ZEVIOUS, a total car service pro shop located in Nishinomiya City, Hyogo Prefecture, supports everything related to cars—from inspections, repairs, customization, sales, and purchases to racing business—covering domestic and imported vehicles, from kei cars to supercars.

Actually, I have had a 10-year friendship with the wife of ZEVIOUS’s president, and our children get along very well (plus, my husband shares the same passion for cars).

This time, since they recently introduced a full-fledged racing simulator, my husband and I went to experience it together.

Coincidentally, on this day, Yuta Kamimura, a former Porsche Carrera Cup Japan (PCCJ) scholarship driver, was there and kindly gave us a special lesson.

It was my very first time driving on a professional simulator. It was more fun than I imagined, so I’d like to share my impressions.

The Realistic Driving Feel of the Simulator

Seeing the simulator in person, the setup was seriously professional—with three large monitors surrounding the driver and a seat that moves accordingly. I have a simulator at home and thought it was quite advanced, but this was on a whole different level.

When I actually drove, it was much harder than I expected. I often play Mario Kart with my eldest son and usually win first place (not very sportsmanlike against kids), so I thought I could handle it—but I quickly realized, “Mario Kart is totally different!” (Of course!)

The simulator realistically recreated the narrow visibility situations on the circuit. The three-monitor setup is truly amazing. It even simulated the anxiety of “corners where you can’t see ahead” and “not knowing what’s beyond a hill,” sensations you can’t get from regular games.

Also, the seat moves subtly according to your driving style, adding incredible immersion. My husband, who usually plays on home simulators, was impressed by this setup as well.

You Should Definitely Take a Lesson from a Pro Racer

On this day, we were especially fortunate to receive coaching from Yuta Kamimura. We had known about him for some time, had taken photos together at the circuit, and quietly supported him as a couple, so meeting him like this was very exciting.

Here’s a brief overview of Yuta Kamimura’s career:

He was inspired to become a racer after watching F1 at age 8, graduated top of his class from the Suzuka Circuit Racing School, was selected as a Porsche Carrera Cup Japan (PCCJ) scholarship driver in 2017, and finished second in the series through 2020. He has also competed in SUPER Taikyu and the Suzuka 10 Hours endurance race, debuted in Super GT in 2021, and won the Japan Cup title in the GT World Challenge Asia in 2023. He continues to excel in races both in Japan and abroad.

I challenged myself with a simulation of the Okayama International Circuit course, but I’ve never driven there and usually only watch the home straight when I go to support, so I wasn’t familiar with the course layout.

When driving, I felt it was easier to spin out than I expected, and my first impression was, “Wow, this is seriously difficult.”

Yuta gave me specific advice throughout the run, such as “Let’s start by driving in third gear only,” “Slow down to 60 km/h for this corner,” “Accelerate up to 150 km/h on this straight,” “Drop to 50 km/h here,” and “Drive through this section with neither the accelerator nor brake pressed.”

At first, I was completely lost, but strangely enough, I got used to it with each lap.

He then guided me with “Now let’s try using second and fourth gears,” “Try increasing your speed a bit more,” and after three laps, I managed to finish without crashing or spinning out.

Phew…

That said, just three laps left me exhausted. Pros really are amazing…

Yuta also taught us that “If you create moments in corners where you don’t press the accelerator or brake, the car will turn better,” and my husband consciously applied this, which smoothed his cornering. He said it was the most valuable advice he’s ever received.

I truly believe pro advice is incredible. Driving on your own is one thing, but once you learn the basics properly, your skills improve dramatically.

Does Simulator Practice Really Help on the Track?

At first, I was skeptical, thinking, “Many people practice on simulators, but does it really translate to actual circuit driving?” However, after trying it, I felt it’s especially useful for memorizing the course and how to drive it in advance.

Of course, practicing at the circuit is ideal, but if you don’t have a track nearby, even getting there to practice can be difficult and costly. (Simulator practice is much more affordable.)

Also, while practicing on home games is good, I recommend trying out a professional-grade simulator like this occasionally. It offers a more realistic feel, which I believe improves actual driving skills.

By the way, my husband is scheduled to participate in the 911 Days driving event at Fuji Speedway this weekend, and he’s excited that the simulator lessons from Yuta will be very useful.

Bringing Motorsports Culture to Japan

After the simulator experience, I chatted a bit with President Isomura and Yuta Kamimura, and this comment left a strong impression:

“Motorsports culture is still not deeply rooted in Japan. That’s why we want to create an environment where motorsports can be enjoyed more casually here. Overseas, for example, some people casually drive the Nürburgring on their way to work in the morning—it’s a familiar sport. If more people like that emerge in Japan, I believe more will become familiar with motorsports. ZEVIOUS wants to be a place that creates such opportunities and also serve as a ‘playground’ where car enthusiasts can casually gather.”

Indeed, this space on the second floor of the repair shop feels like a secret base and playground for adults. Mini cars and car goods are displayed, and car lovers gather daily to chat about cars and play on the simulator… I’m sure it will become a lively hub in the future.

Someday, I Want to Debut on the Circuit!

This simulator experience has fueled my desire to “debut on a circuit someday.” My kids are still young, so it’s not possible right now, but when I have time, I want to try driving on a circuit. (I’m competitive, so I might get hooked unexpectedly.)

Motorsports are enjoyed more casually overseas. In Japan, it still feels like a niche activity for a limited few, but if environments like simulators increase, more people interested might be able to enjoy it more easily.

Thank you very much, President Isomura and Yuta Kamimura! I’ll definitely come back to practice regularly!

▶▶Check out ZEVIOUS’s Instagram here
(Feel free to inquire about simulator practice and more.)