McLaren Racing and Logitech G have announced a multi-year renewal and expansion of their long-standing partnership.
Part of the partnership will see Logitech G, the 'high-performance' gaming gear arm of Logitech (or Logitech's AMG, if you will), collaborate with McLaren to create advanced sim racing accessories that the two companies say will be "engineered to McLaren's rigorous standards, fulfilling the requirements of professional drivers, racing sim enthusiasts, and McLaren fans."
Going well beyond mere video game controllers and accessories, the Logitech G range includes a portfolio of official gaming wheels, pedals, racing seats, and headsets, all designed to deliver "the most authentic and immersive sim racing experience possible" for gamers, esports competitors and even professional racing drivers.
One such pro racing driver is New Zealand drift champ Darren Kelly. With three D1NZ Pro championships and a National GT3 Endurance championship under his belt, Kelly also raced an Aston Martin Vantage for the Heart of Racing team in the Formula Drift international championship, and is a long-time proponent of sim racing.
"Drifting has been a passion of mine since I was young," said Kelly.
"The fast pace, the commitment it demands, and the challenge of making zero mistakes is what got me hooked, and that means constant practice, whether I’m on the track or off it. I’ve found a real love for sim racing because it blurs the lines between real-life and virtual driving, and lets me stay sharp even when I’m not physically in the car.
Kelly uses a full Logitech G setup, including the G PRO Racing Wheel, RS shifter and handbrake, PRO racing pedals, right through to a PRO headset, keyboard and mouse.
"Nothing quite compares to drifting on a real-life track, but my Logitech G sim racing setup gets me pretty close! It’s serious fun, but also seriously good for staying race-ready."
One of the pillars of this collaboration is the Logitech McLaren G Challenge that was launched in 2018, and has grown into one of the world’s largest and most accessible sim racing tournaments.
Open to drivers of all skill levels, it gives participants from around the globe a chance to compete for real-world prizes. Drivers compete for more than NZ$100,000 in prizes - including an all-expenses-paid trip to a Formula 1 Grand Prix, exclusive meet-and-greets with McLaren drivers, and a behind-the-scenes tour of the McLaren Technology Centre in the UK.
"Working closely with Logitech G, we’ve been able to blur the lines between virtual and real-world racing
throughout our partnership, turning our fans into true racers since 2017,” said Nick Martin, Co-Chief
Commercial Officer, McLaren Racing.
"We’re excited to take this collaboration to the next level, and we can’t wait to show you what new developments we have in store."
