Featured Automobilista 2 V1.6.8.5 RELEASED; Now Updated to V1.6.8.6

Hello sim racers and Reiza'steams.

I just wanted to thank you for the blasting work you've done with the new DLC!.
This morning, i had a ride at spa 2005 against full 2005 GT field and was epic !

Just one request, could you consider adding the possibility to save during a race ? (as GTR2 did back in time )

Thanks a lot

 

So I finally found the time to drive a few races to get some impressions. So here they are, without any logical order just out of my mind:

• TAA: I really, really like it. Yes it add little a bit visilbe of blurryness in my triplescreen setup. But with Sharpness set to 100 I'm totally fine with it since the image quality in the end looks so much better without the jaggy edges. FPS doesn't look much different then MSAA on High to me, but the framerate itself seems smoother like it doesn't have as much drop-spikes? Could be the game in general and can't base it on numbers, just a feeling that it's smoother now
• AI: Another huge step up. They feel so much more natural. They actively try to defend way more often, especially against each other. They take much different lines to go into duels. On contact they try not to get stuck with you even better than last patch already improved. My only gripes are that they still can end up in trains when they are bumper to bumper for some corners where they imitate the exact line of the guy ahead before splitting up again. It's way way less than before. And on the first lap and especially the first turn don't spread across the width enough so you can squeeze through at the side too easy.
• New DLCs: Just love them. Videos can't do the new tracks and new cars justice. Even small curb changes on the tracks make a big difference how you have to approach some corners. And all 2005 cars I tried so felt and sounded great. They are beasts to tame, but fun to learn since they communicate very good to understand what's happening. The M3 and Aston are my favorite so far. I really love that in the M3 you can get the car to lose grip and all tires and feel the car gripping up again as it slows down, it feels very realistic compared to how grip loss sometimes felt before this update
• GT3s: I already couldn't really get my head around slidy comments. I am totally out of this if somebody still claims that with 1.6.8.5. You now have to fight way harder with clean trialbraking to get them around corners since they really lean really towards understeer at speed, the chance of loosing the rear on corner entry or what people described as unlimited front end grip is gone to me. TCS kicks in hard and reduces oversteer on corner exit, but if you go for low TCS and push the car the slip angle grip cutoff seems way smaller like you see in other popular sims, so using slip angle seems more risky to me and way harder to keep stable. So it feels like the tendency to be able to overdrive the cars was tuned down a bit to be safer to underdrive them instead. Also the moment when the cars grip up when off throttle at the apex feels more realistic to me, sometimes to cars could step out the rear a bit then which they don't anymore, you can now feel the bite into the track on throttle out of corners more. Biggest winner of the GT3s might be the Corvette, it is so well balanced now. The Porsche is the only one that feels quite loose compared to the others so imho his setup should get looked into. Also the FFB seems to be quite low in GT3s especially compared to the new 2005 cars, so I went with increasing the FFB gain for these cars in their setup.
• Car setups: Auto Loading seems fixed. I tried saving setups, restore default and going back and forth between setup screen and menu and it looks like the car finally sticks to what you set up without autoloading anything when entering the setup screen.

So overall this is definitely feels a huge step up for the game. I have no emotional attachment to the 2005 era, but the dlcs are so much fun that it's hard to choose other classes for a while since the cars alone will take a while before you mastered them.

Really appreciate that Reiza never sticks with "it is what it is" regarding physics, tires, existing cars, etc. Can't wait to get behind the wheel again, this patch really is addicting.

And man, just the possibility of a Milano GT3 makes me exited for a bigger IMSA roster in the future

 

As others have also pointed out the Audis are terrible compared to the other LMPs. Here are the standings after 3 hours at Sebring and yeah... it speaks for itself. Yes, the Audis were slower on pure pace compared to the Courage in 2005 but certainly not dead last out of all LMPs. All the reports I could find from 2005 talk about how the Audis could still fight for the win thanks to their reliability and fuel economy. Now looking at the fuel numbers from the setup menu (taken from Sebring):

Audi 25 laps 80l
Courage 29 laps 90l
Dallara 35 laps 90l

Lola Turbo 31 laps 90l
Lola V8 28 laps 90l
​

Are these numbers correct? I know that the Audi had a smaller fuel tank due to regulations, however one report from Le Mans 2005 mentions "In qualifying the Audi's disadvantage was very clear, with the Pescarolos beating them by several seconds, but many believed the Audis could still beat them on fuel consumption and reliability." Basing my assumptions on that quote, even with a reduced fuel tank the Audis had a fuel advantage, which doesn't translate into the sim. Simply put, the Audis should not be this bad in every single way.

On quali pace the Audis are ahead or sometimes mixed with the Lola Turbos but in a race they slowly fall behind.

(custom AI files were used to set up the grid but no driver params were modified other than the names)

 

I see that the GT2 cars both have different brands of tyres - The Milano uses Dunlop and the Porsche uses Michelin.

I'm just wondering, are the two sets of tyres different?
As in have the specific tyre characteristics of those Dunlop Vs Michelin tyres been portrayed in the physics?
Or do we have a generic "GT2 Tyre" physics set for soft, medium, wet, etc. That is applied to all the cars, just with different skins?
(This question can be extended to cars outside this scope that are likely more comparable, for instance Firestone Vs Goodyear on the classic indycars)

Put as simply as possible:
Do different manufacturers' tyres act differently to one another in the sim, or are they basically just skins?

 

When you're familiar with the modern layout, you will inevitably criminally overshoot Dunlop as you start your initial lap(s) there.
Other than that one can't seem to carry as much speed through some sections on the older version.
I prefer 2005 for its more rough-and-ready feel, and stuff like these white/green bollards you used to see everywhere.

 

Curious about how the career mode going to work regarding most of the content being in DLCs ?

 

With all the previous talk about the inside sound being muffled and needing a little more outside sound, am I the only one who thinks that the outside sound sounds muffled in some cars?

Here an example of the new BMW M3 GTR.
The inside sound is much more prominent than the outside sound.

When I compare this to videos from others, I would say that there is something wrong with my audio configuration.
But I don't have this problem with other cars. For comparison, take the Lamborghini Diablo SV-R, where the outside sound is significantly louder.

 

The new cars sound and drive awesome, definitely bring back GTR2 memories

I could imagine the roster being extended by the fabulous Lister Storm and Milano 55 GT1 could be awesome.

 

That's a good question. Will the career mode require owning all the DLCs in order to work ? That's a concern of mine as well.

 

I think there will come some carreers based on standard content and others requiering depending DLCs.

 

Never thought I could relive Super Racing Weekend with FIA GT series.
My favourite Racing Series that time besides ETCC / WTCC
The best thing: No Need To Buy Or Try PROJECT MOTOR RACING

 

automatic by weather selects the softest of two slicks or medium if softs, medium and hard are available. There is no logic based on temperature. This has been confirmed by devs

 

Okay. Here's my humble review after playing all day Saturday.

GT1: The sound of the Maserati MC12 GT1 is everything. The fact that this has become my favorite GT1 car speaks volumes about the importance of audio in the immersive experience.

GT2: Beautiful cars and sounds. Strangely, I had to lower the seat position quite a bit to avoid feeling like I was driving a truck.
The windshield cracking adds a lot to the immersion, although the only DLC car I noticed it on was the Milano. Later, I raced the Formula Retro McLaren MP1C and saw it on its windshield as well. A very nice addition.

GTR: The interior details of the BMW M3 are exquisite. Reiza put a lot of artistry into it, and it's an excellent experience to drive the car and explore its limits on curves. As a regular F1 Retro and Classic racer, I hope these improvements to interior material modeling and spectacular sounds, like the Maserati MC12's, will come to my favorite cars, such as Lauda's and Senna's McLarens, in future releases.

LMP: This was my first time playing these cars, and I was pleasantly surprised. I think I'll start spending more time with them because my impressions were very good.
I tried the Procars and noticed they were somewhat more stable and less prone to spinning out.

Spa 2005 is beautiful. Great work there. The same goes for Road Atlanta.

The AI has improved tremendously, as have the overall handling characteristics of the cars. They're less prone to spinning and have more understeer, which makes pushing the limits in every corner more fun.
Another improvement I noticed is that now driving on the grass is no longer synonymous with spinning out or total loss of the car.

All things considered, I think this is the best update of the year, and the DLCs are worth every penny. Buying them is another way to recognize the great work of the Reiza team and encourage them to continue down this path! Congratulations!

 

Thx guys - I leaned that way and will go with it. Have to figure out the sharpening yet on WQHD-Displays, but thats just individual preference I guess.

And I have to say - Renatos teasing their approach to career mode has me salivating quite a bit

 

I second your compliment! When so many firms trend toward mediocrity and capitulating to popular opinion, Reiza sticks to a plan of constant improvement. Reiza actions always speak way louder than their words!

 

Hello Team Reiza,

I want to quickly congratulate you to this outstanding update to Automobilista 2 and your latest DLC´s. Thanks to your generous habit to allow a free preview to the new content, I was able to check out some of the new cars and of course the three new historical tracks. The BMW E46 GTR made me get some serious goosebumps with it´s perfect cockpit and the tremendous sounds I took it out at Spa 2005 and I really thought I be there for real and drive this thing through the rain. Everything looks so damn real and the immersion is enormous (even with a single 27" screen)!!!
It is obvious, that people that have a true passion for Motorsports are working at Reiza Studios!
I will definetely buy both DLC´s and therewith support your outstanding work!

Keep it up, Team Reiza
Kind regards to Brazil
Maverick

 

Do we know when the leaderboards are going to be active for the new cars?

I've been ripping the DBR9 around Bathurst all morning and it's been the most fun i've had in AMS2 in quite a while - it's such a fun combo. I'm really enjoying these new cars, but wish there was some leaderboards to challenge.

 

Omph, played, sorry I mean driven , the 2005 GT2 cara on Spa 20205 the whole weekend.
While I was immediatly on pace with the Milano, the Porsche 996 GT2 took me several hours (!) to match the 100% AI strengh lap times - but still I loose the car more than I drive it.
My front tyres are always cold while my rear tyres are burning. The braking feels like I‘ve thrown an anchor and if it was a little bit too early, I just all of the sudden stop and die
Some advise for me what I may do wrong?
It‘s better on the medium tyre and if I avoid inside kerbs on tires.
When the rear gets a little loose I open up the steering, but a hard counter steer while also kill you.

 

There was a place here on the forum where Renato posted my AI analysis video about what is good, bad and what is weird and he made a very detailed post about all circumstances explaining AI in huge detail.

I cannot find that anymore, has it been removed, locked or am i just blind and cannot find it ? Thank you for any pointers.