rFactor 2: Historical McLaren F1 Cars Released!

[Chris]

Just days after their announcement at the 2018 Sim Racing expo in Germany, right on cue, Studio 397 have released three historical McLaren Formula One cars for rFactor 2... free of charge.

Replicated with stunning attention to detail, the three vehicles brought to the increasingly popular simulator are:

1. McLaren M23 - The one that carried Fittipaldi and Hunt to WDC's in 1974 and 1976 respectively.
2. McLaren MP4/8 - The one that helped Ayrton Senna complete the greatest opening lap ever.
3. McLaren MP4/13 - The one that won the 1998 Drivers and Constructors titles with relative ease.

But don't let me talk you into it, here's a little of what Studio 397 had to say about the cars:

McLaren M23
"When McLaren introduces the M23 to the world in 1973 with first test drives, they knew already that they had created something special. Feedback from the first laps had been amazing, an easy to steer car with a great balance, thanks to nearly all the weight being close to the center, where also the tank was located.

The introduction to the Formula 1 World Championship was marked as a complete success before even going into the cars first race, since McLaren managed to put their brand new M23 right on Pole Position."

McLaren MP4/8
"While the car featured innovative technology and an advanced chassis, the team was being led [sic] down by engine in the end, which didn't offer as much performance as their competition was able to produce. Nevertheless this car put up a fight for the championship, especially since it featured automatic programmable gearbox, traction control and a host of other options, leaving the driver with more resources to concentrate solely on fighting for the top spots."

McLaren MP4/13
"Designed by Adrian Newey, the new MP4/13 was a perfect fit to the new rule-set and the grooved tyres. Efficient aerodynamics teamed up with the most powerful engine (780bhp) on the grid, the car immediately dominated the series and turned the first race into a pure McLaren showcase. Every single competitor got lapped at least once during the Australian Grand Prix, just a sign of what was to come for the rest of the season."


So there you have it. Three iconic F1 cars, for free and they're available for download right now. So what are you waiting for?!

 Tried the new content? Let us know what you think in the comments below, and be sure to stay up to date with all the latest simracing news here at RaceDepartment (especially once our Editor-in-Chief gets back from the Expo!)

 

[giulio0079]

Looks like someone left an old watch in there

Could be something related to this ?
http://www.ayrton-senna.net/the-watches-of-ayrton-senna/

 

[wombat999]

I had a go with the MP4/8 and loved it.

But did it REALLY have a fully automatic gearbox? It's changing gears for me.

I know Michael Andretti drove it, and needed all the help he could get, but really?!

It did indeed run a fully automatic box.
Andretti didn't need 'help', he just needed a change of lifestyle.
I remember he put in a nice steady drive at Monza that year to which his only comment was along the lines of 'I just stuck in auto and kept out of trouble' (or words to that effect'.
As for Wikipedia, they've been wrong before.

 

[felippekiss]

I had a go with the MP4/8 and loved it.

But did it REALLY have a fully automatic gearbox? It's changing gears for me.

I know Michael Andretti drove it, and needed all the help he could get, but really?!

Turn off automatic up/down shifts in setup screen below gear ratios, that's what I did before I recorded the video and what I always will do when playing

 

[Peter Stokman]

Omg AC Zandvoort is almost 10 time better. Those colors are so saturated

OMG he loves AC only for colours he takes shitty FFB and steering for granted but omg those colours they drive like a peace off cake

 

[ears]

It did indeed run a fully automatic box.
Andretti didn't need 'help', he just needed a change of lifestyle.
I remember he put in a nice steady drive at Monza that year to which his only comment was along the lines of 'I just stuck in auto and kept out of trouble' (or words to that effect'.
As for Wikipedia, they've been wrong before.

I remember reading in Autosport that year, after McLaren announced they'd developed a system that would allow Andretti's car to emulate Senna's starts, someone pointing out that their time may be better spent working out how Andretti could emulate Senna's finishes.

 

[elrollaor]

I made this yesterday ,awesome physics,and looks really good

 

[Leynad777]

All three are awesome and prefer the M23 so far. Bumpy Oulton-Park recommended for that

 

[formidable]

Awesome DLC. I'm enjoying a lot!

Thanks for that awesome free DLC, S397!

 

[Nano10]

With this pack of Mc Larens I have trouble setting the Logitech G27.

Can you pass me your settings ?. Do you use Logitech profiler ?. Thank you.

 

[Pulp Quango]

So far I have only driven the M23. Its a lot of fun around Longford. I've been running with the BT44B, and the March as AI. Its a real challenge. The car feels great, and really dances around under hard braking for the sharp corners. Hope someone makes some skins for these.

It's just a subjective impression, but the M23 seems more positive on turn in than the March or Brabham, and easier to balance on turn exit.

 

[John-Eric Saxén]

I thought the MP4/8 had a semi-automatic transmission (with paddle shifters) and only the Williams that year was fully automatic? The rF2 car behaves as a fully automatic. Presumably, the active suspension is not modelled? If so, do they include the break-down in every second race?

Also why would the digital dash show an odd version of the rpms instead of the speed when there is a giant graphical tachometer right above in the display?

F1 cars back in the early 90's didn't have speedometers attached. Schumacher was allegedly the first driver who requested a speedometer fitted so that he could track his minimum apex speeds. But yeah, active suspension is missing.

I also doubt the MP4/13 had that little mechanical grip at the rear. Drives nicely with aero downforce, but slides like on ice at slow, sharp corners. Those were pretty big tires that should not slide like that when little to no throttle is being applied.

The 98 and 99 cars were extremely tricky on the mechanical grip side. Mika Hakkinen retired several times from the lead by spinning out and even Schumacher had a DNF or two from driving mistakes. I recently watched some old races like Argentina 1998 and drivers were literally sideways most corner exits. The tire surface was reduced by something like 20% with the addition of three groves, so mechanical grip was probably the lowest it has been in the last 30 years.

 

[jimortality]

So the one that's automatic, are you guys going with that or stick or paddles?

 

[aka2k]

Bloody every time I uninstall the game...

 

[RichardHessels]

Not according to Wikipedia.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McLaren_MP4/8

The onboards i have seen Senna only changes a few engine settings, for the rest his hand and fingers don't move. Like he's driving a kart.

 

[gianlucaP]

ì

 

[Marc Collins]

Because digital dashboard is same on real MP4/8. I can’t link picture now, but use google and write mp4/8 dashboard.

I just did that and not a single pic that shows the dual tach or addresses my point. Why have a large graphical tach and then CHOOSE to use the display below it for a difficult to read alternate tach instead of one of the other choices like speed?

Is anyone questioning that the lower digital display could be configured in more than one way (in real life)?

 

[Marc Collins]

F1 cars back in the early 90's didn't have speedometers attached. Schumacher was allegedly the first driver who requested a speedometer fitted so that he could track his minimum apex speeds. But yeah, active suspension is missing.



The 98 and 99 cars were extremely tricky on the mechanical grip side. Mika Hakkinen retired several times from the lead by spinning out and even Schumacher had a DNF or two from driving mistakes. I recently watched some old races like Argentina 1998 and drivers were literally sideways most corner exits. The tire surface was reduced by something like 20% with the addition of three groves, so mechanical grip was probably the lowest it has been in the last 30 years.

OK...

AMS version feels more plausible to me. Very easy to lose rear end with even a small amount of aggressive throttle, but not on ice with no throttle.

 

[Redvaliant]

So the one that's automatic, are you guys going with that or stick or paddles?

I primarily drive H Gate cars - old school F1 and tourers - but I have to say the MP4/8 is an absolute blast to drive with the auto box, which is a surprise to me. You can override the auto shifts with the paddles; you can turn either or both of the auto shifts off whilst using the paddles, or you can use the H gate and the auto shifting is automatically disabled. Senna drove it in the auto mode so historically it is accurate. Also, for the first time that I can recall, I can adjust the ARBs on the fly, as well as engine mix, traction and the brake mapping. Yay!

 

[Oldzeb]

awesome cars!! and free again!!!

 

[Case_]

Omg AC Zandvoort is almost 10 time better. Those colors are so saturated

You might want to check your graphics card and/or monitor settings. Apart from the usual turquoise tint, there's nothing wrong with the colours.