When we set out to create the most realistic set of professional simulator pedals the obvious choice was to start with a set of real racing pedals. The GTpro1 pedals were initially developed for the sim-racer and have evolved to become the choice for professional use and training. For this configuration we start with a Wilwood pedal assemblies used in real motorsports and then fit them with mechanicals and high-precision sensors. This no-compromise process was then applied to all of the components which went into making up the GTpro1-S Professional Simulator Pedals.
Using our strong belief in ultimate immersion, Ricmotech took an automotive engineering approach as we designed our latest pedals. We pride ourselves in offering our customers the most authentic sim-racing experience possible in a totally uncompromised pedal set. The end results are arguably the most accurate feeling professional simulator pedals on the market today!
Throttle Pedal
The throttle pedal has been designed to match the brake and clutch pedal in position and geometry. A unique pedal face facilitates heel-toe down shifting and a stiff return spring provides tactile feedback. A linear sensor applies power smoothly and predictably. The pedal features adjustable rest point and pedal stop which makes them able to replicate the pedal travel of almost any race car.
Brake Pedal
The brake pedal has been designed to replicate the same mechanics that occur in a real braking system. For this configuration we selected a Wilwood overhung mounted racing pedal and fitted it with a real cast aluminum master cylinder unit commonly used in racing. The resulting brake pedal requires a large amount of force to actuate, just as in real race cars. Since the driver must use their entire leg to operate this pedal, we have selected a pedal with an arm design and pivot point that follow the driver's leg motion. The master cylinder uses brake fluid to interact with a specially modified slave cylinder which accurately replicates the mechanical "give" typically found in a braking system. A stainless-steel, high-precision, industrial pressure sensor reads the hydraulic pressures in the braking system and sends this information to the Advanced Pedal Control Unit (PCU) for further processing. User interchangeable resistance modules on the slave cylinder assembly let the user tailor the feel of the brake pedal from an economy street car to a GT car and everything in between. As a result of our unique design, the pedal transmits every nuance of what happens in a real race car braking system. The unique sensation of the brake pads approaching the rotors, the moment the pads contact the rotors and the sensation of every component of the braking system straining and stressing as it slows the car down gives the driver valuable feedback not available in any other pedal set on the market today.
The pedals are set up to feel like the brakes in a race-prepped street car. Add the Tuning Kit for ultimate tunability. The Tuning Kit includes additional urethane bushings to create a total of 8 firmness settings to replicate everything from economy street car brakes to heavy NASCAR racing brakes.
Clutch Pedal
We are especially proud of the clutch pedal. Clutch pedals have a unique feel all to themselves and we wanted to make sure we got that sensation correct. Again, we analyzed what mechanical components contribute to the sensation of the clutch pedal, specifically a race car clutch pedal. Ordinary street vehicles use a complex spring mechanism under the dashboard of the car to assist the driver in holding down the clutch pedal. This is helpful when the car is in stop and go traffic or simply stopped at an intersection. The purpose of this complex spring mechanism is to make the pedal lighter during its second half of travel, resulting in a soft-hard-soft pedal feel at it is moved from fully engaged to fully disengaged. Most other high-end sim-racing pedal sets on the market employ a complex spring mechanism on the clutch pedal to simulate this sensation. However, this complex mechanism is not only absent from a pure race car, it would also prevent the driver from smoothly releasing the pedal. In a pure race car clutch, the only forces acting back on the pedal is the clutch pressure plate spring. This spring, called a diaphram spring, is unique in itself as it gradually requires less effort the further it is flattened. The Ricmotech clutch pedal uses similar springs with high initial effort, while reducing the force required as the disc is flattened. This creates the most realistic sensation of a race car clutch pedal which provides the correct feedback to nail every shift . . . every time! Depressing the clutch pedal actuates a pneumatic master cylinder which utilizes a pressure sensor, rather than a position sensor to presisely determine clutch engagement the way a real hydraulic clutch system operates.
Advanced Pedal Control Unit
The pedals interface with the PC via a PCU, the most advanced pedal control unit on the market. With a 48mhz microcontroller at its core which receives all the position readings from the pedals and processes them prior to sending them to the PC over the USB port. The PCU processes data from the sensors, applies deadzone, linearity curves, and attack rates to extrapolate the most smooth and accurate pedal output possible. The PCU is capable of sending over 1,000 pedal position updates to the PC every second.
The PCU stores configuration parameters and profile settings in non-volatile EEPROM memory. These settings are retained even if the pedals are unplugged and even if moved to a different PC. The pedals are configured using the proprietary SmartPanel software and alternate configuration profiles can be saved on the PC for easy retrieval. Each pedal has individually configurable dead zones, linearity curves and attack rates so the pedal output can be tailored to replicate any car. The brake and throttle have adjustable smoothing settings to get the smoothest pedal response for each individual's driving style. In addition, there is a port for the optional RALLYpro or DRIFTpro handbrake which has all of the same adjustable parameters.
The pedals are designed to custom mount into your sim-racing rig. A custom over-foot mounting structure will be required for mounting these pedals properly.
Made for Professional Use
The pedals are based on real-world race car components for the optimum experience in professional simulators. The brake system features brake fluid under high pressures to optimize pedal feel and proper care should be taken when these pedals are in service. Regular inspections should be performed to ensure fluid seals are not compromised and any fluid that is vented from the pedals is collected. The pedals should be used in a moisture free environment to increase the longevity of system components.
