The full-scale prototype of Team Fordzilla's P1 – Ford's virtual racing car created in collaboration with the gamer community – was unveiled at gamescom 2021 as the ultimate racing simulator. Now, it’s being showcased at the Gamergy 21 event in Madrid, Spain with impressive new streaming capabilities.
Incorporating three 4k cameras that are trained on the pedals, steering wheel and face, and a spectacular 10x4 metres screen, all the excitement of simracing streams from P1 racer to gaming fans in an instant. The vehicle is powered by an HP Z4 workstation with players controlling the game through an integrated gaming steering wheel and pedals. HP Reverb G2 goggles give the player a high-quality virtual reality display as they race the world’s great online racetracks.
Enhanced lighting, both front and rear, softly mimics a sleeping person's breath as the P1 awaits the next race. They then come to life during race time, as the rear lights synchronize with braking moments during play to connect outside spectators to the action. Aural stimulation is also offered, with a built-in audio system channelling realistic, personalised sound design for the driver to take the racing simulator experience to a whole new level.
A preview of the transformation of P1 into the ultimate virtual racing streaming platform project will take place today, with Amko Leenarts, Design Director of Ford of Europe, and Melchor Sanz, CTO of project partner HP Spain. The Gamergy esports event and gaming festival runs between December 17-19 at the IFEMA fairground in Madrid, Spain. Visitors will have the opportunity to meet Team Fordzilla drivers and enjoy the Ford and HP gaming experience through simracing stations. Stay tuned to twitch.tv/teamfordzilla and Twitter.com/teamfordzilla to follow Ford's activities at the event.
Project P1
At gamescom 2020, Team Fordzilla's original racing car, the P1, was unveiled, which was the first virtual racing car designed in collaboration between the gamer community and designers from an automaker. The team unveiled a full-scale prototype of the vehicle three months later.
Project P1: Supervan Vision Concept
Following the success of the P1 project, Team Fordzilla is now launching a second series as it again seeks collaboration with gamers and Ford designers to create a new Supervan. Ford has experience creating race-inspired Supervans based on its Transit models, the first being 50 years ago in 1971. The new Supervan Vision Concept will imagine what an extreme performance model of future Transit models will look like in the virtual dimension.
Team Fordzilla
Team Fordzilla launched at gamescom 2019 and set out to find driver teams in Germany, Spain, France, Italy and the UK, with a team captain selected for each. In addition to competing in regional and European simulation racing championships, Team Fordzilla also hosted its first Fordzilla Cup competition in 2020.
Quotes
“The P1 racer is an incredible design project and as a racing simulator is a fantastic experience for the player. This latest development with HP means we can stream that excitement to more people and help them to see the future possibilities of simracing.”
Emmanuel Lubrani, Team Fordzilla, Ford of Europe
Links
For more information on this story please contact Emmanuel Lubrani
(elubrani@ford.com)
Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan, that is committed to helping build a better world, where every person is free to move and pursue their dreams. The company’s Ford+ plan for growth and value creation combines existing strengths, new capabilities and always-on relationships with customers to enrich experiences for and deepen the loyalty of those customers. Ford designs, manufactures, markets and services a full line of connected, increasingly electrified passenger and commercial vehicles: Ford trucks, utility vehicles, vans and cars, and Lincoln luxury vehicles. The company is pursuing leadership positions in electrification, connected vehicle services and mobility solutions, including self-driving technology, and provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. Ford employs about 182,000 people worldwide. More information about the company, its products and Ford Motor Credit Company is available at corporate.ford.com.
is responsible for producing, selling and servicing Ford brand vehicles in 50 individual markets and employs approximately 42,000 employees at its wholly owned facilities and consolidated joint ventures and approximately 55,000 people when unconsolidated businesses are included. In addition to Ford Motor Credit Company, Ford Europe operations include Ford Customer Service Division and 14 manufacturing facilities (10 wholly owned facilities and four unconsolidated joint venture facilities). The first Ford cars were shipped to Europe in 1903 – the same year Ford Motor Company was founded. European production started in 1911.
