iRacing set out to find the answer to this age old question. They put the worlds most accomplished sim racer (who ironically doesn't even have a drivers license) in a Skip Barber school, then set him loose in a Star Mazda formula race car. Watch below to learn the result:

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/0p_sCrM1CcI?rel=0&hd=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

http://youtu.be/0p_sCrM1CcI

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1997 Talon TSi AWD
2008 EVO X MR

Excellent video...

For those that doubt sim racing, just Google "Lucas Ordoñez"....


Or checkout this link below of the Virtual to Real Racing drivers...
http://www.gtplanet.net/gt-academy-cham ... -of-dubai/

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"The future is already here — it's just not very evenly distributed."-William Gibson
1989 Van Diemen - Formula 2000 Continental

I felt bad for him when he lost his lunch. Nothing like taking the guy out of Finland and tossing him into Atlanta, putting three layers of nomex on him and then putting him in a race car I've felt like barfing/passing out in pitlane in that climate!

In Sim racing, that physical stress level is missing, that part that requires physical conditioning and interaction with the outside world. I can only imagine what the high G loads do to the body under continued assault.

I think thats what let him down the most...if he did some physical conditioning in the months before arriving at the track...maybe...just maybe.

...just mumbling...

Yup, I agree. With some physical conditioning and a little more seat time, I bet he would be a real contender.

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1997 Talon TSi AWD
2008 EVO X MR

I have no doubt that there's things that can be taken from simulated racing. I make a lot of the same mistakes in simulation as I do in real life and maybe spending more time sim driving will help, but there's nothing whatsoever that can replace feeling the car break away under you while in your sweat soaked suit/helmet with Paul Machan in the Vette behind you trying to figure out what you're going to do so he can get by.

That said, there's people out there who just have a natural 'feel' for things like racing. Not to say they're perfect out of the box, but there's folks that are just wired to do it well quickly. They're much more likely of being good both virtually and physically assuming they can handle all the environmental factors.

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2005 Forester XT (Daily/B2Tuned), 2000 Subaru Impreza 2.5RS P4WD Class Rally Car, 2006 WRX RallyCross Car (Sponsors: Rally-Tech, Great North Performance, ISI Automotive)
Check out: Rally East, The Ledwidge Lookoff Rally

In my opinion, SIM racing does nothing more than reduce the time when experiencing the activity in reality. A SIM racer is on a faster learning curve when actually faced with it than someone that did not SIM race.

The dude did well early on then faded because of his physical condition only. I think he would have been able to be faster if he didn't have to battle the new variable "forces-on-the-body" playin with his mind.

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2008 Toyota Prius (Currently 180,000km)
2002 BMW M3 (Currently 197,000km, was 96,300km Jan of 2009)
2006 Toyota Prius (R.I.P 2011, 182,000 km)
1990 Beretta GTZ (R.I.P 2009, 396,000 km)
2000 Grand Cherokee (Sold 2006, 105,000 km)
1990 Laser RS (R.I.P 1989 Halloween day, 2,500 km)

It helps with learning new tracks, also with keeping focus.
Of course there are many fewer external stimulus when using a sim, the cat jumping in front of the monitor isn't quite the same as coming in to corner 1 and coming across a car stopped on track..

But IMO, you either have the feel for driving a racecar or you do not, initially, most can learn, but only a small % can jump in and just kind of do it straight away with very little experience.

The dude in the video would have done just fine with zero experience with iracing.

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Paul