Penske Autosport Reveal Formula E Ansible Motion Delta S3 Simulator

Hot on the heels of Honda Racing Corporation USA’s unveiling of their new state of the art DIL simulator here in Indianapolis, Penske Autosport, one of leading teams in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship announced this week that they have added a Ansible Motion Delta S3 simulator to their setup to help them get ahead in the all-electric racing series.

Versatile, high-performance Driver-in-the-Loop simulator will be used for hardware/software validation, circuit acclimatisation, driver development and race strategy.

With a 360° 48K screen, 16 square metre motion space and fully integrated real cockpit, Ansible Motion’s immersive simulator offers ideal solution for Formula E teams’ limited track time at the temporary street circuits visited by the world championship.

Collaboration with Ansible Motion sister company, rFpro, enables factory-based simulator team to update specific track features, such as new bumps and surface changes, within 30 minutes of collecting data during a race weekend.

Launched just two years ago, the award-winning Delta S3 dynamic DIL simulator is proving to be the go-to standard for high level motorsport teams and vehicle manufacturers to develop, refine and test vehicles and technologies in the digital domain. Honda Racing Corporation, Ford Performance, Stake F1 Team (Sauber Motorsport), Pratt Miller as well as at least one other unnamed Formula E team have previously installed Ansible Motion dynamic simulators.

Now Penske Autosport will use Ansible Motion’s most advanced driving simulator to date to unlock performance and efficiency gains, benefitting from the versatility and turn-key usability for engineers and drivers alike.

Nicolas Mauduit, EVP at Penske Autosport states,

“There was no question about acquiring a Driver-in-the-Loop simulator here at Penske Autosport, since the benefits are significant. The question for us was finding the right simulator technology, and from a performance perspective Ansible Motion’s Delta S3 was the only simulator that checked all the boxes. Our drivers, Stoffel Vandoorne [2022 Formula E World Champion] and Jean-Éric Vergne [2018 and 2019 Formula E Champion] will rely on it, as well as our engineering team to maximise performance.”

The Delta S3’s ability to replicate highly dynamic manoeuvres in real time with ultra-low latency not only satisfied its talented and experienced drivers but also its engineers who will rely on the simulator to validate torque mapping, electro-mechanical driver controls and other specific areas which are vital to understand the sensitive inputs synonymous with getting the most from a Formula E car. Underlining its versatility, the Delta S3 connects seamlessly with on-board ECUs for the powertrain and the eight CAN bus networks used in the category’s chassis. This offers engineers and drivers the ability to interact in real-time with Hardware in the Loop (HIL) and Software in the Loop (SIL) systems – replicating what they will experience in the real car.

Penske Autosport’s Jean-Éric Vergne says:

Realism is particularly important. Some simulators look good on paper, but somehow fail to deliver a realistic experience. They can be nervous or ‘buzzy’ in a way that’s not quite right – and that’s ultimately not acceptable for working with our engineers to develop the car for maximum performance. Compared to other simulators, the Ansible Motion’s motion and visual cues are superior, matching exactly what I’d expect from a physics perspective.”

Stoffel Vandoorne also adds,

“I can’t wait to test this new state-of-the-art simulator from Ansible Motion. I know first-hand how helpful a great sim can be not only for track acclimatisation but also for engineering development.”

Ansible Motion has over 14 years of experience delivering high-dynamics, high-fidelity, high-precision driving simulators to support success on and off track, at every level of professional motorsport including F1, WRC, WEC, NASCAR, INDYCAR and Formula E. Manufactured in the UK at Ansible Motion’s expanded facility, Penske Autosport’s new Delta S3 simulator was delivered in the first week of May 2024, six months after order placement, and is already operational as the team competes in Formula E’s tenth season.

Dan Clark, Managing Director of Ansible Motion commented saying:

Human-vehicle interaction a key part of optimising performance, and that is a real differentiator for on-track success in Formula E. “Our Delta S3 simulator is proving to be quite versatile, and unique, in that it’s being widely adopted by both vehicle manufacturers and top motorsport teams who are seeking to successfully connect real people with virtual development environments. We are delighted to supply Penske Autosport with a turn-key Delta S3 ecosystem that meets the team’s needs today and into the future. Drawing on the skills and integration capabilities within the wider AB Dynamics group, we are able to deliver this simulator – with unrivalled performance and value – in record time to support Penske Autosport in its pursuit of excellence.”