Buckle in or don’t, Red Bull and F1 have teamed up to sell a racing rig that you can’t crash. The 2022 Oracle Red Bull Racing RB18 Show Car Simulator promises “an unparalleled F1 experience” all for the low low price of just $120,000 (£99,999). Here’s what you’ll get for the price of a 2023 Porsche 911 Carrera S.
The team behind the construction of this stationary racing rig is Memento Exclusives, a company founded by ex-Honda F1 lead mechanic Barry Gough. It built the 2022 and 2023 Alfa Romeo F1 show cars and so we trust when they say that this gaming simulator is built using the same processes as the real race cars.
In fact, it says that the gaming station construction process utilizes CAD data directly from Red Bull. There are two versions. The cheaper of the pair, called the Show Car, rings up for $90,447 (£74,999). The $120,596 (£99,999) version, which is called the Champion’s Edition, adds the front wing section which is lacking from the Show Car.
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Aside from what is basically the front half of an F1 car, the rig also features working adjustable gaming pedals, a Rexing Formula Wheel Mayaris with Red Bull branding and paddle shifters, and an extra-wide, curved AOC gaming monitor. Audio is provided through a Z906 Ultimate THX Surround Sound system. There’s no word on what type of computer hardware one gets.
According to Memento Exclusives, the “hardware is finalized in partnership with the race team, providing only the best market-leading options.” Whatever that means in the real world we’re left to guess. What we do know for sure is that buyers can pick between Max Verstappen’s championship-winning livery or go for Sergio Perez’s.
Shipping in the UK is £500 or about $602 U.S. However, if you want one of these shipped to the USA, it’ll cost at least £16,500 or $19,898 on top of the purchase price. We feel like, in this case at least, the Porsche might be the more practical choice.
