Video: Le Mans Ultimate video game nails Fuoco’s Imola pole lap

02nd September 2024

Rachel Roberts

Motorsport video games may have their difficulties, as we’ve previously discussed regarding the physics of the F1 24 game. But this may be one of the best-looking games going. Today’s video highlights Le Mans Ultimate, released back in February when, unlike F1’s latest offering, it received praise for its physics. This side-to-side perspective of the game verses the real thing shows us exactly why.

The ‘real thing’ we’re talking about here is Antonio Fuoco’s pole lap from the 6 Hours of Imola, a second consecutive pole for Ferrari with the 499P producing a time of 1:30.196. 2024 marked the first running of the 6 Hours of Imola since 2011, and despite a promising start for Ferrari on its native soil, the race was won by Toyota with Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and Nyck de Vries at the wheel. Fuoco and his team-mates Miguel Mollina and Nicklas Nielsen ultimately finished fourth.

Nevertheless, Fuoco’s lap was special and so seeing it replicated so well in the game is quite something. This pixelated hypercar is hyper-realistic. From a low viewpoint it matches Fuoco’s line exactly, even the bumps the car takes as it travels through corners is pretty spot on. The high-pitched squeal sound of the hybrid powertrain, too, is indistinguishable between the real 499P and the simulated one, so the signposts on the video which let us know which is which is rather helpful.

The car from the game may be a touch steadier than in real life but side by side this video from NusPojava may as well be a copy and paste of the same clip. The video highlights the similarities so well, even Le Mans Ultimate themselves had to share that they thought it was awesome, and we’re inclined to agree.

Welcome to Goodwood Elevenses, a helping of motoring-related amusement to help break up your day. Watch the last video: This is probably the best last lap ever