McLaren Plans To Use Racing Simulator Tech To Develop Road Cars

McLaren will use a new simulator to help develop its next generation of road cars, including the replacement for the P1 hypercar.

As a component of the larger McLaren Group, which also includes its Formula One and IndyCar divisions, McLaren Automotive has announced a collaboration with UK-based Dynisma on simulation technology to aid in the development of its road cars.

As part of the collaboration, the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking, UK will get a Dynisma Motion Generator (DMG) simulator installed. Dynisma is also utilized by the Ferrari F1 team.

According to McLaren Automotive, the simulator, which is expected to be operational by mid-2024, will allow for improved road-car testing and development in key areas. This includes vehicle dynamics, such as handling, braking, and overall driving responsiveness, as well as aerodynamics and powertrains.


Additionally, it is expected to lower the quantity of pricey, one-of-a-kind real-world prototypes required for new models, speed up development while cutting costs, and allow virtual testing of future automobiles.

McLaren has declared that it is developing a replacement for the P1 hypercar, which was sold from 2013 to 2015, in order to compete with Ferrari's 350 km/h LaFerrari.The French hypercar manufacturer Bugatti is also anticipated to reveal its  V16 hybrid Chiron replacement in the first half of 2024.

The 2024 release of the McLaren flagship, codenamed "P18," is expected to feature top-hinged gullwing doors instead of the brand's 1992-era butterfly doors. It can also be used to test autonomous technology and driver assistance technology (DAT). It can even simulate a particular tire for virtual testing, McLaren says.

In the fiercely competitive world of Formula One, where a car's starting grid position can vary significantly based on a tenth of a second, race teams rely heavily on simulators to fine-tune various aspects of their race cars.

Given that regulations restrict the quantity of testing that can occur in real life, simulators allow for both experimentation and priceless, endless "virtual" track time. They also assist in the experience-building process for novice drivers.

According to McLaren Automotive, the DMG simulator provides cutting-edge technology when compared to other manufacturers, increasing the precision of its virtual testing prior to transfer to the finished product.

This includes reduced "latency," or the degree to which the behavior of the virtual car resembles the instantaneous reactions of a real car, to enhance the sense of realism in the driving experience.