Third Wheel Exclusive Upgrades Cup Car 2.0 With the Apex GT3R V2 Display
Introduction
If you've read my blogs in the past, you would know that our valued partner, Third Wheel Exclusive, has been working on his dream Cup Car 2.0 setup. As a token of appreciation, I recently hooked him up with a special upgrade: the Apex Sim Racing GT3R V2 DDU, which is a 5-inch aluminum-framed display featuring 34 customizable RGB LEDs and full SimHub compatibility.
The DDU is a compact, yet powerful addition designed to bring real race car telemetry and visual feedback directly to a sim racing cockpit. This blog post serves as direct follow-up to my previous blog about his Cup Car 2.0 sim racing setup, which you can check out here.
The Cup Car 2.0 Journey Continues
As I mentioned above, Jay has been working on upgrading his Cup Car 2.0 build, focusing on maximizing immersion and delivering the most realistic racing experience. In his latest video, he explores a new idea: what if his monitors solely acted as windows to the outside world, with a separate display dedicated to telemetry data? Therefore, the GT3R V2 DDU would come into play. With its compact size and clean design, it was the perfect addition to Jay’s cockpit. Powered through a single USB connection, the DDU integrates directly with SimHub, making setup simple while offering deep customization for telemetry and LED profiles.
Jay designed and 3D-printed a custom dash insert in Blender to mount the DDU securely to his rig, ensuring it blended into the existing dashboard.
A New Level of Realism
Once installed, the difference was immediate; the LEDs synced perfectly with engine RPMs, while the sharp and vibrant display delivered live telemetry that made the cockpit feel real. As he described it, “the car felt like it was communicating back to me." Moreover, the DDU separated key data from the main monitors, allowing him to stay focused on the road ahead while the display handled all the real-time telemetry.
The LEDs flashed perfectly with engine RPMs, and the display provided clear information on speed, gear, and car status. This added layer of visual feedback made the car feel alive, giving the cockpit an authentic race car atmosphere. As Jay mentioned in the video, “you don’t realize how much you’re missing until you feel it for yourself.”
Easy Setup and Full SimHub Integration
Beyond its appearance and feel, Jay further highlighted how easy it was to set up. The GT3R V2 includes native SimHub support, meaning it is ready to use right out of the box. By visiting the GT3R V2 product page on apexsimracing.com, users can download the SimHub dash layouts and LED profiles directly from the “Files & Manuals” section. Once downloaded, Jay noted that importing the dash into SimHub was as simple as double-clicking the file.
After registering the device in SimHub, Jay customized his LED profiles to react to speed and RPMs, creating a unique glow pattern that actively responded while he was driving. The setup process was quick, intuitive, and made it easy to fine-tune the visuals to match his racing style. Jay concluded that the GT3R V2 DDU not only enhanced the look of the Cup Car 2.0, but also elevated the overall feel of the cockpit, making every lap feel more immersive and realistic.
Conclusion and Key Takeaways
Jay’s Cup Car 2.0 project continues to redefine home-built sim rigs. With the addition of the Apex Sim Racing GT3R V2 DDU, he documented that even a compact upgrade can ultimately change the feel of a cockpit. The display not only declutters the main monitors, but it also brings critical telemetry and visual feedback to life, creating a true race car feel.
If you want to see the full transformation, check out Third Wheel Exclusive’s video on YouTube and use code THIRDWHEEL5 at checkout for 5% off Apex-branded products on apexsimracing.com!
https://www.instagram.com/apexsimracing/?hl=en
