For those of us who spent countless hours immersed in the early days of racing simulators like Grand Prix Legends, Pole Position, and Sega Rally Championship, the quest for realism in virtual racing is a long and cherished journey. Today, titles like Assetto Corsa continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible, offering incredibly detailed and authentic driving experiences. Recently, the team behind carcodepro.com had the opportunity to delve into the technology that powers Assetto Corsa’s realism, particularly their impressive laser scanning techniques for recreating both tracks and cars. An invitation to Vallelunga raceway to compare the real track with its laser-scanned counterpart in the game for PS4 and Xbox One left a lasting impression, not only due to the track’s meticulous detail but also the faithful reproduction of driving dynamics, even for cars lacking telemetry. This level of fidelity is achieved with remarkable efficiency, a testament to the ingenuity of the development team.
To understand the magic behind this process, we spoke with Aristotelis Vasilakos, the lead designer at Assetto Corsa, to uncover the secrets of digitizing automotive history.
Digitizing the Analog: How to Scan Cars Without Telemetry
One of the most fascinating aspects of Assetto Corsa is its ability to bring classic, analog cars to life in the digital realm. These vehicles, often lacking modern telemetry systems, present a unique challenge for game developers. When asked how Assetto Corsa tackles the digitization of these automotive icons, Aristotelis Vasilakos explained a meticulous, almost archaeological approach.
“With cars like that,” Vasilakos began, “you have to try to find the actual engineers who worked on the car.” This often involves extensive research and networking to connect with individuals who possess firsthand knowledge of these vehicles. Access to the physical car itself is also crucial. “Hopefully,” Vasilakos continued, “they will let you go in the car and measure all the parts, talk with them, get lap times, and hopefully you would have something important by the end of that process.” This hands-on approach, combined with historical data and expert interviews, forms the foundation for recreating these cars in the simulator.
The accuracy of laser-scanned tracks plays a vital role in this process. By comparing simulated lap times with historical records on these precisely rendered tracks, the team can fine-tune the digital car models. “Once we successfully replicate all of the variables of each track time and we can match the time digitally, we can be confident that we are as close as possible,” Vasilakos stated.
This process is akin to reverse engineering, using available data points to solve for unknown variables. “You do some kind of reverse engineering, especially on the older cars, right?” Vasilakos elaborated. “You get all the data you can. You kind of, as we say, ‘lock them’ once we know that this data is certain.” Known parameters, such as suspension travel or wheel camber, are locked into the simulation, providing a stable framework. The team then manipulates the remaining, unknown variables to accurately replicate the car’s handling and performance characteristics, aiming to match historical lap times and driver feedback.
The Human Element: Driver Feedback and Validation
While data and technical specifications are essential, the subjective experience of driving is equally critical to achieving realism. Assetto Corsa places significant emphasis on driver feedback in the car digitization process. According to Vasilakos, “Real professional drivers’ feedback is very important. But equally important is to have the experience to understand what they are saying.”
The challenge lies in interpreting driver feedback, as drivers are naturally focused on pushing the limits and achieving faster lap times. A seemingly negative comment about a car’s handling might, in fact, be a positive indicator of the simulation’s accuracy. Vasilakos recounted an anecdote involving renowned Italian driver Giovanardi testing a simulation of James Glickenhaus’ car on the Nürburgring.
Initially, Giovanardi’s feedback after driving the simulator was critical. “Ehh, not so great. I could have gone faster,” he reportedly said, expressing concerns about turn-in and stability under acceleration and braking. Vasilakos admitted feeling disheartened by this feedback, fearing that their efforts had fallen short. However, the race engineer’s reaction told a different story. Giving a thumbs up, the engineer revealed that Giovanardi’s complaints mirrored his exact feedback about the real car.
“It turns out that the racing driver hates the car just as much in real life, and that the notes he was giving me were the exact same feedback he gives to his race engineer when he gets out of the real car,” Vasilakos explained. This unexpected validation highlighted the accuracy of their digitization process, demonstrating that the simulator faithfully captured not only the car’s performance but also its nuanced handling characteristics and even its quirks.
Striving for Imperfection: The Pursuit of Continuous Improvement
While Assetto Corsa strives for ultimate realism, Vasilakos acknowledges that perfection in racing simulation remains an elusive goal. “I’ll be honest, there is no perfectionist simulator racing,” he stated. Even the most advanced simulators used by Formula 1 teams, some of which utilize Assetto Corsa’s laser-scanned tracks, are constantly evolving.
This recognition of ongoing improvement fuels Assetto Corsa’s development philosophy. “Every day we wake up, come to this office and try to move the technology forward,” Vasilakos emphasized. Every track experience and every piece of data gathered contributes to refining their simulation engine. “We will never stop improving this simulator,” he affirmed, highlighting the team’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of realism in virtual racing.
When asked about his personal favorite car to drive in the simulator, Vasilakos hesitated, explaining the difficulty of choosing just one. However, he revealed a particular fondness for the classic Lotus Type 72. “I love the type 72 Lotus classic,” he shared, praising its balance of responsiveness and grip, preferring it to the more challenging Lotus 49.
For those eager to experience the realism of Assetto Corsa for themselves, the game is available on various platforms, including Windows PCs, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. Explore their website to find download links and immerse yourself in the world of laser-scanned tracks and meticulously digitized cars.
