A need for speed

Published: 24/03/2023

If you’ve been over to our Mansfield Hub recently, you might have spotted the brilliant School of Science and Technology’s motorsport simulator.

It’s a professional grade racing simulator which closely replicates the demands of race car driving as much as possible. The pedals, wheels and brakes all reflect the pressures felt on a real-life racing car.

NTU has paired up with Motorsport UK, the national governing body for four-wheeled motorsports, to investigate what it takes to get to the top of the sport, beyond economic factors. Working with their academy of young drivers (age 16+), NTU has been exploring how to develop that talent with the demands of racing.

You can’t train every day in motorsport, so simulators like this offer a more accessible way to practice and prepare drivers for upcoming races. The data collected allows for race preparation, performance analysis and even driver eye tracking.

The software on the simulator has accurately scanned tracks from around the world, matching every twist and turn. There’s a range of car models allowing drivers to test out different vehicles on the simulator before physically driving the real thing.

The video below explains further about how the simulator came about and how it compares to an actual racing car. Plus, some great Grand Prix style footage!