Work in progress image of Simraceway's MP4-12C
Ignite Game Technologies – developers of online racing game Simraceway – have confirmed a deal with McLaren that will give gamers the chance to drive 60 McLarens, including all of the company's F1 cars.
This includes the current Formula One car – the MP4-26 – as well as the cars made famous my James Hunt, Emerson Fittipaldi and, of course, Ayrton Senna whose six season career with the team began driving the formidable MP4/4.
The 1988 design, driven by Senna and Alain Prost remains the most successful F1 car ever built after winning 15 of the 16 races that season as Senna won the first of his three World Drivers' Titles. All McLaren's F1 cars – save for the current car – will be exclusive to Simraceway.
“We're equal parts proud and humbled that McLaren has chosen Simraceway to become the largest licensor of its vehicles and a virtual custodian of its rich racing heritage,” said Ignite CEO Jonathan Haswell. “Creating a playable library of McLaren's complete line of celebrated race and road cars is a major step forward in our aim of pushing the racing game beyond the limits that have previously defined the genre.”
“In Simraceway we're creating a living, constantly evolving, racing world that gives gamers access to authentic virtual models of the most powerful, beautiful and iconic machines on the planet. To achieve this we're developing a lot of new and highly-innovative technologies, including simulation-grade vehicle physics and a proprietary skill quantification engine, so it feels appropriate to be associated with McLaren, a brand synonymous with innovation in motorsport.”
The deal will also put the full range of the manufacturer's Can-Am and sportscar models into the game.
These include the M1A Can-Am car from 1964 – the first race car to carry Bruce McLaren's now familiar name – and the variants of the M8 chassis that dominated the championship during the late sixties and earliest years of the 1970s.
Also included are the 24 Hours of Le Mans winning McLaren F1 and the McLaren SLR as well as both road and race variants of the carbon-fibre chassised MP4-12C, including the GT3-spec version that made its debut during the 2011 season.
“Choosing Simraceway as our licensor for all 60 McLarens makes perfect sense,” said Jonathan Neale, Managing Director of McLaren Racing. “We’re highly impressed with their gaming products, innovative technology and the drive of their people. We are very optimistic that this will represent the start of a successful co-operation between the two companies, and we look forward to seeing our rich and beloved heritage brought to life in the virtual world.”
McLaren join a number of other manufacturers, including Bentley, Bugatti and Saleen, in announcing agreements with Ignite Game Technologies for historic and current licenced content to appear in Simraceway.
