Goodyear is contributing to the pursuit of increased realism in virtual racing via its collaboration with Studio 397, developer of the hyper-realistic rFactor 2 simulation engine. The tyre manufacturer says its partnership has led to a major step forward in replicating race tyre model behaviours in the virtual environment. Such developments allow esports drivers to get closer than ever to the experiences of their real-life counterparts. The engine, which uses thousands of data points to create an immersive and authentic experience, is used in the Le Mans Virtual Series, of which Goodyear is an official partner.