Remote Racing

Matt Powers races Ben Collins in 2015 Mustangs on a virtualÂ racetrack

By Steve Turner
Photos courtesy of Castrol Edge

Who hasnâ€™t dreamed of taking on the former Top Gear Stig, Ben Collins, on the racetrack. Most of us are only dreaming to think we could keep up, but to promote its Edge Titanium synthetic oil, Castrol gave that opportunity to Formula Drift competitor Matt Powers. However, it wasnâ€™t on the same pavement. Instead the two drivers would compete in the virtual world.

It Castrol Edgeâ€™s first virtual driving video Matt Powers drifted at 2015 Mustang through the virtual world. This time heâ€™s back and taking on the former Stig, Ben Collins, on a virtual racetrack.

You might recall that Castrol previously put together a really cool virtual drifting video that starred Mattâ€™s driving skills as he drifted a 2015 Mustang through the virtual world using the Oculus Rift virtual reality headset. That was definitely cool, so why not take it to the next level with a virtual race.

Using Oculus Rift virtual reality headsets, Matt and Ben raced identically configured Perforamnce Pack 2015 Mustang GTs around the same virtual track in Castrol Edgeâ€™s latest video. — Using Oculus Rift virtual reality headsets, Matt and Ben raced identically configured Performance Pack 2015 Mustang GTs around the same virtual track in Castrol Edgeâ€™s latest video.

â€œOur third Titanium Trial calls on two WORLD-CLASS drivers, to race head-to-head on one virtual racetrack, live. With our rivals driving in virtual reality helmets, theyâ€™ll see each other and compete in a way that has never been achievable before,â€ says Castrol. â€œDriving blind to the real world, our competitors will line up side-by-side in a virtual world. With racing pride at stake, theyâ€™ll need to rely on their skill, determination and the maximum performance of their vehicles, powered by Castrol EDGE boosted with TitaniumÂ FST, to out-perform their rival, in a challenging futuristic driving environment.â€

You can watch the race right hereâ€¦

While they were driving real 2015 Mustangs on actual tracks, Ben and Matt were also piloting them through the virtual world in Castrolâ€™s Virtual Racers video.

â€œI have taken on some extraordinary driving trials in my career, but this was certainly way up there. The hardest part was getting used to the VR world and truly letting myself goâ€”putting my foot down and trusting my instinct over my rational brain,â€ Ben said. â€œItâ€™s hard when every bone in your body is telling you that what you can see isnâ€™t real, but you know youâ€™re still in control of a real car driving at speed.â€

It definitely has to feel strange driving a real car in the virtual world. Here you can get a look at how the video was made and what the drivers had to go through to capture this virtual raceâ€¦

It will be interesting to see where this technology goes in the future. Imagine being able to virtually race from your home against real racers on the track.