McLaren and HTC have agreed on a multi-year Virtual Reality (VR) partnership. The intriguing relationship between the automobile manufacturer and the tech giant is part of McLaren’s dream to bring the Formula 1 experience to regular people and give them an immersive racing experience. McLaren aims to use HTC’s premium Virtual Reality (VR) technology to make this dream come true.
The partnership will bring a special edition McLaren HTC VIVE Headset that will allow fans to experience the true dynamics of an F1 race. Furthermore, HTC will also become the recognized VR partner of the McLaren esports program, which will be the first VR esports competition in the world. The brand-new VIVE Pro by HTC will be the official VR headset for this competition.
HTC is not new to the VR scene since it has already impressed fans with its state of the art VR technology. After making VR headsets for consumers and companies, the company has ventured into an uncharted territory through this partnership. McLaren is well known in the racing world and with this move, their respect and ratings will shoot off the roof.
Zak Brown, Chief Executive Officer, McLaren Racing, commented: “Today’s announcement is a real statement of intent from both McLaren and HTC VIVE. We are both committed to using the latest technology to give our fans the most immersive experience possible, short of physically putting them in the car. We will also work together to transform the way VR is used to enhance gaming, creating an experience that enables gamers to feel like one of the world’s best racing drivers.”
Alvin Wang Graylin, China President, HTC, remarked “McLaren and HTC both have a long history of disruptive innovation in our respective fields. By joining forces, we will be giving F1 fans new ways to experience and enjoy the sport like never before. The McLaren esports programme will be the first time a real sport has been combined with esports, and now by adding VR to the mix, anyone can realize their dream of being an F1 driver.”