RLR MSport first ELMS team to boost driver development with in-garage simulator

RLR MSport has enhanced its driver development capabilities by becoming the first professional racing team to transport a bespoke, state-of-the-art simulator to each round of the European Le Mans Series (ELMS) and Michelin Le Mans Cup.

In 2020, RLR MSport established a successful eSports programme through its association with Abruzzi Racewear, and the RLR Abruzzi eSports squad has since gone on to achieve high-profile race victories and championship titles across multiple platforms, including iRacing, rFactor2 and Assetto Corsa.

However, in a trailblazing step that merges the virtual with reality, RLR MSport has formed a new and innovative partnership with Digital Motorsports, which has supplied a state-of-the-art simulator for trackside driver and team development during each ELMS and Le Mans Cup race meeting.

RLR MSport’s sim represents Digital Motorsports’ industry-leading ability to craft fully customised, turnkey setups that are capable of simulating any specification of real-world racing car.

Mounted on a top-of-the-range Sim Lab P1-X Sim Racing Chassis is a SIMTAG Hydraulic two-pedal system, a Cube Controls Formula Pro wireless steering wheel with Simcube 2 Sport Direct Drive wheelbase, and an adjustable Sim Lab SF1 Formula Racing Seat, all of which has been set up to accurately mimic the real-world LMP3 driving position.

Three 32” Samsung high-resolution gaming monitors are set on a Sim Lab Integrated Monitor Mount, and high-end simulation software is installed on a powerful, purpose-built VRA Racing Gaming PC.

The Ligier JSP320 has been modelled in conjunction with RLR MSport’s real-world racing drivers, and Digital Motorsports has achieved a truly immersive, lifelike experience by adapting the simulator’s ergonomics to accurately reflect an LMP3 cockpit.

However, Digital Motorsports will continue bringing improvements, as the Ireland-based company is in the process of developing bespoke hardware, including a beautifully detailed imitation of the Cosworth steering system found in Ligier’s current LMP3 racer.

The simulator, which will be positioned within RLR MSport’s pit garages for the duration of the 2021 season, is designed to give drivers Malthe Jakobsen, Mike Benham, Alex Kapadia and Tommy Foster an edge, enabling them to stay fresh and focused, and experiment with setups between ELMS and Le Mans Cup track sessions.

Digital Motorsports Owner and Marketing Director, Rob King, said: “We’re excited to partner with RLR MSport, and to be part of the team’s development and performance programme for the upcoming European Le Mans Series and Michelin Le Mans Cup seasons. The benefits of simulation are no secret, but RLR MSport is really taking things to the next level, exploring new ways to optimise its performance through its turnkey Digital Motorsports simulator, both at the team’s HQ and at the racetrack.”

RLR MSport Director of Motorsport Operations, Nick Reynolds, said: “I’m thrilled to have launched this new, exciting, and revolutionary partnership with Digital Motorsports. Racing teams are constantly looking for a competitive edge and the addition of high-specification simulation technology can only enhance RLR MSport’s driver development.

“RLR MSport was first exposed to the sim racing world in early 2020 – the RLR Abruzzi eSports programme has been a real asset, especially as our squad of professional sim racers regularly pull off exceptional results – and I recognised that there are opportunities for teams to enhance their real-world racing programmes through simulation.”

Reynolds continued: “From now on, our trackside simulator will be a key component in our preparation, enabling RLR MSport’s drivers to get their eye in, stay fresh and even test setups freely whenever they’re out of the car. Digital Motorsports employed its knowledge and experience to construct a high-quality, bespoke setup, paying attention to the smallest of details like the seating position to ensure there is a strong correlation between the drivers’ experiences on the sim and on-track. However, the possibilities go beyond that and I’m looking forward to exploring all the ways RLR MSport can harness the technology to improve its performances.”