le mans tv studio

As part of this module, I had the opportunity to design and build a fully virtual TV studio environment using Unreal Engine and the SmartStage at the CCIXR Centre. My concept was inspired by the 24 Hours of Le Mans — a race steeped in legacy, drama, and high-performance engineering. I wanted to create a space that felt futuristic and immersive, but still grounded in the raw energy of endurance racing.

The final design was a sleek broadcast studio that could realistically be used to cover Le Mans. I built the structure entirely in Unreal, beginning with scaled cubes for the walls and ceiling, and adding angular elements to reflect a bold, high-tech aesthetic. Throughout the process, I paid careful attention to materiality — using painted blue plaster for the walls, marble tile for the floor, and a section of tarmac beneath a stylised race car similar to the Mazda 787B. Grid markings, white and red kerbs, and a glowing track outline added extra layers of visual storytelling.

One of the biggest learning curves came late in the project, when I realised I had built the scene in Unreal 5.3 instead of the SmartStage-compatible 5.1. I worked relentlessly to remake and improve the project under tight time pressure — and in the end, I’m glad it happened. The rework gave me the chance to refine the layout, lighting, and overall polish of the scene.

This project deepened my understanding of virtual production and the technical demands that come with real-time scene building. It also reinforced how powerful immersive design can be when it taps into something people are passionate about — like motorsport. Bringing the spirit of Le Mans into a virtual broadcast environment was a rewarding challenge, and one I’d love to build on in future work.