Simraceway Announces Exclusive Deal with McLaren Group

Simraceway today announced a partnership with the McLaren Group, marking the first time the legendary manufacturer’s entire catalog of F1, Can-Am, sports and road cars have been licensed for use in a game. The deal includes cars like the iconic 800hp, turbocharged MP4/4 F1 car driven into the history books by the legendary Ayrton Senna, and the 2011 McLaren F1 car, the Vodafone McLaren MercedesMP4-26. All McLaren F1 cars, with the exception of the MP4-26, will be exclusive to Simraceway.

SIMRACEWAY ANNOUNCES LANDMARK AGREEMENT WITH McLAREN GROUP

SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- (Nov. 1, 2011) -- Ignite Game Technologies, the online gaming company focused on building a new form of auto racing game -- Simraceway (http://simraceway.com/) -- today announced it has reached a deal with the McLaren Group to create high-detail virtual models of every car the legendary automotive company has ever created.

This partnership breaks new ground for the videogames industry, representing the first time McLaren has licensed its entire catalogue of F1, Can-Am, sports and road cars for use in a game. It also signals the gaming debuts of some of the brand’s greatest cars.

Included in this glittering line-up is the co-star of the hit movie Senna, the iconic 800hp, turbocharged MP4/4 F1 car that was driven into the history books by the legendary Ayrton Senna and his teammate Alain Prost. The MP4/4 is still the most successful car in Formula One history, having won 15 of the 16 races it entered in the 1988 season, capturing the same number of pole positions and leading no less than 1003 of the 1031 laps raced that season.

The deal also gives Simraceway users access to every other F1 car McLaren has produced, including the 1974 and 1976 cars made famous by Emerson Fittipaldi and James Hunt respectively and of course the 2011 car, the Vodafone McLaren MercedesMP4-26, currently being driven by Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button. All 36 F1 cars, with the exception of the MP4-26, will be exclusive to Simraceway.

Away from the track, McLaren’s renowned range of road cars will also be available to drive, including the record-breaking McLaren F1 and the brand new carbon chassis-based MP4-12C, along with its racing variant, the MP4-12C GT3 that will feature in the 2012 season of the FIA GT3 European Championship.

In total, the deal brings all 60 McLarens to the Simraceway environment with a number being available when the game launches in the fall 2011. The rest will follow during 2012 as Ignite completes its “simulation library” of the brand’s glorious history.

“We’re equal parts proud and humbled that McLaren has chosen Simraceway to become the largest licensor of its vehicles and a virtual custodian of its rich racing heritage,” said Ignite CEO Jonathan Haswell. “Creating a playable library of McLaren’s complete line of celebrated race and road cars is a major step forward in our aim of pushing the racing game beyond the limits that have previously defined the genre.”

“In Simraceway we’re creating a living, constantly evolving, racing world that gives gamers access to authentic virtual models of the most powerful, beautiful and iconic machines on the planet. To achieve this we’re developing a lot of new and highly-innovative technologies, including simulation-grade vehicle physics and a proprietary skill quantification engine, so it feels appropriate to be associated with McLaren, a brand synonymous with innovation in motorsport.”Jonathan Neale, Managing Director of McLaren Racing said: "Choosing Simraceway as our licensor for all 60 McLarens makes perfect sense. We're highly impressed with their gaming products, innovative technology and the drive of their people. We are very optimistic that this will represent the start of a successful co-operation between the two companies, and we look forward to seeing our rich and beloved heritage brought to life in the virtual world."