Originally Posted by
westendorfy
The thing about RC simulation compared to other forms of computer simulations is that if the creators of the "game" master the look, sounds, and feel (and reactions) realistically......then there is NO difference from real life at all.
Sorry, but that simply isn't true.
You can "go for broke" in the simulation as many times as you want... and all you have to do is hit reset to try again.
In real life, you are piloting a $1500+ piece of machinery around the track. "Going for broke" can have much greater repercussions in real life... not only financial, but drivers must take into consideration how much time they have to repair their car before the next heat, the possibility of damaging their primary car beyond repair and having to resort to using an untested backup car, the possibility of bending/breaking a wheel when only a certain number of backups exist, the possibility of ruining an otherwise solid qualifying run just to take the TQ spot instead of settling for 2nd or 3rd, etc...
There is a certain level of subconscious restraint the manifests itself in real life, whether you realize it or not. Add to that the added pressure of being handed a factory funded ride at the biggest/most competitive on-road TC race in the world... and I would venture that there are
significant differences between real life and the simulation.
That being said, I don't doubt that this fellow Kevin Pignotti has the ability to do well if all the stars align. Bryan Heitkotter(sp?) won the GT Academy scholarship here in the US, and he did very well in the actual races overseas(and the whole GT Academy endurance team, of whom Heitkotter was a part of, did very well overall)... granted, he was a multi-time national champion autocrosser prior to taking part in the GT Academy, so his inherent skill was already a given.