Express & Star

We’ve been ‘driving’ a full-size Nissan GT-R via remote control

Simon Davis takes to the track in a Nissan GT-R that has been set up to be driven using a PlayStation 4 controller

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What sort of images come to mind when you hear the words “remote-control car”?

Chances are you’re probably thinking of a small, plastic, battery-powered children’s toy that can hit a top speed of 10 to 15mph. So chances are a remote-control, 542bhp Nissan GT-R with a top speed of 196mph is the furthest thing from your mind.

However, that’s exactly what JLB Design has gone and built, and I was lucky enough to have a go with it on track at Silverstone.

Nissan GT-R/C
(Nissan)

Called the GT-R/C, the life-size remote-control car was developed to celebrate the upcoming release of Gran Turismo Sport on PlayStation 4 (PS4), and to mark 20 years of Nissan’s involvement in the game’s franchise.

Based on a 2011 Nissan GT-R R35, the GT-R/C is operated using a PS4 controller that relays steering, throttle and braking inputs to a micro-computer that then transmits them to the car’s on-board systems.

James Brighton, the man behind JLB Design and the GT-R/C, said: “The GT-R/C presented some unique challenges and a number of engineering firsts for us.

“We had to ensure the robotics would operate effectively during fast acceleration/deceleration as well as high cornering G-forces, deliver realistic and reassuring control of the car at all speeds, and maintain a robust connection between the car and the controller over variable distances.”

It’s all very impressive technology, and made for one of the most bizarre driving experiences I’ve ever had.

James Brighton and the GT-R/C
James Brighton and the GT-R/C (Nissan)

Sat in the passenger seat of a Nissan Qashqai with PS4 controller in hand, I tailed the GT-R/C on a small loop circuit at Silverstone.

One of the first things I noticed was how responsive the PS4 controller was.

Moving the joystick even slightly prompted an immediate reaction from the GT-R/C, even at low speeds.

The throttle was similarly responsive. Thankfully, it wasn’t a case of all power or no power, so I was able to get the car up to about 25mph in a smooth fashion, but didn’t dare go any quicker.

Nissan GT-R/C
(Nissan)

Driving one car from the passenger seat of another vehicle really messed with how I perceived things like speed, depth and positioning.

One of the more hair-raising examples of this was when the tail car accelerated to keep pace with the GT-R/C.

As I felt these forces acting on my body, I instinctively removed my finger from the throttle button on the PS4 controller, leading to a few narrowly avoided bumper-to-bumper collisions. I imagine explaining how such an accident took place to an insurance company would make for a rather entertaining phone call.

While I thoroughly enjoyed my time with the GT-R/C, I couldn’t help but shake the feeling that the incredible example of remote-control engineering was rather wasted on someone who by no means had the confidence to really put the metaphorical pedal to the metal.

Nissan GT-R/C
(Nissan)

Luckily, Nissan had called on GT Academy racing driver Jann Mardenborough to put the GT-R/C through its paces at Silverstone a few days earlier, which he did from the cockpit of a Robinson R44 Raven II helicopter.

For those of you who aren’t aware of what GT Academy is, it’s a driver discovery development programme that turns amateur gamers into professional racing drivers.

Put simply, it takes people with exceptional talent on the Gran Turismo racing game and trains them up to do the same thing in real life.

Jann Mardenborough and the GT-R/C
Jann Mardenborough and the GT-R/C (Nissan)

Mardenborough is one of the programme’s most successful racers and has competed in the LMP2 class at the 2014 Le Mans 24 Hours with Ligier-Nissan.

With PS4 controller in hand, he was able to get the GT-R/C around the Silverstone National Circuit in 1:17:47, at an average speed of 76mph. Mardenborough also took the car up to a top speed of 131mph – some way off my rather pathetic 25mph best.

“This was once-in-a-lifetime, truly epic stuff. The GT-R /C has brought my two worlds together – the virtual of gaming and the reality of motorsport – in a way I never thought possible,” Mardenborough said.

“The response from the car when using the controller was far more engaging than I thought it would be. JLB Design has done an incredible job at making everything respond really well.

“Steering, acceleration and braking were all intelligently configured, allowing for controlled application so I could really get a feel through the corners and hold it steady down the fast straights. Driving a full-size, remote-control GT-R to 131mph at Silverstone whilst chasing it down in a helicopter was an unforgettable experience.”

Brighton added: “It’s testament to Jann’s unique skill set that he was able to master the vehicle’s operation in a very short period of time whilst delivering some truly impressive lap times.”

Jann Mardenborough controlling the GT-R/C from the helicopter
Jann Mardenborough controlling the GT-R/C from the helicopter (Nissan)

This isn’t the last we’ll hear of the GT-R/C, however. Next year it will tour primary and secondary schools to promote future careers in science, technology, engineering and maths subjects.

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