Lasers and rubber: How iRacing tracks are made

Lasers and rubber: How iRacing tracks are made

iRacing

iRacings authenticity is the result of enormous effort.

Photo credit: iRacing

iRacing is well known for its realism. Besides high class physics, very authentic track design is key to the game’s top spot on the sim racing podium. Every little hump on the original tracks can be found in the digital version as well. See in our video above how iRacing’s developers reach such a high level of authenticity.

Down to the finest detail

To recreate the every track as accurately as possible, the developers scanned them with a high-tech laser. However, the replication of the tracks is not just restricted to the course itself but also to structures along the circuit to make it as authentic as possible.

iRacing’s Associate Producer Kevin Iannarelli explains the process as follows: “The laser sends out a beam and it sends back every reflected property for each surface type on the race track.” As a result, the video game makers can even replicate different materials used on the track itself – simply amazing!

Sandboxing the tracks

Back in the office, the developers put their data into a sandbox to remodel the race tracks. Not only can they determine the properties of the circuits in their programs, but they can easily add textures to align with the originals. Simply put, they apply skins to the individual parts of the sandbox model.

The models and textures are styled after real-world models as well and make iRacing an almost perfect simulation of reality.

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