Le Mans Ultimate completes 24-hour multiplayer test race, ELMS visit

Now that Le Mans Ultimate has a more stable future – thanks in part to a $2.5 million investment in its parent company, Motorsport Games, by VR manufacturer Pimax – the focus switches to what happens next with the sim racing platform.

Next month witnesses the arrival of the Lexus and Lamborghini LMGT3 cars, the Lusail International Circuit and, alongside other features, the ability to swap drivers during multiplayer sessions.

But this has been known for some time now; in fact, these additions were originally expected in February.

Speaking to Motorsport Games CEO Stephen Hood, despite the long days finalising the recent deal, there’s a renewed energy and excitement for what could be achieved:

“This investment means the team can look further ahead, and I think it’s about pushing home the advantage right now that we have in Le Mans Ultimate – we know we’re creating ripples.”

The return of Le Mans Virtual and longer special events

One of the jewels in the outfit’s crown is the 24 Hours of Le Mans Virtual sim racing esports event, and subsequent Le Mans Virtual Series competition wrapper.

In terms of viewership alone (not competitor numbers), only the official Formula 1 virtual racing competition has achieved a larger audience – but the last running in early 2023 was beset by red flags, instabilities, tantrums and alleged tampering. It’s not returned since.

The event has long been mentioned for a possible return in Motorsport Games’ financial documents, chopping and changing non-sequiturs over the past two years, such as “current plans to organise.”

But a recent test event could mean a return is now on the cards. No, really.

“Last weekend we completed a 24-hour multiplayer race, with driver swaps, with members of the development team and alpha testers,” Hood explains.

“I closed the Pimax deal, had two hours sleep, then I did the night shift of the 24-hour race with team-mates.”

“We crossed the line for a photo finish on the last lap. The driver swap code has been reworked, and we’re working on a new UI/UX to make it easier.”

“Le Mans Virtual is going to come back. It’s an important component, but we’ll save the format unveil for later.”

Running a day-long esports competition without the ability for each entry to have multiple drivers is impossible, so functioning pitlane driver swaps are key to the return of Le Mans Virtual. The feature could also indicate longer organised in-game ‘special events’, currently capped at 2.4 hours.

Another new LMGT3 tyre model

The LMGT3 tyre model, the simulation of tyre behaviour, was overhauled just two months ago, with the initial plan to then rework the remaining classes.

But that timeline has been modified, with yet another step for the entry-level category imminent.

“We worked on the LMP2 and Hypercar [tyre models], but [work on] those is stalled at the moment as we’ve made another advance on LMGT3 tyre, which I think is awesome, because we’re using real-world driver feedback.”

ELMS content?

The existential dilemma facing Le Mans Ultimate over the past 12 months was a mixture of looming court cases (won emphatically), multiple waves of redundancies and looming final payments to complete ownership of the Studio 397 development team.

The worst of that now seems to be over, and now conversations can begin over possible additional content – something that has been a constant discussion by players, if Traxion’s social media responses are anything to go by.

A logical step would be to add the European Le Mans Series, organised by the same Automobile Club de l’Ouest behind the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the FIA World Endurance Championship that the sim racing title currently replicates.

“We’ve improved our relationship with the ACO and World Endurance Championship even further,” teases Hood, before confirming that he and VP of Competition, Ben Rossiter-Turner, visited the recent ELMS round in Barcelona…