Hitech Grand Prix, a British motor racing team competing in multiple formula series, has shared how its preparations for the upcoming season have benefitted from its recent investment in driving simulator technology. The simulator is the DMG-1, which won the Development Tool of the Year category of the 2021 Vehicle Dynamics International Awards.
Based at Silverstone circuit, Hitech Grand Prix competing in multiple formula series, including FIA Formula 2, FIA Formula 3, GB3, Formula 4 UK and Formula 4 UAE. The team has acquired a DMG-1 simulator from Dynisma, which it is using in multiple ways, primarily to optimise car setup and prepare the drivers for each specific track.
The DMG-1, DMG meaning Dynisma Motion Generator, is developed for responsiveness and feedback. Dynisma claims the DMG-1 features the lowest latency (<3-4ms) and highest bandwidth (up to 100Hz) ever achieved in full motion simulators, giving a level of realism that means every aspect of the race performance can be improved in the simulator.
Dave Greenwood, head of special projects at Hitech Grand Prix, said that: “The DMG-1 has been an incredibly valuable addition to the Hitech GP vehicle performance toolset. The impact of this investment was seen almost immediately, thanks to the minimal time from installation to implementation within our various development programmes. It also integrated seamlessly with our existing simulation toolset, which meant the same car model is used, whether we are working on the simulator or running large setup parameter sweeps ahead of a race weekend.”
Greenwood added that the F1-bred technology of the platform, and its state-of-the-art cueing, meant the team’s engineers have been able to concentrate on using it to extract performance rather than spending valuable time trying to make it realistic.
“This factor was particularly useful to the team working on our prospective F1 entry project, as they were very quickly able to support the aerodynamic performance group with data that could augment our wind tunnel and CFD programs, in order to ensure we were developing the car in a window that would translate to lap time gains,” he stated.
“Our junior formula teams have found that the correlation to the real world has been quick to dial in, and in particular we look forward to converting the performance increment we have found in the virtual domain over the winter preparing for the new 2024 F2 car into reality,” added Greenwood.
The Dynisma technology also allows drivers to test specific racing scenarios, for instance enabling them to practice track circumstances such as a virtual safety car. Such features benefit driver development as newcomers, such as Paul Aron who joins the Hitech Grand Prix team this season to compete in F2, look to develop their racing careers.
As Paul Aron said: “In an environment where track time is limited, access to a simulator is a crucial development tool for a driver and the team. It provides a reliable reference point for exploring the car and working with the setup. What’s even more important is a simulator that is realistic. Some don’t reflect the detailed characteristics of a circuit – the bumps or precise track layout – and this makes all the difference when you’re looking to translate the progress you’ve made in the sim to a race weekend at a specific track.
“The DMG-1 is everything we need at this level, and it’s especially important for this year because we have a brand new F2 car to get used to. The fact that we’ve been able to prepare for months in the sim, and with this level of feedback, is hopefully going to give us a bit of an edge heading into the new season, which will be exciting to see when we get to the first race in Bahrain.”
The simulator was commissioned in May 2023 and was used throughout the second half of the 2023 racing season, particularly as part of Hitech’s F2 campaign. Hitech’s successes last year included winning the Macau Grand Prix.
Oliver Oakes, CEO, Hitech Grand Prix, discussed the drive for simulation: “We’ve spent nearly a decade establishing Hitech GP’s proven track record on the national and world stage, winning races in every championship we’ve competed in. Maintaining that standing in the sport and delivering against our mission – to nurture the next generation of young drivers through the single-seater pyramid to the highest level of the sport – requires investment in our people and resources.
“The first 12 months in our modern new HQ near to Silverstone Circuit have been devoted to creating a dynamic environment and developing a winning culture. We’ve ensured that our drivers have access to all the facilities and resources necessary to aid their development, including the Dynisma DMG-1 Formula 1-grade driver simulator, as well as experienced engineers, technicians, and human performance specialists.
“The start of the 2024 season will provide a real barometer of just how much the DMG-1 has contributed to our development, and in particular the role it has played in preparing us for a new generation of F2 car. We look forward to seeing the investment and development work come to life in Bahrain and beyond.”
Ashley Warne, Dynisma CEO, added that Hitech Grand Prix had already developed an excellent simulation toolset for their offline simulations, and the Dynisma team had applied a software-agnostic approach to help the team integrate the DMG-1 into their workflow during the period that the simulator was built.
