As games add more and more circuits to their line-ups, they must delve into the more niche locations. That is how RaceRoom got my two most local tracks, but what is your most local venue in sim racing?
Too often are motorsport and its fandom limited to the upper echelons of the sport, with Formula One and the WEC taking the limelight of conversations. But many true enthusiasts of racing will just as happily enjoy grassroots, club level racing.
That is why one's local race track can evoke such great emotions. From echoing back to your first days by the catch fence to flashbacks of action taking place just in front of your eyes, local venues hold a great place in our hearts.
So when these perhaps lesser-known racing locations show up in sim racing games, it is a great excuse to get out the credit card or spend a few hours in the sim. Loading up a circuit that you have visited yourself in real life is always a brilliant experience. From driving round and remembering different moments from your memories to opening the free camera and inspecting the creation's accuracy; one can spend hours visiting a virtual recreation. So the question is, which of your local racetracks are in sim racing games? And are they any good?
Unfortunately, compared to the East of the country, my local region is fairly empty when it comes to motorsport. However, it is home to a pair of fantastic venues that are arguably iconic across all of motorsport.
Aston Martin GT4 fighting at Nogaro, my local track.
From where I am writing this, in the centre of Toulouse, I am just an hour and a half's drive from Nogaro, Circuit Paul Armagnac. Not to be mistaken with that other Paul track, it is a small layout, lined with grass that nowadays is best-known for hosting the Coupe de Pâques, or Easter Cup. Up until 2014, this event featured the Blancpain GT Series. Though before its renaming to the Fanatec GT World Challenge, the main SRO series left my neck of the woods, to be replaced by the FFSA GT. Now, every year at Easter - so this weekend - I attend this popular event to watch GT4 cars battle it out for the National title.
In 2017 and 2018, this French GT4 series featured a pair of opening rounds in the South West of France, the second of which took the paddock to Pau. No, not the twisty Cadwell Park lookalike of Pau-Arnos, but the full fat street circuit that closes roads each May. Ever since I was a young child, I have also visited Pau on a yearly basis, first going to watch the historic event with my parents. But as I grew up, my annual trips focused on the modern Pau Grand Prix, including winners such as Clark and Fangio, no less.
Close to the action in Pau.
In addition to these two major racing locations, my local area also features the aforementioned Pau-Arnos. A permanent road course not far from the home to the Pau Grand Prix, this circuit rarely hosts racing, instead focusing on track days for petrol heads. But the track does have a fairly useable version for Assetto Corsa available here. Whilst not perfectly accurate, it should help me prepare for any track days I will hopefully take part in this year with my car, also in sim racing.
Are any of your local race tracks available in sim racing? What do you make of their representations?
Too often are motorsport and its fandom limited to the upper echelons of the sport, with Formula One and the WEC taking the limelight of conversations. But many true enthusiasts of racing will just as happily enjoy grassroots, club level racing.
That is why one's local race track can evoke such great emotions. From echoing back to your first days by the catch fence to flashbacks of action taking place just in front of your eyes, local venues hold a great place in our hearts.
So when these perhaps lesser-known racing locations show up in sim racing games, it is a great excuse to get out the credit card or spend a few hours in the sim. Loading up a circuit that you have visited yourself in real life is always a brilliant experience. From driving round and remembering different moments from your memories to opening the free camera and inspecting the creation's accuracy; one can spend hours visiting a virtual recreation. So the question is, which of your local racetracks are in sim racing games? And are they any good?
Editor's Story
You may not want to hear my life's story. But to best explain what I deem my local race tracks, reading part of it is inevitable. As a young boy from England, my family moved to the South West of France when I was six years old. Since then, I have spent my entire life living between Toulouse and Bordeaux.Unfortunately, compared to the East of the country, my local region is fairly empty when it comes to motorsport. However, it is home to a pair of fantastic venues that are arguably iconic across all of motorsport.
Aston Martin GT4 fighting at Nogaro, my local track.
From where I am writing this, in the centre of Toulouse, I am just an hour and a half's drive from Nogaro, Circuit Paul Armagnac. Not to be mistaken with that other Paul track, it is a small layout, lined with grass that nowadays is best-known for hosting the Coupe de Pâques, or Easter Cup. Up until 2014, this event featured the Blancpain GT Series. Though before its renaming to the Fanatec GT World Challenge, the main SRO series left my neck of the woods, to be replaced by the FFSA GT. Now, every year at Easter - so this weekend - I attend this popular event to watch GT4 cars battle it out for the National title.
In 2017 and 2018, this French GT4 series featured a pair of opening rounds in the South West of France, the second of which took the paddock to Pau. No, not the twisty Cadwell Park lookalike of Pau-Arnos, but the full fat street circuit that closes roads each May. Ever since I was a young child, I have also visited Pau on a yearly basis, first going to watch the historic event with my parents. But as I grew up, my annual trips focused on the modern Pau Grand Prix, including winners such as Clark and Fangio, no less.
Close to the action in Pau.
My Local Tracks In Sim Racing
As you can no-doubt tell by now, I am very lucky to see both of my local circuits feature in sim racing. Not only do both Pau and Nogaro get nice third party recreations in Assetto Corsa by @Ginot Team, they are also both available to drive as official content in RaceRoom Racing Experience.In addition to these two major racing locations, my local area also features the aforementioned Pau-Arnos. A permanent road course not far from the home to the Pau Grand Prix, this circuit rarely hosts racing, instead focusing on track days for petrol heads. But the track does have a fairly useable version for Assetto Corsa available here. Whilst not perfectly accurate, it should help me prepare for any track days I will hopefully take part in this year with my car, also in sim racing.
Are any of your local race tracks available in sim racing? What do you make of their representations?
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