Driverless Motorsport

[Wizzo]

Imagine if you will a touring car which can race around a track at stunning speeds without the aid of a driver.

Well imagine no more as Seat Sport UK has designed just such a car and they believe that it is the future of motor racing.

The jumbo remote-controlled car uses a system of cameras, microphones and computers to help the controller as he navigates it around the track.

Known as the Leon Touring Car, the vehicle is already being touted as worthy of appearing in real races against real drivers and a recent test saw it record a lap time quicker than that of Seat's top human racers.

"This amazing car's development has been a huge learning curve," said Scott Dennis, Seat UK motorsport manager. "But we are now at the stage where it could soon be used in a touring car race - maybe even as soon as Sunday April 1st, which is the very first race of the season at Brands Hatch.

"This Leon is so rapid I'm beginning to question if I'll need drivers at all next year."

Competitors point out that the Leon has a very big weight advantage compared to other cars and would want a penalty put in place if it is allowed to compete.

Could this be the start of driverless motorsport?

[cosworth151]

The only problem is that they have to dig a slot all the way around the circuit!

[romephius]

I couldn't think of anything more boring than that  then motorsport nay-sayers would truly be right, it would just be a case of watching cars go round in circles, the human element is what makes the sport so good, it's the competition of who has the guts to pull of a risky move or can get the most out of a car with less performance

Just my thoughts though

Rom

[Ian]

  Nice try Wizard, do they have that day in Aussie or the States. 

[johnbull]

Remote controlled cars are nothing new. We have raced them for years, both here in Malta and abroad.

My son has been national on road champion for 8 years with cars I built for him, and he actually took part in the world championships in 98.

Every year in the last 5 years we have competed in Europe's biggest on road RC meeting, the K O Grand Prix held at West London Racing Centre in England.

I can confirm that a modern RC car responds to settings in just the same way as a real car. All parameters are adjustable, camber, caster, toe in, ride height, ackerman, wheelbase, steering throw, kick up. Even wing design and angle makes a hell of a difference.

Then of course there's tyres. it's even more of a headache than F1 with so many different compounds and constructions of tyres, rigidity of wheels, and a mass of different inserts.


Here's a pic of Josh and myself at our pit table at last year's KO Gp.

There are plenty more pics at www.wlrc.co.uk