If you’ve been eyeing an upgrade to your sim racing setup, this is your moment. Pick up a Pimax Crystal Light or Pimax Crystal Super headset during the Black Friday event, and you’ll snag an exclusive iRacing reward: either a 12-month iRacing membership (for new users) or a $15 iRacing gift card.
Whether you’re new to the grid or already chasing pole positions, the Crystal series delivers visuals sharp enough to feel every apex.
Crystal Light
With 2880 x 2880 resolution per eye, glass aspheric lenses, and a 35 PPD image, the Crystal Light brings incredible clarity to tracks, cars, and instruments. Smooth refresh rates (72/90/120Hz), Foveated Rendering 2.0, and manual IPD adjustment keep everything crisp and comfortable, perfect for long stints behind the wheel.
For racers chasing the ultimate immersion, the Crystal Super pushes the limits with 3840 x 3840 per-eye resolution, up to 57 PPD, and an ultra-wide 140° FOV. Deep blacks, vivid color, and precise motion tracking put you right inside the cockpit.
Simply add your reward to the cart, enter BF2025 at checkout, and complete your headset purchase. After delivery, Pimax will send your iRacing code straight to your inbox.
Not interested in iRacing? No problem there are many more bundles available during PIMAXs VR Fest
The offers run through November 30, 2025, so if you’ve been waiting to upgrade, now’s the time.
Bonus for THRacing Drivers/Readers
Prefer an instant discount instead? Use code THRacing at checkout for a direct 3% off any Pimax headset or bundle during the Black Friday event.
With the 3% discount code, you can save a total of about $89 on the Pimax Crystal Light during Black Friday, or about $24 on the Crystal Super.Check out all Black Friday deals here: 👉 pimax.com/black-friday-deals-2025 https://pimax.com/pages/black-friday-deals-2025/?ref=THRacing
At the Simracing Expo, I caught up with our good friend Aritz from SHH Shifter. We chatted about SHHs success and all the exciting things happening in THR, and guess what? He immediately offered to sponsor a brand-new SHH Thorn Shifter as a prize for one of our GPL Championship racers! 🙌
Here’s the deal: If you’ve been pushing hard and joined at least 4 of the 6 adrenaline-packed race weekends, your name will be entered into the raffle for this awesome prize. 🎁
(Already got an H-shifter? No worries - you can always step aside and boost someone else’s chances!) 😄
I want to let everyone know about a special discount!
I was at SimExpo in Dortmund on Sunday and had a great meeting with Pimax. In addition to a great conversation, I brought back something special for you - an exclusive 10% discount voucher!
Some weeks ago Pimax told me that they sent me a Crystal Super for testing. When the headset arrived, I was surprised to receive two units. The second headset was just a backup in case of issues - a nice touch, though I never needed it. After several weeks of testing, mostly in Assetto Corsa, here’s what I discovered:
First Impressions & Comfort
Compared to the Crystal Lightwhich I tested some months ago, the first thing I noticed was the build quality. The Crystal Super feels like a premium product: solid construction, excellent materials, and a more balanced weight distribution.
In terms of build quality they even added DMA earphones to the package, which can easily be attached to the Crystal Super and deliver great sound once mounted. (A small screwdriver was included in the box for this purpose 😉 )
Comfort is a huge step forward. The included thicker face foam (15 instead of 11mm) fit my head shape perfectly, allowing me to drive 90-minute stints without pressure points. An alternative head strap was also included, so you can perfectly adjust the Crystal Super’s comfort to your own needs. The automatic IPD adjustment was a welcome upgrade, meaning I could just put the headset on and get going.
Visual Clarity & Performance
This headset is all about visual immersion. With 3840×3840 per-eye QLED panels (up to 57 PPD) and glass lenses, the Crystal Super delivers razor-sharp detail. The eye-tracking dynamically optimizes rendering - when supported - and keeps the center of vision crystal clear.
In single-player races, I was running 72 Hz with smooth frame times. Cars, track textures, and even distant curbs looked lifelike.
But here’s the reality check: in full-grid races with 20+ cars, performance took a hit. My rig (Ryzen 7 5800X3D + RTX 4070 Ti) couldn’t hold frame pacing at higher refresh rates without dropping settings. Assetto Corsa doesn’t yet support true dynamic foveated rendering, so you can’t fully benefit from eye-tracked performance gains. Fixed foveated rendering (via OpenXR Toolkit) helps, but it’s no magic bullet.
Crystal Super vs. Crystal Light (Key Specs)
Feature
Crystal Super
Crystal Light
Resolution per eye
3840×3840 (QLED/Mini-LED)
2880×2880
PPD
50–57
~35
FOV (horizontal)
~127° (up to ~135° in Labs mode)
~115°
Eye-tracking
Yes, with DFR support
No
IPD
Motorized / Auto
Manual
Price
~US $1,700+
~US $900
What Others Are Saying
MRTV praised its “best-in-class clarity,” strong contrast, and wide FOV, while noting a slightly smaller sweet spot than pancake-lens headsets.
Boosted Media loved the sharpness and immersion but warned that you need serious GPU power for full grids or high settings.
Community feedback echoes this: the Super is “future-proof,” but GPU-limited users might be better off with the more affordable Light.
Tips for Sim Racers
Match your GPU to your ambitions. For large grids at high refresh rates, think RTX 4080/4090 or equivalent.
Use upscaling & fixed foveated rendering where possible - they help squeeze more performance from mid-tier GPUs.
Fine-tune your rig setup. Comfort adjustments (foam, straps, seating position) pay off in long sessions.
Watch for updates. As more sims support dynamic foveated rendering, the Crystal Super’s performance advantage will grow.
Final Verdict
For serious sim racers, the Crystal Super is an immersive powerhouse. The visual upgrade over the Light is undeniable - sharper, brighter, and more comfortable. But its full potential shines only if your PC can keep up.
If you have a high-end GPU and want the clearest, widest VR view available today, the Crystal Super is a compelling choice. For racers on tighter budgets (or with mid-tier GPUs), the Crystal Light remains a very strong option.
For reference > The article about my PIMAX Crystal Light test
Sure, there are other competitors in the market, but I only have direct contact to PIMAX. Therefore I decided to ask them and the above interview highlights the advantages of Pimax headsets.
THR has direct contat to PIMAX, cause months ago PIMAX asked us for a partnership. We show their logos on our Website and in our streams and they offer us support and an Affiliate Link which gives you a 3% discount and THR receives a small provision per order, which we use to run our servers, etc.
If you are interested in purchasing a new headset, you can use the following affiliate links to receive the 3% discount.
Porcu’s complete campaign, Masse’s relentless consistency, and FMG’s fightback define a vintage year
Six weekends, two continents, and one of the most enjoyable seasons the THR paddock has staged. From Monza’s old‑school draft battles to the concrete canyons of Long Beach and the high‑commitment sweepers of Watkins Glen, the 1979 calendar asked everything of the drivers: precision, race‑craft, patience and pace. With the drop‑score rule in effect (each driver’s worst finish discarded) and the 40‑37‑34‑31‑30‑29… points system, the title picture swung back and forth until the American finale.
The big picture
Champion: Simone Porcu — 194 pts Porcu’s season had the ring of inevitability about it: wins at Monza, Jarama, and a title‑sealing masterclass at Watkins Glen, backed by second places at Hockenheim and Monaco. His Long Beach DNS became the perfect drop. The clincher came in the U.S., where he led from the front and signed off with the poise of a champion.
Runner‑up: Florian Masse — 176 pts No wins, but competitive everywhere. Back‑to‑back seconds to open the year (Monza, Long Beach), a podium at Hockenheim, and resilient scoring across the calendar—only Monaco (DNF) interrupted the rhythm. The hallmark of his year was pressure without waste: he was almost always the first car in the leader’s mirrors.
Third overall: FMG — 166 pts A season of momentum. After a zero in Italy, FMG rebuilt with a podium at Jarama, a statement win at Hockenheim, and solid points in Monaco and Watkins Glen. On raw pace he often matched the title protagonists; the difference was the early stumble he ultimately had to drop.
Fourth & fifth: gilvil77 (160 pts) and Richard Rossier (142 pts) gilvil77 was the story-maker—front‑row pace and a door‑to‑door edge, capped by a Monaco podium and a superb run to second at the Glen. Rossier, meanwhile, was the quiet constant: smart race management and clean execution kept the Swiss Buddy Racing driver in the top five at year’s end.
Round‑by‑round: how the title was won
Monza – Porcu draws first blood Calm from pole, fastest lap for emphasis, and a decisive response when the elastic stretched mid‑race. It set the tone: if you wanted this title, you had to beat the No. 1 on merit.
Long Beach – Jayden HW arrives with a bang A street‑racing clinic from pole to flag. Masse kept him honest, and the first hints of the year’s patterns emerged: Porcu’s DNS became his drop, Masse banked big points, and FMG’s P4 steadied the ship.
Jarama – Porcu’s precision A race that rewarded rhythm. Porcu executed it perfectly under shadow from Masse, while FMG pieced together the tidy podium that put him into the title conversation.
Hockenheim – FMG’s day Pole, control, and the nerve to resist Porcu’s fastest‑lap charge over the final tours. The victory knotted the chase behind the leader and confirmed FMG’s late‑season form.
Monaco – Jayden again; gilvil77 stars Clean air wins in Monte Carlo; Jayden made no mistakes and set the tempo. Behind, gilvil77 fought through the chaos for the podium while Porcu banked second‑place championship points.
Watkins Glen – The coronation Porcu’s wire‑to‑wire authority settled the math and the mood. gilvil77 and Masse finished line‑astern behind, but the No. 1’s control was never in question.
By the numbers
Winners: Porcu (3), Jayden HW (2), FMG (1).
Most podiums: Porcu & Masse.
Comeback drive of the year: gilvil77’s recovery runs at Monza and his robust podium in Monaco.
Title margin (after drop‑score): Porcu by 18 over Masse; 10 from Masse to FMG.
Congratulations & thanks from THR Orga
On behalf of THR Orga, congratulations to our championship podium: 🥇 Simone Porcu — 1979 THR F1 Champion 🥈 Florian Masse — Runner‑up 🥉 FMG — Third overall
A heartfelt thank you to every driver who turned laps with us this season—whether you contested every round or dropped in for a few, you made the grid deeper and the racing better. Your racecraft, patience with traffic, and good humour in the voice channels are what make this series special.
From Monza to Watkins Glen, you gave us six weekends of exactly why we race: close fights, clean respect, and just enough chaos to keep the stories coming. We can’t wait to see you back on the grid for the next chapter. Until then - keep it pinned, keep it tidy, and see you in the warm‑up!
You want to dig in deeper?
Find all the Championship Information, Livestreams, RaceReports and Stats following this link:
Hey THR, as many of you know, I’ve been using the HP Reverb G2 for a long time. Since Microsoft discontinued support for Windows Mixed Reality, I’ve been asking myself what this means for the future - especially because I haven’t yet upgraded to Windows 11 in order to keep my G2 fully functional. To get clearer answers and share them with you, I decided to take these questions directly to Rica, one of my contacts at Pimax. Rica is the Community Representative from the Overseas Marketing & Sales Department. Here’s the interview we had for you.
[THR] pitman: Hey Rica, thank you so much for taking the time to answer my questions. Rica (PIMAX): No problem. It´s a pleasure to have this direct contact to you and your THR community.
pitman: Hey Rica, thank you so much for taking the time to answer my questions. I’ve been using the HP Reverb G2 myself for quite some time, and I know many other sim racers still rely on it as well. It was a huge step when I bought it and replaced my Lenovo Explorer Headset. The sharp visuals and the easy setup gave me a wow-effect from the first moment on. But Microsoft officially ended development of Windows Mixed Reality (WMR) in 2023. As a G2 user, I’m really wondering how to deal with this change. So far, I haven’t upgraded to Windows 11 because keeping my Reverb G2 fully functional was more important to me. What does this situation mean for users like me? Rica: That’s a crucial concern. While it’s still possible to run the G2 using SteamVR bridges and manual runtime installations, WMR is no longer being developed. This means future Windows updates - particularly after 2026 - could break compatibility. So G2 owners are facing uncertainty.
pitman: Yes, that´s the reason why I think of replacing my G2. Pimax kindly provided me with a Crystal Light for testing, and I’ve already shared my impressions in this article: https://thracing.de/racing-in-vr-is-like-putting-on-a-helmet-with-the-pimax-crystal-light-its-crystal-clear/. But to get your perspective, what do you see as the main reasons why the PIMAX Crystal Light is a good alternative now? Rica: There are several major advantages:
First, it runs on our actively developed Pimax Play platform, which has native OpenXR support and ongoing updates.
Second, it’s a big leap in visual quality: the G2 offered 2160×2160 pixels per eye, while the Crystal Light delivers 2880×2880 - a 72% increase. Plus, it uses QLED panels with MiniLED local dimming, which means richer colors, deeper blacks, and much higher contrast.
And third, it integrates smart rendering features like Fixed Foveated Rendering and Quad-View Rendering, which help maintain performance without overloading the GPU.
pitman: Speaking of visuals, during my own test I was especially amazed by the clarity of the graphics on the Crystal Light compared to the G2. One common complaint about the G2 is the limited sweet spot and lens artifacts like god rays. How does the Crystal Light improve on this? Rica: Exactly. The Reverb G2 used Fresnel lenses, which produce glare and have a narrow sweet spot. The Crystal Light uses aspheric glass lenses instead. These deliver a much larger clear viewing area, with minimal glare and distortion. This makes the experience more natural and comfortable, especially during long races.
pitman: Comfort and audio are also important for sim racers. To be honest, my own experience was mixed at first: while I always found the G2 very comfortable, the Crystal Light initially pressed uncomfortably on the bridge of my nose - probably due to my head shape. Only after Pimax sent me a thicker 15 mm foam insert did the comfort improve significantly. How would you compare the two headsets in terms of comfort and audio? Rica: Ah, that’s interesting. Comfort can definitely vary depending on head shape and fit, and that’s why we provide different face foams to adjust the experience. As you noticed, the thicker foam can make a big difference. The G2’s off-ear speakers were very well regarded, and we wanted to provide flexibility. With the Crystal Light, you can either use your own headphones through the 3.5mm jack, or opt for our DMAS off-ear speaker modules, which deliver immersive spatial audio comparable to — and in some cases better than - the G2. In terms of overall balance, the Crystal Light is slightly heavier, but its improved weight distribution reduces facial pressure for many users, making longer sessions more comfortable once the right fit is achieved.
pitman: Ok. What about compatibility? Do G2 users like me need to change their setup or accessories? Rica: Not at all. If you’re used to the G2, you’ll feel right at home. The Crystal Light offers a native DisplayPort connection, full SteamVR compatibility, and supports both inside-out and Lighthouse tracking. You can continue using the same accessories, games, and sim profiles. The workflow stays familiar - but the overall experience is significantly upgraded.
pitman: Final question, how have other G2 users responded after making the switch? Rica: The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Many say the Crystal Light feels like the most natural upgrade - offering sharper visuals, better comfort, and peace of mind knowing they’re no longer tied to WMR. For a lot of sim racers, it’s the logical next step in their VR journey.
[THR] pitman: Rica, thank you very much for taking the time to answer my questions today. Rica (PIMAX): You’re very welcome, it was a pleasure.
Sure, there are other competitors in the market, but I only have direct contact to PIMAX. Therefore I decided to ask them and the above interview highlights the advantages of Pimax headsets.
THR has direct contat to PIMAX, cause months ago PIMAX asked us for a partnership. We show their logos on our Website and in our streams and they offer us support and an Affiliate Link which gives you a 3% discount and THR receives a small provision per order, which we use to run our servers, etc.
If you are interested in purchasing a new headset, you can use the following affiliate links to receive the 3% discount.
We could not have wished for a more sensational start to the 2025 season of historic simracing at THR. Once again, we embarked on a grueling 6 hour race - this time with three classes - around a period-correct representation of the world's most famous endurance race track. Using a quadruple time progression multiplier, our participants got a compressed taste of what it could have felt like to participate in the world's most famous 24 hour race in the 1960s.
With a record crowd of 135 drivers from 10 communities sharing 52 historic Prototype & GT race cars from the mid-1960s, the THR 6 Heures du Mans 2025 has surpassed last year's edition as the biggest endurance race in THR history. Unbelievably, the entry list had run out of vacant slots within just 3:40h of opening the registrations, rapidly necessitating the addition of a waiting list.
Welcome to the official report of a race for the history books.
Expression of Gratitude
None of this would have been possible without the dedication and enthusiasm of drivers, teams, and countless supporters. We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who took part in this event. Whether you were behind the wheel, supporting a team, or simply watching and cheering from the sidelines, you played a vital role in making this event a success.
A special thank you also goes out to our incredible commentators (PirateLaserBeam, Akashic, Guido, Thomas, and Jascha), who brought the race to life with their expert analysis and engaging coverage. Their efforts made both the English and German live broadcasts highly enjoyable for our audience. Additionally, we are especially grateful to GPLaps, who not only participated in the race but also streamed the event from his Matra's cockpit, bringing the excitement of historic endurance simracing to an even wider audience. Syndicate Motorsport's team Hawk additionally provided a front-row seat into their early hour-long fight for 2nd place, livestreaming from the cockpit of their #98 Chaparral 2F.
These streams combined had amassed an incredible 26,000 views within just a week and eclipsed more than 30,000 views at the time of this report's publishing, highlighting the strong appeal of vintage sim racing and the growing interest in this genre.
Seeing such enthusiasm and engagement is truly fantastic!
We also want to thank our generous sponsors for their amazing prizes that were raffled after the victory lane interviews with the podium finishing teams:
Here comes the full report to tell the story of this amazing event, featuring plenty of screenshots & videos provided by the participants. Sit back, grab your favourite beverage of choice, and enjoy the read!
