and more repeatable training throughout the year.
Students now have options to:
- Train at the Skip Barber Sim Center in Holbrook, NY, on one of ten SimCraft systems
- Rent seat time in Atlanta or Long Island
- Purchase an in-home racing simulator customized to their goals
The SimCraft team handles white-glove installation for these systems, ensuring every degree of freedom—yaw, pitch, roll, sway, surge, and heave—is tuned correctly. For students looking to continue their development between track weekends or after graduation, this represents a scalable, professional-grade solution.
Learn more about SimCraft’s turnkey racing simulators and rental programs available nationwide.
Bringing Professional-Grade Products to Driver Development
The Skip Barber program features SimCraft APEX 6 GT, a simulator that shares architecture with the same systems used by teams in IMSA, NASCAR, and even academic performance labs like MSU’s Spartan Motorsport Performance Lab.
Key SimCraft products now available to Skip Barber participants include:
- APEX 6 GT: Full 6DOF motion racing simulator, ideal for advanced driver development and pro-level fidelity
- APEX CT: A compact motion racing simulator for those seeking a smaller footprint without sacrificing motion quality
- GRID1: A yaw-centric esports racing simulator used in public installations and karting prep, including at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum
Each unit is available in multiple edition tiers, from BUILDER kits to fully assembled STANDARD and ELITE builds.
The SimCraft difference isn’t just about hardware—it’s about fidelity across all channels: motion, force feedback, wheel and pedal realism, and visual synchronization.
Why the World of Racing Training is Watching This Partnership
The implications go far beyond one school. What Skip Barber is doing here—with SimCraft’s support—signals a broader shift in racing education.
No longer is simulation relegated to prep for F1 teams or elite manufacturer programs. This is mainstream motorsport education, democratized for karting dads, mid-pack club racers, and future champions alike.
When a school with 45+ years of race instruction history adds a motion simulator, it says one thing: this isn’t optional anymore. It’s essential.
In the world of high-performance driving, where budgets are tight and track time is limited, simulation offers a repeatable, affordable, and realistic way to develop.
And the fact that it’s happening at Skip Barber Racing School—where legends like Juan Pablo Montoya, Jeff Gordon, and Danica Patrick got their start—only adds weight.
FAQ: Racing Simulators and Driver Development
What makes SimCraft racing simulators different from other race simulators?
Can I buy the same simulator used in the Skip Barber program?
How do motion race simulators help driver development?
Is this just for pro drivers?
What sim racing platforms work with SimCraft?
Final Lap: The Future of Driver Training Is in Motion
Skip Barber Racing School has always trained racers. But now, it’s doing it faster, safer, and smarter with SimCraft’s physics-based race simulators.
This isn’t about replacing the track—it’s about enhancing it. Giving drivers a place to fail safely, adapt quickly, and hit their marks again and again before rubber meets the road.
If you’re learning to race in 2025 and beyond, chances are you’ll be doing it in a motion racing simulator—not as a toy, but as a tool. And SimCraft builds the one that feels real.
