Historic Sim Studios Release Toyota 415S For Assetto Corsa

Article Discussion
Assetto-Corsa-Toyota-415S-Flatnose-Historic-Sim-Studios.jpg
Images: Historic Sim Studios
Once again, Historic Sim Studios throw it back to the 1960s: Their Toyota 415S Flatnose pays tribute to the racing roots of the Japanese manufacturer.

Toyota and motorsport and inseparably linked. One of the top teams in WEC currently, the Japanese manufacturer has wowed fans with its LMP1 machines, the Toyota GT-One of the late 1990s, and a number of Group C and IMSA GTP cars. The marque was not always at home on the racing circuits of the world, however.

Back in 1967, Toyota decided to go racing and started development of the first of three models as part of the Toyota 7 project. Dubbed 415S, the car was designed to Group 7 regulations and powered by a 3-liter V8 engine. The car was completed in early 1968 and made its debut at the 1968 Japanese Grand Prix at Fuji Speedway.

Four Cars And A Class Win​

Toyota entered four cars with Shihomi Hosoya, Sachio Fukuzawa, Hiroshi Fushida, and Yoshio Otsubo behind their wheels. Fukuzawa would achieve the best starting position in sixth, albeit almost six seconds behind the pole-setting Nissan R381 of Kunimitsu Takahashi. The remaining 415S entries lined up in ninth (Fushida), 10th (Hosoya) and 12th (Otsubo). Of course, it is worth noting that Toyota competed in the GP-III class, while the R318s were running in the GP-IV class.

Footage from the 1968 Japanese Grand Prix, mostly focusing on the Nissan R381s.

Overall victory was not within Toyota's grasp, but Otsubo and Fushida finished in positions 8 and 9, respectively, meaning they scored a 1-2 in their own class. Fukuzawa was classified in 14th despite a failing drive shaft, but Hosoya had to retire about halfway through the race due to losing oil pressure. Still, a successful foundation for the project was laid at Fuji.

Assetto-Corsa-Toyota-415S-Flatnose-Historic-Sim-Studios-3.jpg


The 7 Project Turns Deadly​

The car continued to run well throughout 1968, scoring wins at the 1000km events at Fuji and Suzuka, among other good finishes. However, as development never stops in racing, the 415S was replaced by the 474S for 1969, now with a 5-liter V8. In 1970, the 578A took the spotlight, including a twin-turbo engine.

When Toyota's main competitor Nissen dropped out of competition, however, Toyota followed shortly after. Plans to enter the 578A in Can-Am were shelved. The deaths of factory drivers Fukuzawa (in early 1969) and Minoru Kawai (in 1970), who both lost their lives in testing accidents, likely also played their part in the decision.

Toyota 415S Flatnose For Assetto Corsa​

Now, Toyota's OG racing car makes its debut here on OverTake for Assetto Corsa. @Historic Sim Studios LLC revived the sportscar in its original 1968 guise, nicknamed 'flatnose', allowing sim racers to take a piece of Japanese racing history to the virtual tracks. The car should feel right at home at the 1968 rendition of Fuji uploaded by @WilliamTRiker, for instance.

Another car of Historic Sim Studios, the Daihatsu P-5, also competed in the 1968 Japanese Grand Prix, winning the GP-I category after being the only model in the class that actually qualified for the race. It had made its debut in the 1967 season, and Toyota actually bought Daihatsu in 1969.

Assetto-Corsa-Toyota-415S-Flatnose-Historic-Sim-Studios-2.jpg


The Toyota 415S is another great testament to one of sim racing's best qualities (in the author's opinion, anyway): going back in time with car-track combos that are no longer around. All 415S that have been built were destroyed after the car was retired, and Fuji is looking far different today compared to its original, steeply-banked version. And the fact that lesser-known cars and tracks are part of this is fantastic.

What are your impressions of the Toyota 415S Flatnose by Historic Sim Studios? Let us know on Twitter @OverTake_gg or in the comments below!
  • Like
  • Love
Reactions: Badi165, Interslice, Adalb.Schneider and 9 others
About author
Yannik Haustein
Yannik Haustein
Lifelong motorsport enthusiast and sim racing aficionado, walking racing history encyclopedia.

Sim racing editor, streamer and one half of the SimRacing Buddies podcast (warning, German!).

Heel & Toe Gang 4 life :D

More in Assetto Corsa

Comments

ApexLine
Have not found it "undriveable" at all nor the physics terrible. All the Group 7 cars were very challenging to drive and I have met drivers and crews from the era who echo those challenges. Now if one could figure out a way to simulate the automatic transmissions in some of the Chaparral cars of the era...anyways thanks much for the efforts to put this car out. A friend of mine was at Fuji Speedway when the Japanese Group 7 effort cars ran and its neat to see these and drive them in AC. Man those guys were brave...
 
Pasta2000
Historic Sim Studios LLC said:
With the 1960s it really depends. Sometimes you can find a dyno curve even for the engine. In this case, we had some book and internet sources, along with a few general car behavior tid bits from one of the drivers who actually drove the car, which was helpful in regard to the differences between the flatnose and the sharpnose handling.

View attachment 768628

See how you have information here, like the ZF Synchromesh and the Borg & Beck clutch... then its a journey to go research and learn about those parts and try and gather as much information we can apply to the current project.

Another great source of information, can be regulations and rules. For example, the modified Group 7 rules used by the JGT series in 1968. If something we find about the car doesn't match the rules or make sense, then we know we need to do more research. It is also helpful in regard to fuel tank size and things like that, which could vary based on which race and regulations the car raced under at a particular event. For example, we are using 80L fuel tanks in the cars, since that was the maximum under the JGT regulations.

Finally, the last thing I'm looking at is lap times. As this can be a bit tricky, I'm looking at it from a general overview... are we in the right ballpark. Track surface conditions and also the accuracy of tracks in AC can all make a huge difference in lap times... but generally, I want to be lapping within a few seconds of the actual lap times. For example, if I'm 10 seconds slow or 10 seconds fast... then I'm certainly going to dial in the performance better (generally through the tire model).
Click to expand...

Ahem,

"Another great source of information, can be regulations and rules. For example, the modified Group 7 rules used by the JGT series in 1968. If something we find about the car doesn't match the rules or make sense, then we know we need to do more research. It is also helpful in regard to fuel tank size and things like that, which could vary based on which race and regulations the car raced under at a particular event. For example, we are using 80L fuel tanks in the cars, since that was the maximum under the JGT regulations."

There is no such thing as "JGT regulations". The name itself was made up to have an umbrella term for these 5 cars. As a result, your whole statement here is completely made up. There was no fuel tank limit of 80L. The Nissan R381, a "JGT" car, had a combined total fuel capacity of 160L, spread over two fuel tanks.

And you're upset about someone being disappointed with your work?
 
Historic Sim Studios LLC
Pasta2000 said:
Ahem,

"Another great source of information, can be regulations and rules. For example, the modified Group 7 rules used by the JGT series in 1968. If something we find about the car doesn't match the rules or make sense, then we know we need to do more research. It is also helpful in regard to fuel tank size and things like that, which could vary based on which race and regulations the car raced under at a particular event. For example, we are using 80L fuel tanks in the cars, since that was the maximum under the JGT regulations."

There is no such thing as "JGT regulations". The name itself was made up to have an umbrella term for these 5 cars. As a result, your whole statement here is completely made up. There was no fuel tank limit of 80L. The Nissan R381, a "JGT" car, had a combined total fuel capacity of 160L, spread over two fuel tanks.

And you're upset about someone being disappointed with your work?
Click to expand...
What can I do to resolve this issue to your satisfaction?

You already know I'm going to continue developing the cars, as I do with every HSS mod I release. I've fulfilled the terms of our contract we agreed upon to the letter, and the remaining 4 cars we've been developing under that contract are all going to be completed and released for FREE for the sim racing community to enjoy (at ZERO cost to you beyond the 3d models you supplied to us). Or are you just trying to hurt HSS and my reputation? I believe our cars speak for themselves, so its a pretty petty and fruitless aim, that is just going to cause both of us unwanted stress.

1) There is nothing stopping you from making an alternative packed data file, with your own physics code, and sharing it on OverTake.gg's mod resources with links to the various JGT cars HSS has developed. 2) Alternatively, you can always provide me and the HSS team with feedback, including any sources that you have that might differ from our research that you would like incorporated into a future update.
 
Cote Dazur
I have spent a lot of my sim racing time racing this mod around Fuji 68 those last 3 days. It went from not able to do 2 or 3 laps before crashing, to trying to catch the AI, to trying to race the AI, to having some fantastic races with the AI.
The track is deceptive, looks easy but getting to the right pace is not so easy, with my DD wheel, the cars are very lively and communicative, it you treat then well.
Overall a very entertaining and addictive experience, thank you @Historic Sim Studios LLC for sharing with us this wonderful insight into Japan Grand Prix 1968.
 
Last edited:

Guides

Latest News

Article information

Author
Yannik Haustein
Article read time
3 min read
Views
6,680
Comments
24
Last update
Join the discussion

Share this article

Back
Top