Bas Van Melis in his sim rig cockpit

Bas Van Melis · GT3 · GT4 · Porsche Cup

“The moment it no longer feels like you’re in a simulator”

As simracers most of us are looking for “ultimate” immersion. The moment you forget you’re in a simulator, and feel like you’re on track. After various wheelbases and pedal configurations, I’ve switched to Simucube and never looked back. Everything clicked!

Bas Van Melis in his sim racing rig

Bas Van Melis · GT3 · GT4 · Porsche Cup

Meet Bas Van Melis

Bas van Melis is a dedicated sim racer from Woerden the Netherlands who has been racing in simulators for over 20 years. Looking for ultimate immersion each item on his sim has been meticlously chosen from the offerings on the market.

A few years ago Bas purchased a Simucube wheelbase, from that moment on everything clicked. The intuative software combined with bullet proof hardware make Simucube 2 Pro the best direct drive package on the market. Upon the release of our active pedals, Bas was one of the first customers to receive them and has been an avid supporter since day one.

Previous setup

Hardware

  • Various direct drive wheel bases (8–15nm)
  • Formula wheel
  • Load cell and hydraulic pedal setups

Limitations

  • Notchy feeling
  • Inconsistent steering feel
  • Poor force feedback at low speeds
  • Difficulty getting a balanced feel

The challenge

“I’d nail a perfect lap in practice, then lose that feeling completely in the race. The wheel would behave differently under load, and I never knew if I could trust what I was feeling through my hands.”

Inconsistent lap times

Bas struggled with lap time consistency, often having 2–3 second gaps between his fastest and slowest laps in practice sessions.

Poor car control

Limited force feedback made it difficult to feel when the car was at its limit, leading to frequent spins and off-track excursions.

Difficulty getting a balanced feel

With his previous wheelbases, the overall general feeling was inconsistent and it was hard to find a feeling that felt immersive.

Upgrading to Simucube

Everything just clicked

“Everything just clicked. Within ten minutes, I understood what everyone was talking about.”

The decision came after a particularly frustrating endurance race where Bas lost concentration during the final stint. “I realized I was spending mental energy interpreting what the wheel was trying to tell me, instead of just… driving.”

After researching direct drive options, Simucube 2 Pro stood out for its reputation in the endurance racing community. “Every review mentioned the same thing: clarity and consistency.” The installation was straightforward, but the first drive session changed everything. The level of detail and feeling are unmatched, making you forget you’re in a simulator.

“I also vividly remember installing the active pedals and being blown away by both ease of use, effects and the adjustability. You can literally change the feeling with a few mouse clicks. I strongly advise not trying them, as you’ll end up buying them….”

Inside Bas’ rig

Simucube ActivePedal Ultimate
Simucube ActivePedal Ultimate €2.158,80 – €6.380,58
Simucube 2 Pro direct drive wheelbase, front three-quarter view
Simucube 2 Pro €1.287,60

“If you’re on the fence about upgrading, my advice is simple: don’t think of it as buying a wheel base or pedals. Think of it as moving to a simracing ecosystem that is constantly pushing to give their customers the ultimate immersion.

When you buy Simucube products you receive quality, service and purchase from a company that listens to their customer base. Introducing new features or refining the software and user experience.

You buy a product for life, they currently still support their SC1 userbase, whereas other companies often stop support outside the warranty period. You become part of a thriving community with users worldwide.”

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