One of the highlights of the weekend was the European Regional Shootout of the FIA Esports Global Rally Tour, the FIA's first official rally esports competition.
After its first stop in Macau, the tour arrived at Sim Racing Expo fuelled by D-BOX in Frankfurt for the European Regional Shootout, bringing competitors together on Assetto Corsa Rally.
The competition featured equipment from two of the FIA's Esports Official Suppliers: Advanced SimRacing and D-BOX.
In rally racing, understanding how the car responds to the road is essential. D-BOX haptic technology translates what happens on track into precise motion, vibrations and textures, allowing drivers to feel key details like changing grip levels, braking forces, weight transfer and road surfaces directly through their simulator. This adds a layer of physical feedback that makes the driving experience more immersive and realistic.
Four European drivers qualified for the next stage of the competition in Shanghai, where they will compete during FIA Awards Week. The competition will culminate in a live Grand Final on December 12, 2026.
Beyond the racing action, our CEO, Naveen Prasad, and CTO, Sébastien Boire-Lavigne, took the stage at Sim Racing Expo fuelled by D-BOX to share their insights on haptic technology and its role in sim racing.
During the session, they explored how D-BOX translates what happens on track into precise motion and physical feedback, allowing drivers to feel details like grip, curbs, braking forces and weight transfer. They also discussed the expertise behind creating realistic haptic experiences and how this technology continues to shape the future of sim racing.
Watch the interview here
Beyond the competition, Sim Racing Expo fuelled by D-BOX was also an opportunity for visitors to discover different simulator setups and see how D-BOX technology can be integrated into a variety of experiences.
Several of our partners showcased their products throughout the weekend. Here are a few highlights.
ImSim introduced the Porsche Raceborn, a high-end sim racing cockpit developed in collaboration with Porsche and equipped with D-BOX G5 actuators.
Created with collectors and high-end customers in mind, the Raceborn takes inspiration from the design of Porsche road cars. With D-BOX G5 actuators integrated into the cockpit, the Raceborn combines Porsche-inspired design with haptic motion technology, allowing drivers to feel the sensations of driving directly through their simulator.
SimXPro teamed up with D-BOX to bring the Double Crown Challenge to its booth, inviting visitors to compete on SimXPro GT-PRO D-BOX Motion Rigs.
The challenge featured two racing disciplines: Formula in iRacing F4 and Rally in EA Sports WRC. Participants had to demonstrate their skills across both disciplines, with the best overall performance determining the winner.
The collaboration brought together SimXPro's racing simulators and D-BOX haptic motion technology, giving participants the opportunity to experience both racing disciplines with realistic motion and feedback. Prizes included a SimXPro X80 chassis, D-BOX gloves and a D-BOX cap.
At MonsterTech's booth, visitors had the opportunity to experience Star Citizen with D-BOX haptic technology.
Earlier this year, D-BOX introduced haptic support for Star Citizen, bringing physical motion and feedback into the game.
For visitors in Frankfurt, the booth offered a chance to feel this integration firsthand. From the simulator seat, D-BOX haptics added a physical dimension to the experience, connecting what happens in the game with motion they could feel.
Interested in trying Star Citizen with D-BOX? Learn more about the integration.
Trak Racer showcased a truck driving simulator featuring a new seat designed specifically for truck simulation. The setup offered visitors a look at another side of simulation, with equipment designed around the experience of driving a truck rather than a race car.
The presence of D-BOX extended beyond these partner highlights.
Visitors could also discover D-BOX technology through Home of Sim Racing, Sabelt, Cube Control, Sensit, Sim Race Shop, SimUltimate, ADAC, Wolf Racing and BavarianSimTec.
With several partners showcasing D-BOX-equipped simulators, the event gave attendees different opportunities to see how haptic motion fits into sim racing rigs and other simulation setups.
Sim Racing Expo fuelled by D-BOX brought together competitive rally esports, simulator manufacturers and sim racing enthusiasts for three days in Frankfurt.
Whether you followed the FIA Esports Global Rally Tour or discovered D-BOX through one of our partner booths, we hope the event gave you a better understanding of what haptics adds to the driving experience.
Interested in feeling the road through your own simulator?
Contact a reseller to explore D-BOX motion systems and find the setup that works for your rig.