rFactor 2 Formula E DLC Preview and Marcel Offermans Interview

[Paul Jeffrey]

Studio 397 have released a new preview video of the upcoming Formula E content for rFactor 2, and we sit with head man Marcel Offermans to discuss what Formula E means to the simulation...

Love it or loathe it, Formula E is very quickly forcing itself into the racing limelight following a seemingly endless number of manufacturers flocking to the all electric single seater racing series in recent months. Brainchild of Spanish businessman Alejandro Agag, the FIA supported Formula E series has made a steady start in life as it looks to break into the wider motorsport consciousness of fans brought up on the sounds and smells of the combustion engine.

Running electric power and featuring some high profile drivers, the series has really stepped up a gear towards the end of the previous season and the build up to the opening round of 2017/18, confirming top level manufacturers such as Porsche, Mercedes, BMW and Audi all in recent months, some very experience World Endurance Championship calibre drivers and an already established line up of works teams and well sorted privateer entries..

As a marker of the level of popularity the series now seems to have achieved, Studio 397 have taken their relationship with the controversial championship to the next level with confirmation that a new DLC is on the way to rFactor 2, bringing all the cars, teams and drivers of the category to the incredible rFactor 2 simulator. Below you can check out the preview video and catch up on our brief interview with the head of Studio 397, Marcel Offermans;

RD: So Marcel, Formula E? What attracted you to the series and made you think the cars and tracks would be a good match for rFactor 2?

MO: There are a lot of things that attracted us to Formula E to be honest. For one it is definitely a rising star, attracting more top drivers, teams and manufacturers in record time than any other series. It does a lot of things right in terms of engagement and leveraging its unique capabilities. It also early on recognized the value of esports and the synergy that comes from close collaboration, which is why we're so proud to be able to work with them to bring their series to the leading platform in terms of simulation: rFactor 2!

RD: You have the first official licence to fully recreate the series as a whole, how close is the technical partnership between S397 and Formula E, what sort of involvement have they allowed the studio to enjoy?

MO: We have had the opportunity to work with Formula E very closely over the last couple of months, and continue to do so. This means for example that we get highly accurate CAD designs of their tracks including all the barriers they install and several other aspects like ambient sounds. For the cars we have worked with both Formula E, teams and manufacturers to get the correct physics, 3D and sound data.

RD: So will you be replicating the full grid in this new pack, and which season will it cover?

MO: The pack will come with the cars, teams and drivers of the upcoming 2018 season that starts at Hong Kong in the weekend of the 2nd and 3rd of December.

RD: And how about tracks? I see the pack will come with Hong Kong, will we be seeing more from the Formula E schedule over time?

MO: Yes, we anticipate to bring more tracks over time. We don't have a specific timeline yet.

RD: rF2 is a very advanced simulation, how have you found the challenges of modelling a rather unique form of racing compared to the usual combustion engine cars seen traditionally in the sim?

MO: Obviously a Formula E race is different from your typical race with cars that use combustion engines. During a race you are allowed to use two cars and each race is very tactical because you need to manage the available power so you can make it to the end. We have obviously simulated the electric engine and these aspects and like in the real races you will typically use the maximum available power and downforce during qualification and for the race switch to a setup with minimum downforce and slightly less power. During the race you can constantly adjust your "regeneration" settings, giving you the option to either regenerate more energy when braking and as a consequence brake a little less efficient or regenerate less and have a shorter braking distance. When battling other cars on the track, that can become very tricky and also a lot of fun, as we've already found in private testing.

RD: Obvious question but one probably most popular.. when and how much?!?!

MO: The how much question we will reveal when we release the pack. The "when" is easier: this will be out before the season opener, so next week!


So there you have it folks, Formula E is coming to rFactor 2 next week! Stay tuned for more as and when it becomes available..

rFactor 2 is a PC exclusive racing simulation available worldwide via the Steam network.

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 and share the love this simulation so very much deserves...

Excited to see Formula E cars coming to rFactor 2? Do you think the series will transfer well to simulation racing? Looking forward to seeing more quality Studio 397 DLC content? Let us know in the comments section below!

 

[Case_]

I'm *so* split over this.

On one hand, Formula E. Meh. On the other hand, unique cars to drive in a possible club series. Yay!
On one hand, a new hot official content for rF2. Yay! On the other hand, it really does sound like yet another quickly put together, half finished stuff we already got plenty of in rF2 lately. Meh.

And so on...

Then again, that's pretty much how the whole of rF2 feels currently. It's the definition of ambivalent for me.

 

[Chobonator]

I'm *so* split over this.

On one hand, Formule E. Meh. On the other hand, unique cars to drive in a possible club series. Yay!
On one hand, a new hot official content for rF2. Yay! On the other hand, it really does sound like yet another quickly put together, half finished stuff we already got plenty of in rF2 lately. Meh.

And so on...

Then again, that's pretty much how the whole of rF2 feels currently. It's the definition of ambivalent for me.

Indeed. I still haven't really used the GT3 cars, I'm more into PC2 at the moment. I do want to support offbeat content, though, and I don't have any speakers, so it's perfect.

 

[Steve Bird]

Anybody else get a feeling of RRE going on here At least RF2 allows mods and skins though

 

[wout vanbrabant]

This intrigued me enough to consider buying Rfactor 2, and I did. feels good

 

[leseb64]

 

[formidable]

I'm afraid they'll do the same thing that happened with Assetto, that they went through the simulation, and they became more commercial.

Edit: IDK why a lot of people disagrees.

Explain me xD.

 

[Nick Hill]

I think Formula E has massive upside, but for my money, right now it's just not that compelling. Probably not a bad strategy for rF2 to get in cahoots with them early, as it could really pay off if Formula E explodes like I think it will.

 

[jonelsorel]

I know it's OT, but interesting subject. You did read the whole articles did you?

• “Unfortunately, this increase is nowhere near enough to stop climate change,”

• “Fundamentally though, this help is not enough to stop the planet warming – far from it – carbon emissions have to drop to almost zero to stop global warming.”

• While rising carbon dioxide concentrations in the air can be beneficial for plants, it is also the chief culprit of climate change.

• The beneficial impacts of carbon dioxide on plants may also be limited, said co-author Dr. Philippe Ciais, associate director of the Laboratory of Climate and Environmental Sciences, Gif-suv-Yvette, France. “Studies have shown that plants acclimatize, or adjust, to rising carbon dioxide concentration and the fertilization effect diminishes over time.”

And YES, I wish combustion engines would remain forever. And I also agree with GuitarTech that Motorsports is not the place to start when fighting global warming or the limited fossil fuel. But my take ist that Formula E isn't exactly a consequence of making motorsports "green", it's a possibility for companies to market (and develop?) their future technology for daily motoring.

Did I read the whole articles? Yes, I did. Do you also think or look beyond them? Remember, you're not obliged or contracted to stop that at their limits. Especially when global warming is the biggest systemic lie of the 20th century. And if you're really generally interested in truth, dig and discern even beyond these other two. Nothing is a question of lack of information these days.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/...rst-scientific-scandal-of-our-generation.html

https://www.forbes.com/forbes/welco...ww.google.ro/&referrer=https://www.google.ro/

 

[Chobonator]

Anybody else get a feeling of RRE going on here At least RF2 allows mods and skins though

Disappointing for years before being less disappointing? I guess.

 

[Shap]

Instant buy for me.

 

[Chobonator]

Mod-edit: we are not going to give you a platform to deny the holocaust on a simracing forum. Take a month off to do some reading and fact checking

 

[Shap]

Keep the trolling in your head

 

[jonelsorel]

Hence everything that derives from it pure politics. Welcome to Formula E. Motor racing castrated according to the Hegelian dialectic ("problem" - reaction - solution).

 

[jonelsorel]

Keep the trolling in your head

Great profile pic. Couldn't find one with horse blinders too?

 

[Brownninja97]

dont care about the series but im happy because this means that there will be support for electric energy deployment, things like f1 and modern lmp can be created with more accuracy

 

[RichardHessels]

Formula-E the bitcoin of racing.

 

[Shap]

I see some people having a lot of interest in the sustainability aspect. Here's some information: http://info.fiaformulae.com/sustainability/

 

[Shap]

Formula-E the bitcoin of racing.

I guess that means Formula E is worth a lot?

 

[Marcel Offermans]

Zandvoort progress is on hold, so i guess the rF2’s track team is 1 guy at the moment.

Not exactly. Zandvoort had just started production as a 3PA track when Studio 397 started and was being done by @Richard Hessels ... During the project we decided we did want to officially license the track, which meant we needed to release it under Studio 397's flag. Richard is a busy man, working on a lot of track projects, so we have to respect he's taking his time to finish the track.

Our track team at the moment consists of three people.

 

[M D Gourley]

Keep chipping away at the big picture Studio 397... great work so far, I am happy