Force feedback drives sim racing performance: The influence of force and vibrotactile haptic feedback in simulator steering wheels

Simulated (sim) racing has increased in popularity and is now more accessible to the general population than ever before. The cost and impracticality of equipment like motion platforms for simulating car motion has led to the more widely adopted alternative of integrating haptic feedback into the steering wheel. Steering wheel haptic feedback consists of low frequency force feedback (F) and higher frequency vibrotactile feedback (V). Although marketed as beneficial for racing performance and overall experience, existing evidence has only examined haptic feedback in traditional driving safety contexts. In this study, we examined the effect of steering wheel haptic feedback on overall sim racing performance, racer steering behaviours, and racer personal preferences. Fifty-nine (N = 59) experienced sim racers were divided into a mid- and high feedback intensity group. They raced 5 laps around the Brands Hatch track in a BMW M4 GT3 on iRacing in a full sim racing rig setup, using 4 different haptic feedback setting combinations: no feedback, force feedback only, vibrotactile feedback only, and combined feedback. Telemetry data were collected, and participants provided preference ratings following each condition. Racers produced faster lap times when racing with conditions incorporating mid-intensity, compared to high intensity or no force feedback. No performance benefit was observed from any level of vibrotactile feedback, but participants ranked conditions with any feedback more highly, regardless of its effect on their performance. Our findings suggest that force feedback benefits sim racing performance while including vibrotactile feedback appears to augment racer experience.