Sim Racing Statistics 2026: 30+ Key Data Points
By PitLaneLab · 9 min read · Updated June 2026
Sim racing has grown from a PC niche into a hardware-driven hobby with real esports money behind it. This page collects more than 30 fully sourced statistics for 2026: how large the racing simulator market is, how many people race on the major platforms, how esports prize pools have grown, and what a direct-drive setup actually costs. Market-size estimates vary widely between research firms, so each figure is tied to the firm and year that published it. The data draws on iRacing, Kunos Simulazioni, Mordor Intelligence, and other market researchers.
Quick answer
Mordor Intelligence values the racing simulator market at 0.98 billion dollars in 2025, heading to 2.04 billion by 2030 at a 15.78 percent CAGR, though estimates across firms range from 0.5 to 1.8 billion. iRacing hit a record 300,000 simultaneous active accounts in January 2025, and the Assetto Corsa franchise has passed 20 million users.
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The size of the sim racing market
Sizing this market is messy because firms define it differently, so the honest answer is a range. Mordor Intelligence put the racing simulator market at 0.98 billion dollars for 2025, MarketsandMarkets at 0.5 billion for 2024, Fortune Business Insights at 1.19 billion for 2025, and Global Market Insights highest at 1.8 billion for 2023. Hardware dominates whichever number you take, at about 73.7 percent of the market per Mordor Intelligence.
The market is concentrated. Global Market Insights estimated that Endor, the maker of Fanatec, and Logitech together hold more than 65 percent of the industry, and when Corsair moved to acquire the Fanatec product line, Endor reported Fanatec sales of about 110 million dollars for 2023.
How many people race
Platform numbers tell the growth story better than market reports. iRacing reached a record 300,000 simultaneous active accounts during the January 2025 Daytona 24 event, the first time it had crossed that line in roughly 15 years, up from about 160,000 active subscribers at the 2020 pandemic peak and 50,000 members back in 2013.
Single events now draw small-city populations. The 2025 iRacing Daytona 24 alone fielded 23,397 drivers across 5,633 teams who completed more than 10.3 million miles. On the software side, the Assetto Corsa franchise has passed 20 million users since 2013 and topped 100 million euros in revenue.
Esports and growth
Forecasts disagree on pace as much as on size. Mordor Intelligence and MarketsandMarkets model roughly 15 to 16 percent annual growth, while Fortune Business Insights and Global Market Insights are more conservative at 3 to 8 percent. The split is mostly about scope, broad training and commercial simulators versus consumer hardware, but every firm points up.
The competitive layer has real money behind it. The iRacing Porsche TAG Heuer Esports Supercup carried a 200,000 dollar prize pool across 30 drivers in 2024, and within the racing simulator market the software-and-subscription segment is the fastest-growing slice at about 17.8 percent a year per Mordor Intelligence.
What a setup costs
Hardware is where sim racers spend, and the ladder is steep. ProSimHQ puts a full setup anywhere from about 500 dollars at entry to 15,000 dollars or more at the top, with entry-level direct-drive bundles like the MOZA R5 starting around 399 dollars. Direct-drive wheel bases alone span from roughly 350 pounds for a Fanatec CSL DD to 3,100 pounds for a Simucube 2 Ultimate.
The wheel base is the heart of a modern rig, since direct drive is the upgrade that most changes the feel. A popular entry-grade base like the Fanatec CSL DD Wheel Base is where many racers cross from gear-driven wheels into direct drive.
Fanatec CSL DD Wheel Base
Corsair-acquired Fanatec's mainstream direct drive entry, delivering 8 Nm (or 12 Nm with the Boost Kit) and broad QR2 rim compatibility.
How people race
The hobby is increasingly a living-room one. Mordor Intelligence found home use makes up about 59 percent of the racing simulator market, ahead of commercial and arcade use, and hardware about 73.7 percent of spending. Direct-drive wheels and load-cell pedals, once exotic, are now the mainstream upgrade path, which is what pulls the average rig price up over time.
Sources
iRacing.com, Daytona 24 and Porsche Supercup announcements; BoxThisLap, on the 300,000 record.
Kunos Simulazioni via GamingBolt and GTPlanet, on Assetto Corsa users and revenue.
Mordor Intelligence, MarketsandMarkets, Fortune Business Insights, and Global Market Insights, racing simulator market reports, 2023 to 2025.
Corsair and Endor AG via Business Wire, on Fanatec sales.
ProSimHQ and SimRacingSetup.com, sim racing cost guides, 2026.
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How big is the sim racing market?+
Estimates vary widely by firm. Mordor Intelligence put the racing simulator market at 0.98 billion dollars for 2025, with others ranging from 0.5 billion (MarketsandMarkets) to 1.8 billion (Global Market Insights). Hardware makes up about 73.7 percent of spending.
How many people use iRacing?+
iRacing hit a record 300,000 simultaneous active accounts during the January 2025 Daytona 24, up from about 160,000 active subscribers at the 2020 peak and 50,000 members in 2013. The 2025 Daytona 24 event alone fielded 23,397 drivers.
How fast is sim racing growing?+
Forecasts split by scope. Mordor Intelligence and MarketsandMarkets model roughly 15 to 16 percent annual growth, while Fortune Business Insights and Global Market Insights are more conservative at 3 to 8 percent. All firms agree the direction is up.
How much does a sim racing setup cost?+
ProSimHQ puts a full setup from about 500 dollars at entry to 15,000 dollars or more at the top. Entry direct-drive bundles like the MOZA R5 start around 399 dollars, and direct-drive wheel bases alone span from roughly 350 to 3,100 pounds.
Which sim racing platforms are most popular?+
iRacing leads on live participation, with 300,000 simultaneous active accounts at its 2025 peak. The Assetto Corsa franchise leads on total reach, passing 20 million users since 2013 and over 100 million euros in revenue.
Is sim racing esports a real thing?+
Yes. The iRacing Porsche TAG Heuer Esports Supercup carried a 200,000 dollar prize pool across 30 drivers in 2024, and the software-and-subscription segment is the fastest-growing slice of the market at about 17.8 percent a year.