Italian automotive equipment and accessory manufacturer Sparco has announced it’s entering the simulation racing market for 2017. With three sophisticated gaming seats and a new gaming rig, Sparco is more than prepared to enter the highly-demanding world of sim racing.
As initially posted on the FlagWorld website (and spotted by our friends at Inside Sim Racing), Sparco isn’t just dipping its toe in the water, but coming out guns blazing with a total of three new gaming seats and one full cockpit rig, each focusing on different players:
- GRIP: Entry-level model. Features adjustable seating position in both height and inclination, as well as a reclining backrest with micrometer lumbar adjustments. Quality synthetic leather — as used in aftermarket automotive equipment — ensures excellent wear resistance, washability and durability of the surface texture.
- STINT: For players looking at performance. The chair is equipped with Sparco’s innovative COLDFLOW system, which provides nine times better body breathability than traditional materials, as well as improved blood flow.
- COMP: Luxury model in the range. Two variants: C and V. Version C is the top model, equipped with a backrest made of the same composite material of carbon fiber used on the Sparco’s Supercar line. Version V is equipped with a backrest in painted fiberglass matte black. In terms of design and comfort, the Comp line is heavily influenced by Sparco’s existing SPX seat.
The new cockpit, called simply “Evolve”, is another tempting product by Sparco. By relying on extensive anthropometric studies done with Humanetics, the cockpit promises the same driving position as real-world rally and GT racers. Evolve’s measurements take into account the 95th percentile, making it suitable for drivers of (almost) all dimensions.
The cockpit is highly adjustable (sliding guides for the seat, an adjustment system for rotation, sliding and elevation of the wheel and pedal supports, space-saving folding) and has been designed for optimum torsional stiffness. According to Sparco, Evolve will offer an experience very similar to the real thing. Related driving devices and even clothing will be on offer as well.
In addition, Sparco is already working on various sets of steering wheels that players will be able to use with the simulator or match to their PC and console machines. So far no further information regarding the wheels are known, so we are going to wait for this part a bit more. If the initial batch of products is any indication, we should be in for some serious hardware.
As Sparco is one of the preeminent real-world equipment manufacturers in the world, this is huge news for the world of sim racing. We look forward to more details from Sparco in 2017.
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