Featured Automobilista 2 V1.6.9.5 RELEASED!

Automobilista V1.6.9.5 is now live!

This is the first of two heavily "formula-centric" updates, the second expected to arrive within a few weeks; beyond significantly boosting AMS2´s formula roster thse updates will also introduce several new features, rules & improvements to boost the quality of the simulation and gameplay while running these classes.

The formulas are not the sole focus of the updated however as other areas of the game continue to receive improvements and maintenance as we gear up for the big V1.7 update later on this year.

Users who for whatever reason encounter issues with the new V1.6.9.5 upon release or who might have an imminent league race to run may still remain on the previous V1.6.9.3 by right-clicking on AMS2 in the Steam library -> Properties -> Beta and selecting the previousbuild branch.

Here are the highlights and changelog for the new update:

Introducing the F-Edge & F-Hybrid Gen1 Classes


The single make Formula V12 class has been rebranded and replaced by the Formula Edge, named after the rule changes that caused the largest drop in downforce since the 1983 season; the class will now feature three distinct models, each with their own strengths and weaknesses - the old F-V12 is now the F-Edge Model1, slightly more powerful of the bunch and very tractable, but ultimately not the fastest in all but the highest of high speed tracks; the V10 Model 2 is a little twitchy and more demanding to drive, but overall likely to be slightly faster car in the right hands; Model 3 in turn comes with a V8 engine, less fuel thirsty, less demanding to drive at the limit but missing some ultimate speed relative to the other two.

The V12 model has received a facelift to match so its bodywork has updated UV mapping; this means that custom liveries for the old F-V12 will require updates to work with the new F-Edge Model 1.

The other new class is the F-Hybrid Gen1, representing the very fist generation of hybrid Grand Prix cars from a little over a decade ago; this class is similar to the Formula Edge in representing a dip in downforce levels relative to the eras that came before and after it, and with the then new Hybrid engines providing lots of torque and delivering close to 1000 HP, demanding a appropriate care with the loud pedal.



Both new formula classes are free additions to the base game.
Other Highlights of AMS2 V1.6.9.5

Initial V1.7 Physics revisions are already present in V1.6.9.5, covering all slick-shod formula classes as well as LMDh / GTP, LMP2 (both gens). GT1, 2005 LMP1 / LMP2 / GT1 / GT2, P1 (both), P2, P3, P4, GTE, GT3 (both), GT4, GT5, GT Open, Porsche Cup, Super V8, G55 Supercup, G40 Supercup, Lambo Diablo ST, Lambo Huracan ST, Ligier EuroSeries, Lancer Cup, Copa Classic & Copa Uno, with more still possibly being added to this list in time for release; the revisions are not necessarily final for every class but bring about enough progress to be included in this public release.


In terms of what the revision entails, as with every update since V1.6 in late 2024 there are no major fundamental changes; basically what we have been doing since is repeatedly going over every class to assess potential areas for improvements on the aero / chassis / suspension / drivetrain / tire modellng of each car, and also their default setup and force feedback properties; these don´t up to major rewrites, they shouldn´t result in big performance swings or existing setups being nullified, but the collection of minor refinements should add up to an improved driving experience to one degree or another.

One of the areas being worked on for V1.7 which should be already most notable in the high-end formulas is the modelling of aero wake, or "dirty air" effects from following another car.


V1.6.9.5 also brings the addition of high downforce configurations for classes that should feature them; these are currentlyavailable for F-USAs, F-Retro Gen3, F-Classics, F-HiTechs, F-Edge, F-V10s, F-V8s & F-Hybrids. As with low downforce configuration already previously featuring in AMS2, tracks assigned as being of high downforce specification will lead to the above classes auto-loading with their HD configuration - that could be just a high downforce default setup or an actual higher downforce aero package offering greater downforce (and drag) than the standard aero package used in other tracks; all classes with a high downforce variant now also include the relevant visual updates (with front / rear wing planes having higher angle of attack and other minor cosmetic details).


Currently assigned as high downforce tracks are Azure, Adelaide (both), Buenos Aires 6 & 6S, Cadwell, Curvelo, Laguna Seca, Long Beach, Jerez, Oulton Park, Salvador & Velocittá.


Some further progress with bug fixing for Multiplayer, and some further AI improvements on blue flag and mistake logic as per changelog below.

The HUD overhaul is still slowly progressing with the new WIP tachometer widget now being added to it.

Finally, visual updates improvements to tire smoke, undercar shadows and foliage movement with wind which have been WIP through the cycle have been further fine-tuned for the upcoming release.



V1.6.9.3 -> V1.6.9.5 CHANGELOG.

CONTENT

Cars

• Added F-Edge class (three models)
• Added F-Hybrid Gen1 Class

GENERAL

• Added high downforce configuration for high end formula cars
• Fixed local yellow flags not working in single player practice sessions (in race weekend practice and in championship practice)
• Improved tire smoke and wet weather spray particles
• Fixed wet weather spray particles flashing brightly near the player car at night with headlights on
• Greatly improved the rendering performance of tyre smoke and off-racing-line dust
  
• Improved livegrass LOD transitions (livegrass furthest LOD transition now respects camera FOV)
• Reverted recent adjustment to cockpit shadow distance that could cause shadow flickering
  
• Fixed multiplayer issue where some participants would incorrectly appear one lap down during the whole race
• Fixed multiplayer issue where the last-placed participant could be incorrectly displayed as first in the official race results when the server was using Race Director
• Fixed issue where users who had an unserved drive-through penalty could continue to break rules unpunished until served - now receiving a second drive-through penalty while having one unserved will result in immediate DQ

UI & HUD

• Added updated Tacho variations to beta HUD

PHYSICS

• Initial V1.7 physics revisions for F-Retros, F-Classics, F-HiTechs. F-V10s, F-V8, F-Hybrids, F-USA Gen1-3, F-USA 2023, F-3, F-Trainers, F-Inter, LMDh / GTP, LMP2 (both gens). GT1, 2005 LMP1 / LMP2 / GT1 / GT2, P1 (both), P2, P3, P4, GTE, GT3 (both), GT4, GT5, GT Open, Porsche Cup, Super V8, G55 Supercup, G40 Supercup, Lambo Diablo ST, Lambo Huracan ST, Ligier EuroSeries, Lancer Cup, Copa Classic & Copa Uno

AI

• Fixed issue in which AI cars launching from a curved grid would often go off-road during the start
• Added some buffer time for AI to switch back from blue flag behavior back to normal driving after letting another car pass
• AI locking a wheel into a corner is no longer a potential AI mistake if running a car equipped with ABS

AUDIO

• Minor sound updates & adjustments for F-V10 Gen1, F-V10 Gen2, F-V8 Gen3

TRACKS

• Reorganized garage layouts, increasing pit box capacity when possible for Bathurst, Barcelona, Campo Grande, Curvelo, Kansai, Indianapolis, Hockenheimring, Laguna Seca, Monza, Mosport, Road America, Road Atlanta, Santa Cruz, Sebring, Silverstone, Watkins Glen
• Buenos Aires #15: Reset special waypoints and trim pit entrance corridors in attempt to fix some pitbox errors
• Goiania: Added a pitbox for the safety car
• Guapore: Further reworking of building material settings; fixed abnormal cockpit specular flickering when parked in the garage shadow
• Laguna Seca: Fixed the warning while exiting the pits; added the pitlane extension to the pit exit limits
• Interlagos: Updated grid and start / finish line road markings
• Interlagos Historic: Fixed safety car pitbox
• Oulton Park: Fixed pit lane extension start and end points

VEHICLES

• Revised cockpits for F-Classic, F-HiTech, F-V10 Gen1, F-V10 Gen2, F-V8 Gen3 & F-Hybrid Gen2 models, updating LCD, cockpit materials & animations, object shadow casting & interior pivot points
• Cockpit POV adustments for F-V10 Gen2, F-V8 Gen3, F-Hybrid Gen2 & Gen3
• Fixed damage models for F-V10 Gen1 & F-V8 Gen3
• Fixed missing driver for Ligier JS2 R #04 (Karl Pereira)
• Caterham SuperSport: adjuste needle tach rotation
• Corvette C5R: added fuel value on display
• McLaren 720 GT3 Evo: fixed windscreen banner override
• McLaren Senna: increased central display screen resolution
• Mercedes AMG GT3 Evo: updated override paints with orange peel and metallic flakes

 

Both new classes are free base game content.

 

''We are soon to release a new update to Automobilista 2, with V1.6.9.5 expected to be deployed shortly now.'' So not today