What Skills are Transferable from Simracing to Motorsport?

iRacing IMSA multiclass.jpg
Scott Mclaughlin credited iRacing for his win in the Sebring 12 Hours this weekend. This got me thinking, what skills are transferable from simracing to motorsport?

Image Credit: iRacing.com

This Super Sebring weekend saw an accumulation of amazing races taking place at the old airfield race track. None more so however than the headlining IMSA Sebring 12 Hours. Whilst the top class had its fair share of thrills and spills, the LMP2 category got a new, first-time class winner in the shape Scott McLaughlin.

More traditionally seen in Australian Supercars and, more recently, the Indycar championship, he has adapted very well to the unique challenges of endurance sportscar racing. In just his second race, the New Zealander claimed a class win and finished on the overall podium. After the event, he took to Twitter to credit iRacing for his win.


In the tweet, the three-time Supercars champion explained that the iRacing IMSA series helped him get up to speed for the real thing. Getting used to dealing with traffic is no small feat, with countless top level racers struggling with this unique part of motorsport. "The traffic patterns are so similar," he claims. He even goes as far as to recommend that young, up and coming racing drivers should use the game as a tool to practice for racing through traffic.

The most transferable skills from simracing to motorsport​

This all got me thinking about just how transferable the act of simracing is to real-world motorsport. Sure the seat of the pants sensation one gets from sitting behind the wheel of a real car is missing from simracing. And sure, every game has its own approach to what driving feels like. But the rest of the racing experience from race craft to strategy and even something as simple as racing lines can all be applied to the real world.

Personally, I would suggest that learning a track is the most applicable skill that can be taken from the sim and used come race day. Even the most prominent F1 drivers use simulators to learn new venues. That would certainly come in handy the first time the grid raced at the latest track, the Jeddah Corniche circuit. With a track all about getting into a rhythm and winding through the barriers at break-neck speeds, using a sim to learn the flow before arriving on-site would have been crucial.

What do you think are some of the most transferable skills form simracing to real motorsport?
  • Like
Reactions: watchdog35, MotorMantovani, Metla and 4 others
About author
Angus Martin
Angus Martin
Motorsport gets my blood pumping more than anything else. Be it physical or virtual, I'm down to bang doors.

More in F1 & Motorsport

Comments

BillyBobSenna
Premium
The answer also depends if the simulator is an entertainment or engineering simulator. Big difference.
 
MarcG
Not only does sim racing translate skills to real racing, it can also have an effect on everyday road driving as well and here's a personal example;

Going back about 10-12 years ago where I had already been sim racing for a few years I picked up a cheap BMW for my daily commute, there was this one country bend in particular that used to be the scene of many crashes (and still is to this day). One day when driving far too fast in order to get home quick for the friday night sesh I came up to this bend, slowed respectively enough (but still tanking it somewhat) and turned to the right when.....the back end just snapped out like a bitch, instinctively I applied throttle (FWD car) and turned into the oversteer and managed throttle application & steering input until the front end "caught up" and I continued on my merry way.

Whilst the adrenaline flooded through me like vindaloo that I would eat later that evening, it occurred to me that, had I not had the experience of doing exactly similar in racing sims over the years, then I wouldn't of known what to do and I would've become just another statistic too add to the corner that catches drivers out.

...and that is just one example of whereby sim racing has saved my arse on the roads, so yes, skills can easily translate to real racing and that much is evident everywhere you look these days, but it's not just on the real race track that it can help you.
 
Celestiale
BrunoBæ said:
No problem Bram.
Thats ok with me - too.:thumbsup:

OK to be serious you can probably get to know a new circuit in RL by driving on it in the virtual world. But thats all (IMO).
Click to expand...
I'd say this is absolute nonsense and take the absolute opposite opinion:
90% of the skills are transferable (especially when you use VR), basically everything apart from the particular handling of a particular car (be it online or IRL), general fear (of death, injury or just huge property damage) and physical aspects (coping with G force).
I learned car control, especially catching slides 95% via sim. At the time I ended up having to do it in real life, it just worked and I didn't really have to practise anything in addition, apart from getting used to the particular car handling. Never did any real life practise, but was still asked to be a stunt driver for a Sky production (after a buddy of mine working for them showing a short clip of myself driving an alpine pass).

Apart from my insignificant subjective opinion, there is countless evidence, that the skill is transferable.
Many sim racers jumped to real life racing and were quite competitive after a very short time of adaption. Jimmy Broadbent is a good example, never did karting or any other real life racing, was just a sim racer, jumped into a real race car, was competitive from the get-go and shortly after won a championship with minimal real life practise. Others from Gran Turismo academy (which isn't even a sim in the first place) were also quite competitive (obviously not on par with professional racers that have been karting since age 6, which would be delusional, but also not much slower)
It also works the other way round, real life racers jumping into sim racing and being competitive after a very short time of adaption.

Does it mean that every good sim racer could be or would be a good real life racer? Of course not. You still need to overcome your fear and cope with all the real life shenanigans (noise, G-force). You still need some practise to adapt. But it surely is a very good preparation and also an indication that you could become a good real life racer.


Next thing will happen, is that someone here will say that flying an airplane in a simulator does not translate into real life flying (even though pilots do 90% of their education in simulator :rolleyes:)
 
SwannyUK
Staff
Premium
Celestiale said:
I'd say this is absolute nonsense and take the absolute opposite opinion:
90% of the skills are transferable (especially when you use VR), basically everything apart from the particular handling of a particular car (be it online or IRL), general fear (of death, injury or just huge property damage) and physical aspects (coping with G force).
I learned car control, especially catching slides 95% via sim. At the time I ended up having to do it in real life, it just worked and I didn't really have to practise anything in addition, apart from getting used to the particular car handling. Never did any real life practise, but was still asked to be a stunt driver for a Sky production (after a buddy of mine working for them showing a short clip of myself driving an alpine pass).

Apart from my insignificant subjective opinion, there is countless evidence, that the skill is transferable.
Many sim racers jumped to real life racing and were quite competitive after a very short time of adaption. Jimmy Broadbent is a good example, never did karting or any other real life racing, was just a sim racer, jumped into a real race car, was competitive from the get-go and shortly after won a championship with minimal real life practise. Others from Gran Turismo academy (which isn't even a sim in the first place) were also quite competitive (obviously not on par with professional racers that have been karting since age 6, which would be delusional, but also not much slower)
It also works the other way round, real life racers jumping into sim racing and being competitive after a very short time of adaption.

Does it mean that every good sim racer could be or would be a good real life racer? Of course not. You still need to overcome your fear and cope with all the real life shenanigans (noise, G-force). You still need some practise to adapt. But it surely is a very good preparation and also an indication that you could become a good real life racer.


Next thing will happen, is that someone here will say that flying an airplane in a simulator does not translate into real life flying (even though pilots do 90% of their education in simulator :rolleyes:)
Click to expand...
Great point. When I was 16 I had a trial flight lesson in a Cessna. The pilot offered me the controls and after 30 seconds said "have you done this before?!" Nope - only on Microsoft flight simulator.

Another 30 minutes later he was confident enough to let me control the stick for the landing whilst he controlled the throttle.
 
N
Celestiale said:
Many sim racers jumped to real life racing and were quite competitive after a very short time of adaption. Jimmy Broadbent is a good example, never did karting or any other real life racing, was just a sim racer, jumped into a real race car, was competitive from the get-go and shortly after won a championship with minimal real life practise. Others from Gran Turismo academy (which isn't even a sim in the first place) were also quite competitive (obviously not on par with professional racers that have been karting since age 6, which would be delusional, but also not much slower)
Click to expand...
This point is often mentioned without considering that all these people have been trained by coaches and supported by well prepared teams. Big advantage. Nobody starts from zero. Also the GT Academy drivers are all people who didn't have funds to continue their careers (Mardenborough excluded)
 
jonelsorel
1. Everything related to how you handle grip learned through hearing, sight and for lucky ones - motion.
2. Racing etiquette, those who have it. Then again, it's a rather scarce thing in the real world too.
 
Last edited:
Celestiale
NobodyKnowsReally said:
This point is often mentioned without considering that all these people have been trained by coaches and supported by well prepared teams. Big advantage. Nobody starts from zero. Also the GT Academy drivers are all people who didn't have funds to continue their careers (Mardenborough excluded)
Click to expand...
Of course they have - but do you think they would have been competitive without any prior sim racing experience? That would mean that virtually everyone can jump into a race car and be competitive after a couple of sessions with coaches - (almost) competitive with others, that have been racing their whole life since being a little child - which is obviously nonsense. 90% comes from their sim racing experience, the last 10% to make them competitive comes from the coaches.
 
Richard Wilks
The ability to moan and complain, and think you have a god given right to any piece of tarmac in front of you, even if another car is on it. All else is wishfull thinking.
 
Last edited:
Richard Wilks
Now more seriously, simracing helps with racecraft track memorization and basic concepts.

But thats it. Nothing replaces seat time to feel a real car. Nothing.
 
Two Hands
Premium
I have some real world experience to share regarding this. I compete in time attack competitions and also attend drift events.

The local time attack I compete in actually has a fairly accurate mod of the track in Assetto Corsa.I as well as several other people I have met had our first experience of this track virtually.

Whether in the drift or time attack discipline, those who already learned the layout have a clear advantage when they first start out. It is obvious why.

For the time attack folks, they are generally putting down competitive times within their first few sessions. They spend a lot less time getting to know the track and can work on being fast much sooner. My experience was similar, in my very first session on the track I managed a competitive time. I think I even finished 2nd or 3rd in my class at that time attack.

For the drift guys, a lot of them have never driven a drift car or even rwd car in real life. I have witnessed several get into a drift car to have a go on the skid pad and within moments they are in control. It is always interesting to watch and this is becoming more common with the costs of irl track play vs Sims.

Something interesting to add. While the real thing is better. In the moment it isn't that far off from sim racing in VR. Also the fear on a real track, at least for me is almost subconscious. I find myself braking earlier in real life. I trust the sim slightly more, or perhaps it's just the thought that if I mess up, it's my car/life on the line rather than a virtual car you can reset. I kind of have to talk myself into taking certain turns the way I do in sim. So far my "sim training" has never let me down.
 
Nick Hill
Sean Armstrong said:
Something interesting to add. While the real thing is better. In the moment it isn't that far off from sim racing in VR.
Click to expand...
Haha, one of my biggest mistakes of my entire life was when I was riding home from the track after a race weekend and I mentioned to my wife, "you know, it's amazing, but it's really not THAT different from sim racing..."

"OK, then sell your cars."

Lol, no!

But, honestly, even without the g-forces, the feelings you get between real and virtual are remarkably similar. If I HAD to pick one, I would definitely pick the real thing, but it's not by as wide of a margin as you might think.

Sim racing is also safer and a hell of a lot cheaper. Also, sim racing is much "easier" in that sense that, with real racing, for every lap I spend on track, I've spent many hours working on the car, taking trips to my engine builder, picking up tires, attending club meetings, etc, etc.

Even at the very basic grassroots levels, real life motorsport is an absolutely massive time commitment - there's something to be said about just being able to hop into your rig on a rim and, bam, you're lapping in whatever car/track combo your heart desires within 5 minutes.
 
BrunoBæ
Celestiale said:
I'd say this is absolute nonsense
Click to expand...
OK if you say so.
And you are probably the objective standard here.:)

CatsAreTheWorstDogs: This way of silly reacting is probably one of the reasons a lot of people keep away from this forum and say its too hatefull and hostile.
 
RichardHessels
BillyBobSenna said:
The answer also depends if the simulator is an entertainment or engineering simulator. Big difference.
Click to expand...
That's a very thin line. Most racingteams outside F1 or top tier endurance use normal simulators programs like, rF1-rF2-Ac-AMS.
But they have much more accurate content (my job) and they have different goals while driving.
Even virtual setups can be transferred partially if the content is accurate enough.
 
S
One could take Jaques Villeneuve's POV.
+26 years ago he used Geoff Crammond's Grand Prix 2 as preparation for his F1 debut.
Fast forward to present time, his view on modern sims is a mushroom experience
But, ofcourse, nothing compares to GP2 :)

Myself, having tried quite some track days on different tracks (and a few races besides tons of GoKart racing) and have used simracing with same perspective as JV, pre-season 1997: With objective to learn the slopes.

However, found quite some mods for various sims in fact delivering trustworthy suspension, travel, tyre modelling, gas feeding and even brake balancing (simracings Achille's heel IMO) quite trustworthy for preparation of real world experiences. However, mostly as the exceptions that prove the rule, unless you try a real pro $+1mil simulator, narrowly simulating very specific vehicles and track types.
 
Last edited:
THK84
For me:

Spending money on racing
Turning off all assists and ruining tires
Bad starts off the line
Inconsistency
Spinning
Punting
Rage quitting
 
Two Hands
Premium
Nick Hill said:
Haha, one of my biggest mistakes of my entire life was when I was riding home from the track after a race weekend and I mentioned to my wife, "you know, it's amazing, but it's really not THAT different from sim racing..."

"OK, then sell your cars."

Lol, no!

But, honestly, even without the g-forces, the feelings you get between real and virtual are remarkably similar. If I HAD to pick one, I would definitely pick the real thing, but it's not by as wide of a margin as you might think.

Sim racing is also safer and a hell of a lot cheaper. Also, sim racing is much "easier" in that sense that, with real racing, for every lap I spend on track, I've spent many hours working on the car, taking trips to my engine builder, picking up tires, attending club meetings, etc, etc.

Even at the very basic grassroots levels, real life motorsport is an absolutely massive time commitment - there's something to be said about just being able to hop into your rig on a rim and, bam, you're lapping in whatever car/track combo your heart desires within 5 minutes.
Click to expand...

Nick Hill said:
Haha, one of my biggest mistakes of my entire life was when I was riding home from the track after a race weekend and I mentioned to my wife, "you know, it's amazing, but it's really not THAT different from sim racing..."

"OK, then sell your cars."

Lol, no!

But, honestly, even without the g-forces, the feelings you get between real and virtual are remarkably similar. If I HAD to pick one, I would definitely pick the real thing, but it's not by as wide of a margin as you might think.

Sim racing is also safer and a hell of a lot cheaper. Also, sim racing is much "easier" in that sense that, with real racing, for every lap I spend on track, I've spent many hours working on the car, taking trips to my engine builder, picking up tires, attending club meetings, etc, etc.

Even at the very basic grassroots levels, real life motorsport is an absolutely massive time commitment - there's something to be said about just being able to hop into your rig on a rim and, bam, you're lapping in whatever car/track combo your heart desires within 5 minutes.
Click to expand...
That is hilarious. I've had similar questions asked because I've admitted the same to people regarding how similar it actually is. Despite all the time, money and energy the real thing takes, it is so worth it.

Hell one of my motors is currently at the machine shop. Occasionally I feel like I've spent too much on sim racing, but then it hits me a single rebuild dwarfs what I've spent in my entire life on sim racing, or for that matter tires. I don't even want to know how much I've spent on track tires.
 
John B. Ellis
Premium
Learning the controls for Accolade's Grand Prix Circuit (1988) really helped to advance my typing skills as a youngster. Very useful today as an amateur motorsport historian.

Grand_Prix_Circuit_cover.jpg
 
Last edited:
M
Depends on your brain. If you use it you can apply a lot. If not... not. Track knowledge, braking points, drifting, coordination, awareness, etc. Ive got good rig with bass shakers and it feels like a road car. Road feeling and car control is very similar and Ive got Brera 2.4 in real life. This car feels juicy not like modern plastic cars with 100 assists. I had phobia related to car driving and now I feel very comfortable because I know I can control car very well. Of course sim is sim but I see a lot to improve by competing with good sim drivers. Stress management as well. How to go fast through various corners. In short brief I would say... If your perception is shallow you will see nothing. With no offence. Everybody are different. I learned a lot. Quick down shifts... bla bla bla. Pedals control. You can even learn how to park a car in sim.... :D for beginners. I love sim racing.
 

Latest News

Article information

Author
Angus Martin
Article read time
2 min read
Views
8,709
Comments
82
Last update

Share this article

Are you buying car setups?

  • Yes

  • No

Results are only viewable after voting.
See comments…
Back
Top