Background; I am a fairly competent IRL track driver. I've driven cars ranging from 60s sportscars and saloon cars, MX5 to a Porsche around the track. I can easily get up to speed and feel very confident. I drive within a limit because generally, I don't want to trash my own car.
Coming to sim racing from a long time away — I followed what seems to be the "correct" course of action — namely cockpit view with a calculated FOV. I feel quite confined, and I don't feel smooth or competent.
I was getting on well enough until a few days ago I experimented with a few different views and FOV. This was triggered after driving the Lexus in ACC, which has significantly better side view over the 911 I was driving before. All of a sudden I was hitting tight apexes because I could see them properly.
I ended up with the bonnet view and a slightly wider, but not silly wide, FOV. All of a sudden my driving is much more consistent, I can judge tight corners and speed better. I am judging corner entry speed better and getting the car where it should be on the track.
So whilst a calculated FOV might be "correct" — I reckon placing the car is a bit more realistic with a wider view. In truth when driving IRL you don't see the cockpit like you do in cockpit view - in fact your brain sort of removes all that and all you see is a great view of the track. You see apexes because you can move your eyes and your head to look for them.
TDLR; I reckon cockpit view is a lot less realistic than it appears to be, and that a wider unobstructed view is quite a bit more realistic than it's "arcade" reputation gives.
Coming to sim racing from a long time away — I followed what seems to be the "correct" course of action — namely cockpit view with a calculated FOV. I feel quite confined, and I don't feel smooth or competent.
I was getting on well enough until a few days ago I experimented with a few different views and FOV. This was triggered after driving the Lexus in ACC, which has significantly better side view over the 911 I was driving before. All of a sudden I was hitting tight apexes because I could see them properly.
I ended up with the bonnet view and a slightly wider, but not silly wide, FOV. All of a sudden my driving is much more consistent, I can judge tight corners and speed better. I am judging corner entry speed better and getting the car where it should be on the track.
So whilst a calculated FOV might be "correct" — I reckon placing the car is a bit more realistic with a wider view. In truth when driving IRL you don't see the cockpit like you do in cockpit view - in fact your brain sort of removes all that and all you see is a great view of the track. You see apexes because you can move your eyes and your head to look for them.
TDLR; I reckon cockpit view is a lot less realistic than it appears to be, and that a wider unobstructed view is quite a bit more realistic than it's "arcade" reputation gives.
