In this article, we will interview a leading figure in Simracing both nationally and internationally. With over 15 years of experience in simulation and motorsport, Eneko Celayeta will share all sorts of details, anecdotes, and his insights into the world of Simracing. Beyond being passionate about this discipline, he leads the video game and virtual reality content channel “Come Over Gaming” and the professional simulation hardware and software company “EC Sim Hardware”.
When did your passion for car video games begin?
From a very young age. I couldn’t pinpoint the exact age, but it was at a very early stage when I got my first home console, the NES. Naturally, the first game I got to enjoy was the iconic Super Mario Bros. Even today, it’s hard for me to explain what it meant to me to discover that hardware, and especially that character. The possibilities for enjoyment were endless. My first encounter with a car video game came with the release of Super Mario Kart on the same platform, which gave me thousands of hours of fun. It was a time when I still enjoyed titles from all genres, but whenever I took control of any car game, my eyes lit up differently. I had found the passion that would eventually shape a significant part of my life. I must emphasize that titles like Stunt Race FX, the Gran Turismo series, the Colin McRae Rally series, Pole Position, Grand Prix Legends, Rally Championship, V-Rally, the WRC series on PlayStation 2, Richard Burns Rally, and Enthusia Professional Racing have greatly helped me understand and fuel that passion. And I’m leaving out many titles, as it’s impossible to name them all.
Tell us about your experience competing in rallies in your homeland
Those were some of the best years of my life, enjoying what I loved most and learning many concepts related to motorsport competition and engineering in general. I was also fortunate enough to meet people who shared our same passions, and through falling and getting back up, we achieved results that, from a place of humility, we’re very proud of—but above all, we created unforgettable memories. As you can see, I speak in plural because it was thanks to my family that I was able to enjoy those wonderful years, learn, and build the background necessary to, today, make a living doing what I love and am passionate about. Without them, none of this would have been possible.
Besides being a rally driver, you’ve competed in various simulators. Which are your favorites? And why?
Richard Burns Rally. Everything related to motorsport and simulation focused on the same genre is my passion, but Richard Burns Rally is the only one that transports me to an experience almost identical to what I lived in the thrilling world of rallying. Its tire model, especially on loose surfaces like gravel or snow, and its overall dynamics are incredible. Add to that the available content in terms of vehicle and stage selection, the latest “Next Generation Physics” developed by WorkerBee, and the inclusion of virtual reality thanks to Kegetys, and personally, I still have everything I need today for both training and, above all, enjoyment behind the wheel.
Tell us about your company EC SIM HARDWARE. When was it founded? What products do you offer?
It’s a story too long to elaborate on in these lines, but broadly speaking, I consider EC Sim Hardware an extension of myself. It’s a project that came to life thanks to immense effort and dedication. I’d like readers to take my words with the humility with which they’re shared. Today, it’s one of the most important pillars of my daily life, and I’m genuinely proud of the work carried out since the tough beginnings back in 2010. Of course, we hope to keep innovating and creating new projects in the coming years.
Tell us what hardware and accessories you currently have in your cockpit
I use hardware from my own brand, EC Sim Hardware. The cockpit is a PRO Racer STEP 1 (Prototype), with a PRO SW - Basic steering wheel, PRO Feel Pedal - Advance pedals, a PRO Shift EVO 2 sequential shifter (Prototype), and a PRO Handb EVO 2 handbrake (Prototype). I’m aware it’s not the most spectacular cockpit, but that’s not my goal. My cockpit and the accessories I install in it could be described as a development and testing lab, as it’s the place where products are pushed to their limits before moving to final production. The accessories installed in it are always in constant evolution.
Come Over Gaming is your new content creation project for Simracing. Give us more details
I’ve always been a fan of creating content for other people or a general audience. Back in 2005, when three former PayPal employees launched the now well-known video streaming platform YouTube, I was already sharing content related to cockpit onboard footage from Richard Burns Rally on my personal account. I recall that back then, I was one of the few Spanish nationals offering this type of content on YouTube. It wasn’t until 2014 that I decided to dive back into YouTube, with no other goal than to have fun in my free time and, as much as possible, try to share the little knowledge I had at the time. I should note that, as the name suggests, our channel isn’t solely focused on motorsport simulation. As a lover of video games in general and virtual reality, we also offer our visitors content centered on other areas, but as always, trying to do so in the most instructive way possible.
There’s no doubt Simracing is on the rise. Do you think it will keep growing in the future? Also, tell us what aspects need improvement
Yes. I believe everything related to virtual applications will continue to grow exponentially, at least over the next few years. Little by little, Simracing is making its way into the world of top-tier eSports. That means more visibility and, in general, more publicity. It’s true that, being a highly technical discipline always striving for maximum realism and similarity to reality, its potential for mass adoption by the general public is lower than other gaming genres. I think the global motorsport simulation community—which includes every person or enthusiast who, through a steering wheel, tries to enjoy their favorite driving title (whether on PC or consoles)—should stay united in one way or another, always rowing in the same direction for the good of the discipline and, in short, for the passion that binds us.