Learn the Language of Sim Racing

Confused by terms like camber, ARB, or BoP? The glossary is a quick-reference library covering car setup, driving techniques, race strategy, hardware, and more—explained in plain English.

How to Use:

  1. Browse by A–Z index or filter by Category (Driving, Setup, Strategy, Telemetry, Hardware, Graphics).

  2. Click a term to see its definition and related terms.

  3. Use it alongside the Setup Guide or when watching coaching videos.

  4. Refer back anytime—perfect for new drivers learning the ropes.

💡 Tip: Look up one new term each practice session and apply it. Over time, you’ll naturally “speak” the language of sim racing.

📚 Sim Racing Glossary

ABS

Setup

Anti-lock braking system to prevent wheel lock. In sims, adjustable per car/ECU map.

Anti-Roll Bar (ARB)

Setup

Links left/right suspension to resist roll. Stiffer front generally increases understeer; stiffer rear increases oversteer.

Also known as: sway bar

Apex

Driving

The innermost point of a corner you aim to clip. Early, geometric, or late apex affects exit speed and line.

Also known as: clipping point

Bezel Compensation

Graphics

Adjusts image gaps caused by monitor bezels so objects align across screens.

BoP (Balance of Performance)

Strategy

Series-set rules to equalize car performance (weight, restrictors, power).

Brake Bias

Setup

Percentage of braking sent to the front axle. More front bias stabilizes entry but can increase understeer.

Camber

Setup

Tilt of the wheel relative to vertical. Negative camber improves lateral grip at the expense of straight-line contact.

Caster

Setup

Steering axis inclination. More caster increases self-centering and dynamic camber while steering.

Dampers

Setup

Controls speed of suspension movement (bump/rebound, fast/slow). Tunes transient behavior.

Also known as: shocks

Delta

Telemetry

The live time difference vs. your best/optimal lap.

Differential (Diff) Preload

Setup

Torque needed to start differential action. Affects off-throttle rotation and on-throttle stability.

Direct Drive (DD) Wheelbase

Hardware

Steering motor drives the wheel directly for fast, detailed force feedback.

FFB (Force Feedback)

Hardware

Forces sent to the wheel to convey tire load, slip and road detail.

Also known as: force-feedback

Field of View (FOV)

Graphics

The portion of the world visible on screen. Calculated from screen width and viewing distance.

Also known as: FoV, vFOV, hFOV

HE / Heusinkveld

Hardware

High-end pedal manufacturer known for load-cell pedals and software.

Incident Points (x)

Online

Penalties assigned for contacts/off-tracks in iRacing (e.g., 1x, 2x, 4x).

iRating (iR)

Online

Skill rating used for matchmaking and splits in iRacing.

Lift-Off Oversteer

Driving

Rear unloads as you release throttle mid-corner, causing rotation.

Load Cell Pedal

Hardware

Measures brake pedal force, improving consistency over travel-based sensors.

Meatball Flag

Online

Black flag with orange circle; indicates mechanical damage requiring pit stop.

Motec i2

Telemetry

Popular telemetry analysis suite used by many sims (ACC native, others via plugins).

Optimal Lap

Telemetry

Sum of your best sector times; a pace target indicating potential.

Also known as: opt

Overcut

Strategy

Stay out longer to benefit from clean air or rivals’ traffic, then pit later.

Oversteer

Driving#loose

Rear tires lose grip first; car rotates more than commanded.

Pit Window

Strategy

Lap/time range where a pit stop fits fuel/tires/rules without compromising the race.

Ride Height

Setup

Static distance from chassis to ground. Changes aero platform, rake and bottoming risk.

Safety Rating (SR)

Online

Measures clean driving in iRacing; affected by incident points per corner.

Split

Online

A race lobby grouped by rating/entries. Split 1 is the top lobby.

Spring Rate

Setup

Stiffness of the springs. Influences platform control, ride height and balance over load changes.

Stint

Strategy

Continuous run between pit stops. Managed by tire life, fuel and driver limits.

Strength of Field (SoF)

Online

Average skill rating for a race split; higher SoF yields more points.

TC

Setup

Traction control to limit wheelspin. Often multi-stage (e.g., TC1/TC2 in GT3).

Telemetry

Telemetry

Recorded car and driver data (speed, throttle, steering, suspension) used for analysis and setup.

Toe

Setup

Direction wheels point relative to car centerline. Toe-out aids turn-in; toe-in improves stability.

Trail Braking

Driving

Keeping brake pressure past turn-in and bleeding off toward the apex to keep load on the front tires.

Also known as: trailing brakes

Trail Throttle

Driving

Blending small throttle while reducing brake near apex to stabilize platform.

Triple Screen Geometry

Graphics

Setup that matches real monitor width, angle, distance and bezels for correct perspective.

Undercut

Strategy

Pit earlier for fresh tires to gain time on rivals before they stop.

Understeer

Driving#push

Front tires lose grip first; car turns less than commanded.

📚 Sim Racing Glossary

ABS

Setup

Anti-lock braking system to prevent wheel lock. In sims, adjustable per car/ECU map.

Anti-Roll Bar (ARB)

Setup

Links left/right suspension to resist roll. Stiffer front generally increases understeer; stiffer rear increases oversteer.

Also known as: sway bar

Apex

Driving

The innermost point of a corner you aim to clip. Early, geometric, or late apex affects exit speed and line.

Also known as: clipping point

Bezel Compensation

Graphics

Adjusts image gaps caused by monitor bezels so objects align across screens.

BoP (Balance of Performance)

Strategy

Series-set rules to equalize car performance (weight, restrictors, power).

Brake Bias

Setup

Percentage of braking sent to the front axle. More front bias stabilizes entry but can increase understeer.

Camber

Setup

Tilt of the wheel relative to vertical. Negative camber improves lateral grip at the expense of straight-line contact.

Caster

Setup

Steering axis inclination. More caster increases self-centering and dynamic camber while steering.

Dampers

Setup

Controls speed of suspension movement (bump/rebound, fast/slow). Tunes transient behavior.

Also known as: shocks

Delta

Telemetry

The live time difference vs. your best/optimal lap.

Differential (Diff) Preload

Setup

Torque needed to start differential action. Affects off-throttle rotation and on-throttle stability.

Direct Drive (DD) Wheelbase

Hardware

Steering motor drives the wheel directly for fast, detailed force feedback.

FFB (Force Feedback)

Hardware

Forces sent to the wheel to convey tire load, slip and road detail.

Also known as: force-feedback

Field of View (FOV)

Graphics

The portion of the world visible on screen. Calculated from screen width and viewing distance.

Also known as: FoV, vFOV, hFOV

HE / Heusinkveld

Hardware

High-end pedal manufacturer known for load-cell pedals and software.

Incident Points (x)

Online

Penalties assigned for contacts/off-tracks in iRacing (e.g., 1x, 2x, 4x).

iRating (iR)

Online

Skill rating used for matchmaking and splits in iRacing.

Lift-Off Oversteer

Driving

Rear unloads as you release throttle mid-corner, causing rotation.

Load Cell Pedal

Hardware

Measures brake pedal force, improving consistency over travel-based sensors.

Meatball Flag

Online

Black flag with orange circle; indicates mechanical damage requiring pit stop.

Motec i2

Telemetry

Popular telemetry analysis suite used by many sims (ACC native, others via plugins).

Optimal Lap

Telemetry

Sum of your best sector times; a pace target indicating potential.

Also known as: opt

Overcut

Strategy

Stay out longer to benefit from clean air or rivals’ traffic, then pit later.

Oversteer

Driving#loose

Rear tires lose grip first; car rotates more than commanded.

Pit Window

Strategy

Lap/time range where a pit stop fits fuel/tires/rules without compromising the race.

Ride Height

Setup

Static distance from chassis to ground. Changes aero platform, rake and bottoming risk.

Safety Rating (SR)

Online

Measures clean driving in iRacing; affected by incident points per corner.

Split

Online

A race lobby grouped by rating/entries. Split 1 is the top lobby.

Spring Rate

Setup

Stiffness of the springs. Influences platform control, ride height and balance over load changes.

Stint

Strategy

Continuous run between pit stops. Managed by tire life, fuel and driver limits.

Strength of Field (SoF)

Online

Average skill rating for a race split; higher SoF yields more points.

TC

Setup

Traction control to limit wheelspin. Often multi-stage (e.g., TC1/TC2 in GT3).

Telemetry

Telemetry

Recorded car and driver data (speed, throttle, steering, suspension) used for analysis and setup.

Toe

Setup

Direction wheels point relative to car centerline. Toe-out aids turn-in; toe-in improves stability.

Trail Braking

Driving

Keeping brake pressure past turn-in and bleeding off toward the apex to keep load on the front tires.

Also known as: trailing brakes

Trail Throttle

Driving

Blending small throttle while reducing brake near apex to stabilize platform.

Triple Screen Geometry

Graphics

Setup that matches real monitor width, angle, distance and bezels for correct perspective.

Undercut

Strategy

Pit earlier for fresh tires to gain time on rivals before they stop.

Understeer

Driving#push

Front tires lose grip first; car turns less than commanded.

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Master the Language of Professional Sim Racing

Unlock advanced sim racing knowledge with comprehensive terminology that transforms confusion into confidence. Understanding technical language accelerates learning and enables effective communication with coaches, teammates, and the racing community.

Accelerated Learning Curve - Grasp complex setup concepts, driving techniques, and strategic terminology quickly instead of struggling through trial-and-error discovery over months or years.

Effective Communication - Participate meaningfully in racing forums, coaching sessions, and team discussions using precise technical language that conveys exact meaning.

Setup Understanding - Translate cryptic car setup parameters into actionable adjustments that improve handling characteristics and lap time performance.

Telemetry Analysis - Interpret data analysis terminology to extract meaningful insights from lap data, identifying specific areas for improvement with precision.

Hardware Optimization - Understand technical specifications and configuration options to maximize your sim racing equipment's performance potential.

Professional Development - Build vocabulary foundation necessary for advanced sim racing education, coaching programs, and competitive team participation.

Common Mistakes Section

Terminology Confusion That Limits Progress

1. Setup Parameter Misunderstanding Confusing similar terms like "camber" vs "caster" or "toe-in" vs "toe-out" leads to incorrect setup adjustments that worsen handling. Always verify definitions before making changes - small terminology errors create major handling problems.

2. Driving Technique Miscommunication Using imprecise language when discussing driving issues prevents effective coaching. Saying "the car feels weird" instead of "I'm experiencing understeer at turn-in" makes problem diagnosis nearly impossible.

3. Platform-Specific Language Mixing Each simulator uses different terminology for similar concepts. iRacing's "ARB" (anti-roll bar) might be called "sway bar" in other sims, creating confusion when sharing setups across platforms.

4. Strategy vs. Tactics Confusion Mixing up strategic planning (overall race approach) with tactical decisions (immediate situational responses) leads to poor race preparation and reactive instead of proactive racing.

5. Hardware Specification Misinterpretation Misunderstanding terms like "force feedback," "dead zone," or "linearity" prevents optimal hardware configuration, limiting the quality of your sim racing experience.

6. Telemetry Analysis Terminology Confusing concepts like "slip angle," "slip ratio," or "g-force vectors" makes data analysis ineffective, preventing you from identifying specific performance improvement opportunities.

Game-Specific Tips & Information

Platform-Specific Terminology Differences

iRacing Terminology

  • "iRating" and "Safety Rating" measure skill and racecraft respectively

  • "SoF" (Strength of Field) indicates competition level

  • "Incidents" refer to contact/off-track infractions

  • "Fast Repair" vs "Tow" affect race strategy differently

Assetto Corsa Competizione (ACC)

  • "BOP" (Balance of Performance) equalizes car performance

  • "Track State" affects grip levels significantly

  • "Driver Rating" influences AI behavior and restrictions

  • "Consistency Rating" measures racecraft quality

F1 Game-Specific Terms

  • "ERS" (Energy Recovery System) provides temporary power boost

  • "DRS" (Drag Reduction System) improves straightline speed

  • "Formation Lap" procedures differ from other racing series

  • "Parc Fermé" rules limit setup changes

General Sim Racing Vocabulary

  • "FFB" (Force Feedback) provides tactile information through wheel

  • "FOV" (Field of View) affects visual perception accuracy

  • "TC" (Traction Control) prevents wheelspin electronically

  • "ABS" (Anti-lock Braking System) prevents wheel lockup

FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
I keep seeing "understeer" and "oversteer" but can't tell the difference. How do I identify which I'm experiencing?
I keep seeing "understeer" and "oversteer" but can't tell the difference. How do I identify which I'm experiencing?
I keep seeing "understeer" and "oversteer" but can't tell the difference. How do I identify which I'm experiencing?
What's the difference between "setup" and "tuning" - aren't they the same thing?
What's the difference between "setup" and "tuning" - aren't they the same thing?
What's the difference between "setup" and "tuning" - aren't they the same thing?
I'm confused by tire compound terminology. What do "soft," "medium," and "hard" actually mean?
I'm confused by tire compound terminology. What do "soft," "medium," and "hard" actually mean?
I'm confused by tire compound terminology. What do "soft," "medium," and "hard" actually mean?
What does "slip angle" mean and why is it important?
What does "slip angle" mean and why is it important?
What does "slip angle" mean and why is it important?
I see people talking about "trail braking" but don't understand what it means.
I see people talking about "trail braking" but don't understand what it means.
I see people talking about "trail braking" but don't understand what it means.
What's the difference between "downforce" and "drag" in car setup?
What's the difference between "downforce" and "drag" in car setup?
What's the difference between "downforce" and "drag" in car setup?