The Importance of Dedicated Servers

In the world of sim-racing esports, having a reliable server infrastructure is critical. Whether you're a tournament organiser or a professional team, multiplayer races are where the magic happens, and for that, you need a high-quality server. But beyond just facilitating multiplayer competition, there are some deeper, more strategic insights that come into play when a professional esports team has its own server.

Why Servers are Essential for Esports Teams

For sim-racing teams participating in competitive leagues, having access to a dedicated server provides a massive advantage. A private server allows teams to conduct extensive pre-race practice sessions that are critical for gathering data and preparing strategies. This data-driven approach helps fine-tune the car’s setup for optimum performance, which can lead to consistent race pace—something every team strives for.

The Power of Pre-Race Practice

Pre-race practice is where the real work happens. On a private server, teams can learn the intricacies of the track and figure out how different setups impact car performance. This leads to the discovery of the “optimum setup” that can give drivers the edge on race day. Key data collected during these practice sessions include:

• Tire degradation: Understanding how tires wear down over the course of a race is crucial for planning pit stops and preserving race pace.
• Pit-stop time loss: How much time you lose in the pits can influence when and how you strategize for pit stops.
• Fuel consumption: Calculating the fuel required for each lap and stint helps optimize race strategy and ensure the car runs efficiently.
• Car behavior: By testing the car on different setups, teams can compare results (A/B testing) and find the best configuration for a particular track.

Turning Data into Strategy

The data gathered during practice runs forms the foundation of the team's race strategy. For example, knowing tire degradation rates and fuel consumption can help decide:

• When to pit: Planning pit stops based on real data ensures you don’t lose unnecessary time or position during the race.
• Undercut or overcut strategy: Should you pit earlier (undercut) or later (overcut) than your competitors? The answer lies in the data collected during practice.
• Fuel strategy: Understanding exactly how much fuel to carry for each stint without adding excess weight to the car.

These insights make a dedicated server an invaluable tool for esports teams looking to compete at the highest level.

Practicing Race Battles

Sim-racing isn't just about lap times—it’s also about racecraft. With a private server, team members can practice battling each other in controlled environments, simulating real race conditions like weather, race format, and traffic. This allows drivers to sharpen their racing instincts, practice overtakes, and learn how to maintain consistency under pressure, all while simulating the conditions of the upcoming league race.

Off-Track Benefits: Team Bonding

Besides the technical advantages, having a dedicated server also opens opportunities for team bonding. Hosting internal fun races, for instance, can help team members relax and build stronger communication and trust. These elements are crucial for better collaboration when the real competition begins.

The Cost and Location Dilemma

While dedicated servers are a powerful tool, they come at a cost. Renting a server is often a significant expense for esports teams, especially when the server’s physical location can affect performance. The further away a server is from the players, the higher the ping, and in a sport like sim-racing, where wheel-to-wheel racing is key, high ping can ruin the experience.

For teams in Indonesia, finding a reliable, domestic server is especially challenging. Even if a good option is available, the monthly fees can be prohibitively high. This has led many teams to consider alternative solutions.

The Home-Based Server Solution

One of the more practical solutions for teams is hosting their own server using a home-based PC. This eliminates the need for expensive monthly server fees and instead relies on the typical household internet and electricity bills, which are much lower. While it may not match the power of a professional server, a home-based server can still provide a reliable platform for team practice and data collection, offering an affordable alternative for teams operating on a budget.

Conclusion: The True Battle is with Yourself

In the heat of a sim-race, especially when you’re chasing another car for multiple laps, the real battle is often not against the other driver. Instead, you're fighting your own consistency, focus, and stamina. Maintaining composure and keeping your car under control during these intense moments is a true test of endurance. And in the end, it’s not just about who can make the perfect overtake—it’s about who can maintain their race pace the longest without slipping up.