Only three weeks on from July’s fresh version, Mid-August brought an impressive batch of car updates to rFactor 2. Covering each class of cars in the GT category (GT1 through to GT4), each vehicle met with graphical, mechanical and physics-based modifications. Chevrolet’s Camaro, the Corvette C6.R and Nissan’s 370z and GT-R all featured in these revisions.
rFactor 2 – GT-R in the Lead
The details of the many changes are below.
Nissan GT-R GT1 v 1.47
- Chassis flex implemented and new steering parameters
- CG increased
- Downforce reduction and slightly less yaw stability
- Slightly less downforce-sensitive in slipstream
- Updated to use new tyre mass method and slightly more accurate unsprung masses used
- Some tyre tweaks – mostly, but not limited to, wear, load sensitivity and grip correction for wet conditions
- Automatic shift aid works a little better (less reluctantly)
- You now also have to blip on down-shifts as in the real car
- Minor AI tweaks
- Additional radiator setting to prevent overheating in high ambient temperatures
- ‘Central’ TV cockpit and bonnet camera
- Tweaked headlight parameters should improve night racing
- Now using newer sound attenuation parameters
- LOD distance tweaks
- Updated to latest shader settings
- New driver helmet
- Additional teams and liveries added
- Rim Blur added
*There are additional minor undocumented changes.
Nissan 370z GT4 v 1.47
- 2 versions now available (European and Dutch), which more closely match rules from specific series
- Chassis flex implemented and new steering system
- Suspension and steering geometry revisions, that more closely resembles the real car (steering has an increase in Ackermann [geometry])
- Caster range reduced
- Slightly stronger suspension
- CG increased, further forward and more laterally offset
- Slight downforce reduction
- Slightly less downforce-sensitive in slipstream
- Minor set-up tweaks
- Gear ratios replaced
- Brake system completely recalculated
- Updated to use new tyre mass method and slightly more accurate unsprung masses used
- Some tyre tweaks – mostly, but not limited to, wear, load sensitivity and grip correction for wet conditions
- Minor AI tweaks
- ‘Central’ TV cockpit and bonnet camera
- Tweaked headlight parameters should improve night racing
- Now using newer sound attenuation parameters
- Updated to latest shader settings
- New driver helmet
- Rim blur added
- New team liveries added
- Fixed reversed/mirrored logo on the side
- Fixed wheel shadow height
*As usual there are some small additional undocumented changes.
**Previous set-ups will likely be obsolete, but the car should no longer have major revisions in the future as data is more complete.
Chevrolet Camaro GT3 v 1.49
- CG raised
- Minor set-up tweak
- Updated to use new tyre mass method and slightly more accurate unsprung masses used
- Some tyre tweaks – mostly, but not limited to, wear, load sensitivity and grip correction for wet conditions
- Slight downforce reduction and drag increased
- Minor AI tweaks
- Small engine torque correction
- Slight increase in shift duration, ignition cuts more correctly on upshifts also
- Slight damage tweak (suspension is a tiny bit stronger)
- Wheel/brake shadowing issue resolved
- Updated to latest shader settings
- New driver helmet
Chevrolet Corvette C6.R GT2 v 1.49
- Weight distribution adjusted
- Force upshift ignition cut
- More accurate steering range and lock including new variable steering ratio system
- Updated to use new tyre mass method and slightly more accurate unsprung masses used
- Slight geometry tweak
- Some tyre tweaks – mostly, but not limited to, wear, load sensitivity and grip correction for wet conditions
- 2009 and 2010-spec engines available
- Reduction in overall downforce level and slight increase in yaw sensitivity
- Small AI tweaks
- Slight damage tweak
- Updated shader settings
- Fixed the rear diffuser shape
- Now using latest driver helmet
- Rim blur was added
*There are additional small undocumented fixes not noted in logs.
Howston Stock Car Preview
Ahead of the May arrival of Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Dallara DW12 Indy Car single-seater, ISI released a set of early work-in-progress images of its Howston-branded Cup car. Long neglected in the world of sims, the aim was to bring the exciting racing of this Stock class to the modern generation of simulator.
‘Howston’ Stock Car – Bare in March
A few months down the line from those early snapshots, the week started with two additions to rFactor 2’s Screens page. The picture library now consists of two in-game pics of the Howston car – the first time that it has been shown textured and in-game.
rFactor 2 – The Ready-to-Race Howston Stock Car
Still in a period of sustained development, an rFactor 2 demo is available and the two purchase options continue. The ‘Standard’ package costs $43.99 (USD) and includes one year’s access to on-line services (namely multi-player and an update system). Further on-line access costs $12 per year after the first one-year period expires. An alternative ‘Lifetime’ option can be bought for $84.99 and as the name might suggest, there are no additional fees for on-line operation over the lifespan of rFactor 2.
To download the demo, read the terms and conditions or look at how the rFactor 2 system works, visit the rFactor.net Purchase page.
Taken up-to-date with July’s Build 798 release, the demo now features the Honda Civic Touring Car and the 1.8-mile Silverstone International Circuit.
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