Up until recently, I thought my sim racing setup was top-notch: a Fanatec direct-drive wheel, load cell pedals, and a collection of fancy rim controls, all securely anchored to a Next Level Racing rig. Everything felt perfect—until I visited BAC’s headquarters near Liverpool.
BAC’s simulation setup is more of a "digital twin" than a mere simulator. This advanced virtual model of their Mono sports car shares interchangeable telemetry with its real-world counterpart. Climbing into the tube-frame chassis on a motion platform with a wraparound screen, you really hope not to spin out so wildly that your lunch reappears.
1. Customer Familiarization: New drivers can get acquainted safely without the risks—or costs—associated with physical learning.
2. Gaming and Cross-Development: Virtual BAC cars may become downloadable content for racing games, potentially merging the automotive and video game industries.
3. Real-World Development: Much like F1 simulators, BAC aims for ‘correlation’ between virtual and real metrics, enabling pre-production testing of new parts or concepts.
I was among the first to drive the digital prototype of the unannounced hydrogen-powered BAC e-Mono. With its futuristic design and blistering acceleration, it seemed straight from a sci-fi flick, demanding considerable simulator practice to master.
Sim racing can indeed influence real car development. BAC’s digital twin not only enhances customer experiences but also blurs the lines between real and virtual worlds, aiding future car innovations. The digital racetrack accelerates automotive advancement.
 | While simulators like BAC's are impressive, we shouldn't forget that they can't fully replicate real-world driving dynamics and conditions. There's still a lot to learn with actual cars. |
 | I'm not convinced that digital simulations can replace real-world testing. There's a lot of nuance in driving that a simulation might overlook, and I wonder if this might lead to more problems than solutions. |
