GT3 Challenges Pack Released for rFactor 2

[Paul Jeffrey]

Four of the five new GT3 cars for rFactor 2 have been released today!

Released just 24 hours after the final car reveal yesterday, the five vehicle 'GT3 Challengers' DLC for rFactor 2 is here! Although containing five cars, players will have to wait for a little while yet until we get access to the brand new 2019 Aston Martin Vantage GT3, that one is undergoing final manufacturer approval and hasn't quite managed to sneak into the pack ahead of the release deadline today.

Even without the Aston, the new car pack from Studio 397 is an incredibly impressive achievement and in my opinion at least, really showcases the exceptional potential of what is one of the finest racing simulations currently available. The new cars, the BMW M6, McLaren 720s, Audi R8 LMS and Porsche 911 GT3 R are quite literally the highest quality Studio 397 have released to date, and represent the first pieces of content to be developed with the much anticipated new materials shaders for the title.

Although joining the sim as a standalone DLC, the new cars have received suitable BOP settings to allow them to race competitively with the current crop of GT3 machines, meaning rFactor will have a very impressive collection of no less than 10 recent GT3 cars within the sim (plus the older Camaro GT3 from the ISI era).. not bad going in the space of just over one year..

For me, these new cars that form part of the 'GT3 Challengers' DLC are testament to the quality Studio 397 are capable of delivering, and could, quite possibly, be some of the finest content in sim racing....

The Studio 397 announcement notes:

With a great heritage in GT class racing, we are proud to announce the next pack released for rFactor 2 – The GT3 Challengers Pack. Featuring not just one, but two world firsts! GT represents much of what rFactor 2 stands for, and fits into our feature set of day/night transitions, weather and driver swaps. We hope you enjoy this pack that also features our latest graphic engine technology.

With our existing GT3 Pack and the Endurance Pack we now have 13 GT class cars that can race on track – add a couple of LMP’s and we have one of the most diverse grids in sim racing.

Once again we are proud to have great support from partners to help us make this happen.

Download on Steam right here!

Now let’s take a look at what’s in awesome pack!

McLaren 720s

To bring one of their new incredible cars onto race tracks, McLaren developed the stunning 720S GT3.

Modern design, impressive aerodynamics and years of experience in Motorsport should help this car to claim wins among several premier GT3 events in 2019.

Porsche 911 GT3 R

It probably wouldn’t be called motorsport if the iconic brand Porsche aren’t part of a class.

The 911 GT3 R is once again a very balanced, race-proven car by the German manufacturer, reinforcing their image as being amongst the highest rated contenders in a series.

Audi R8 LMS GT3

Considered as one of the all-time favourites, this midship RWD car by Audi has been competing in GT3 since the beginning, winning significant races around the globe for a variety of teams. A demanding but rewarding choice.

BMW M6 GT3

From the very start, the BMW M6 GT3 hit the grids all over the motorsport world and proved the V8 concept to the German manufacturer. Leading several Endurance events in different series and also claiming the 2018 FIA GT World Cup title, this car is a winner.


Aston Martin Vantage 2019

The second generation of the Aston Martin Vantage GT3 is ready for some serious racing action. It will enter GT events in 2019 and beefs up the already stunning road version of the Vantage. With the prestige and expertise Aston Martin brings into racing, it’s a challenger you always have to keep an eye on.

*Please note this car will be released as part of the pack once approved


Final Notes
These cars are built with our new graphic technology, based on PBR lighting. We are converting more of our older content and yes, we are bringing more liveries to you shortly!

For painters, we are finalising the templates and the technology behind it, trust us, it will be a game changer for you! In the meantime, please read more on our December Roadmap here https://www.studio-397.com/2018/12/roadmap-update-december-2018/

rFactor 2 is available exclusively for PC from Steam now.

Check out the rFactor 2 sub forum here at RaceDepartment for all the latest news and discussion with regards to the simulation. You can take part in lively debates with fellow rFactor 2 fans and take part in some great Club and League racing events..! Head over to the forum now!

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[Ville-Samuli Mutanen]

Easy to agree. Natural evolution in quality is understandable but when you see variable quality within the same DLC to me it speaks something about the quality standards of the developer.

I literally laughed when I realized that you're wasting GPU performance by rendering 3 different mirrors and each of those are showing nothing useful. At the same time I think that releasing 2d mirrors in VR title is kind of cheap.

 

[Javi288]

I literally laughed when I realized that you're wasting GPU performance by rendering 3 different mirrors and each of those are showing nothing useful. At the same time I think that releasing 2d mirrors in VR title is kind of cheap.

You can deactivate the mirrors and the problem is half solved, but the incorrect world scale in VR has no solution for now ...

 

[ionONE1]

The Porsche GTE dashboard is still empty, same for all the other cars probably. Looks like something out of rf1. Checked out some AMS mod, nice clear and working numbers.
TC lights are still missing/wrong position in that cockpit -.-

AC

Rf2 porsche gt r 2019 cockpit https://www.racedepartment.com/attachments/4-porsche-911-gt3-r-cockpit-copy-jpg.282561/
Reality
https://cdn-4.motorsport.com/images...veil-2018-2019-porsche-911-gt3-r-interior.jpg
https://porschenewsroom.s3.amazonaw...f-42ad-bd86-ad7643b92cad_teaser_720x406x2.jpg
beyond terrible for a pay to drive car, how did porsche approve
this?

Waiting for the new ui/ competitive mode until i buy into this one. Wish we could purchase 1 car and be able to participate in multiplayer events (ok if you find a server..). Curious how active the multiplayer will be when you have to own both packs.

 

[Case_]

Why does the green scale in the rear view point at the sky, why don't the mirrors reflect what is behind the car

Adjust your mirrors.

(But yeah, it also irks me that the default seat and mirror position in cars varies so wildly.)

 

[Sim Strata]

Adjust your mirrors.

(But yeah, it also irks me that the default seat and mirror position in cars varies so wildly.)

Exactly what I mean by irritating and time consuming.

 

[Javi288]

Rf2 porsche gt r 2019 cockpit https://www.racedepartment.com/attachments/4-porsche-911-gt3-r-cockpit-copy-jpg.282561/
Reality
https://cdn-4.motorsport.com/images...veil-2018-2019-porsche-911-gt3-r-interior.jpg
https://porschenewsroom.s3.amazonaw...f-42ad-bd86-ad7643b92cad_teaser_720x406x2.jpg
beyond terrible for a pay to drive car, how did porsche approve
this?

rFactor 2 Porsche 911 GT3 R is not 2019 version, but a previous one.

In this link is explained in great detail what fails in the dash of the rFactor 2 911 GT3 R.

https://steamcommunity.com/app/365960/discussions/0/1742229167206107498/

 

[Emery]

I've been quiet about this release because I haven't bought it. I'll wait until the Aston is available (and the skins and the painting template with instructions).

Really, my stand is no different than not buying into the ACC early access. I don't like being a guinea pig and I don't like buying incomplete content releases!

 

[Leynad777]

For me it's the physics that I'm research for and that I find only in rf2. With rf2 I feel like driving a real car while sitting on the driver's seat that I do not feel at all with the other simus and visually rf2 has nothing to envy them. AND I recommend the pack gt3-challenges which for me is very good and will be further improved.

Agree with that and thanks to the GT3-class in almost all sims it's easy to compare. I just was driving the Ferrari GT3 in iRacing, yesterday i did GT3 in Raceroom and pCars 2, last week some minutes ACC. All have one in common: not in the same ballpark with rF2

I was surprised how bad pCars 2 degraded nowadays and it seems SMS did the same with pCars 2 they did with pCars 1 before. The game got worse to give the next pCars 3 more shine, both on physics and graphics and to please gamepad-drivers. First i thought, it's maybe just me, but you can clearly see the differences in old and recent GT3-videos of the same guy. In the "old time" you need to balance the car through corners and avoid oversteer-drifting and in the new ones it even looks with a wheel like gamepad-driving in Forza with a lot of drifting involved. Also the grip in the rain increased a lot in the meantime...

If i could combine the best aspects in iRacing with the ones in Raceroom and ACC we might have a winner, but i can't and so rF2 takes P1 in GT3 with ease.

 

[Marc Collins]

@John-Eric Saxén said:

If graphics are not most important, then the first part of your review becomes less relevant. I agree that there are still certain graphical details that are lagging behind in rF2 such as shadows in general, but graphics for me are always secondary.

Do not agree. My comments about the graphics are important because even people like me, who don't prioritize graphics, are bothered by them.

This is no longer the case. Have a go on the grass with the new GT3's and you'll see temps barely rise at all anymore, this was fixed in some feature update half a year ago.

So this is only fixed for the new GT3's, that you have to purchase? It certainly affects some official content (I am not about to go test it all). So, I am only interested when there is a universal fix.

The UI is using the same tech as AMS. Old, but IMO usable. The mod install part is somewhat frustrating.

The tech is irrelevant. It's the execution that is the issue. Reiza has shown that you can produce a polished, logical and very functional UI and HUD with the old tech. The rF2 UI and HUD are embarrassments in every aspect.

This is the case for all sims. AMS has age old cockpits in many cars, pCars 2 has recycled content from pCars 1, etc.

No, all AMS content (tracks and cars) are fully updated to the latest AMS standards...always. Reiza has never released any of its many, many updates over the life of AMS without first applying them to the entire relevant content that needs to be updated. Polished to a shine. 180 degrees the opposite of rF2.

 

[Enoneado]

ok, i have a doubt, there are two packs, one named "winter bundle pack", with Sebring, GTE pack and GT3 pack... and i don't know if is this pack the included or is another different the "GT3 challengers"

 

[Dirk Steffen]

ok, i have a doubt, there are two packs, one named "winter bundle pack", with Sebring, GTE pack and GT3 pack... and i don't know if is this pack the included or is another different the "GT3 challengers"

It is a different pack. If you want to have the latest GT3 pack with 5 cars total you want to buy the "GT3 Challengers Pack".
If you also want to have the earlier released pack (McLaren 650s, AMG GT GT3, Bentley Continental GT3, Radical, Corvette) you could buy the Winter Pack which bundles this with the Sebring track or you could buy the pack without the track separately.

If you want to have ALL available official GT3 cars you have to buy a total of two packs.

 

[jimortality]

What's the difference between this new challenges pack and the 2 gt packs I purchased?

 

[Dirk Steffen]

What's the difference between this new challenges pack and the 2 gt packs I purchased?

I do not know which packs you purchased ;-) but most likely you have purchased the initial GT3 pack and the Endurance pack (GTE + LMP cars).

The brand new pack is an addition to the initial GT3 pack with 5 new (one of them yet to be released) GT3 cars.

 

[jimortality]

I do not know which packs you purchased ;-) but most likely you have purchased the initial GT3 pack and the Endurance pack (GTE + LMP cars).

The brand new pack is an addition to the initial GT3 pack with 5 new (one of them yet to be released) GT3 cars.

Yes, the GT3 and GTE packs I purchased cheers

 

[Juwe]

The thing I was still amazed after all these years with rF2 is the horrible exterior sounds. Sounds like 90's titles. We are spoilt with fantastic, roaring, grumbling and echoing exterior sounds these days! Mixed together with pitwall, audience, wind, pops, whistles, bangs and all that sheit. Sounds have taken a huge step forward during the last 5 years or so. Unfortunately rF2 was not in the competition 5 years ago and is even further away these days in that regard. Some onboard sounds are okay.

Exactly, the only rf2 exterior sound I really like, is the sound of the ORECA.

 

[dajdosta]

Exactly, the only rf2 exterior sound I really like, is the sound of the ORECA.

Formula Renault 3.5 ?

 

[thepharcyde]

Formula Renault 3.5 ?

Was going to say Meganes sound nice, same engine

 

[mr Sw1tchblade]

Are you feel fine with bmw engine sound in cockpit? I feel like i am little child playing gpega again