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There are quite a few software options for the APB. These include Scalextric Sport Digital Console (SSDC), Race Control System 64 (RCS64), PC Lap Counter, Race Co-ordinator Digital and Easy Slot Race Management (ESRM). The development of these programs has been a truly international effort, which does demonstrate the global impact of the Scalextric digital system. All of them offer either a trial product or trial period and are all worth a go to discover what works best for you. To buy a full license costs £30 for SSDC, 30 Euros for RCS64, PC Lap Counter is 50 Euros, Race Co-ordinator is donationware and ESRM is free. Here are some links...

• Scalextric Sport Digital Console (SSDC): ssdc.jackaments.com
  
• Race Control System 64 (RCS64): rcs64.com
  
• PC Lap Counter: www.pclapcounter.be
  
• Race Co-ordinator Digital: www.racecoordinator.net/rcd
  
• Easy Slot Race Management (ESRM): esrm.fr
  

The program that won me over to digital slot car racing was Andy Wallace's Scalextric Sport Digital Console (SSDC), which is what we originally used to run WHO/digital races for the first couple of years. SSDC offers a fuel-use simulation plus a KERS power boost which are rich, but relatively simple features to get your teeth into digital racing. SSDC also has a very clear race screen layout for the drivers and regular interruptions by the dulcet tones of Murray Walker...

   

Although - as race controller - I found the SSDC race set-up process a little tricky at times, that is offset by the wonderfully clear and uncluttered display for the drivers. The fuel simulation links throttle use with fuel-burn rates, meaning that clever strategy can win you a race. The use of KERS every lap also helps with fuel conservation

After thoroughly enjoying SSDC, we started to look for more simulations and the obvious place to go was Race Control System 64 (RCS64) - a program developed specifically for the APB by Martin Schmidt and Marcel Minnaard. In addition to a fuel simulation, RCS64 offers tyre choices, variable weather conditions, simulated grip, brake fade, plus a damage simulation. It is an immense piece of software with huge scope for the sort of user-customisation that still gets me very excited. Three years of using RCS64 has taken our digital racing to a level where we can deliver scale versions of actual motorsport formats - most famously, perhaps, our BTCC race day, but also some fabulous GT3 and Trans-Am racing.

Perhaps because of the complexity of the software, RCS64 accentuates some of the problems with digital simulation racing - there is just so much information to process. As well as driving fast, you have to negotiate up to five other cars, planning and executing clean overtaking manoeuvres. You need to be aware of tyre wear, weather conditions and fuel consumption - and plan pit stops accordingly. That's why we adjust our formats to introduce simulations gradually on our Wednesday evenings and use plenty of team and pairs racing where co-drivers can relay data from the RCS64 screen and call the driver into the pits - just like the team radio in real motorsport events.

   

As you can see, the screen is full of data. It really is a full-time job for the those not driving to study and make judgement calls. A recent Trans-Am pairs race was won because the non-driving teammate could see the track drying more quickly than usual and made a brave call to change to hard compound tires before everyone else. Not that we use all the simulations in every race - less is often more. Our BTCC races have no pit stops - although the tyre wear on the soft (option) tyre means the car becomes difficult to drive by the end of the race. If you get the simulation settings just right, RCS64 is so excitingly and wonderfully realistic. I have produced some guides to using RCS64 on the WHO/digital website: www.whoracing.org.uk/rcs64

Although I haven't used the other three programs mentioned, they are nearer the SSDC level of simulations - concentrating on fuel use. Interestingly, the race management software with the largest variety of simulations is the Scalextric ARC app - however, the detail within each of the simulations is very limited. The ARC app is good fun, but nowhere near as realistic as RCS64, for example. That, of course, may change.

Next, I shall look at controllers and controller upgrades for the APB.