Driving The Nordschleife | Racing Sim Vs Reality

Last weekend I got a chance to drive the Nordschliefe with an instructor from RSR Events. So I thought the contrast between how the ring feels in a racing sim and in reality would make an interesting topic for a video. So, here are my experiences of the Nurburgring, contrasted with footage form Assetto Corsa.

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[Frankesteinnl]

Thanks Chris, i really enjoyed your perception on the Nordschleife, and agree on all your points.

I've had the pleasure of doing 10 laps with 1 hour of instruction (Misha Charoudin, youtuber, was my instructor!) . It makes it so much easier to get to know your way around the Ring. Great Vid, and yes, i will be back too ;)

[onetripwonders]

I drove it last year with ringfreaks. Wow, the survival instinct kicking in on a fast corner made me love the safety of a sim. Adrenaline is a helluva drug.

[FaithlessEmoRacing]

I did the ring a few year back. Video is on my channel One thing that hit me was that my ears popped several times due to the elevation change. Simulate that? Imagine that happening every lap of a stint!?

[VRDriving]

What a great experience Chris! I find VR helps a lot in speed perception, as with a proper FOV. Going back and forward in real and sim, the difference will soon blur as you will start to use more realistic driving techniques in sim, the end result is that you get a better and more realistic feeling while in sim and driving irl won't feel too different. Just don't expect record breaking lap times in the sim, as most records are done taking advantages of being in a virtual world and imperfection in the physics engine.

[edmundo]

'No matter the pace you drive at, you'll still have fun' - that's so true!

[RichardAdkins]

Extra nice video. I enjoy a calm voice, even when that voice is discussing something as exciting as what you must have been through. Very well done, Sir.

[vatch]

Another bucket list experience, good on you Chris! Definitely something I hope to do one day!

[benjaminworthen]

Did this 3 years ago on a rainy day. I thought it was checking something off the bucket list, but now I know I need to go back again!

[comdrive]

This is amazing. You are my favourite sim racer now

[thisguycalledalex]

First time I went drifting.. I was sooo hooked. Nearly 2 years later and I’m still building my car.. hoping for a couple days on the track near Christmas. Love the video, sim racing vs reality on this track does seem to get my interest peaked in traveling to Germany and doing that too

[HieronymousLex]

Awesome! And thanks for comparing for us, I’ve always wanted to know

[noaddict]

Great video. Funny that a lot of us sim racers that drive it for the first time say the elevation changes feel brutal in real life, to me they are probably the part that I enjoy the most about the 'Ring, specially the Foxhole.

[roodenberg]

Did exactly what you did Chris a year ago, drive in a rented car with an instructor even after 1000s of Sim runs. Incredible experience and I have that same urge to go back and do it again. But anyone contemplating doing it in their own car needs to do homework and understand the financial risk as it considerable. You can manage that risk by using an instructor as they are also available for driving in your own car. I will drive it again when my children are less financially dependent on me.

[JMRacing]

Great video mate! Gutted that I didn't get out on track over the weekend, if you decide to go back let me know and we can take the hairdressers line around the track! Maybe without Steve looking so scared next time round...

[the.simrobn]

Did a lap there on saturday of the sim expo. No sim can give the feeling of the g forces on this track. At some parts it feels more like being in an airplane than in an car. From red out to black out in one section. Like a roller coaster. You don't even have to drive really fast to experience this. Great fun.

[theoracleprodigy]

Every new driver I've seen at almost any track turns in to soon. It's as you stated people think it's self preservation. Doing that however will have you in the grass on the exit.

[reviewforthetube]

There are so many games that do it differently and man oh man some of the tiems and laps are just incredibly close lol it's just nice to know you can time it sort of the same way it's very nice especially with an amazing ffb wheel

[SingleRacerSVR]

Before my new job/living situation took most my free time away from me, Chris - I would drive the Nordschleife online almost every night in AC just for the fun of it - and so I feel that I know that (sim-racing) track, very VERY well (eg, I beat Jimmy Broadbent's time in the Transit Van). So naturally, this video was a MUST WATCH!!! for me. But may I suggest a possible "follow-up" video if you feel you would be interested in this idea - as it has been bugging me for ages, given how hard it would be to drive the track in real life from Australia... And that is that when I watch all those many "real-life crash compilation" video's on YouTube from the Nordschliefe (for learning purposes of course ; ) --- then I FEEL that I am watching the AC Version of the track. But if you also own the sims/games PC2/R3E/RF2 or any other game that has the Nordschleife track also, and now that you have driven it in real life -- is there any value in driving all the SIM tracks, and comparing them in your mind to the real thing with commentary about what is good & bad about each version?. And I just suggest this as I just HATE the PC2 version, feeling it is nowhere near as accurate as the real thing.


…………………………………………… BUT YET I'VE NEVER DRIVEN THE REAL THING TO KNOW FOR SURE??? - AND NOW YOU HAVE ; )))

[benjohnson]

If you don't fancy the risks involved in a self drive (there are enough compilation videos on YouTube of what can go wrong to make even the safest a little concerned) then I'd highly recommend a taxi lap. On my last visit to Europe from Australia I did a taxi lap with Apex in their McLaren 720s. Was lucky enough to have GT4 VLN driver Moritz Kranz as my driver... so, so quick! It was great to know the track so well from sim racing but then to compare it to the real world experience under the control of someone that knows 100% what they're doing was a great way to make the most of the limited time and budget for a visit to the ring!

[Glimiril]

Just a suggestion, maybe use that voice of yours to gain money (radio, commentating more, reading stories, etc etc) you could then indulge in pleasure perhaps on a more frequent basis.


You may have already actively sort out options on this, but if you have not, you are driving the road in your life without taking off the hand brake, few people have such a pleasing voice to listen too, in my opinion.