NAMeS: Real Drivers for AMS2 v5.1

NAMeS v5.1 includes a revised Group A file that removes a duplicate Frank Biela and correctly places Franz Engstler in Reiza's "Tic Tac"ish M3 livery.

Thanks to @Littlefysh for reporting the Biela error.

NAMeS v5 includes real drivers for all AMS2 V1.6 content (see 11 Nov24 post, below, for full list). More info later ... for now, enjoy!

Here's the list of the new vehicle content that will be available to add to AMS2 with V1.6:

Lamborghini Dream Pack Pt1 (DLC)

1. Lamborghini SC63 (LMDh / GTP class)
2. Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 (GT3 Gen2 / GTD class)
3. Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo EVO2 (Super Trofeo class)
4. Lamborghini Veneno Roadster (Hypercars class)

Endurance Pack Pt2 (DLC):

• Alpine A424 (LMDh / GTP class)
• Oreca 07 (LMP2 Gen1 & Gen2 classes)
• Ligier JS P217 (LMP2 Gen1 & Gen2 classes)
• Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo (GT3 Gen2 / GTD class)
• Corvette Z06 GT3.R (GT3 Gen2 / GTD class)

Free Base Game Content

• Audi R8 LMS GT3 (GT3 Gen1 class)
• Audi R8 LMS GT4 (GT4 class)
• Ligier JS P320 (P1 Gen2 class)
• Audi Quattro V8 (Group A class)

Upgraded / alternative models:

• Corvette C8 Z07 (Supercars class)
• Corvette C3.R (GT Classics class)

NAMeS v5 is ready to go and will include custom-AI files to add real driver names for all of the above content. The vast majority were direct, Reiza-to-reality conversions (e.g., straightforward "Cavallo = Cairoli" swaps, given all the new official IMSA content). I had to make [very] few adjustments, here and there, to minimize driver duplications that might crop up during likely multiclass events.

NAMeS v4.70 fixes a couple of inconsistencies regarding Alessandro (vs. Alex) Zanardi across categories.

Naturally, F1 race programs from 1991 & 1993 list him as Alessandro Zanardi, so that is how he now appears in both F-Classic Gen4 and F-HiTech Gen2. In 1998 CART race programs, merchandise, etc., Zanardi goes by Alex, so his name stays that way in F-USA Gen2. For GTE, although BMW Group media often use the Alessandro moniker, the majority of IMSA media, and the official 2019 spotter's guide, use Alex, so his name in GTE has been updated accordingly.

In short, European-based teams/series = Alessandro, whereas North American-based teams/series = Alex.

It would appear that I have been cranking out real-name conversions for AMS2 content, and its mods, for two years ... or, in footballing terms, NAMeS has extended play into its third year. Either way, Reiza's unmatched workrate among developers, as well as the steady influx of modded vehicles, guarantee there will be plenty of new NAMeS on the way.

The "Alternative NAMeS" folder now includes a F-V10_Gen2 file that includes drivers from the 2001 F1 season. If activated, this alternative file replaces and rectifies Reiza's original pairing of 2000 season drivers with 2001 technical regulations (i.e., traction control). Thanks to @mikoulprostgrandprix for the impetus to make this particular variant.

NAMeS v4.69 finishes a mundane housekeeping project that removes unnecessary driver entries from various files that Reiza had previously deactivated. A few files contain minor changes to the livery order (e.g., most livery numbers in the sim are presented in ascending order, but occasionally a few are not) so that livery/driver order across all custom-AI files now matches the latest AMS2 build. In the process, I added several missing Corvette C8 owners.

NAMeS v4.68 includes real driver names for the new 2024 Stock Car Pro Series (adding Portuguese diacritics) and Formula 1 drivers (for the revised F-Ultimate Gen2 class).

I noticed a few errors in the Formula Ultimates (both Gen1 & Gen2) team-driver pairings that made absolutely no sense whatsoever. I guess my dog must have walked across my keyboard....

Obviously, the Gen2 file will be updated again when Reiza's revised Gen2 arrives with the next update, but at least both categories are fixed for now. New custom-AI files for the 2024 Stock Car and revised Formula Ultimate Gen2 are already completed and will be uploaded with the public release of the next update.

v4.66 now is uploaded as a .zip file in an attempt to eliminate the false positive virus warnings reported by a few RD members. Please let me know if Windows Defender or another program flags the updated .zip archive when downloaded.

1961 European Formula Junior co-champion Tony Maggs (aka, Tommy Moore in Reiza-speak) was born in Pretoria, South Africa, so the F-Junior file has been updated to correct his nationality. The Swiss flag that was incorrectly linked with Tony's name was probably an errant copy-and-paste issue with Lucien Balsiger, who appears nearby in the file.

NAMeS v4.65 includes an updated F-USA Gen3 file to match the revised Reynard-Honda livery numbers, including the new Gil de Ferran tribute livery #2.

R.I.P., Gil.

NAMeS v4.64 includes a small change to the GT3 Gen2 file; that is, the order of McLaren & BMW drivers was edited to exactly match the semi-ascending car numbers for those vehicles. This minor change is primarily of interest only to custom livery modders who utilize NAMeS for livery name/order information.

I noticed an extra "l" in GT4 driver Alessandro Giovanelli. Fixed it.

In order to improve immersion during single-player, multi-class races in AMS2, NAMeS v4.62 includes updated files for the P1, P2, P3, and P4 classes to remove any duplicate drivers, especially among the many Metalmoro vehicles. I took care to match AJR drivers with the correct liveries, teams, and/or engines as much as possible given the additional constraints. These multi-class-friendly files are now activated by default, but copies of these P1-P4 files and their original versions, as well as all other alternative files, are located in a new folder called "Alternate NAMeS".

Thanks to @Alegunner68 at the Reiza forums for giving me the push to get these out the door. By the way, the P1 Gen2 cars weren't included in this update, as there are only so many Sigma P1 drivers (from both the P1 or earlier P2 class) to go around. To avoid redundant drivers in this case, multi-class races that feature P1 cars should choose between either Gen1 or Gen2 machinery--not both simultaneously.

I'll generate an updated version for MrBrainDown's P1-P4 skins (NAMeS Expansion Pack 1) soon.

NAMeS v4.61 includes an alternative file for Carrera Cup. Located in the NAMeS+AI folder, this Carrera Cup file features 4.0 and 3.8 drivers from the 2019 Porsche Carrera Cup Brasil series, where the 991.1 and 991.2 both were raced. Reiza has included two additional championship seasons, so this file will provide the correct drivers for those championships. 2019 Carrera Cup Brasil drivers were performance-matched to Reiza quasi-fictional drivers, so no additional AI attributes were necessary.

Now that the "notformedia" restriction has been lifted for the latest AMS2 V1.5.5 beta, feel free to download NAMeS v4.6, which includes files for the LMDh and GT3 Gen 2 classes. The files will be ready to use with the public release of AMS2 V1.5.5.

LMDh cars are 100% names matched to 2023 IMSA SportsCar Championship drivers.
GT3 Gen2 drivers are also 100% names matched, mostly from the 2023 Fanatec GT World Challenge (various continents), along with a few from other series, like British GT.

One idiosyncrasy of AMS2 is that the use of custom-AI files during multi-class races seems to be an all-or-none affair; that is, all categories in a multi-class race require their own custom-AI file (if any custom-AI file use is desired) for drivers to populate correctly. With NAMeS v4.6 installed, multi-class races should automatically include a full grid of real drivers, regardless of what other mods are activated.

Happy New Year!

NAMeS v4.59 includes an updated DPi.xml file, as @mrjiffy6 at the Reiza forums was kind enough to point out that Sébastien Bourdais was missing the "u" in his last name.

Hopefully, NAMeS v4.59 will prove to have a very short lifespan and will be replaced soon to incorporate the exciting new content (i.e., LMDh & GT3 Gen2) announced by Reiza.

NAMeS v4.58 includes a small fix for the P2 class: the final Sigma skin is no longer #72, but #73.

Thanks to Romeo Foxtrot over at the Reiza forums for spotting this issue.

NAMeS v4.57 includes an edited TC70S file that removes several Corvette drivers that were Thanosed by Reiza. Thanks to @F_B for noticing this while updating his GT Classics pack.

In the process of redacting the file, I took the opportunity to find two Corvette drivers who were a better match for Reiza quasi-fictional names than I had originally chosen (yes, it happens). If you want Tony DeLorenzo back, then you ought to get @F_B's GT Classics set here.

I also, at long last, removed the #68 North Racing F-Retro Gen1 entry that Reiza deleted ages ago.

Ultimately, these rather minor updates will help AMS2CDU users avoid creating redundant entries in these classes without knowing it. No hurry, @LuxMundi!