Member Article

North’s only race driver training simulator centre in pole position for 2022 season

SIMTrack Driver Performance Centre, the North’s only professional race driver training simulator facility, is on track for its best year yet as the company celebrates both its best financial quarter to date and record forward bookings going into the 2022 race season.

The Leeds-based race driver training centre is home to one of only three commercial professional racing simulators in the UK.

Used by young karters right through to professional racing drivers, SIMTrack has played host to the likes of World Rally Championship front-runner Elfyn Evans and sports personalities such as Sir Chris Hoy and Top Gear presenter, Freddie Flintoff MBE.

The company was founded in 2019 by managing director Adam Croft, entrepreneur and former winner of the BRSCC Porsche Championship and Lawrence Tomlinson, owner of Ginetta Cars and one of the UK’s most successful entrepreneurs.

The pair raised a six-figure sum after it became apparent that a gap in the market was making it as difficult for new drivers to find an accessible route to top level racing, as it was for professional drivers to train cost-effectively.

Croft said: “At SIMTrack, drivers can access professional coaching and a training facility that effectively gives 24 hours seat time for the same price as just over an hour on track at a circuit test day. There’s a lot of training that can be covered off in the sim, making precious physical track time more focussed and maximising sponsorship budgets. “We’re pleased SIMTrack is not only growing at speed, but is well ahead of business targets despite being closed or severely restricted due to the pandemic for more than half of its trading timeline.”

An ambitious strategy for 2022 will see SIMTrack further expand its offering including partnerships, the opening of a new satellite training facility and more availability being made for corporate and team-building days.

Croft concluded: “We started offering a limited amount of corporate days last year and the feedback we’ve had is amazing. As well as being a unique day away from the workplace norm, customers say what they learn with the simulator training has direct parallels with what it takes to succeed in their own sector. We’ve worked with all ages and abilities from charities and networking groups to law firms and banks.”

Further investment is also planned and will see SIMTrack add to its suite of leading sim equipment which includes Aston Martin GT3 and Ginetta G40 Junior chassis; both with genuine cockpits, roll cages, harnesses and real brakes.

Either can be configured to replicate any race car on one of over 100 worldwide tracks. Each provides a fully immersive and completely realistic experience thanks to a six meter 180 degree panoramic screen.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Jane Wright .