Image Space Incorporated (ISI) lost their minds today and released not one, not two, but six significant updates to rFactor 2. The updates include three new 3PA oval tracks, an update to Palm Springs Speedway and updates to both the Dallara DW12 Indycar and Stock Car.
Let’s first talk about the ever-expanding catalog of rFactor 2 ovals. The three tracks released today – Apple Valley Speedway, Northside International Raceway and Eagle Creek Speedway – are inspired by the real world NASCAR stops of Auto Club Speedway, Richmond International Raceway and Kentucky Motor Speedway.
I have to say, props to not only ISI but the rFactor community for putting out the ovals.
Then there’s the updates to current content. The Stock Car receives a few tweaks, including the livery of Joey Gase rFactor 2 sponsored car from last year’s Fall NASCAR race at Phoenix. Same goes with Palm Springs, minor updates.
The Indycar on the other hand receives a good amount of work. Even after the substantial V1.62 update, ISI still brings a lot of improvements to V1.65, showing the complexity of the car.
Details on each update can be seen below.
Apple Valley Speedway is a two-mile low-banked D-shaped oval superspeedway. The facility has hosted stock car and IndyCar Series events for three decades.
The track is a third-party affiliate track by James “cyruscloud” Mabe (JM Virtual Tracks).
Northside International Raceway – also known as NIR – is unique D-shaped 3/4-mile oval. With adrenaline packed racing under the lights, this Short Track produces exciting side-by-side racing for lap after lap.
Located in Henrico, Virginia, NIR is 60ft wide and banked 14 degrees in the turns. While producing a short track mentality among drivers, this oval also managed to hold onto a speedway feel.
The track is a third-party affiliate track by Jka.
Modelling and textures: Jarkko “Jka” Kauppi
Track side cameras: yoss and hexagramme
AI: Jka and hexagramme
Resource information: Mike Schreiner
Eagle Creek Speedway is a D-shaped 1.5-mile oval, which offers adrenaline packed racing under night lights. Located in Sparta, Kentucky, this 72ft-wide 1.5 mile oval has 14 degrees of banking.
The track is a third-party track by Mike Schreiner.
Modelling and textures: Mike Schreiner
Track side cameras: Mike Schreiner
AI: ISI and hexagramme
Expertise services: Jarkko “Jka” Kaupi & Luc Van Camp
We’re delighted to release a great update to our Stock Car that should make those of you who enjoy it – even if just on the roadcourses – very happy!
You can now race as – or against – Joey Gase in the rFactor 2-sponsored car as seen in Phoenix last season. It really was a gorgeous livery, so we’re happy to bring it to you in the sim.
Although it has been updated a number of times, the DW12 really needed this one. The car is much closer to being called ‘final’ now!
Changelog:
– Fix for weak overall FFB feeling.
– 120″ wheelbase default now (with 119″ 2nd in list, in order of usefulness)
– Reduced real road rate slightly.
– Increase in wet cooling effects across all tyres.
– Small tyre fix which helps to improve optimum camber angles.
– Attempt to make AI less prone to cut corners (especially slower turns and very high speed turns).
– Minor AI physics correlation improvements (less longitudinal grip).
– RollDamping (in the form of natural / self damping) now embedded into ARB adjustments.
– Removed ‘wedge’ from pit menu HUD for Road Courses.
– Enable pit-adjustable rear wing for speedway configurations. (The last car bug reported by Max)
– Added toe-offsets.
– Minor turbo sound tweaks.
– Added GrooveSqrdEffect with the primary purpose of reducing speedway grip a fraction.
– A tiny bit less sensitive to dirty air (more so on the speedway configuration side).
– Leading draft significantly cut too (reducing fore balance shift which cause weird feeling spinouts if someone managed to get VERY close behind) to a more realistic level.
– Slightly reduced cooling on minimum radiator.
– White edges on digits fixed
– Changed “Chevy” back to “Chevrolet”.
– Add 1 onboard camera.
– Steering wheel hand rotation now matches wheel a little better.
– Some other graphical fixes.
Originally released just last month, Palm Springs includes a 1.5-mile oval and two infield roadcourses over 2 miles long.
Changelog:
– Fixed pit speed limit for all layouts
– Added missing UI art
– Fixed missing surfaces and walls in reflection map
I would have to say I am personally liking the rF2 Stockcar and the Ovals very much as it gives me the Stockcar / Nascar fix I always wanted…just dial in the AI and strength, choose whatever track I want, with or without flag rules or formulation lap…and if i cause a crash, just hit the restart button…got to love that.