rFactor 2: URD EnduranceRacingX EGT5 Impressions

Lately rFactor 2 has really been coming into it’s own, with two updates released in the past two months, and two new vehicles being released, the ISI-based sim has established itself as a solid competitor.

As the sim has gotten more stable, the modding community has started to latch on to the fledgling title. with quality products making its way to rFactor 2. One of the newer modding groups that has made a splash is United Racing Development, with two mods currently available. One of the major catches, however, is that the mods are payware, with the prices ranging from around $7 to $13, depending on the mod. After the success of their T5 (Touring Car) mod, they have released their EnduranceRacingX EGT5 Beta, simulating the GTE class of endurance racing cars. EGT5 marks the first part of the EnduranceRacingX series, with the PX1 and PX2 (P1 and P2 series respectively) packages to be released in the future.

As of right now, there are five cars available in the EGT5 series. To get around licensing restraints, they are generic names, but are based off of real life race cars:

Arthur Merlin EGT – Aston Martin Vantage
Bayro E5 -BMW Z4
Darche – Porsche 997
Venom – SRT Viper
The Chevrolet Corvette C6.R is available as a free standalone car, so it sort of serves as a demo for the mod.

Two more cars, the Ferrucio (Ferrari 458) and Detroit (Corvette C7.R) are currently in development, which will bring the car count to 7. The question boils down to, are 7 generic race cars worth $13 (9.90 Euro)? I took the Bayro and the Venom for a spin, using build 590 of rFactor 2, to find out.

 [youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJNV9clAJwA[/youtube]

First off, I took the Bayro E5 on a 3-lap race at Sebring. I have turned many laps on the Assetto Corsa BMW Z4 GT3, and the Bayro felt quite similar, like how you’d expect a GTE car to feel. It felt a little more unpredictable though, but that could be in part to the nature of GTE cars being less aero-dependent than GT3, and also how Sebring has a wide variety of corners and surfaces. I personally feel that the E5 has a noticeable grunt l to it, but I found myself wishing the exterior sounds were a little more beefy.

 [youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLcDHfZxvKA[/youtube]

Next up, I took the Venom to Silverstone’s GT circuit, and it was a radical difference to the Bayro. While the E5 felt nimble and precise, the Venom felt heavy and had earth-shattering torque at the mercy of your right foot. You have to be careful with your inputs, or else you’ll quickly find yourself swapping ends. The V10 in the car produces a very satisfying note, that you will wish would rev even higher. The car also feels deceptively smooth, taking curbs and bumps in stride.

I also did a couple sessions in the Darche, and it feels completely different to either of the cars. The rear engine placement means that the car is very touchy. If you can adapt to the car’s nuances, you can effectively place the car wherever you want, and it is a blast to drive. The iconic flat-6 sound is also effectively recreated, in what I feel is some of the best sounds in rFactor 2.

I feel that URD did a great job in the modelling and design in the cars, which really add to the immersion. I like how there is the rear-view cameras in the cars, and feels faithfully recreated. Some of the interiors feel somewhat bland, but that’s because the real life cars are, not because of the developer’s laziness. My personal favorite is the Venom’s, with the carbon fiber look and the stripped out race interior.

However, there are some hiccups in the mod. One that I found was that there is some issue with one of the Arthur Merlins, that doesn’t allow you to use the car yourself (but AI uses it fine). Some issues also arise with tire and fuel consumption, which will hopefully be fixed in the near future.

So to get to the bottom line: is the mod worth the $13? I feel that this is one of the top mods, if not some of the top cars period, currently available in rFactor 2. If you’re a fan of GT racing, and are willing to put up with some hiccups in the development (note that this mod is still considered a Beta, with only the Bayro is in a post 1.0 state), then it’s definitely worth the money. I feel this mod is a shot in the arm for rFactor 2, and will show modders that rFactor 2 is not dead, and has a lot of potential under its sleeve.

You can find the EGT5 mod on UnitedRacingDesign’s official site, where you can pre-order it for $13, and get early access. You can also check out their official forum thread here. Have you given any of URD’s mods a spin? What do you think?