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!

Like what you see here at RaceDepartment? Don't forget to like, subscribe and follow us on social media!


 ​

 

[gamer19]

I'm here only cause I thought this is announcement of actual GTR3 game release.

 

[E304LIFE]

Noticed the hand shift (paddles) animations aren't working on the Porsche though....(haven't had time to check the other cars)

edit: k, just realized they're not working on any of the cars...I've never noticed that till now.

 

[F1Aussie]

Noticed the hand shift (paddles) animations aren't working on the Porsche though....(haven't had time to check the other cars)

No cars in rf2 have shifting animation unfortunately

 

[E304LIFE]

No cars in rf2 have shifting animation unfortunately

ya, just noticed that actually. thx.

 

[whip]

No cars in rf2 have shifting animation unfortunately

that's because the 6 year old they modelled the driver on can't reach the paddles

 

[Rodent]

It's great to see Studio 397 giving attention to the interiors as that was a real Achilles heel for rF2s graphics, really looking forward to some time with this pack.

Here's hoping the displays see some more love though, it's a major pet peeve of mine when sims give you less information than an actual driver would have available unless we resort to using a gamey UI or external apps, and what with running VR neither option is great. I would love to see those empty boxes filled out eventually.

Minor dash display rant ( that I have with just about every sim ) aside, this pack looks like it will give the already outstanding Endurance pack a run for it's money in terms of playtime from me.

 

[Fanapryde]

I LOVE these cars. I can barely stop driving them. New shaders are awesome, cockpits look much more real than ACC. Sounds are nice, feeling is fine.
Did about half a dozen laps yesterday evening at Brands Indy, all cars stock and laptimes were really close. They seem to be very easy on FPS too....

Worth every cent (despite the lack of more skins atm)

 

[ATSSHD]

I LOVE these cars. I can barely stop driving them. New shaders are awesome, cockpits look much more real than ACC. Sounds are nice, feeling is fine.
Did about half a dozen laps yesterday evening at Brands Indy, all cars stock and laptimes were really close. They seem to be very easy on FPS too....

Worth every cent (despite the lack of more skins atm)

Every new car have only one skin at the moment?

 

[Balazs Flossmann]

Every new car have only one skin at the moment?

Yes, no template...later
Edit:
More info here...
https://www.studio-397.com/2018/12/roadmap-update-december-2018/

 

[pcraenme]

Yesterday afternoon I played ACC for about one hour and although it has improved a bit in the last builds in the FFB/‘road feeling’ department on my G27, the difference with rF2 is huge for me. With this new GT3 Challengers pack and the previousy released GT3 Power Pack and all the available tracks, day/night transitions, weather system and VR and PBR... who needs ACC for GT3 racing? However, companies like Kunos Simulazioni, Studio 397 and Reiza will always have my support, buying anything they will release.

 

[thepharcyde]

Just please please please bring out this new UI, even in its unfinished state. Racing the AI over and over again is just repetitive.

My favourite SIM still sits third place after AC and RRE until it gets sorted and the ghost presence of online is a thing of the past.

Oh my gosh, sorry just raced with the Porka around Matsuka GP...... everyone drop what you're doing, set race for 30 mins, 2:30 time of day.
I'm blown away......the handling of the Porsche, braking to bring in the nose to hit the apex is so addictive.
This is a lot of fun.
Really outdone themselves here

 

[Farrow_21]

Really happy with all the cars so far. Which is surprising to me as i hate the other GT3 pack. Theses ones just seem to have much better handling.

 

[A.K.Racing]

LOL...Oh, it's like that eh!?

sorry but models isn't great specially inside!nothing close to real counterparts!

 

[Fanapryde]

sorry but models isn't great specially inside!nothing close to real counterparts!

Had to go back a few pages...but I believe you mean the ACC cars ?

 

[Rastas]

They should fixed the bugs in devmod,wipers and rain stop working in some of the mods i have almost ready for release,lights of the cars are a mess when the safety car is activated.......and others stufs.

 

[Radek Pawlaczek]

Really love the Porsche, even though I'm like 1sec slower with it than with Audi and McLaren Just the way you throw it around corners. It's nice to see, that the same cars feels consistent in different sims - R3E's one drives nearly the same, most notable difference is that it's much smoother in rF2 and it's easier to catch slides.

McLaren and Audi are pretty straight-forward, but still great to drive.

Need to spend more time with M6 as I usually need more laps to get used to front engine ones.

Car models look really nice, but sounds are still mediocre, but at least my ears don't bleed as it was the case with previous releases.

Can't wait to try out Vantage

 

[Peter Kerényi]

Here are the Cockpit views...minus the Aston as it is not out as yet.
View attachment 282558 View attachment 282559 View attachment 282560 View attachment 282561

This is exactly the reason I haven't bought any DLC from Studio 397 yet. Why can't they make proper dashes? I mean, get your fonts right, give proper information (empty Audi dash, what the hell?), make your numbers fit into the brackets. And we are not even talking about multi-page MFDs. It can drive as well as it gets, but I am in simracing for immersion. This KILLS immersion. Studio 397, if you fix these stuff and release the new UI, I will buy them... Otherwise, with these premium prices I can't justify paying for non-premium products.

 

[whip]

This is exactly the reason I haven't bought any DLC from Studio 397 yet. Why can't they make proper dashes? I mean, get your fonts right, give proper information (empty Audi dash, what the hell?), make your numbers fit into the brackets. And we are not even talking about multi-page MFDs. It can drive as well as it gets, but I am in simracing for immersion. This KILLS immersion. Studio 397, if you fix these stuff and release the new UI, I will buy them... Otherwise, with these premium prices I can't justify paying for non-premium products.

yeah i mentioned the dashes looked bad on the other thread and got downvoted to hell by fanboys

 

[Fanapryde]

(empty Audi dash, what the hell?)

If you mean the display, it is present in the car. If you don't have it, check your install.

 

[whip]

If you mean the display, it is present in the car. If you don't have it, check your install.

yes they are there but they look absolutely awful