Video game development is rarely about one man, but if it was, then Terence Groening should certainly get a mention for his contributions to the genre as the man responsible for the physics of Sportscar GT, EA’s PC F1 and NASCAR games of the early 2000’s, rFactor, rFactor 2 and every title and rFpro simulator that spawned from ISI’s engine.
This interview with RSC details his early life and career, through to him joining iRacing in 2021.
RSC contains a database of 153 developers, 467 software titles, 374 cars, 42 bikes, 242 tracks and more...Originally working in military simulator design, this Michigan-based studio developed Zone Raiders for Virgin Interactive before moving to Electronic Arts for publishing their second PC title, Sports Car GT, when Westwood Studios (their SCGT development partner) was acquired by the software giant.
Known primarily for their mod-friendly SCGT and rFactor racing platforms, ISI also developed Formula One and NASCAR titles on PC for Electronic Arts, but perhaps their lasting contribution to the genre was the licensing of the isiMotor engine that allowed studios such as 2Pez, Blimey! Games, KW Studios, Motorsport Games, Reiza Studios, SIMBIN Studios, Slightly Mad Studios, The Sim Factory, Tiburon and rFactor 2‘s ongoing developer Studio 397 to begin with or release on an evolution of their software.
Another fork of the isiMotor engine, rFpro, continues to be developed and is used by a wide array of automotive companies for both road and motorsport simulation.
RSC Podcast Episode 7 – Management Simulations, F1 Managers, Always Used To Be Better?Join Jon Denton, Tim Wheatley, Simon Croft and guest(s) as they discuss sim racing and racing games past, present and future.
RSC contains a database of news items. Our #OnThisDay page shows current day and current week of years past...
RSC contains a database of videos back to the 1980s catalogued as intros, laps, trailers, unboxings and more...
RSC contains a database of emulated software you can play in your browser...
One of the most iconic Grand Prix cars of all time, the 1967 Lotus 49 was the first car to include the engine as a structural part of the chassis. It was fitted with the Ford-Cosworth DFV which would go on to become one of the winningest engine designs in the history of motorsports.
Jim Clark, Graham Hill, Jo Siffert and Jochen Rindt all won races in variants of the Lotus 49.
First seen in sim racing with Grand Prix Legends (1998).
The fastest car of the era to have on most tracks, the Lotus lives up to its name well. It’s surprisingly difficult to handle when you’re new to it because of the power of the efficient Cosworth engine. The car can be driven effectively in two distinct differing styles, firstly the most stable style of driving in any car; Where you smoothly feed the throttle in out of the turns usually using a higher gear than you think needed. Secondly, of course is the style most Grand Prix Legends racers develop over a little time with the simulation, this being dependant on your car control; You maximize the throttle at a much earlier stage, then learn to opposite lock and control any power slide or loss of control which may arise.
The latter of the two styles above is obviously the faster for the Lotus, it reacts well to being loosely driven and best of all brakes while turning (trail brakes) with superlative ease.
No setup seems uncontrollable with the Lotus, and when practiced it’s also incredible fun to drive. In the early days you spend a lot of time trying to control over steer you cause with the throttle, later you use it to your advantage – I really don’t recommend the car for the beginner.
Released for iRacing July, 2013:
