BMW works driver Philipp Eng (AUT) is a talented all-rounder behind a steering wheel. He has won Formula races, as well as in a host of different BMW race cars, including the BMW M4 DTM, BMW M8 GTE and BMW M6 GT3.
Eng has also been
a sim racing expert for many years. In today’s difficult situation, virtual
races are the only opportunity for racing drivers to practice their craft. Eng
explains the sim racing phenomenon and its future role as a motorsport in its
own right.
While actual race weekends are unthinkable at the moment, the sim racing
calendar is growing all the time. Last weekend, four major races were held. Eng
was in action in two of them. On Saturday, he made it through to the final
against a top-class field in ‘THE RACE All-Stars Esports Battle’. One day
later, he finished third in the ‘F1 Esports Virtual Bahrain Grand Prix’, the
first sim race officially staged by Formula 1.
“I am glad I have my race simulator at home at the moment. In these times, when
everyone has to avoid moving about in public as much as possible, it is
basically my ‘substitute racing drug’,” said Eng. “The virtual races help me to
stay in race mode, particularly mentally. Although the simulator doesn’t feel
exactly the same as reality, my instincts are the same as on an actual
racetrack. It allows me to keep them sharp. For me, sim racing is more than
just fun, it also really helps me to improve as a professional racing driver.”
Sim racing forms an
additional pillar in the BMW Motorsport programme.
BMW Motorsport identified the benefits of sim racing and its increasingly
important role at an early stage, since when it has become an additional pillar
in its motorsport programme. The focus is on two platforms. BMW works drivers
and some of the world’s best sim racers regularly compete on the iRacing
platform – primarily in the virtual BMW M8 GTE. Bruno Spengler (CAN), Nick
Catsburg (NED) and Jesse Krohn (FIN) claimed a one-two-three in that car in
last Saturday’s ‘IMSA Super Sebring Saturday’. The Digital Nürburgring
Endurance Series has recently also started to hold its races on the iRacing
platform. There, BMW works drivers and the BMW Juniors take to the Nordschleife
in the BMW Z4 GT3. The second platform is rFactor 2 which is home to the BMW
SIM M2 CS Racing Cup, in which the new BMW Junior Team regularly competes.
“In my opinion, BMW Motorsport’s intensive involvement is currently giving sim
racing another huge boost,” says Eng. “When a major manufacturer like BMW gets
involved to such a degree, the general public picks up on it and the perception
of sim racing changes in a positive way.” As far as Eng is concerned, sim
racing has already earned the right to be regarded as a motorsport in its own
right, particularly in the future. “I see it this way: as a motorsport fan,
watch the DTM race at the Nürburgring in the afternoon and then why not watch
the livestream of the sim race in Sebring in the evening,” he said.
Eng: First simulator
stuck in place with tape.
Eng was just a teenager when he first ventured into the world of virtual
racing. “I was 17, I think, and my simulator was such that I had to shift my
exercise books to one side, clamp my steering wheel on my desk, and fasten the
pedals to the floor using tape,” said Eng, describing his early set-up. “The
way sim racing has developed since then, and particularly in recent months, is
very impressive.” Today, Eng no longer has to use tape for his pedals. His
equipment is of the highest standard – as is his driving in the simulator.
Despite that, professional racing drivers still cannot quite compete with the
best sim racers in the world. Eng has an explanation: “That is mainly because
of the incredible amount of time that these guys have spent on simulators over
the years. I like to compare it with fitness training. If I train regularly and
do, let’s say, 350 kilometres per week on my bike, then I will be pretty fit.
If, however, I have two weeks off because I am away somewhere racing, then my
fitness level drops again. That is exactly the difference between me, who is
not regularly in the simulator during a normal season, and a professional sim
racer – who is also very talented.”
Eng does not necessarily believe that a top sim racer would automatically make
a good racing driver in the real world. “I am sure that the best have the
necessary technical know-how and driving potential. However, in a real race
car, they must first learn to deal with the fact that they could get hurt if
they make a mistake. I notice that with myself. I always take more risks in the
simulator than I do in a real race car.”
BMW Motorsport
simulator: “Barely different to reality”.
Unlike driving a real race car, a simulator offers the opportunity to do a lot
of testing and gain experience without any risks, in a controlled environment,
and without it costing too much. For that reason, simulations also play a huge
role in all BMW Motorsport’s actual racing projects. The BMW Motorsport
simulator in Munich (GER) is used intensively for vehicle development and race
preparations. For example, the BMW i Andretti Motorsport Team spends several
days in the simulator preparing for each Formula E race weekend. The DTM
drivers also regularly use the BMW Motorsport simulator.
“The simulator I have at home is pretty good, for something that ordinary
citizens can buy. However, it is miles away from what the BMW Motorsport
simulator can do,” says Eng. “As the BMW Motorsport simulator moves on a
flexible platform, you, the driver, feel every kerb and bump, just as you would
do in reality. For me, the way the car handles is barely different to reality.”
