Ahead of this weekend’s Bathurst 1000, NAPA Auto Parts drivers Alexander Rossi and James Hinchcliffe have taken to the track using a state of the art racing simulator.
Walkinshaw Andretti United has today announced its technical partnership with Motum Simulation, as they bring the racetrack to the workshop thanks to Motum’s high-fidelity simulators.
The Team will use the Motum MP6-VR Supercar and GT Simulator to not only help replicate the on-track experience for drivers, but as an engineering tool to develop the car. Motum Simulation was founded in 2012 by experienced racing engineer Steve Hoinville, who has over 20 years’ experience in vehicle dynamics with some of the biggest brands in the automotive and racing industries. He believes that quality motion simulation should be widely accessible for driver training, and not just for Formula 1 drivers and pilots.
Underpinning this vision, Motum’s highly experienced team of engineers have created True Motion™ technology to remove motion imperfections, utilising Motum’s patented 6DOF (6 degrees of freedom) motion base, with its principles used within all of Motum Simulation’s solutions.
The MP6-VR accurately reproduces a driving experience that has been used and endorsed by motor racing engineers and drivers across major racing categories including V8 Supercars, Porsche Motorsport, F1, F3 and GT Endurance racing.
IndyCar Drivers Alexander Rossi and James Hinchcliffe were among the first users of the simulator since being commissioned at Walkinshaw Andretti United HQ two weeks ago, using it to log as many laps as possible around the Mount Panorama circuit before Practice 1 starts this Thursday.
The Motum MP6-VR Simulator will remain in the Walkinshaw Andretti United workshop, readily available for use by drivers and engineers.
Practice 1 for the 2019 Bathurst 1000 begins at 9:55am this Thursday, October 10th.
Mathew Nilsson – Walkinshaw Andretti United Co-Team Principal
“This technical partnership with Motum Simulation is a critically important one for our team.
“It gives us the ability to bring the racetrack to the workshop, creating an engineering tool that will help us develop our racecars away from the circuit, an extremely important option to have with the testing restrictions we face.
“The next best thing to reality is a high-fidelity simulator, and it’s fantastic to have one at our disposal, the cohesion between the two is unbelievable, and it’s something we can’t wait to explore further.”
Steve Hoinville – Managing Director, Motum Simulation
“We are delighted to have Motum Simulation’s technologies adopted, and integrated fully into Walkinshaw Andretti United’s engineering program. The partnership provides great synergies for both organisations.”
“The first few days of operation have already seen incredible correlation between data recorded in the Motum Simulator and the team’s qualifying pace from Bathurst 2018. This degree of realism can only be achieved through a 6DoF motion system such as the MP6-VR simulator.”
“For Walkinshaw Andretti United’s drivers to be able to practice for each circuit, and engineers develop the race cars in their workshop at any time without limitations will be of great benefit to the team. For Motum, the opportunity to work so closely with such an iconic team will further our expertise in the field and allow us to continue to close the gap between the virtual and real worlds.”
“It’s a great partnership, and at Motum we are very excited about the technical collaboration ahead.”
