rF2: Circuit de la Sarthe (Le Mans) Released & rF2 Updated

[Paul Jeffrey]

Studio 397 have released their beautiful laser scanned Circuit de la Sarthe for rFactor 2.

One of the most iconic tracks in world motorsport, this weekend has seen the 87th running of the Le Mans 24 Hour race in France - the centrepiece event of the sportscar racing calendar and the season finale of the 2018/19 FIA World Endurance Championship season.

To mark the big event in style, Studio 397 have released their latest DLC for rFactor 2 - the laser scanned 2018 version of the famous Le Mans circuit!

Available to purchase now from the rFactor 2 Steam Store page for 10.99 eu, the new track is once again an impressive creation from Studio 397 - continuing the recent very high quality track standards achieved by the Dutch development studio.

rF2 Le Mans: Check out our test drive and Marcel Offermans interview HERE.

Alongside the new track comes a brand new update for rFactor 2, one that brings a number of fixes and improvements to the simulation as Studio 397 continue work towards refining and updating this highly regarded simulation. To catch up on the latest changes, check out the new build update notes below...

rF2 Update Notes:

With the track release comes a new build too. As always we advise people to update their dedicated servers and game clients. In fact, Le Mans requires this new build.

rFactor 2 version: 1.1112
Steam Build IDs: 3921932 (client), 3921933 (dedicated server)

Changes:

• Improved performance logging to be faster and give more information.
  
• Fixed skewed driver labels on triple screen multi-view (cockpit and track-side full-screen cams).
  
• Removed aggressive threading as it’s not that helpful.
  
• Improved timing to help avoid stutters and real-time freezes.
  
• Improvements on materials and lighting.
  
• Implemented all new ‘digital flags’ – for ‘Circuit des 24 Heures du Mans’.

Here's what Studio 397 have to say about the new release:

Just a few weeks ago, in our latest roadmap, we announced that Le Mans was coming to rFactor 2. Now, on the weekend that the 2019 edition of this famous 24h race is held, as the real cars pass the checkered flag after yet another memorable race, the racing won’t stop! We are proud to announce the release of the Le Mans 24h track, available immediately!

For those of you who can’t wait, here’s the link to the store, where you can buy your copy of the track right now and start driving!

Background
The story of the creation of this iconic track goes all the way back to the days when Studio 397 was founded, almost three years ago now. I guess, when we chose the name of our company we already showed our intention.

Being new to the game obviously meant that we had to first introduce ourselves to the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) and build a relationship with them. Such things always take time. Over the first two years, we met regularly, explained our ideas and plans, and listened to their feedback. In that same time period, we also entered into discussions with various other tracks and car manufacturers and showed that we were serious about making rFactor 2 the most realistic racing simulation for everybody who enjoys the experience of driving race cars. All these things led to a licensing agreement, roughly a year ago, that all parties were happy with.

Just in time too for doing a laser scan of the 2018 track, as obviously Le Mans only exists in this configuration for a couple of weeks a year. With the license in place and the scan in our possession, production work started a little over half a year ago, with us balancing our track team resources at the time between three big tracks, the Nürburgring, already in production at that time after we announced it at SimRacing Expo last year, Monaco and Le Mans.

As with Sebring, our goal was to create the most realistic model of Le Mans possible for any consumer-oriented racing simulation available. By pairing our highly accurate physics with a very detailed road mesh, we have recreated the track in a way that makes you feel every bump and curb out there.

Graphically, we have used our latest shaders on this track. Improvements to our lighting model and materials are still in full swing. So whilst you will find this track already looks gorgeous, it is safe to say we will do an update once everything is finalized later in the year, and we will provide a more in-depth update on this process in one of our upcoming roadmaps.

For more from the world of rFactor 2, head over to the RaceDepartment rFactor 2 sub forum and connect with your fellow rF2 fans today!

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[mantasisg]

The game costs 29.99 and the track 10.99. Okkkkkkkk

You suggest game should be free or cost 10x more ?

 

[Kenny Paton]

Okay, to summarise, some people think that the price is to high, others don't.
Some think it's not great and rF2 needs to sort others things and change their priorities. While others are happy with the progress so far. I think we have got that.
We're 11 pages in so maybe for those who are considering a purchase some reviews and impressions of track and current updated game might be useful.
Also a reminder to remain civil please.

 

[GeoF1]

You suggest game should be free or cost 10x more ?

A price for example 3.99 would be great.

 

[M D Gourley]

Finally got to sit down and do a few laps and take some screen shots and as Sim Racing is my only pass time I save the pennies for DLC such as this and personally money well spent. Loads a little slower than Sebring for me (still on a mechanical hard drive...lol) which would be obvious, so first impressions are great, nicely detailed and it will depend on your own artistic eye on how it looks...for me personally, I like late evening with a nice warm glow and side lighting which gives extended long / soft shadows. The track was not as bumpy as Sebring, but Mr Offermans did mention this in the talk n drive (all technical stuff why it was so...lol). Glad I had my RTX2070 as with 21 cars and Ultra settings it was still driveable at 40 - 65FPS....overall I am more than happy with this purchase.

 

[boern69]

I like this track -....
it would be perfect if someone will convert to rf1
and make a new UI for rf1 for 1080p
......
+ and will refund my rf2 version I bought 3 years ago
even it was for sale for 15 bucks its not worth the space on my HD

 

[Ceterum Censeo]

I like this track -....
it would be perfect if someone will convert to rf1
and make a new UI for rf1 for 1080p
......
+ and will refund my rf2 version I bought 3 years ago
even it was for sale for 15 bucks its not worth the space on my HD

About 9 months or so ago I was in that camp too. It just would not run acceptably on my system. It was a bloody mess. Since then performance massively improved for me. On top of that we get official content. Not cheap, granted, but it is still a mystery to me how one can survive as a company in a niche market with that few sales.
So the occasional rightful bashing for obvious omissions aside, I think S397 deserves some support.

 

[falster]

Well.....

Cant wait till nords is released so we can go through all this again......

Fairly sure this thread gave me ptsd

EDIT ....carl....?...come on cupcake youve missed one

 

[mr Sw1tchblade]

@M D Gourley
Evning time is beautiful in rf2. Daylight is worst
at the market.

 

[E304LIFE]

Okay, to summarise, some people think that the price is to high, others don't.
Some think it's not great and rF2 needs to sort others things and change their priorities. While others are happy with the progress so far. I think we have got that.
We're 11 pages in so maybe for those who are considering a purchase some reviews and impressions of track and current updated game might be useful.
Also a reminder to remain civil please.

Most who have tried it say it's great. Not surprising, as Sebring etc is fantastic too.

That said, I don't "think" this is all getting too expensive...It is too expensive. I was worried that S397 were going to go down this road when the DLC started to surface. As a sim racing fan, I didn't mind the higher than usual prices at first (spent over 130.00 for cars and Karts I don't drive) as I wanted to support this project that S397 took on, but I'm sorry, @Marcel Offermans imo, the prices are getting to be a bit much, and I hope this doesn't continue, and I couldn't pass this thread without saying so. Thank you for your hard work and I look forward to more improvements in this fantastic racing game.

Thanks for allowing me to share my opinion.

 

[Rastas]

This must be a grass farm.....a lot of moawing here

 

[davehenrie]

There is a free 2016/2017 version. Unless it disappears from Steam like VLM Sebring did....

 

[shimon.ifraimov]

Only Iracing has the tracks more expensive, 15$ for track...

ya but iracing is not a dead game

 

[davehenrie]

Probably since everyone in the US drives on the same side, there is no need to point which way to go. We do have the same solid line = no passing though. Some years back, like in the late 70's perhaps, the white paint was exchanged for yellow to mark the center line of the road. Only use of white now is for cross-walks in certain States and the outer edge lines. I imagine it must be quite confusing for Brits to drive in the right side of the road as opposed to where they drive in their country.

 

[GermansInAction]

Okay, to summarise, some people think that the price is to high, others don't.
Some think it's not great and rF2 needs to sort others things and change their priorities. While others are happy with the progress so far. I think we have got that.
We're 11 pages in so maybe for those who are considering a purchase some reviews and impressions of track and current updated game might be useful.
Also a reminder to remain civil please.

I make it short...
- Making new maps IS THE RIGHT WAY to make rFactor 2 more attraktiv.
- Les Mans is a very very improtant Track and iam more as happy about its release. The track looks and drives great and i really appriciate the work with 10,99 EUR. Thank you!!!
Cant believe that anyone has an other opinion...

 

[RichardHessels]

@M D Gourley
Evning time is beautiful in rf2. Daylight is worst
at the market.

In any sim... and in reality.. light around midday comes down straight in full spectrum, making even reality look like dx7. As soon as the light comes up or goes down it get filtered and comes at a angle, than things start to shine and get a much more dramatic lighting.

 

[Stevy]

 

[mr Sw1tchblade]

In any sim... and in reality.. light around midday comes down straight in full spectrum, making even reality look like dx7. As soon as the light comes up or goes down it get filtered and comes at a angle, than things start to shine and get a much more dramatic lighting.

I know. I have a camera
But in daylight rf2 looks like overexposed photo with milk covered cars.

 

[Case_]

You were right in your first post when you suspected that someone put words in my mouth. I never said, nor implied, that the track was "unfinished" or "not up to our standards". It's using all the latest technology we have right now. In the interview (and in the release notes) I merely said that our graphics developments are ongoing, and that once we have finished those developments we will do another pass at this track to update it.

Thanks for clearing that up, and doubly so for not saying what he claimed you said. It really did seem quite uncharacteristic of you. And it likely now makes me seem like I am tilting at windmills here. But I care a lot about the general principles of things and about doing things "the right way" (what I consider to be the right way, anyway) and how they "should be done", so sometimes, even an unverified claim can get me going, especially if followed by someone acting surprised about "why do you even care?" or something like that.

So if it seemed like I am ranting at S397, I apologize, I really wasn't (but I did try to point that out).

 

[Ceolmor]

Probably since everyone in the US drives on the same side, there is no need to point which way to go. We do have the same solid line = no passing though. Some years back, like in the late 70's perhaps, the white paint was exchanged for yellow to mark the center line of the road. Only use of white now is for cross-walks in certain States and the outer edge lines. I imagine it must be quite confusing for Brits to drive in the right side of the road as opposed to where they drive in their country.

Thanks for your concern, but us Brits don't have much problem driving on the right, as mainland Europe (where they also drive on the wrong side of the road) is not very far away

 

[Amir Vodokotlic]

Looks very impressive.

I hope some time in future rf2 plus all dlc's will be bundled for reasonable price. I would not hesitate to buy rf2 again if it was with all DLC's.
Something what RRE does once a year for black friday.

At moment it just doesn't make sense the price structure. Its like you want to charge iRacing prices but without the online players count.

I feel like we are entering era that flight simulators been at for long time.
Selling DLC's for $50 for one single plane.