Miami GP Venue Expands - A Case for Alternative Layouts in Sim Racing?

Miami GP Venue Expands - A Case for Alternative Layouts in Sim Racing.jpg
Image credit: Mercedes-AMG F1 Team Media Site

Should sim racing games feature more alternative layouts?

  • Yes

    Votes: 23 95.8%
  • No

    Votes: 1 4.2%

  • Total voters
    24
Last week, the Miami Grand Prix venue announced plans to expand with new circuits. Is this something the F1 Games and by extension the rest of sim racing aim to follow? Have your say in the comments.

Following three successful years running its event in the surrounding areas of the Hard Rock Stadium car park, the Miami Grand Prix is looking to expand its facilities with the goal of welcoming a wider variety of championships.

The race's organiser, South Florida Motorsports, announced last week that four new layouts will be built within the Miami International Autodrome, ranging from a 2.3km layout to the 4.52km Extended Marina Loop. All fitting within the 5.41km circuit used for the Formula One Miami Grand Prix, the aim is to initiate wider use of the venue throughout the year, starting with Ferrari Racing Days taking place on the 4.52km circuit two weeks after the main GP.

Miami International Autodrome.jpg

Miami International Autodrome to get layout expansion. Image credit: South Florida Motorsports

The Case for Alternative Layouts in Racing Games​

In the world of racing games, we frequently hear outcry regarding the low number of circuits available to race in certain games. Be it the repetitive nature of Assetto Corsa Competizione's online racing cycle or the unchanging churn of the Formula One calendar in F1 24.

After a while, you will end up getting bored of the existing content offerings in any game. But clearly, there is a simple solution for pushing that fatigue back by at least a few weeks.


Around 20 years ago, GTR2 was released as the official game of the FIA GT Series with its combination of GT and NGT cars. Covering the 2003 and 2004 seasons, the game featured 15 circuits. However, many of those including Donnington, Hockenheim, Valencia and Oschersleben, featured multiple layouts. As a result, one circuit could easily provide a selection of different racing challenges.

This is an art that many titles today overlook, so perhaps it is time for the likes of ACC and Le Mans Ultimate to offer alternative circuit layouts. Whilst offline AI racing is all about replicating the real thing on full-length layouts, the online racing scene can always do with fresh content. Indeed, this is something iRacing offers with every track where possible providing greater variety.

Do you think sim racing games should put more effort into offering alternative layouts? Let us know in the comments.
About author
Angus Martin
Motorsport gets my blood pumping more than anything else. Be it physical or virtual, I'm down to bang doors.

Comments

I dont agree this is an issue really, while you bring up ACC, LMU and F1 24... the other sims out there have been offering multiple layouts and circuit variations for a long time. The "many titles" are only really a few.

Assetto Corsa
rFactor 2
RaceRoom
iRacing
Automobilista 2

As well as the simcades... all offering all available layouts.

And a shout out to the fellow track creators out there who do this with track mods as well :cool:
 
Almost any track in PC simracing features multiple layouts when they are available in real life.
Give it some time and it end up in the simtrack.
To be driven by nobody afterall.
So this news article is a bit off.
 
Premium
"Hey Sim racer! Would you like more track layout options?"... Hmm... Let me think...
 

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Angus Martin
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