Pure Tech Racing Simulator Review - Gatwick Centre

Puretech Racing Simulator Review - Gatwick Centre

I was lucky enough to be invited to the opening of the Puretech Racing centre near Gatwick last week – and I can honestly say it was brilliant!

The guys at Puretech Racing have the single aim to make racing more accessible to all motor racing fans than it currently is. Competing in real life carries a financial burden that many simply cannot overcome.

Using state of the art carbon fibre cockpit simulators, which include full 1.5g motion effects, Puretech’s aim is to allow you to experience racing just like drivers do in real life.

At the slick looking Gatwick Centre, they have created a room where up to 10 drivers can jump aboard their simulator cockpit and compete over a network head to head. With a selection of different single seater categories to choose from, as well as an expanding line up of circuits, the choice really is yours as to how you spend your time and money there.

The centre also has a bar where food and drink can be purchased and areas to chat and relax either before or after you racing experience. A lot of time and effort has clearly gone into the feel of the place and it shows in the result.

The Launch

After being greeted by all the key players of Puretech Racing in the morning, an introduction to the centre and product was conducted; follow by a Q&A session for those interested to find out more.

From my own questioning, I was able to find out that the Puretech Racing website will be used to host leagues and a community of racers as the interest and fan base inevitably grows. So keep any eye out!

After the Q&A session, we proceeded into the simulation hall (as I would describe it). This is where we got our first taste of drivers behind the wheels of their virtual machines.

At the wheels of 9 of the simulators was a host of current GP2 and other feeder series drivers, as well as some of the developers of Puretech Racing.

The racing was very competitive and once all the drivers got out and started chatting, you could see them all discussing moments during their short 5 lap race, using their hands as visual aides to describe how they saw the incidents – it felt like I was watching TV coverage of a real race!

Driving the simulator myself

It was all well and good watching these up and coming stars try out this genius equipment, but ultimately I was there to have a go myself and rate it that way.

My chance came after signing up for a go and jumping in the cockpit was exciting and a bit of a surprise. The cockpits are modelled exactly as a real life Formula 1 car would be. Near lying down position, high side head protection, even some seat belts! And of course, there is a removable carbon fibre steering wheel for getting in and out – what a touch!

You also get a set of head phones to try and block out the ambient sounds and put your engine note at the focus of your attention.

After a some what chaotic start procedure, we were under way and I just wasn’t prepared for how much force the steering wheel and the whole cockpit was going to subject me to.

Slightly cheating the kerbs or running on the grass really punishes you body as you get moved around in your seat. It promotes a better driving style where the smoothest will definitely do the best.

After a few laps I learnt the made up track and began finding my feet. My lap times started to tumble and I engaged in some great wheel to wheel battles with other people trying it out. The lap times were a smidge over one minute and the race was five laps long. When the race finished people were getting out with minor sweat patches forming on their backs and armpits and it became apparent how much effort these simulators require to handle.

Last man standing – home time

After most of the guests had had their go, they started saying their goodbyes and departing the centre leaving only a few keen racing nuts hogging the simulators. Me and a few members of the Carlin Motorsport GP2 team continued to race and I found myself addicted to trying to break my lap personal lap records.

After a few more races, I found myself with some comparable lap times to some of the GP2 drivers including Max Chilton. But physically I wasn’t up for anymore and was sufficiently happy with the progress I’d made in the few sessions I’d taken part in. It was time to go!

Conclusion to the Puretech Racing Gawick Centre

I had an excellent day at Puretech Racing. Meeting the team behind the project, hearing their vision and enthusiasm was pretty inspiring and the end product turned out to be awesome as well.

I certainly recommend a trip down and see if you get as much out of it as I and many of the others did on the launch day.

I suggest you take a look at their website at the prices and options available you.

www.puretechracing.com

Posted by James Wilson. - Follow him on twitter @enterf1.

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Last Comment Posted »

• I've been there and believe me it's awesome and I reckommend it to any1 who what's to have a driving experience
  by Gareth
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