The car list for EA Sports WRC was released a few weeks ago with 78 cars. But with such history, there are may rally icons missing in the game, here are our top 5 picks.
Image credit: Toyota on Newspress
There is no doubt. EA Sports WRC with its 78 cars is an impressively large game. Its car list spans every nook and cranny from the discipline’s history and, under the team that gave us Dirt Rally 2.0, each model is sure to be made in great detail.
But with rallying featuring such an impossibly diverse history, it was always going to be tough featuring every icon to ever race. We at OverTake are over the moon with the current list. But here are five models that would deserve their own DLC pack, and inclusion in the game.
But one model that does not get any share of the spotlight is the Citroën BX 4TC. This little-funded attempt to turn a family saloon into a fire-breathing monster was far from successful. Furthermore, it ran for less than a year. Many faults, poor design and the collapse of Group B rendered it a flash in the pan.
But it is for this underdog story that we would like to see it gain a place in sim racing. Jumping into a historic rallying career mode in EA Sports WRC and running this missing car to championship success would certainly be enjoyable. With very few real-world models ever built, seeing this car in sim rallying would allow more racing fans to admire the passion behind the Citroën project.
But somehow, it is also a car that has escaped major participation in sim racing for many years. Bar the Walter Röhrl Group B 911 SC RS, it is lacking inclusion in both the car lists for EA Sports WRC and Dirt Rally 2.0. In an ideal world, this is something we would address. The addition of a standard, road-going Porsche 911 to fit into the RWD H3 class is certainly the solution.
In Richard Burns Rally, the Group B model appears alongside the lower-power Group 4 Porsche 911 SC. This is certainly a car that will compete well alongside the likes of the Opel Ascona, Lancia Stratos and BMW M3 Evo already present in EA Sports WRC.
But we would most definitely appreciate the brand relaxing its Gran Turismo focus to allow past racers like the Corolla WRC to feature in games in the future. In the hands of Carlos Sainz – no, not that one – the Corolla went on to take the 1999 World Rally Championship.
Competition from Subaru and Mitsubishi was fierce that year. But the Castrol-coloured car pedaled by Sainz and Didier Auriol took the Manufacturers’ title, etching the brand firmly into the history books. It was an iconic end to a hard-fought championship.
For this fabulous story and its Marmite looks, this is a car that should not go missing from the EA Sports WRC car list.
But with that in mind, what other Super 1600 racers could join the class? Well, one of the class’ most successful models was the Suzuki Swift that is currently missing from EA Sports WRC. With 16 Junior WRC wins to its name, it comes in second in the all-time list behind the Citroën C2.
A popular road-going hatch back for its affordability, the Suzuki Swift would surely be a popular addition to the game. Furthermore, Super 1600 was a popular class from the mid-2000’s. So it deserves more than just the four models currently set for the title’s launch.
If we had to choose just one car from the manufacturer’s history to join EA Sports WRC, it would surely be the Toyota Celica GT-Four. In many ways, this one model altered the history of the World Rally Championship forever.
First of all, this Toyota Celica is often credited as being the first model to feature an Anti-Lag System. It kept the turbo spooled even whilst off-throttle thanks to a combination of fuel and spark sending flames through the turbo on the overrun. This ensures the car reaches full power as soon as one hits the throttle.
But it is also the Celica’s turbo that caused controversy thanks to an ingenious cheating method. As a restrictor plate inside the turbo would move when the car was running. This meant more air would be allowed into the turbo and in turn, into the engine, creating more power. Throughout much of the 1995 season, each rally would see this restrictor plate be checked by the FIA. But an ingenious system meant the plate would move back under power. This was almost undetectable to the FIA inspectors, until a whistle blower outed the team that is.
With such an intriguing history behind the car, there is little doubt that it should be in EA Sports WRC. Being able to use the same cheating style in the game’s so-called modern Builder Cars would certainly be the cherry on top of the cake.
What rally car do you think is missing from EA Sports WRC? Tell us in the comments down below!
Image credit: Toyota on Newspress
There is no doubt. EA Sports WRC with its 78 cars is an impressively large game. Its car list spans every nook and cranny from the discipline’s history and, under the team that gave us Dirt Rally 2.0, each model is sure to be made in great detail.
But with rallying featuring such an impossibly diverse history, it was always going to be tough featuring every icon to ever race. We at OverTake are over the moon with the current list. But here are five models that would deserve their own DLC pack, and inclusion in the game.
Citroën BX 4TC
With many classes spanning the history of rallying, each era of the sport has featured its own niche, oddball creations. The category that brought into existence the most of the strange manufacturer projects is certainly Group B. From the mind boggling Metro 6R4 to the advanced Porsche 959.But one model that does not get any share of the spotlight is the Citroën BX 4TC. This little-funded attempt to turn a family saloon into a fire-breathing monster was far from successful. Furthermore, it ran for less than a year. Many faults, poor design and the collapse of Group B rendered it a flash in the pan.
But it is for this underdog story that we would like to see it gain a place in sim racing. Jumping into a historic rallying career mode in EA Sports WRC and running this missing car to championship success would certainly be enjoyable. With very few real-world models ever built, seeing this car in sim rallying would allow more racing fans to admire the passion behind the Citroën project.
Porsche 911 S 2.0
One car that certainly is not a stranger to the rallying scene is the Porsche 911. Be it in its Group B form, RGT 911 GT3 form or historic, low-power variant, this is a very popular model among real rally fans.But somehow, it is also a car that has escaped major participation in sim racing for many years. Bar the Walter Röhrl Group B 911 SC RS, it is lacking inclusion in both the car lists for EA Sports WRC and Dirt Rally 2.0. In an ideal world, this is something we would address. The addition of a standard, road-going Porsche 911 to fit into the RWD H3 class is certainly the solution.
In Richard Burns Rally, the Group B model appears alongside the lower-power Group 4 Porsche 911 SC. This is certainly a car that will compete well alongside the likes of the Opel Ascona, Lancia Stratos and BMW M3 Evo already present in EA Sports WRC.
Toyota Corolla WRC
From one brand that deserves greater EA Sports WRC representation to another in the shape of Toyota. Whilst the headlining Rally1 GR Yaris is obviously present in the game’s main class, the brand’s iconic history is missing. Such a clear oversight, it is obvious that this comes down to a licencing issue with Toyota itself rather than EA skipping the manufacturer.But we would most definitely appreciate the brand relaxing its Gran Turismo focus to allow past racers like the Corolla WRC to feature in games in the future. In the hands of Carlos Sainz – no, not that one – the Corolla went on to take the 1999 World Rally Championship.
Competition from Subaru and Mitsubishi was fierce that year. But the Castrol-coloured car pedaled by Sainz and Didier Auriol took the Manufacturers’ title, etching the brand firmly into the history books. It was an iconic end to a hard-fought championship.
For this fabulous story and its Marmite looks, this is a car that should not go missing from the EA Sports WRC car list.
Suzuki Swift S1600
One positively surprising addition to EA Sports WRC that was not in Dirt Rally 2.0 is the Ford Puma S1600. Padding out the class further, this little coupe will be an instant nostalgic throwback to anyone that played Colin McRae Rally 3 back in the day.But with that in mind, what other Super 1600 racers could join the class? Well, one of the class’ most successful models was the Suzuki Swift that is currently missing from EA Sports WRC. With 16 Junior WRC wins to its name, it comes in second in the all-time list behind the Citroën C2.
A popular road-going hatch back for its affordability, the Suzuki Swift would surely be a popular addition to the game. Furthermore, Super 1600 was a popular class from the mid-2000’s. So it deserves more than just the four models currently set for the title’s launch.
Toyota Celica GT-Four
As aforementioned, the Toyota name is sadly missing from most of the game’s line-up. Ideally, a full DLC pack focusing on the brand would release at some point down the road. But licencing is a difficult path to navigate. Furthermore, EA has stated that car DLC packs will not release for EA Sports WRC. So driving a classic Toyota in the modern rally title that is looking unlikely.If we had to choose just one car from the manufacturer’s history to join EA Sports WRC, it would surely be the Toyota Celica GT-Four. In many ways, this one model altered the history of the World Rally Championship forever.
First of all, this Toyota Celica is often credited as being the first model to feature an Anti-Lag System. It kept the turbo spooled even whilst off-throttle thanks to a combination of fuel and spark sending flames through the turbo on the overrun. This ensures the car reaches full power as soon as one hits the throttle.
But it is also the Celica’s turbo that caused controversy thanks to an ingenious cheating method. As a restrictor plate inside the turbo would move when the car was running. This meant more air would be allowed into the turbo and in turn, into the engine, creating more power. Throughout much of the 1995 season, each rally would see this restrictor plate be checked by the FIA. But an ingenious system meant the plate would move back under power. This was almost undetectable to the FIA inspectors, until a whistle blower outed the team that is.
With such an intriguing history behind the car, there is little doubt that it should be in EA Sports WRC. Being able to use the same cheating style in the game’s so-called modern Builder Cars would certainly be the cherry on top of the cake.
What rally car do you think is missing from EA Sports WRC? Tell us in the comments down below!
