Castrol EDGE Creates World First Driving Challenge: Imagine Racing a Real Car in a Virtual Reality Helmet, Blind to the Real World…

LOS ANGELES, May 26, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --

Castrol EDGE Titanium Trial:
Titanium Strong Virtual Drift #Virtualdrift

Castrol EDGE has premiered its latest Titanium Trial driving challenge, featuring Formula Drift professional Matt Powers driving his Roush Stage 3 Mustang whilst wearing a state-of-the-art Oculus Rift Development Kit 2 headset: blind to the real world around him, but fully-immersed in a rapidly changing 3D virtual world.

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In a world first, Castrol EDGE fused video games technology and a real world driving experience, using a modified car and virtual reality technology, so a computer-generated world responded to the driver's and car's movements in real time.

Film link: http://youtu.be/PX_HAIOQYes

The video game-like experience featured a mind-blowing landscape of falling boulders, crumbling track, tunnels, sheer cliff drops and even a cameo virtual appearance from another racing icon - with the landscape's shifts reacting to Matt Powers' every driving move. 

The challenge was part of Castrol EDGE's Titanium Trials, a series of high-powered driving challenges that bring man and machine together to push the boundaries of performance enabled by the strength of Castrol EDGE boosted with fluid Titanium technology - Castrol's most technologically advanced and strongest oil.

After taking on the VIRTUAL DRIFT Trial, Matt Powers said: "Virtual Drift was exhilarating and challenging like nothing I've ever done before. It's been awesome not only being involved and testing this next generation of gaming technology but the possibilities this opens up for motor sport in general are mind blowing. I had to rely on my instincts and the car to perform, with the strength of Castrol EDGE in the engine to give me the reassurance that the car would reach its maximum performance."

Castrol EDGE and creative technologists, Adam Amaral and Glenn Snyder, developed the all-new technology behind the trial. Everything from the steering angle and wheel spin, to the dynamic damping and throttle position was tracked, allowing Castrol EDGE to simulate the vehicle with near perfect accuracy in the virtual world.

With the Oculus Rift DK2 updating 75 times a second, brand new technology was needed to match or exceed that rate, making a previously sit-down, stationary experience, now a mobile experience in a moving vehicle for the first time ever.

Notes to Editors 

The Titanium Trials: 

The Titanium Trials are a series of high-powered driving challenges to demonstrate the strength of Castrol EDGE boosted with fluid Titanium technology - Castrol's most technologically advanced and strongest oil to date.

Titanium Strong Blackout: 

In 2014, the first Castrol EDGE Titanium Trial took place: Titanium Strong Blackout.   YouTube sensation Ken Block, Augusto Farfus (BMW Motorsport works driver/DTM), Mike Rockenfeller (Audi Sport works driver/DTM) and Adrian Zaugg (Lamborghini Squadra Corse test driver) teamed up for the first time and took on a one-of-a-kind race against the lights, on a course drenched in darkness.

Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WKis4NYLHo

Blackout featured the world's first state-of-the-art, pitch-black racetrack made out of hundreds of beams of light. The course was designed to accommodate a four-car relay that tested the team's driving skill as they worked together for the first time.

Castrol EDGE:  

Castrol EDGE boosted with fluid Titanium technology, our strongest oil: 

• Castrol EDGE boosted with fluid Titanium technology doubles its film strength
• Prevents oil film breakdown
• Reduces friction to help maximize engine performance

SOURCE Castrol EDGE