Once thought the promising province of driver development, racing simulators have become more of a distractive luxury for the uber-wealthy than a milliseconds-shaving super tool for the world’s fastest. That’s not to say they aren’t a hell of a lot of fun, however. If racing from the comfort of your own home sounds more appealing than the trailer-loading, fuel-spilling, hot laps of track days, then Aston Martin has built a super sim that you will want to park in a highly visible spot in your home. Make way for the AMR-C01 racing simulator.
The AMR-C01 has the build of a fighter jet without the wings. Built with the Aston Martin Valkyrie in mind, it betrays the UK-based manufacturer’s indistinguishable nose cone upfront. The simulator’s high-end build promises to convince your rump you’re sitting behind 1000 hp motor for real, while the software works to trick your brain into believing you’re about to set a track record at Nordschleife.
Does it deliver for the price? Let’s take a closer look.
Hardware
Many searching for the right sim want the oppressive gravitational forces of a racecar artificially applied to them; you won’t find that here. Fortunately, what the AMR-C01 racing simulator lacks in motion effects, it more than makes up for in build quality, materials, and curb (couch?) appeal. An all-carbon-fiber monocoque is as much a style flex as it is a rigidity play to ensure that as you twist and tangle in your seat as you fly around Spa-Francorchamps, the sim stays stock-still.
This was a challenge for the design team as, although the simulator isn’t a car, it is inspired by our racing cars. It needed to exude the same elegance, boasting the same dynamic lines and balance of proportions as any Aston Martin with a racing lineage. I can picture the AMR-C01 in the most beautiful of residences as a sculptural work of art in its own right.
– Aston Martin Chief Creative Officer, Marek Reichman
Your hands and feet will be treated to some design nirvana, as well. The steering wheel is a state-of-the-art Formula style format. With paddle shift and clutch, the wheel features nine rotary dials and 12 push buttons for total vehicle control. Inset in the wheel is a full-color LCD screen to keep you up to speed on your lap times, engine temperature, and more.
If you can afford this level of racing sim for your home, your posterior chain is likely a bit more familiar with less-than-comfortable automobile seats. Your supple backside will get no respite here, as the seat itself is essentially pulled straight out of Aston Martin’s drool-inducing hypercar, the Valkyrie. Aston will tell you that the driving position should give you a good idea of what it’s like to pilot a hypercar.
Software
All of this highfalutin hardware would be for naught if it weren’t for some very sophisticated software rendering the simulation before your very eyes. Assetto Corsa is the simulation software, but the AMR-C01 can run various other platforms, including iRacing and rFactor2. Translating all of this data is a top-of-the-line PC with an Intel i7 CPU and Nvidia GTX 2080 GPU. There is little doubt that in racing simulations, the software and hardware combination of the AMR-C01 racing simulator is the best in class.
Homeware
Boasting eight colorways, multiple trim options, and a wealth of potential upgrades beyond these basics, you probably have an MSRP in mind, don’t you? If a starting price hovering around $75,000 doesn’t faze you, the cost of upgrades, shipping, and setup probably won’t either.
If owning a small piece of racing’s finest consumer products sounds great to you, you better get a move on because Aston Martin is only allowing Curv Racing to produce 150 of these beauties, and they start shipping soon.
Regardless of which color option and trim you choose, just remember: we’ve got the next race.
