Porsche Bringing Motorsports and E-Racing Closer Together

Space-Age Simulation

The Mission R is the latest vision from Porsche. With this study of an all-electric GT racing car, the pioneer of sustainable mobility is revealing what customer motorsports could look like in the future.  Sleek marketing speech isn't always the most compelling stuff out there, but when the company makes their newest racer double as a simulator rig, the inner child in all of us lights up. 

Double the Delight

The distinctive safety cell, compact and space-age, doubles both as a place for a racer to put their car beside another Mission R and a place to test away from the track.

This cell allows the driver to prepare virtually for their next race in a familiar environment. Once the infrastructure is laid down, the racing drivers of tomorrow can also use the driver cell to take part in esports events.

>>Join the conversation about Porsche's foray into e-racing right here in the 6SpeedOnline Forum!

Broadening the Horizons

So much of the appeal of esports is that it brings a greater audience to greater motorsports. No longer must kids have the good fortune be get stuck in a kart by the time they're in middle school to get invested in motorsport young. Now, teenagers with a racing simulator can improve their racing craft behind a screen or a VR headset. 

It's also helped bring fans of all stripes closer to the action.

In the case of the Mission R, the cockpit is equipped to provide a live stream broadcast from inside the car. Two cameras mounted on the roof frame and on a rail above the passenger seat show what is happening inside the car during a race in real-time.

These video streams can be sent directly to the fans using a live stream button in the control panel. Fans can communicate directly with the driver through chats and likes.  

>>Join the conversation about Porsche's foray into e-racing right here in the 6SpeedOnline Forum!

Informing Efficiently

To reduce distraction and quicken the driver's reaction time, the key displays and controls are located along the same axis. To make the abundant information offered easy to digest, the information is tiered into three levels. 

• Top priority is given to the 6-inch OLED racing display. It sits directly between the steering wheel controls and, which places it in the driver's immediate field of vision. This is where key data such as speed, lap time, tire pressures, or State of Charge (SoC) are displayed. Information on ABS and traction control are also included.
• A second screen is mounted on the steering column behind the OLED display. This is where the images from the two exterior cameras are combined into a single image. Through this digital rear-view mirror, the driver can see what is happening on both sides and behind the racing car. A third, centrally positioned, the rear-facing camera is mounted below the rear window. If radar sensors and cameras detect an imminent collision during the race, the Collision Avoidance System (CAS) alerts the driver to the danger by illuminating the edges of the display.
• To the right of the driver are a control panel with buttons and an integrated screen. This displays the driver's biometric data.

>>Join the conversation about Porsche's foray into e-racing right here in the 6SpeedOnline Forum!

Addressing More Than Ergonomics

More than a modular seat, this also helps monitor the driver's biometric data through sensors in the seat. It also contributes to driver cooling. The driver's seat is actively ventilated and upholstered in a breathable, coarse, 3D-printed fabric that encourages airflow. 

More importantly for the future of seat design, this is produced using additive manufacturing processes like 3D printing. The center section of the seat—the cushion and backrest—is partly produced by a 3D printer, and the seat fabric is made using a resource-saving 3D knitting process. To help contribute to the Mission R's low-C02 cost, the seat is constructed with natural fiber-reinforced material. 

The cockpit and all the elements which comprise it suit the Mission R's comprehensive design ethos perfectly. This space-age environment takes so much into consideration: motorsport, ecology, and the progression of technology. Meant to protect the driver and the environment, bring fans closer to motorsport, and to assist the driver before and throughout a race weekend, the Mission R has a list of abilities that makes most racing cars look pitifully limited.

>>Join the conversation about Porsche's foray into e-racing right here in the 6SpeedOnline Forum!