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Ferrari Virtual Academy

Ferrari Virtual Academy

Reckon you know your way around a computer game? Then the Ferrari Virtual Academy is for you. Ferrari reckon their engineers, in conjunction with Fernando Alonso, Felipe Massa and Giancarlo Fisichella, have created a simulator that is just like driving their F10 Formula One car, well, virtually.

The simulator is available for download now and can be purchased in two stages. The first stage (€14.90) gets you the basic set-up along with the Fiorano circuit. The second stage (€9.90) adds the Mugello and Nürburgring circuits.

Once you’re experiencing just what it is like to be an F1 superstar you can register your times and take part in an international tournament. As usual Mac users will have to stick to playing with Photoshop, this seems to be a PC-only experience.

More after the break.

Ferrari Virtual Academy

Ferrari Virtual Academy

THE FERRARI VIRTUAL ACADEMY IS HERE

  • The first virtual simulator of the Scuderia Ferrari for an international web tournament
  • Available today for download from www.ferrarivirtualacademy.com

Monza, 9 September 2010 – Ferrari’s first online virtual simulator is revealed today: the Ferrari Virtual Academy, which makes its press début on the occasion of the Italian Grand Prix in the paddock of Scuderia Ferrari.

The virtual simulator, developed in collaboration with the drivers of the Scuderia Ferrari, Alonso, Massa and Fisichella, as well as its engineers, enables you to experience all the sensations of driving an F10 virtually. It allows aficionados from all over the world to compete with each other on the Fiorano circuit, for the first release, and subsequently Mugello and Nürburgring. The Ferrari Virtual Academy is the only virtual simulator for PCs which faithfully reproduces the F10, the single-seater which competes in the Formula One World Championship.

The challenge of the Ferrari Virtual Academy was to create a version of the simulator used for training Scuderia Ferrari’s drivers which everyone can use on their own PC. Starting from an analysis of authentic data from the car, the aerodynamic effects, tyre characteristics and behaviour of the chassis-suspension system and engine have been reproduced, as well as all elements of the transmission. The work of the development team – 12,000 hours, 15 experts, the use of 3D graphics technology and data processing which has been used for the first time on a product of this type – was assisted by the commitment of the same Ferrari drivers, who tested the simulator personally in order to optimise its performance. The simulator faithfully reproduces the cockpit and steering wheel of the F10, thus revealing all its controls and functionality.

By studying the videos filmed by the drivers and thanks to the helmet cam, which is fitted on the helmet and therefore responds realistically to the stresses of the track and the G forces that the driver is subjected to, this very particular perspective, as complex as it is thrilling to master, has been reproduced to recreate the tension that the neck muscles are subjected to when driving a single-seater.

The dynamic modelling of the car was followed by a comparison of the real and virtual telemetric data of the F10 on circuits reproduced through laser scanning, to ensure that they corresponded. The analysis of the simulated laps, turn after turn, enabled targeted interventions to refine the dynamic behaviour and achieve a driving experience and response to controls with the utmost realism and fidelity. This was also made possible thanks to the physics engine, which, working at a frequency of 1000 Hz, calculates all the forces that act on the car every millisecond as well as their effect on the ride.

Every aficionado will be able to record their own time online, taking part in an international tournament which will reward the highest ranking virtual drivers with Ferrari products every week. At the end of the tournament, following the regulation of the competitions, the 5 drivers ranked as fastest will win a trip to Maranello, the heart of Ferrari. They will pass through the gates of Fiorano and take part in the exclusive Ferrari Driver Academy course, personally aided by the exceptional tutors of the Racing Department.

The simulator can be purchased online from the site www.ferrarivirtualacademy.com at a price of €14.90 for the first release, the Fiorano Circuit, and €9.90 for the following releases with the Mugello and Nürburgring circuits.

Minimum compatibility requirements:

  • Operating System: Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7 32/64-bit
  • Processor: XP: 1.8 GHz or higher; Vista/Seven: 2.4 GHz or higher
  • Memory: XP: 1 GB; Vista/Seven: 2 GB
  • Video Card: GeForce 6800 GT* or higher / ATI 9800 PRO* or higher
  • Space on disk: 1 GB
  • DirectX: DirectX 9.0c
  • Internet Connection: modem/ADSL
  • Input: keyboard, mouse, joypad, joystick, steering wheel/pedals, configuration of multiple controllers with at least 2 analogue axes
  • Compatible with: Nvidia 3D Vision; Track IR Enhanced; Matrox TripleHead2Go

4 replies on “Ferrari Virtual Academy”

Assuming you have a relatively recent Mac you just need to install Bootcamp and then you can have a Windows parition that you can boot into to play this and other simulators such as rFactor, iRacing etc. I have a fairly recent Mac Mini hooked upto my TV that handles rFactor well enough, based on the 45 minutes I spent playing the trial version.

You can also buy a USB wireless adaptor off eBay that allows you to connect a Microsoft Xbox360 racing wheel, the only downside being that force feedback doesn’t seem to work. Alternatively you could use any USB gamepad or a wheel like the Logitech G25 or G27, or a Fanatec Porsche wheel, if you’re willing to spend alot of money.

I have purchased this simulation programme but con not download it.
I keep getting ERROR PAGE and Internet can not open the download

Please help,,,

Ed

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