Open your own McLaren Garage

A new agreement means that everyone can experience what it is like to drive the F1 constructor’s back catalogue

You would be amazed how many announcements about new simulators we get here in the office.

They are no doubt all worthy programs, but it’s fair to say that some are more worthy than others. The latest press release to arrive at Motor Sport HQ was one from Simraceway. Seeing a headline on the email stating that its creators had reached an agreement with the McLaren Group, we quickly read on.

The deal means that Ignite Game Technologies, which built Simraceway, can now create virtual models of every car the Woking-based company has produced – something that has never been allowed before.

All 36 F1 cars will be available, as well as Can-Am cars and even the road-going machines. They can be accessed through the www.simraceway.com website, and while the McLaren cars will be the main draw for many PC gamers there are also machines from Bugatti, Maserati, Saleen and Jaguar.

It’s all very well saying that you can now drive the very rare McLaren M6GT but, as with all simulators, you do wonder how accurate the experience is going to be. To bolster the realism Simraceway has teamed up with Dario Franchitti to ensure that the cars feel like they would inthe game has to offer, but as many of you will know, he’s a huge fan of the history of the sport and has driven an extensive and varied array of cars.

“I have an immense amount of respect for the drivers who came before me in this sport,” he said when the announcement was made just before he sealed his fourth IndyCar title last year. “It’s almost impossible to describe the feeling you get inside when you’re behind the wheel of an old race car, but what I hope to be able to do is use my knowledge and experience to help the team at Simraceway replicate how it feels to drive.”

Simraceway is constantly adding cars and tracks to its stock, and despite the fact that I was next to useless – even with the spec steering wheel – it is extremely enjoyable clicking through a garage of McLaren F1 cars, wondering what to drive next, even if it is just a virtual world.

Ed Foster