Driving on the F1 night track

John Chan | Apr 25, 2008

Earlier today, we had a go on SingTel's F1 simulator. Designed by UK-based BallRacing Developments, this machine is not your usual arcade machine. The Singapore operator commissioned it to simulate just one track, the one that F1 drivers will be zipping around in Singapore come September.

Not only does the external chassis look like an F1 car, getting into it felt real, too. You are in an almost inclined position while an assistant adjusts the foot pedals to the reach of your legs. The steering wheel is then snapped on, just like in a real F1 car.

Once you start the engine, the entire machine starts to vibrate. Though you are controlling what happens on the screen, the "car" that you are in will move according to your driving. Granted, it won't spin you around like a theme park ride, but it does add to the sensation that you are really in an F1 car.

The graphics in this simulator aren't that fantastic. You'll probably get more eye-candy from currently available racing games for PCs and gaming consoles. But that's not the point. This is an almost true-to-life recreation of the Singapore F1 track, one you won't find on any video game at the moment. Driving the F1 car isn't easy. This simulator aims to make it feel just like the real thing, so all your antics at the arcade and Xbox 360 won't work here. For one, there's no automatic mode, so gear shifting is a must using the paddles at the steering wheel. The intricacies of F1 driving including a speed limit in the pit stop area are also programmed into the simulator, which is just one example of how detailed it is.

SingTel has one simulator at its headquarters in Comcentre along Exeter Road, and one more which has yet to arrive in Singapore. The second one will travel around the island to spread the F1 fever. You can't just walk in and drop a token to drive one, though. It's free, but those hoping to have a go will first have to register and then book a slot through the operator's F1 site. You also have only one lap to prove your worth, so don't go there unprepared. We strongly advise anyone attempting to use the simulator to first download the PC version (a 222MB download) of it at home. This lets you try out the simulator at home minus the cool car, wheel, seatbelt and sound effects. Make sure you memorize the track before taking a spin in the real simulator so as not to make a fool of yourself in a public place, crashing at every turn.

As part of the festivities, there are also real racing suits and helmets that participants can put on for a photo opportunity. It's a good chance to look like Lewis Hamilton even if you can't burn rubber like him. For more details, booking form and simulator downloads, visit www.singtelrace.com. Check out our photo gallery for more images of the simulator.

Filed under: Gadgets
Leave a comment | Bookmark | Share