The 2024 IndyCar season is in the books – what is not, though, is a timeline for the work-in-progress IndyCar game, according to IndyCar CEO Mark Miles.

Despite being one of the most exciting open-wheel racing series in the worl, IndyCar is still looking at 20 years and counting of being without an official video game. Of course, licensed content can be found in the likes of iRacing or rFactor 2, plus historic CART-era vehicles in Automobilista 2, but the gap to 2004’s IndyCar Series 2005 - confusingly portraying the 2003 season – remains a bit baffling, to say the least.

Of course, the attempt was there. Motorsport Games intended to release an officially licensed game in 2023 originally, but has since lost the license – which went back to IndyCar, including all the assets that had been developed already. The game is supposedly in a fairly advanced state, but without a developer to finalize the title.

While MSG has agreed to assist in handing things over to an eventual new developer, this seems not to be happening too soon, according to a report from US-based motorsports news website racer.com.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/1f_phrfBpGw?wmode=opaque

“We would like to see it happen”

Long-standing IndyCar journalist Marshall Pruett asked IndyCar and Penske Entertainment – who own IndyCar – CEO Mark Miles about the state of things. The answer is likely to disappoint IndyCar fans who are also into sim racing: “I would say we’re not close to a title game in the short term.”

Supposedly, Penske Entertainment’s Senior Manager of Sponsorship Sales & Strategy, Ben Hendricks, “is on point for that. And then there’s another conversation with a person who has a whole different concept of developing a technology, not just a gamer”, according to Miles. What exactly this could entail remains to be seen.

Miles continued stating that the game is “within a given number of priorities. I would just say we would like to see it happen, and we have a really smart young executive (in Hendricks) that it’s a meaningful part of his responsibility to try and see how to land it.” Hendricks has worked as Coordinator and, later on, Manager of Marketing & Communications for NASCAR between 2018 and 2020.

A licensed IndyCar game featuring the full calendar of tracks would see some great venues being recreated as first-party content that are usually not in racing games or sims that often. Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama comes to mind, as it is only officially available in iRacing, or the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Cours. The latter is also in RaceRoom as well as iRacing, but given the status of the track, it is odd to not see it more often.

IndyCar Fans Know Delays

However, you could also argue that the long delay regarding the official game is about par for the course when looking at IndyCar’s current race car. All teams use the Dallara IR-18, which was launched as the DW12 in 2012. The car first ran with a universal aero kit, then transformed into a winglet-laden spaceship using aerokits by Chevrolet and Honda between 2015 and 2017, before the current aero kit resembling 1990s CART cars was introduced for 2018. In 2020, the aeroscreen, IndyCar’s answer to F1’s Halo, was made mandatory on the car.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1766848860821835878

Over the years, IndyCar has looked into a brand-new design several times, but this has been postponed several times. Despite the different look and designation, the IR-18 still uses the same chassis as the original DW12. This means that with the conclusion of the 2024 season and no replacement planned for 2025, the car is set to enter its 14th (!) year of service.

Similarly, talk of a third engine manufacturer besides Chevrolet and Honda keeps emerging every few years, with none having actually joined the series thus far.

What would you like to see in an official IndyCar game? Let us know in the comments and join the discussion in our forums!

Despite being six years old, The Crew 2 has smashed its concurrent Steam player count record thanks to a steep discount.

Amid a steep discount and Ubisoft confirming offline support in response to community backlash, The Crew 2 has set an impressive new concurrent player record on Steam.

The Crew 2 Breaks Previous Concurrent Player Record By 846%

According to Steam Charts, The Crew 2’s concurrent player counts on Steam peaked at 55,125 last Sunday, September 15, setting a new all-time peak player record. That’s a staggering 846.27% gain, beating the previous 12,707 record set in July 2021 by a huge margin. What makes this achievement more impressive is that The Crew 2 is over six years old, originally released in July 2018.

Coupled with Ubisoft announcing The Crew 2 and Motorfest will receive an offline patch after the servers for the original were shut down, the huge player spike is the result of an unprecedented 98% discount. At just £0.84 / €0.90 / $1.00, The Crew 2 is currently cheaper than a cup of coffee or a McDonald’s cheeseburger.

By comparison, The Crew Motorfest enjoyed a new concurrent peak player record of 3,705 on September 15. While the discount isn’t as steep as The Crew 2’s, Motorfest is currently 70% off, enticing new players to visit its virtual Hawaiian island. It’s also worth noting that Motorfest has also only been sold on Steam since April 2024 - it was originally exclusive to Ubisoft and Epic Games stores, so its PC player base is much smaller.

If you haven’t taken advantage yet, The Crew 2’s sale ends on 23 September, while Motorfest’s ends on 24 September.

Stealing Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown’s Thunder

Last week also saw Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown welcome all players to Hong Kong Island following the tumultuous early access period for Gold and Silver players. Ubisoft’s tactical sale is paying off, with The Crew 2 stealing Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown’s thunder during its important launch week.

Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown screenshot Ford Mustang

Compared to The Crew 2, Solar Crown’s concurrent Steam players peaked at 5,305 on September 13, one day after the general launch, according to SteamDB. Console numbers haven’t been published, but this seems low, considering that Solar Crown is the first Test Drive Unlimited game in 13 years. It hasn’t helped that Solar Crown’s launch was tainted with server issues and a controversial online connection requirement, resulting in negative publicity.

Solar Crown has had a slow start, but a major patch containing over 300 fixes is coming soon to address issues raised by the community. Following that, a new map set in Test Drive Unlimited 2’s Ibiza Town will be added in December.

Will you be taking advantage of The Crew 2's monumental discount? Let us know in the comments below or join the discussion in our forum.

Our own Luca was racing in an iRacing championship, and during the penultimate round, he was accused of not relinquishing to a pro driver. This got him wondering about how car and driver categorisations should be implemented in racing.

I have been competing in a league on iRacing called the Prototype Challenge, and on 3 September I won my first race in the penultimate round of the season on the Suzuka circuit. But the mood was spoiled by a driver in the category above mine. They accused me of purposely holding them up so they could not mount a challenge against my teammate who was in their class.

To put it into context, there are two categories of car: LMDh, which features all four GTP cars on iRacing (BMW, Cadillac, Porsche and Acura), and then LMP3 with the Ligier JS P320. But within those car categories are two driver classes as well. If you have ever had your Road/Sports Car iRating over 3,000 then you qualify for Pro, whereas everyone else is in Am.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1833521438265118771

All points are scored separately in each driver class, so I would not have lost any points by letting this person through, but there was no explicit hierarchy within the rules from the organisers hosting these races that said Ams had to make way for Pros. If this person had been in the LMP3, they certainly would have not been happy either, as the LMP3 Am drivers were quite often ahead of the Pros.

Coupled with a previous incident I had in an ACC league, it has got me really wondering about the assumptions made about car category and driver class etiquette. Because it is never always a case of "this car or driver is slower and should therefore get out of the way".

Real Life Racing Examples

For the sake of keeping things clear, the word 'class' will be used to refer to drivers and 'category' will refer to types of car. Both words can be interchanged very indiscriminately, so when you see each word in this article, you will know what I am referring to.

In sports car racing, there are different classes for the same category of car depending on who is driving it. In GT World Challenge Europe for example, teams will fall into one of five classes depending on the driver level determined by criteria set out by the organisers. So even though all teams are racing GT3 machinery, they all have something realistic to fight for.

But in this series, if let's say a Bronze driver passes perhaps a Pro driver - maybe they had an excursion and were slow re-joining - does the Bronze driver get a blue flag? No, if it is for position then the Pro driver does not just get it handed to them. They have to get past, and presumably the Bronze driver will realise the Pro is faster, so defending from them would just slow them both up.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1807427163072716992

The question is further complicated by different car categories. If one driver is in a car category with a blatant performance disadvantage, the faster car has to safely navigate around them with no expectation for the slower car to get off line and come off throttle. But remember back to the World Endurance Championship in the latter seasons of LMP1?

There were LMP1 cars with hybrid systems that were ran by manufacturers like Audi, Porsche and Toyota, then there were privateer outfits like Rebellion and ByKolles who did not run hybrids in their cars. The pace disadvantage was clear, but with the exception of 2014, they ran in the same category. It is all a bit confusing, but regardless, the non-hybrid cars were not expected to let the hybrid ones through for position.

With all this in mind, why has it become so normalised in sim racing that the attitude is "I am in a higher class than you, so move aside and do not try to race me"?

Mixed Category Racing

Earlier I made mention of an incident I had in an ACC league. The GT2 cars had just been introduced and a community I am involved with put together a mixed GT3 and GT2 league, so I signed up with the new KTM X-BOW GT2. It proved to be a very fascinating series, as there was no huge pace disparity between the car categories.

SRO's GT2 category differs from the old GT2 cars of years ago that were clearly quicker than the GT3 cars of their time. These cars are more powerful than GT3s but have dramatically less aerodynamic reliance, meaning on tracks with a lot of long straights, they can beat GT3s on pure merit. In this league, GT2s did win a few races overall such as Bathurst and the one I will be referencing, Monza.

In this ACC league, GT2 and GT3 cars were often mixed together in terms of pace.

In the race at Monza, I was behind a GT3 car with a couple of GT2 cars ahead. The GT3 had a dreadful run out of the first chicane and thus I was pulling alongside them. I was from what I recall partially alongside and attempted to out-brake the GT3. I did not pull it off and we both skipped over the chicane, and I sent a message to the GT3 driver afterward apologising and taking responsibility.

But what really got to me was their response. They claimed I was naïve to try to pass him as he was in the faster category car and I should know better for next time, that we are not racing each other - since the points were scored per category and not overall - so me attempting that just wasted our time. I really did not appreciate this perspective.

Yes, I would not have stood to gain points by passing this GT3 driver, but there were GT2 drivers ahead and if I had a chance to gain points by passing them, I was going to try. But because of this guy's perspective of GT3s being traditionally faster, it felt like they thought that gave them permission to pass GT2s, but no GT2 was allowed to pass them.

Cadillac GTP iRacing Prototype Challenge.jpg

The cars may all be the same category but some drivers were classified as Pro and some like me were classified as Am.

The spat I had in the Prototype Challenge league on iRacing was equally frustrating. The Pro driver in question was about 1.5 seconds behind me when they started spamming the headlight flash, and I was not going to let them through. It was for position and I had reason to believe I could have gotten a penalty for an incident on the opening lap, so I could not risk making the gap to the next driver in my class any smaller. On that note, I was determined to be not at fault for that incident, thankfully.

Eventually, this driver did get alongside and I did not bother putting up a fight, I knew better than to do that. But immediately after the race, they messaged me asking why I did not let them through and went on to insinuate that I held them up to prevent them from catching my teammate who was also in the Pro class. Despite the fact we were racing the same car category, I should have just let them through, apparently.

The criteria set out by the organisers for driver class being based on iRating is not entirely fool proof of course. Just because someone's iRating is higher it does not automatically mean they are faster. As the LMP3 category proved in the league, Am drivers were quite often beating Pro drivers on pure pace.

Ultimately, it has to be looked at on a case-by-case-basis and what the organisers determine. But just because you are supposedly on the surface determined to be faster, it does not entitle you to not having to muscle your way past or stay ahead.

Champion In Prototype Challenge

On the note of this Prototype Challenge series, I went on to win the finale in probably the best race performance I have ever done. I started the round five points behind the class leader in the standings, and the series employed the FIA points system with 25 for a win and 18 for second.

So I knew if I won the race, I would win the championship regardless of where anyone else finished, and win it I did. I will not go into details now, I may save that for a future article. I used to write a set of columns called 'My Sim Racing Journey' before the OverTake and RaceDepartment websites merged in March where I would detail events I take part in. Hopefully a few of you on here would be interested in hearing about that.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1833812985707409900

Anyway, that aside, I would like to know when is the time in mixed multiclass racing where a driver must pull aside and when they can hold their ground. Any and all perspectives would be appreciated!

When is it warranted to let someone through in a race outside of lapping the same category of car? Let us know in the comments down below!

It is no secret that Test Drive Unlimited's launch was rife with issues and delays. However, the developers are looking to turn their game around with the first major patch and community-focused update.

In the latest public address from the Test Drive Unlimited: Solar Crown development team, post-release patches and an improved compensation model are announced. The full release is available on Test Drive Unlimited: Solar Crown's Steam page.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/b_6hzDhBWis?wmode=opaque&start=1

First Major Post-Release Patch

The first major patch for Test Drive Unlimited: Solar Crown is set to have over three hundred changes and fixes. There are a plethora of problems that need immediate attention, however. These will be tackled pre-patch with a team of developers working on them every day leading up to this first big patch.

One worry is their language when describing the patch and the future changes. "They may concern visual issues on Hong Kong Island or the different interfaces, but also gameplay balancing for AIs or races" This could hint at the patch not being fully put together and there not being a definitive itinerary of what will be fixed yet.

Very soon, our first major patch will be available for all PC, PS5, and XS|X players. This update will include
more than 300 fixes.

They may concern visual issues on Hong Kong Island or the different interfaces, but also gameplay balancing for AI's or races.

Beyond these fixes, this patch will also significantly improve game optimization (framerate) on all platforms. The minimum and recommended configurations will be updated accordingly. It will also improve the compatibility and functionality of certain peripherals (steering wheels, shifters, pedals, etc.).

This patch is currently undergoing thorough checks and intensive tests to ensure everything is functional once applied to the game and to reduce risks during deployment. We will share detailed information and the release date on our various social media channels. - TDUSC Devleopment Team

https://twitter.com/x/status/1835302818938278143

The framerate and overall performance have been relatively poor on all platforms since release, but this is said to be greatly improved with this latest patch. The game's hardware requirements, especially for PC players, will be amended on the Steam page as well as the website.

To further aid the future of Test Drive Unlimited: Solar Crown, the development team have a community-focused 'Dev Diary' YouTube series in the works to detail exactly what the game will look like before each patch and to better include the players in the direction the title goes in for future updates.

Compensation

As mentioned in the previous statement regarding the server issues, compensation for players is on the horizon; specifically, the Gold Edition owners who either could not access, or fully enjoy, the early unlock that started on September 5.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1834978697687998673

In the previous statement, the compensation was unclear as to its exact form. No solid progress was made in this statement either, however, the reassurance that in-game credit would not be the limit of the compensation will be music to the Gold-edition owner's ears.

What do you think of the latest release from the Test Drive: Unlimted Solar Crown developers? Let us know on X @OverTake_gg or down in the comments below.

Whilst showing off their new reworked user interface, iRacing may or may not have just inadvertently revealed that a new car not currently explicitly confirmed is on its way to the sim in the not too distant future.

Around the time of a new season starting, iRacing releases development update posts and videos in which they go in-depth as to what is heading to the sim either in the next build or in the future. One of the things they have been showcasing is a heavily overhauled user interface, which is set to provide a drastic new look to the sim.

One aspect of the UI is the black box relative, which gives players an idea as to what cars are around them. Whether they are lapping, getting lapped or racing for position, it has proved a useful tool. But a feature present in this new relative black box that is not currently present is a manufacturer mark, which has seemingly revealed a new car currently not confirmed for the sim.

What car is Adison Bergson driving, might it be an Aston Martin GT3? Image: iRacing.com

In their recent developments blog video, at the 7:53 mark is an in-car shot showing the new HUD and peaking at the relative, two cars ahead of the POV car is an Aston Martin. Could it be the new GT3 car?

iRacing Aston GT3 Confirmed?

Introduced this year, the Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 Evo has been racing in the North American IMSA SportsCar Championship and the FIA World Endurance Championship. It made its debut at the 2024 Daytona 24 hours in January, alongside other iRacing-bound GT3 cars such as the Corvette, Ford Mustang and McLaren 720S.

Only a few weeks ago in the WEC Lone Star Le Mans round at the Circuit of the Americas on 1 September, the Heart of Racing team sealed the first international win for the new car with Ian James, Daniel Mancinelli and Alex Riberas piloting it.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1830446606803435850

iRacing has made it no secret that they are looking to increase their already extensive GT3 roster. As well as the newly added Corvette, Mustang and McLaren, they already have six additional cars meaning the Vantage would take that tally up to ten.

Looking at the image above, it may not be concrete but not too much of a stretch if you know how iRacing's HUD works. In a multiclass race, the top class has their race numbers labelled yellow, and the next class have theirs as blue. With the yellow numbered drivers having Acura, Cadillac and Porsche aligned, those numbers do of course refer to the GTP cars.

Corresponding with the blue numbered drivers are AMG and Porsche labels along with Aston Martin, which could very well be GT3 cars as they are often paired up with GTPs in Special Events and all of the IMSA series. However, all three manufacturers are also represented in GT4 currently, so this could be a very devious trick set out by the iRacing team in which case, touché iRacing.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/J-La5_r03yM?wmode=opaque

If the Aston GT3 does get added, that would mean we are now two down and three to go in our iRacing Le Mans cars prediction video that we released back in June. Time will tell if the video above ages like wine or not, with just the NASCAR Garage 56 car, Lamborghini SC63 and Aston Martin Valkyrie LMH to go!

Do you believe the Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 Evo will be added to iRacing? Tell us in the comments down below and join the discussion on our iRacing forum!

A new week means a new set of events in our Racing Club. Here's what's on tap from September 15 to 22 for our Premium Members.

Fall is slowly creeping in through many parts of the world - which means more time to spend in your sim racing rig, of course! After the first round of the Berta Tornad SP version of the series, the FWD vs. RWD side of the Fat-Alfie Championship gets going Wednesday, heading to the winding Bilster Berg circuit in Assetto Corsa.

Before that, the GT4 Championship, also in AC, sees its sixth round take place at Sebring on Sunday already. The Q3 F3 Championship also hosts round six of its series, heading to the Nürburgring on Thursday. That day also sees rFactor 2's Super Touring event take place at Townsville - and a GT3 race at the same track at the same time. The choice is yours!

More events will likely get added during the week, including the Rally Club - so keep your eyes peeled! We will update the schedule below once new events join the grid.

Date	Time	Sim	Event
Sep. 15	18:00 UTC	Assetto Corsa	GT4 Championship - Rd. 6 @ Sebring
Sep. 18	18:00 UTC	Assetto Corsa	Fat-Alfie Championship FWD vs. RWD - Rd. 1 @ Bilster Berg
Sep. 14 - 19	ends 01:00 UTC	EA Sports WRC	S2000 @ Rally Sweden
Sep. 19	19:00 UTC	Assetto Corsa	Q3 F3 Championship - Rd. 6 @ Nürburgring
Sep. 19	19:00 UTC	Assetto Corsa Competizione	50-minute random weather @ Valencia
Sep. 19	19:00 UTC	rFactor 2	Super Touring @ Townsville
Sep. 20	19:00	rFactor 2	GT3 @ Townsville

What is the Racing Club?

As we recently merged our websites, the OverTake community that had not been around on RaceDepartment before, we felt it might be useful to explain what the Racing Club actually is. Simply put, it is just what the name implies - a club to go racing in.

There is a bit more to it though, of course. The Racing Club hosts events throughout the week in the following simulations:

Assetto Corsa
Assetto Corsa Competizione
Automobilista 2
EA Sports WRC
RaceRoom (currently inactive)
rFactor 2

Racing Club events are open to Premium Members only. However, there are occasional 'Rookie Weeks' or non-Premium Member events to allow everyone to try the Club. To keep track of what events are happening during the week, keep an eye on this post, which will be updated weekly.

Just Good, Clean Racing

If you are hesitant about online racing, the Racing Club is nothing to be afraid of. The contrary, actually: It is not about competitive racing and who wins in the end, but rather about having a good time on track - with good, clean racing. This is the core element of the Racing Club.

Do not be afraid to ask for help if you need it, either! The Club regulars are a helpful bunch, so even online newcomers should feel comfortable in no time and even learn a thing or two.

There are Racing Club rules, of course. They include certain on-track behaviour that is expected of participants, like how to handle incidents and racing around other cars. You can find the full Racing Club rules list here.

The Racing Club often features interesting combinations, like a multiclass race with Clios facing Ginettas. Image: @Interslice

How To Sign Up

Getting up and running for Club races is easy. As a Premium Member, simply head to the Racing Club forum, find the thread of the event you want to participate in and state your intent to be on the grid. The Club staff member who organizes the event will add you to the list of drivers then. Note that you will need to have your real name added to your user profile to race, as part of the Club rules. Your username does not need to be changed, though.

Come race time, you will receive the server password. Simply show up, join the party on the OverTake Discord server and go racing - have fun, and see you on track!

Which Racing Club events are you looking to enter this week? Let us know on Twitter @OverTake_gg or in the comments below!

Even as sim racers, we occasionally need a break from trying to find that final tenth and long gruelling stints on the serious simulators we have in 2024. Here are three refreshing titles that are still related to racing or the automotive world, but give you some time to relax.

Euro Truck Simulator 2

From the tight twisty Britsh backroads to the open highways of the German Autobahn; Euro Truck Simulator 2 takes you on tours around Europe that will refresh you and change your mindset when it comes to driving simulators.

Euro Truck Simulator's beautiful landscapes. Image: SCS Software

This sim takes the stress out of driving. Whilst you are racing, you will rarely blink and the level of concentration required can stress you out and leave you feeling tired and potentially frustrated if the result is not what you wanted. When you boot up ETS2, there is something special about loading your truck and getting out on the open road. Just yourself, the tarmac and some good music. Perfect.

ETS2 is one of the most loved driving simulators, having been released over a decade ago in 2012, the community is bigger than ever and new DLC regions and roads are being released constantly by the team at SCS Software - like the most recent update to version 1.51 that overhauled many aspects of the title, such as the German cities of Bremen, Kassel, Osnabrück and Magdeburg, or several quality of life improvements.

The multitude of cargo you can haul in Euro Truck Simulator 2 is simply mindblowing. Image Credit: SCS Software

The main draw of a lot of ETS2's online audience is the open server gameplay where you can make your deliveries but come across players as well as AI trucks and traffic. This creates an amazing balance of interaction and roleplay. Be warned though, some players might forget they are in ETS2 and not Wreckfest...

ETS2 is showing no signs of slowing down any time soon. The release of a market first in the MOZA Racing Truck Wheel Rim allows truckers to get a real sense of what driving these big artic lorries is really like. What's more, at gamescom 2023, MOZA revealed the new stalks available for usage in games like ETS2. These stalks include realistic indicators, headlights and even a cruise control stick.

MOZA Racing Multi-function Stalk.

Car Mechanic Sim 2021

If you want a break from driving entirely, look no further than Car Mechanic Simulator 2021. Whilst the game is a few years old now, the title has held up fantastically. The goal of the game is the diagnose and repair issues with cars, vans and supercars.

Do not be put off if you know very little about how cars work mechanically, Car Mechanic Simulator 2021 is very intuitive. You are tasked with repairing customers' cars from simple jobs like changing the brake pads, to full engine and suspension rebuilds.

Engine rebuild stand. Image: Red Dot Games

One of the main goals of the game is to complete all of the story missions. These tasks always have a few paragraphs from the customer hinting at what could be wrong with the vehicle. There are plenty of cars to be found and bought outside of these missions however if you want to be a bit more adventurous.

The story missions are padded out with an endless amount of other missions from customers requiring a variety of fixes ranging from refilling the washer fluid to a complete bodywork replacement and respray. The variety is fantastic, especially if you add some DLC and mods into the to of available vehicles.

Toyota AE86 after undergoing a full nut and bolt restoration. Image: Red Dot Games

One of the highlights of this game over other mechanical simulators is the option to visit the Junkyard and old barns to discover classic cars you can collect, fix and either flip for a profit or add to your collection. There are also piles of car parts that you can search through to get parts at bargain prices.

Car Mechanic Simulator is well supported with a wealth of Steam Workshop additions that sew seamlessly into your career mode without disabling your achievements or progress. You can download everything from classic Mk1 Ford Escort rally cars and Top-fuel Dragsters to Citroen C1s and old rusty BMWs.

From headlight and wheel alignment to a racing livery, you can change and modify everything on your cars. Image: Red Dot Games

Finally, there is a wealth of licensed cars available as DLC. All of the DLC is fairly priced and is not required to complete the game. They simply serve as extra licensed vehicles you can add to your playthrough. The franchise has been updated every three years with a new title, so keep your eyes open for a new Car Mechanic Simulator coming soon!

Circuit Superstars

Original Fire Games' Circuit Superstars is the studio's debut effort. Originally released in October of 2021, the game is coming up to its third anniversary, and it is still great to jump in and try this difficult-to-master momentum-based racer.

Circuit Superstars' competitive AI. Image: Original Fire Games

Whilst it may look simple at first, Circuit Superstars is all about perfection. The lines you take and your speed are essential to grabbing the top step of the podium. We here at OverTake played Circuit Superstars as a part of last year's team Chrismas live stream on our Twitch Channel, and the game took over double the time we allotted for it because everyone wanted to keep playing!

This title has a lot more to offer than simply just the racing. Pitstops, fuel and tyre management are all essential aspects of the racing and the stop-and-dash style keeps it frantic and interesting. Several classes of race cars, customizable races, scalable fuel and tire wear rates - there is a lot to keep things interesting.

While the single-player is fantastic and the racing is intense and very difficult to master, the title falls when it comes to online multiplayer. The population that plays Circuit Superstars spend most of their time in single player and it can often take twenty or more minutes to find a lobby with more than one other person in it.

Circuit Superstars' manic pitstops. Image: Original Fire Games

Around the usual Steam sales, you will more than likely find an online lobby with little difficulty. Once you do get into an online lobby, the servers are stable and consistent and the unpredictability of the racing is what brings this game alive online.

What games do you play when you want to unwind from the serious simulators? Let us know in the comments below!

After months of dramatic developments, it is now official: US hardware giant Corsair acquires Endor AG and its Fanatec brand.

What started with the dismissal of Endor/Fanatec Founder Thomas Jackermeier as the company's CEO and continued as an explosive series of events now culminates in an official acquisition: Corsair, who first acted as strategic investor and later stated that they were still interested in Endor after the StaRug proceedings fell through, purchases Endor AG as part of an asset deal.

That means that Fanatec, one of the most popular brands of sim racing hardware, is now entirely in the hands of the US-based hardware and gaming peripheral giant. In doing so, the company also takes over all active employment contracts of Endor's, according to the official statement - a relief for current Endor/Fanatec employees for now.

Full Liquidation Of Endor

With the acquisition of Endor, "the shares in the foreign subsidiaries will also be transferred", and Endor AG will be "fully liquidated as part of the insolvency proceedings." That, in turn, means that Endor will cease to be listed on the stock exchange as well - but interestingly, the statement also mentions that "shareholders should expect not to receive any payments". Meanwhile, "the company's real estate remains up for sale".

Most recently, an Extraordinary General Meeting had been planned, initiated by Jackermeier and his Bamboo Investment GmbH, with the main purpose of withdrawing confidence from the Management Board. The meeting was allowed to go ahead by the Local Court of Landshut initially, but was "postponed" in late August.

Corsair's acquisition of Endor/Fanatec marks the end of one of the hottest topics in sim racing in 2024 - at least for now. To catch up with the entire story, check out our video on the saga surrounding Fanatec/Endor and Corsair below - or click here to read our article on this topic.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/1269MqUYe0U?wmode=opaque

Corsair had recently shown its first sim racing product, a highly-adjustable rig, at gamescom 2024. The company already owned several of Endor's IP since late May as collateral against payments it made to try and stabilize Endor, and in Cologne, all Corsair rigs were equipped with Fanatec gear, and the Corsair booth displayed several Fanatec products as well.

What are your thoughts on Corsair acquiring Endor AG and Fanatec? Let us know in the comments below!

This weekend, the FIA World Endurance Championship heads to Fuji for its penultimate round, but is the Toyota-owned circuit the series' best option for a Japanese race? We explore the alternatives.

Just two weeks after a thriller in Texas, the FIA World Endurance Championship has made the flight over the Pacific Ocean to the Land of the Rising Sun.

Yes, this weekend is the penultimate round of the series with surely yet another nail-bitter in store for all those WEC fans around the world. So far this year, six races have seen six different cars take top honours in the Hypercar class whilst the LMGT3 field is finally seeing some competition as well.

Both FIA WEC classes are highly competitive in 2024. Image: Porsche Newsroom

But it is not the event itself that interests us in this article. Instead, we wonder if Fuji is really the best circuit for the WEC's Japanese round. With plenty of alternatives across the home of reigning World Champions, Toyota, should the series move elsewhere?

Fuji: An Unpopular Circuit

Existing in many forms over the years, Fuji Speedway is officially owned by Toyota and used by the car manufacturer as a testing facility. It also regularly hosts major motor racing events like the Japanese Super GT series and this weekend's FIA WEC round. It even hosted Formula One for a time, first in 1976 and 1977, then again in 2007 and 2008.

But ever since layout alterations in 2005, the circuit has become quite the polarising venue among racing fans. Whilst the first sector with its long straight and middle portion's long radius corners get high praise, the technical switchbacks of the final sector are often the cause for debate. Indeed, spectators and sim racers alike agree on the fact that this strange uphill section is tricky to get right and makes for clumsy racing.

Multiclass racing is difficult at Fuji Speedway. Image: Porsche Newsroom

Certainly, multiclass events like this weekend's WEC round highlight this single-file nature more than most. Frequently, drivers in the top class will remain behind slower traffic for the entire run from the Dunlop Chicane all the way to the mile-long front straight. Not only can this ruin battles, it also results in low-percentage moves into the chicane as drivers do their best to get ahead before the sector.

Several Japanese Alternatives

There is obviously one clear reason for the FIA World Endurance Championship running at Fuji Speedway, and that is Toyota. As aforementioned, the manufacturer owns the circuit and has been a mainstay of the series since its inception. However, as rumours of Honda rebranding its Acura ARX-06 continuously swilling in the papers, Toyota may well no longer be the sole Japanese entrant in WEC's top class.

As a result, the manufacturer would not have quite the same pull it does now, allowing the series to move elsewhere if it so wished. And in this article, I am both wishing for the switch to happen and wondering where the championship would go if it decided to move away from Fuji. Well there is no denying that as a racing nation, Japan is full of top-level racing venues, and two main ones stick out with potential to host the WEC.

Suzuka

Home to the Formula One Japanese Grand Prix, Suzuka is a world famous racing circuit and a favourite among drivers and fans alike. Great levels of elevation change, epic flow from turn-to-turn and some of the most recognisable corners in motorsport.

Suzuka may be too tight for multiclass racing. Image: Alpine Cars Media

It is no secret that being an older race track, Suzuka is quite the narrow ribbon of tarmac. From Turn 2 up the Esses, through the Dunlop Curve and into the Degners, Sector 1 is similar to Fuji's final sector for its single-file nature. But once you get round to the second half of the track, long, sweeping straights provide just enough room for multi-class racing to come together smoothly.

Lumbering models, the heavier Hypercars versus the previous LMP1 category would work well at Suzuka and with many events taking place, there is data to suggest GT3 cars run well at Suzuka as well. Unfortunately though, it seems that moving to the home of the Japanese Grand Prix would be replacing one evil for another when it comes to tight multiclass racing. A short stint in Automobilista 2 will rapidly point that out.

Multiclass racing at Suzuka is tricky. But not impossible.

Moreover, there is the small issue that Suzuka is the official circuit and test facility for Honda, a direct rival to Toyota, something the manufacturer likely would not take calmly. Especially if it were racing up against a Honda Hypercar.

Twin Ring Motegi

With that in mind, Twin Ring Motegi is another international location that offers fantastic racing on a regular basis. Featuring less elevation change and more straight lines with few twisty sections, it is far less old-school in its design. But take a look at the rest of the FIA WEC calendar and perhaps that is what the series needs.

Now, Motegi is not an FIA Grade 1 circuit, instead holding a Grade 2 rating within the FIA. However, having run at Sebring in the past, the World Endurance Championship is not required to run at top flight venues.

Motegi Features a Bridge under the Indycar Oval. Image: Nissan Global Newsroom

Much like Suzuka and Fuji, Motegi hosts annual rounds of Super GT, a Japanese series featuring a GT3-esque lower class and the GT500 category at the front of the field, models capable of rivalling and sometimes beating Hypercar lap times. With all three venues producing thrilling races in this national championship year-in, year-out, any of the three race tracks in this article are fantastic venues. But a WEC event moving away from the regular tracks and visiting the likes of Motegi would be a brilliant addition to the calendar.

Where do you think the World Endurance Championship should run its Japanese round? Let us know in the comments below and join the discussion in our forums!

Here is a full list of cars you can drive around Hong Kong Island in Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown.

Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown lets you drive the world’s most desirable cars around a 1:1 recreation of Hong Kong Island. If you are wondering if your favourite car is in the game, you will find the complete Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown car list here.

Solar Crown features a variety of vehicles, from front-wheel drive hatchbacks to off-road SUVs and scarily fast supercars. Cars are split into five categories: daily drivers, grand tourers, hypercars, off-road, and supercars.

To buy a car in Solar Crown, you must locate and enter a dealership. These are either dedicated manufacturer dealerships like Ferrari and Lamborghini or categories like classic, luxury, or off-road. After entering a dealership, you can browse the available cars in the showroom, and choose your paintwork and interior trim before buying.

How many cars are in Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown?

At launch, Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown has 100 cars from over 30 famous manufacturers including Porsche, Bugatti, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Koenigsegg, Aston Martin, and more. That is less than Forza Horizon 5 and The Crew Motorfest, which feature hundreds of cars.

Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown Review Screenshot 3.jpg

A few models, like the Land Rover Range Rover SVR and Jaguar F-Type SVR, are exclusive to the Silver Streets, Silver Sharps, and Gold editions of the game, while the 2006 Ford GT is a pre-order exclusive. It is unclear if these cars will be sold separately after launch. Secret cars can also be unlocked by collecting Wreck tokens scattered around the map. More cars will be added in future updates.

When you begin the game, you can only buy three starter cars: the 2010 Ford Mustang GT, 2018 Alpine A110 Legende, and 2011 Nissan 370Z. Solar Crown points earned from completing races and objectives can be spent buying your dream car. However, Solar Crown’s progression is slower than Forza Horizon 5’s. Even if you can afford to buy a car you've been saving up for, you must reach a required reputation level to unlock it.

Complete Car List

Here is the complete Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown car list correct at the time of writing:

Abarth

2008 Abarth 500

AC

1966 AC Shelby Cobra 427

Alfa Romeo

2013 Alfa Romeo 4C Coupe
2015 Alfa Romeo 4C Spider
2007 Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione
2008 Alfa Romeo 8C Spider
2010 Alfa Romeo MiTo QV

Alpine

1973 Alpine A110
2018 Alpine A110 Legende

Apollo

2019 Apollo Intensa Emozione

Aston Martin

2018 Aston Martin DB11
2018 Aston Martin Vantage
2015 Aston Martin Vulcan

Audi

2009 Audi Q7 V12 TDI quattro
Audi R8 Spyder V10 RWS (exclusive to the Silver Sharps and Gold Edition)
2018 Audi R8 V10 RWS
2019 Audi R8 V10 Decennium Coupe
2020 Audi R8 Green Hell
2021 Audi R8 RWD Panther Edition
2017 Audi TT R

Bentley

2018 Bentley Continental GT

BMW

2018 BMW i8 Roadster
2021 BMW M4 Competition

Bugatti

2016 Bugatti Chiron
2018 Bugatti Chiron Sport
2019 Bugatti Chiron Sport 110 Ans
2015 Bugatti Veyron 16.4
2011 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport

Caterham

2005 Caterham CSR 260
2016 Caterham 620R

Chevrolet

Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE (exclusive to the Gold Edition)
1956 Chevrolet Corvette C1
2019 Chevrolet Corvette C7 ZR1
2021 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray C8

Citroen

1967 Citroen 2CV

Dodge

2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Widebody
2017 Dodge Viper SRT Coupe

Ferrari

1962 Ferrari 250 GTO
1977 Ferrari 308 GTS
2018 Ferrari 488 Pista
2017 Ferrari 812 Superfast
1972 Ferrari Dino 246 GTS
2002 Ferrari Enzo
1987 Ferrari F40
2008 Ferrari F430 Scuderia Spider 16M
2017 Ferrari FXX-K Evo
2017 Ferrari Portofino

Ford

2018 Ford F-150 Raptor
2006 Ford GT (pre-order exclusive)
2016 Ford GT
2016 Ford GT Carbon Series
2016 Ford GT Heritage Edition 66
2021 Ford GT Heritage Edition
1964 Ford GT40 Mk1
2018 Ford Mustang GT
1967 Ford Mustang
2018 Ford Shelby GT350R
2010 Ford Shelby GT500

Jaguar

1954 Jaguar D-Type
1965 Jaguar E-Type
Jaguar F-Type SVR (exclusive to the Silver Sharps and Gold Edition)

Koenigsegg

2018 Koenigsegg Regera
2015 Koenigsegg Agera RS

Lamborghini

2018 Lamborghini Aventador SVJ
2016 Lamborghini Centenario LP 770-4
1973 Lamborghini Countach LP400
2021 Lamborghini Countach LPI 800-4
2017 Lamborghini Huracan Performante
1971 Lamborghini Miura SV
2020 Lamborghini Urus

Lancia

1989 Lancia Delta HF Integrale 16v
1973 Lancia Stratos

Land Rover

Land Rover Range Rover Sport SVR (exclusive to the Silver Streets and Gold Edition)

Lotus

2021 Lotus Emira
2020 Lotus Evija
2017 Lotus Evora GT430
2017 Lotus Exige Cup 380

Maserati

Maserati MC20 (exclusive to the Gold Edition)

McLaren

2015 McLaren 570S
2017 McLaren 720S Coupe
2011 McLaren MP4-12C

Mercedes

2016 Mercedes-AMG GT R
1954 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL (Wreck find)
2018 Mercedes-Benz G 65 AMG Final Edition
2009 Mercedes-Benz SL 65 AMG Black Series
2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK 55 AMG
Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG (exclusive to the Silver Streets and Gold Edition)

Mini

2020 Mini John Cooper Works GP

Nissan

2011 Nissan 370Z
2009 Nissan GT-R R35

Porsche

2018 Porsche 911 R
1986 Porsche 911 Carrera
2013 Porsche 918 Spyder
2018 Porsche Cayenne Turbo
2021 Porsche Taycan Turbo S Cross Turismo

Shelby

1965 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe

Sientero

2011 Sientero Reinita (fictional off-road buggy made for Solar Crown)

Volkswagen

1965 Volkswagen Beetle
1972 Volkswagen Beetle Buggy (Wreck find)

W Motors

2017 W Motors Fenyr Supersport

Which cars are you enjoying driving in Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown? Let us know in the comments below!

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Real Life Racing Examples​

Mixed Category Racing​

Champion In Prototype Challenge​

First Major Post-Release Patch​

Compensation​

iRacing Aston GT3 Confirmed?​

​

What is the Racing Club?​

Just Good, Clean Racing​

How To Sign Up​

Euro Truck Simulator 2​

Car Mechanic Sim 2021​

Circuit Superstars​

Full Liquidation Of Endor​

Fuji: An Unpopular Circuit​

Several Japanese Alternatives​

Suzuka​

Twin Ring Motegi​

How many cars are in Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown?​

Complete Car List​

Abarth​

AC​

Alfa Romeo​

Alpine​

Apollo​

Aston Martin​

Audi​

Bentley​

BMW​

Bugatti​

Caterham​

Chevrolet​

Citroen​

Dodge​

Ferrari​

Ford​

Jaguar​

Koenigsegg​

Lamborghini​

Lancia​

Land Rover​

Lotus​

Maserati​

McLaren​

Mercedes​

Mini​

Nissan​

Porsche​

Shelby​

Sientero​

Volkswagen​

W Motors​