With the latest big update to its closed beta, RENNSPORT has added its first non-GT3 car in the Praga R1. The little prototype is quite a different beast compared to the machinery that has already been present for a while - and while the overall impression is good, there is room for improvement.
Image credit: RENNSPORT
At just under 400 hp, the Praga R1 is less powerful than the GT3 vehicles clocking in at close to 600 hp, but the mini prototype only weighs about half as much at just under 650 kg. The result is an agile car that also relies on aerodynamics a bit more than the production-based racing cars.
This makes for a fun experience, that differs considerably from the other content in the closed beta, and it shows a lot of potential physics-wise for more cars of this type like the Porsche 963 LMDh racer, which has been confirmed to join the closed beta later this year. There is good reason for those sim racers who feared "yet another GT3 sim" to feel at ease a bit here.
Pocket-sized prototype: The Praga R1 is very different to the rest of the content in RENNSPORT's closed beta. Image credit: RENNSPORT
This slide can be corrected, but looking at onboard footage of the real car, this phenomenon rarely occurs unless the driver gets a bit too eager to get on the loud pedal. It is hard to make out the root of this behavior, as it could either be physics-based, or a result of the car's setup - which cannot be changed in the closed beta as of writing this article, so could be possible to tune this out in the future.
The other gripe I personally found with the R1 is its Force Feedback. While the FFB is generally good and communicative in RENNSPORT already, it does not always feel convincing in the Praga. GT3 cars have power steering, the Praga has not - yet, the FFB in the R1 feels considerably lighter than in the other cars in the closed beta.
Adding to this is a certain loss of feel when first turning in, but only within the first few degrees of turning. It almost feels like clipping, but considering the lighter overall FFB in the car and the fact that the Fanatec DD2 wheelbase I tested the car with can put out much more torque, this can be ruled out as a reason.
The core of the experience is still good in the Praga, too. It is a lesson in smoothness, even with the surprise oversteer thrown in - if you overdo it on the accelerator or your steering inputs, the tires will overheat quickly, so it tends to bring out the smooth operator in its drivers.
As a result, the Porsche 963, which is going to be the fastest car available in RENNSPORT when it releases (unless developer Competition Company surprises us with an even faster vehicle in the meantime), should be a very engagin experience as well.
To see more of this month's closed beta update to RENNSPORT, check out the OverTake's livestream below. Jonas "Champion Joe" Schulz takes a closer look at what is new, sharing his opinions and even exploring parts of the surroundings of the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps.
Image credit: RENNSPORT
At just under 400 hp, the Praga R1 is less powerful than the GT3 vehicles clocking in at close to 600 hp, but the mini prototype only weighs about half as much at just under 650 kg. The result is an agile car that also relies on aerodynamics a bit more than the production-based racing cars.
This makes for a fun experience, that differs considerably from the other content in the closed beta, and it shows a lot of potential physics-wise for more cars of this type like the Porsche 963 LMDh racer, which has been confirmed to join the closed beta later this year. There is good reason for those sim racers who feared "yet another GT3 sim" to feel at ease a bit here.
Pocket-sized prototype: The Praga R1 is very different to the rest of the content in RENNSPORT's closed beta. Image credit: RENNSPORT
Two Main Flaws
However, the R1 also shows that there is still some work to be done in two key areas. The behavior of the car is one of them, as the Praga tends to stick to the track like you might expect from a light, aero-dependent racing car, but then starts to slide somewhat unexpectedly. This becomes particularly apparent in the transition from the mid-corner phase to exiting a turn, where understeer tends to turn into a back end that steps out, often even when you are very careful on the throttle.This slide can be corrected, but looking at onboard footage of the real car, this phenomenon rarely occurs unless the driver gets a bit too eager to get on the loud pedal. It is hard to make out the root of this behavior, as it could either be physics-based, or a result of the car's setup - which cannot be changed in the closed beta as of writing this article, so could be possible to tune this out in the future.
The other gripe I personally found with the R1 is its Force Feedback. While the FFB is generally good and communicative in RENNSPORT already, it does not always feel convincing in the Praga. GT3 cars have power steering, the Praga has not - yet, the FFB in the R1 feels considerably lighter than in the other cars in the closed beta.
Adding to this is a certain loss of feel when first turning in, but only within the first few degrees of turning. It almost feels like clipping, but considering the lighter overall FFB in the car and the fact that the Fanatec DD2 wheelbase I tested the car with can put out much more torque, this can be ruled out as a reason.
A Good Base
Of course, the thing to keep in mind at all times when looking at RENNSPORT right now is that the sim is still in a beta state. There should be no doubt that the R1 is not in its final state, and it is likely going to be much improved over time - just like the rest of the content.The core of the experience is still good in the Praga, too. It is a lesson in smoothness, even with the surprise oversteer thrown in - if you overdo it on the accelerator or your steering inputs, the tires will overheat quickly, so it tends to bring out the smooth operator in its drivers.
As a result, the Porsche 963, which is going to be the fastest car available in RENNSPORT when it releases (unless developer Competition Company surprises us with an even faster vehicle in the meantime), should be a very engagin experience as well.
To see more of this month's closed beta update to RENNSPORT, check out the OverTake's livestream below. Jonas "Champion Joe" Schulz takes a closer look at what is new, sharing his opinions and even exploring parts of the surroundings of the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps.
