PMW contributor Bozi Tatarevic (@BoziTatarevic) recently flagged up that NASCAR has updated its rulebook to place limits on the cost and capabilities of the driver-in-the-loop simulators that teams are permitted to install on their premises.
The latest edition of the rules places a cost cap on DIL installations, effective from January 1, 2023, of US$500,000. The limitations on simulator performance also effectively rule out the installation of full 6DOF units, at least not with any real useful motion envelope. For example, maximum longitudinal displacement is fixed at just 100mm, with lateral and heave movement at 25mm. Maximum yaw displacement is also set at 25°.
Fortunately for teams, the rule changes do not place any limits on OEM’s simulator systems or teams’ access to said simulators, or any retrospective restrictions on existing installations.
