Cars in video games are much more durable than in real life, at least if you’re not playing a hardcore simulation mode. This also often made it possible to “slip” along ledges and other barriers and thus to overtake in curves at a significantly higher speed than would be possible in reality.
Last fall, pro racer Ross Chastain thought it might work in real life. The NASCAR series is known for its circuits, the outer rim also plays a crucial role in racing – but usually in the form of rough touches and sometimes spectacular crashes.
Spectacular but risky manoeuvre
But Chastain attempted such a wall ride on the last lap of a race at Martinsville Speedway last fall, accelerating to the maximum and allowing the limit to steer. He later testified that he played a lot of NASCAR 2005 on the Nintendo GameCube growing up “and I never knew if it was going to really work. I mean, I did that when I was eight years old.” As you could see on TV it actually worked and gave the racer not only a better position but also the fastest lap ever driven at the circuit. But the maneuver earned him a lot of criticism from colleagues, and NASCAR officials have now announced that such help from the gang has been banned (or no longer tolerated).
“Chastain’s sprint into Turns 3 and 4 at Martinsville Speedway last October made for a thrilling finale as the #1 Chevrolet made up five positions on a turn,” NASCAR said in a statement (via kotaku). “While the maneuver was exciting and widely praised for its creativity, it also came with an increased safety risk.”
According to NASCAR, no new rules are necessary here either, but existing ones will be interpreted accordingly. This is based on general regulations on the safety of drivers and cars, and those responsible announced that this now also applies to wall rides.
