Mechanical grip – FF1600 vs Simulator

I actively work on and race classic FF1600 with the BRSCC in the Geoff Page Engineering Super Classic Pre ’99 Formula Ford Championship. Alongside this, I spend a significant amount of time on the simulator, driving both classic and modern Formula Ford cars around a variety of British circuits.

To compare simulator driving to real-life driving, it’s important first to understand what mechanical grip is and how a driver experiences it.

From a driver’s perspective, mechanical grip is felt through weight transfer and suspension movement. Using the Old Hairpin at Donnington Park as an example, as you brake and downshift from fourth to third gear, the car’s weight transfers forward. As you turn in, the rear of the car becomes lighter while load builds on the outside tyres. At the same time, the suspension compresses as it absorbs this load, whether under braking or as you return to the throttle.

Mechanical grip is also influenced by setup changes.

For example, stiffening the front anti-roll bar alters the car’s dynamics by making the front end more responsive and changing how much grip is available during cornering. These changes directly affect balance and confidence.

With this understanding, we can compare real-world FF1600 driving to the simulator.

In an FF1600, weight transfer is felt not only through the steering wheel but through your entire body. As the rear of the car goes light, the steering becomes more sensitive as the balance of grip shifts forward. As you turn into the corner, you feel the load building on the outside tyres through your body as much as through your hands. This connection allows you to sense when the car is approaching the limit of grip.

As the loaded tyres begin to slide—particularly the rear outside tyre—you feel the movement early and can make precise steering corrections. This physical feedback is critical. Understanding how much grip the car has, and when it will give way, allows a driver to push confidently to the limit. That confidence is key to both consistency and outright pace.

On the simulator, the same corner feels very different. Weight transfer is far less pronounced because the primary feedback comes through the steering wheel alone. While you can still feel changes in steering sensitivity as grip shifts, the lack of physical sensation makes it harder to judge exactly what the car is doing.

When the tyres load up, the feedback is present but diluted. This often results in a more cautious driving style, as the driver lacks the full-body cues available in real life. Although you can feel when the rear begins to slide—through increased steering corrections—it is more difficult to judge how much input is required, increasing the risk of over-correction. This reduced feedback also affects confidence. With less feel, a driver is naturally more conservative, as they are not as aware of the car’s behaviour at the limit as they would be in real life.

Another key difference between real-world FF1600 driving and the simulator is the consequence of mistakes.

In real life, errors are costly. Missing a braking point or losing the rear can result in contact with barriers or other cars, potentially ending a session—or even a race weekend. Beyond lost track time, incidents can be expensive, depending on their severity. Even without a crash, mistakes can lead to overheated tyres, flat spots, and increased wear, all of which negatively affect lap times.

On the simulator, mistakes are far more forgiving. The same accident can be reset instantly, with no loss of track time or financial cost. Tyre wear and flat spots are largely irrelevant, as fresh tyres are always available. Each session begins with the car in perfect condition, unlike in real life where wear and fatigue accumulate throughout the day.

Despite lacking some of the physical feel of real-world driving, the simulator remains an extremely valuable tool. It is accessible at any time, allowing drivers to train consistently. It also enables learning circuits and understanding their characteristics before racing there, which can be critical for arriving prepared and competitive. In addition, the simulator allows drivers to explore setup changes and improve their understanding of car behaviour without consuming tyres or fuel.

In conclusion, while real-world driving provides greater feel and teaches lessons the simulator cannot fully replicate, simulation is still an essential part of modern driver development. It allows drivers to learn, experiment, and improve away from the circuit. From a driver’s perspective, it is one of the most valuable tools available, and those who fail to use it risk falling behind competitors who do.