Product development
The SIMGASM cockpit range and Atlas seats include patented designs developed around strength, ergonomics, comfort and visual personalization.
Founder, Product Designer and CEO of SIMGASM
Johan Akkerman is the founder, product designer and CEO of SIMGASM. A former esports world champion, real-world racing champion and sim racing industry specialist, he combines experience as a driver, automotive technician, product designer and business leader. At SIMGASM, Johan leads product development, holds final responsibility for product quality and sets the overall direction of the company.
Read Johan's storyI believe every racer should have access to professional-level equipment without needing a professional-level budget. A simulator should perform, last for years and reflect the identity of the person behind the wheel. With enough dedication, that identity can help turn a hobby into real opportunities.

VP Gaming after winning the Project CARS 2 world team championship. From left: Darwin Daume, Johan Akkerman and Isaac Gillissen.
Johan started sim racing in 2008 with Gran Turismo and a PlayStation controller. After saving for his first steering wheel, a basic model without force feedback, he progressed to a Logitech G25 and later won its successor, the G27, through an esports competition. When commercial simulator frames still started at around EUR 400 to EUR 500, he welded his own frame from used gas pipes and combined it with a seat from a scrapyard.
That practical beginning shaped the way Johan still looks at sim racing hardware today. A product needs to solve a real problem, remain affordable and be strong enough to last. His own setup later developed through Fanatec hardware and a Trak Racer TR8 before he moved to a Simucube 2 wheelbase and a Rexing steering wheel. Through years of racing, product events and international exhibitions, he has tested an extensive range of cockpits, wheelbases, pedals, seats and accessories from across the market.
Competing under the names Yoohan and YoohanTV, Johan raced for teams including SDL Esports and VP Gaming. He became a multiple ESL Go4 Cup winner, was part of SDL's championship-winning Project CARS campaigns in 2016 and 2017, and won the 2019 Project CARS 2 world team championship with VP Gaming alongside Darwin Daume and Isaac Gillissen. He also reached the final of the A1 esports League against several drivers who remain active at the highest level of esports today.
Before working full-time in sim racing, Johan built a technical foundation in the automotive industry. He worked as a technical specialist and workshop manager for brands including Mercedes-Benz and Jaguar, then started his own automotive workshop. He later moved into automotive finance at Santander, where his work focused on finding appropriate solutions for customers.
At Trak Racer, Johan progressed from Global Business Developer to Chief Business Officer. Alongside responsibility for international growth and daily operations, he extensively tested and contributed to the development of the TRX chassis and was responsible for the design of the TRX seat. He also helped establish the relationship between Alpine and Trak Racer, which led to the development of the Alpine Racing Formula steering wheel.
After leaving Trak Racer in May 2025, Johan supported SimXPro in expanding its international production capability and later served as CEO. This period reinforced his decision to create a new sim racing company from the ground up, with full control over product design, quality, personalization and customer value.
Johan taught himself 3D design while translating years of product testing and practical feedback into manufacturable components. His background in materials, production methods and workshop processes helps him move from an idea to a 3D model, a physical prototype and a stress-tested production product in cooperation with the right specialists and manufacturing partners.

Johan Akkerman in the Alpine A110 Cup during wet conditions at Nogaro.
Development of SIMGASM began in January 2026, with the company formally incorporated in February 2026. Johan saw that the market already offered many functional ways to secure a steering wheel and pedals, but very few manufacturers made individual colors, race liveries, names and numbers accessible at a realistic price.
As esports and sim racing continue to grow, Johan believes a simulator should be able to represent the identity of the person or team using it. A recognizable setup can help a racer build a brand, present partners and sponsors professionally and create something that feels genuinely personal rather than anonymous.
SIMGASM is deliberately structured as a compact company, with direct distribution from the Netherlands and a focused team. This keeps overhead under control and allows more of the product budget to be invested in materials, finishing and quality instead of inflated margins. The goal is straightforward: high-quality, customizable sim racing equipment that can be used for years without costing more than it needs to.

Johan's Alpine A110 Cup car in the paddock with team members, friends and supporters.
Johan has designed and led the development of the complete SIMGASM product range. His work includes the 3D designs, prototype evaluation, production quality control and final inspection of materials and finishes.
The SIMGASM cockpit range and Atlas seats include patented designs developed around strength, ergonomics, comfort and visual personalization.
Seating position, steering wheel angle and pedal geometry are treated as performance and endurance factors, not cosmetic details.
Every SIMGASM product is tested as part of a complete simulator rather than as an isolated component.

Johan Akkerman after winning the DNRT BMW E30 Cup championship.
Johan began competing in real-world motorsport in 2022. He went on to win the DNRT BMW E30 Cup and Endurance Series championships in 2023 and 2024. In his first Alpine Elf Cup season, he achieved an overall podium at Zandvoort and multiple Challenger-class victories, including a double class win at Spa-Francorchamps.
The transition from esports to real racing strengthened his view that simulator equipment should be judged by more than outright stiffness. Comfort, adjustability, seating geometry and the ability to remain consistent over longer sessions are just as important.

Johan's preferred simulator combines the SIMGASM Sport cockpit with the Formula Atlas seat, virtual reality and motion. He particularly enjoys racing Formula 1 cars from the 1960s and 1970s.
I believe every racer should have access to professional-level equipment without needing a professional-level budget. A simulator should perform, last for years and reflect the identity of the person behind the wheel.
Discover our mission, values and the products we build to help sim racers create the perfect setup.
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