Hi mate,
of course, but for my part - it´s darn easy: I´m a dad, have 5 years old boy, wife and a good job. The reason was mainly "family" - as you can see by our club. Fact is that I have also some experience regarding real world racing environment and in this case I prefer GT5 instead of iRacing. The reason behind it is "less synthetic, more natural experience".
Generally speaking: you cannot learn much race craft in simulated motorsport, but you can learn almost anything else (professional driving techniques - please read books Speed Secrets, consistency regarding lap times, psychosomatic part of racing and time trials, different racing lines, different types of braking, setup, etc...
That´s also the answer why GT ACADEMY works fine in real life and as you can see. Each winner of GT Academy has pretty good chances in real life (actually: they are winning races!!! since "day two" in real racing environment). From the point of iRacing history and attempts to do the same, we cannot say something like that.
The reason is that iRacing is actually focuses on ultimate realism on a computer. That´s good I love it! But on the same time I can easily say that IT WILL NEVER WORK in real life. Too much realism on a computer doesn´t necessarily mean easier access to reality. Generally speaking: most of the so called ultimate racing realism simulators (rFactor, iRacing) are too sensitive - mainly regarding axis controls according to real life suspension data. That´s because of limited possibilities of input devices we are using, no feedback from car suspension, no peripheral vision in 1x1 (FOV narrow works really good in GT5).
The goal to be pro in real life even when you were racing just on a computer is to develop a good basic handling habits and here GT5 is better than iRacing, because it will teach you only AS MUCH AS YOU NEED FOR REAL THING... Nothing more, nothing less. When I tested the Skip Barber in iRacing for the first time, I just said no, that is not real at all, because if it was real, 70% of new school aplicants will lost their life during first driving lesson. The car was too sensitive, no grip at all, no chance to learn anything. As you ca see. It was updated but after a year or two (cannot remember), even though the Skip Barber was proclaimed as the most realistic replica ever. It was simply not truth and you cannot learn anything from that car. Solstice was better choice for the start.
Less synthetic means more natural feeling and more courage to develop proper basic skills they will probably work in real life (depends on natural talent). Hence the GT5 is recommended to everyone who would like to start real racing. I personally prefer GT5 instead of iRacing even when I´m a dad, have a boy, wife, job = less time.
Our club was established under these simple rules. Behave on track as if you were sitting in real car. We are not hot-lappers, we are mature gentlemans (slapping by our life stories and experiences) they enjoy GT5 as real as it gets. IT works amazing but you must find good mates with same goal, effort and sense for team work on track.
Cheers!
BTW: make no mistake, iRacing is the best motorsport simulator on the market yet and if I was a slob in real life, I´d probably come back to iRacing, but no thanks. GT5 totally meets my requirements.
They want to abuse the clutch and doing flat shift all the time.
