PC2 Ferrari 488 GTE Preview and Project CARS 2 Pitstop Info

Paul Jeffrey · Mar 1, 2017

Spanish Project CARS Twitter account ProjectCarsES have revealed a nice preview image of a new car coming to the simulation - the Ferrari 488 GTLM.

We know that Slightly Mad Studios have done an incredible job licencing some top quality marques for their new game, with Ferrari, Lamborghini, Aston Martin, Porsche and Mercedes all making appearances in the new title, however up to this point we've been rather short on details regarding which models the new Italian licence will reward players with when Project CARS 2 launches around September this year.

Pretty much every media outlet has spent some time trawling through the internet looking at various leaked trailers and game introduction videos to find out a little bit more, and those of a keen eye will have already seen a Ferrari La Ferrari and the 288 GTO. Posting yesterday (1/3) it looks like our Spanish friends have now revealed the next Prancing Horse to join the game - yet another GT3 style car in the form of the beautiful 488 GTLM.

Now I've looked and don't see any other mention of this car on the official SMS social media feeds, so one does wonder if the Tweet from ProjectCarsEs was more of an accidental reveal rather than part of the slick marketing campaign SMS have produced so far. Either way it's always nice to see another Ferrari, especially in GT trim, coming to a modern racing simulation.

EDIT: We have been requested to remove the picture by the image owner. 2.3.17.

Don't forget to keep an eye on our reveal thread HERE where we try to keep an eye on the known cars coming to Project CARS 2.

In other news regarding the new title, Ian Bell and Slightly Mad Studios contributor 'The American' have been at it again over at GTP teasing fans with some more interesting information about some features contained within the new game.

It has been confirmed manual pit stops will be an option for players who decided to enable the feature, with pit lane speed limits enforced and players are given the opportunity to turn on their limiter and manually enter the pit box for a stop. It is thought the possibility exists to overshoot your pit box, which will result in a slower stop as the mechanics reposition your car on it's correct marks.

Probably of more interest to fans who are looking for a better visual experience than is available in current games, Ian Bell has confirmed pitstops will feature animated crew and bespoke actions depending on the car or series chosen. Understandably with over 170 cars of many different varieties included in the base release this is an achievement not to be underestimated and is very impressive from Slightly Mad Studios. Ian Bell comments:

"The greatest challenge was being able to cover all of the varied pit stop behaviour for each type of car/ruleset/competition. It was massively varied. Each series has its own rules, each car has its own refuelling point, and refuelling rules. Each car has its own tyres and tyre replacement rules and the amount of pitcrew per corner is restricted per series and competition.

It's all a bit mad but we've done our best with the infinitely varied ruleset.".

For far too long animated pit crews have been missing from modern racing simulations and for me personally, this is one of the most interesting and exciting pieces of information I've heard so far about the new title.

Good stuff SMS, looking forward to hearing more as a release draws ever closer...

Project CARS 2 is due for release on Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and Windows PC towards the end of 2017.

If you want to learn more about the latest entry into the Project CARS franchise, or simply hang out and chat with your fellow sim racing fans then head over to the Project CARS 2 sub forum here at RaceDepartment and get involved in the action today.

Looking forward to the Ferrari 488 GTLM? Which other Ferrari cars would you like to see included in Project CARS 2? Let us know in the comments section below!

DND · Mar 2, 2017

333 SP and the late 80's early 90's F1 cars.

Christian Moreau · Mar 2, 2017

488 GTE, manual pitstops, animated pit crews, realistic series pit rules!? What kind of pseudo-heaven is this!?

Looking forward to seeing some pitstop footage.

ls13coco · Mar 2, 2017

Got hyped up for pcars 1, now it's happening again. Here's hoping this time!

Deleted member 113561 · Mar 2, 2017

Another leak ...

Celestiale · Mar 2, 2017

Christian Moreau said:
488 GTE, manual pitstops, animated pit crews, realistic series pit rules!? What kind of pseudo-heaven is this!?

Looking forward to seeing some pitstop footage.

I got a list of features (in German) that would make your eyes plop out

there is so much more insane stuff to come, couldn't believe it when i read it.
I could copy the feature list somewhere in the forum here, but i don't have the time to translate it into English unfortunately.
Edit: found it in English https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/threads/q-a-with-ianbell-read-op-updated-2-15.353715/
One feature i think is quite crazy, and not modeled in any Sim so far (?!): Wind and atmospheric pressure will influence car handling

Sun Levi · Mar 2, 2017

Lets just hope that all these "features" won't be a bug fest and actually work.

Christian Moreau · Mar 2, 2017

Celestiale said:
I got a list of features (in German) that would make your eyes plop out
there is so much more insane stuff to come, couldn't believe it when i read it.
I could copy the feature list somewhere in the forum here, but i don't have the time to translate it into English unfortunately.

Well then, I look forward to hearing about this stuff in the near future.

I'm a sucker for the little details, all about immersion, so I'm always excited to hear about awesome features like those listed above.

Celestiale · Mar 2, 2017

Christian Moreau said:
Well then, I look forward to hearing about this stuff in the near future. I'm a sucker for the little details, all about immersion, so I'm always excited to hear about awesome features like those listed above.

Just edited my original post, but so noone misses it, the link here once more:
https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/threads/q-a-with-ianbell-read-op-updated-2-15.353715/

Christian Moreau · Mar 2, 2017

Celestiale said:
Just edited my original post, but so noone misses it, the link here once more:
https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/threads/q-a-with-ianbell-read-op-updated-2-15.353715/

Wow, thanks for that.

If they manage to successfully implement half of those features, it's stacking up to be quite the sim. Obviously things didn't go according to plan last time so I still have some cautious optimism, but I want to be proven wrong. It seems the more I hear though, the closer I'm coming to being able to do my own Rolex 24.

Riblo · Mar 2, 2017

The problem with pCars was that all the hype and graphics were hiding a lot of bugs...
Now they try to hype people again with more feature and you know that more features means more potential bugs and less time to work on a proper driving model (and pCars has not a so good and simulative driving model)...
I will wait until a demo comes out to decide if to buy this game or not...

Boby Kim · Mar 2, 2017

The problem of Pcars 1 is that i stop racing the dreadful ai wayyyy before the pitstops. Id rather have a good ai than pitcrew which i will never see if the ai is a mess. But then again pitcrew are a perfect console feature

Alex72 · Mar 2, 2017

Atmospheric pressure is in AC isnt it? Wind in rF2? Or maybe its just more wind sound the higher the wind speed? Not sure.

Nice list for PC2, but i'll wait for reports on physics and FFB.

Paradox47 · Mar 2, 2017

"Simulator how to setup ffb 2". I heard even for gamepads it was difficult task. So I'd rather wait a game in which I spend more time racing than I will spend at least 2 hours of my time configuring the proper FFB for my steering.

sebionz · Mar 2, 2017

You will be amazed, trust me...

Rob Every · Mar 2, 2017

It depends on what process they are using to start the new game.

If they are simply using the PCARS engine and upgrading it, it will probably still feel similar, look great, have some great features but perhaps for the more serious sim player feel a little lacking in some areas and like every new game, probably have annoying bugs.

You know, how the last few Gran Turismo's felt, kind of like big patches rather than a new game.

It's understandable, you have the existing engine and tinker. EA have been doing it with footy, golf and NFL games for years and Codies do it with F1 and are doing it now with Dirt Rally.

I would expect if you want PCARS2 to feel different to 1, it probably won't. But it is up to you if you can put up with that while enjoying the new things and better graphics etc. They need to refine a few processes.

But let's be honest here, consoles is where the money is, so any game largely built for them is not likely to satisfy your serious PC sim gamer. They very rarely do.

Andrew Harper · Mar 2, 2017

The impression I kind of got with the first game was although it was generally liked from a sim point of view the endless bugs and detail problems stopped most of us from enjoying it?

I did buy the first game but it refused to work with my ancient wheel so I never played it! Looked nice on keyboard though....

Reiche · Mar 2, 2017

Rob Every said:
If they are simply using the PCARS engine and upgrading it, it will probably still feel similar, look great, have some great features but perhaps for the more serious sim player feel a little lacking in some areas and like every new game, probably have annoying bugs.

I have to admit I really enjoyed pCars, but this is where my activity in sim(ish)-racing started.. I'm quite curious for the new game and a particular quote gives me some hope regarding your doubts:

"Guys, keep in mind that pCARS2 is not just pCARS1 with some more/different cars and tracks. pCARS2 is a newer, bigger, better sim than pCARS1. Ian has already commented on many areas which have either been rewritten or greatly enhanced. These areas will alter the way things work in general (including setting up cars)."

Konan posted this on the official forums. Although he isn't a pCars 2 member IIRC, it gives some hope that SMS were/are aware of the amount of improvements needed

JayJayRaceinho · Mar 2, 2017

WOW, i'm so exicted. If i pre-order now, do i get the bug-tracker as free bonus aswell?

Andy_J · Mar 2, 2017

Hype, hype and more hype. I'll judge it/buy it after a few on here have played with it and given their honest reviews. This developer does not have the respect of the majority of sim racers after the Pcars 1 promises and the pantomime he involved himself in on here and other forums. But the proof will be in the pudding.