Virtual racing

It may seem like game playing, but getting behind the wheel of the race simulator for Audi’s two Formula E drivers is very serious business.

With Round 2 of the 2017/18 FIA Formula E season in Marrakesh just around the corner (January 13th), both reigning Champion Lucas di Grassi and teammate Daniel Abt have been hard at it in the simulator, preparing for the season ahead. Indeed before each race of the electric series the drivers and engineers go through the entire process of a full race day in the Audi simulator before they even set foot in the actual race cars. On this occasion, the pair spent a whole day practicing in the simulator at Audi Sport in Neuburg. In a Formula E chassis, surrounded by monitors with a 360-degree view and equipped with headphones and microphones, the race drivers drive the qualifying session and the race on the track in Marrakesh.
 

“These intensive practice sessions are the key to success because the simulation is very realistic,” says Daniel Abt. Based on FIA data, the experts emulate the circuit on the computer in every detail – including curbs, possible vertical differences and climatic conditions. 

“As drivers we then have the opportunity to get to know the track and to try out various lines without any loss of practice time on race day which is short to begin with,” says Abt.
The preparation day in the simulator often lasts eight hours or more and not only serves the race drivers to prepare. 

“During this time, our engineers can gather a lot of important data, optimise energy management, test various software versions and simulate the process flow on a race day,” says Tristan Summerscale, Formula E Project Leader at Audi. 

“We’re well prepared when we hit the race track and are able to respond to new situations with greater flexibility, speed and ease.” 

In spite of a certain similarity to simulator games, Daniel Abt rejects any comparison with a laugh: “One is for fun and the other is real work that all of us have to do with high concentration – even if it falls in the middle of the Christmas season.” A commitment that pays off: With 24 podium results to their credit, Abt and di Grassi have been the most successful duo in Formula E to date.