Racing video games like arcade staple Monaco GP, a 2D racing game on a vertical track, have been around since the 1970s. But, companies have evolved the concept to a point where they have even surpassed the title “game.”
British racing simulation company Ansible Motion has taken virtual racing to a whole new level since 2009, crafting state of the art simulators to mimic all of the conditions of driving in a specific vehicle on any given track.
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They have deals to train drivers in the top racing leagues around the world—Formula One, NASCAR, IndyCar, Gran Turismo and Le Mans Prototype.
A 13 plus motion axis sits beneath an enclosed capsule that looks somewhat like the cockpit of a jet. A driver enters the virtual reality simulator, backed by a number of computer engineers to mimic the race environment they will be facing in the future.
“We integrate a host of lairs of real-time systems, in audio and vision and computer system,” said Kia Cammaerts, the founder and technical director of Ansible Motion.
The simulator is incredibly important to drivers for two reasons—first it will give them extra practice in the offseason. Second, it will allow for a driver to get a feel for a track and the specifications of a vehicle before even encountering either.
2010 Formula Two Champion Dean Stoneman noted the ability of the simulator to eliminate the “fear factor” of driving, so that he can take more risks in order to get better. He also noted the simulator’s ability to save on the cost of tires and gas.
If you want to learn a bit more, check out the video from Mobil 1 The Grid below: