Hello sim racers!

It’s that time of the year again, another new quarterly update and content drop, and also the time when we launch our latest online adventures with the new Competition System season! 

Unbelievably, we’ve hit our seventh season of the Competition System today, and in the previous six seasons of racing I’m sure it would be fair to say that the action on track has produced some really memorable moments – we’ve seen some great camaraderie between the drivers, respectful (for the most part!) action, and some real nail biters right through to the chequered flag – so let this be a fair warning to you all, for Season 7 we want to go bigger, better, faster and more dramatic than ever before! 

As we head into Season 7 of the Competition System, we’ve put together a collection of new and returning favourites for you to enjoy together out on the virtual racetrack. In our popular ‘Rookie Cup’ events, the mighty Caterham Academy returns for another campaign, marking the third season of competition for this car since it was added as a free addition to rFactor 2 back in the Q3 2022 August content drop. As usual, the Rookie Cup will feature a collection of hourly races through the season, with weekly events supporting the series on Monday evenings. 

With the Rookie Cup and Open Wheel Sprint forming the backbone of the new season, we’ve also taken the opportunity to introduce not one, but two new series to the system. For this quarter, we are delighted to return the StockCar 2018x car and the BMW M4 Class 1 – two exceptionally popular cars in rFactor 2, and two vehicles that are both freely available on the Studio 397 Steam Workshop page. We thoroughly expect both series will provide plenty of dramatic and exciting racing, so make sure you get signed up quickly to secure your place on the grid!

Joining the rFactor 2 Competition System is easy, head over to the ‘Competition’ tab on the main UI, navigate to the event(s) you are interested in via the tiles at the bottom of the screen, click register, and you are done, it’s that simple… 

What are you waiting for, see you out on track soon!

Season 7

Dates | 7th November – 18th December

Series | Rookie Cup (Hourly), Rookie Cup (Weekly), Open Wheel Spring (Hourly, Open Wheel Sprint (Weekly), Touring Car Challenge, Stockcar 2018x (New Series), BMW Class 1 (New Series), Hotlap Fixed

Rookie Cup Hourly

Car: Caterham Academy 

Times: Daily, at the beginning of every even hour (00, 02, 04, 06 etc)

Format: 10 minute practice, 5 minute qualifying, 20 minute race

Rookie Cup Weekly

Car: Caterham Academy (Steam Workshop: CLICK HERE)

Times: Weekly, Mondays at 21:00

Format: 10 minute practice, 10 minute qualifying, 20 minute race

Open Wheel Sprint Hourly

Car: Tatuus MSV F3-020 (Steam Workshop: CLICK HERE)

Times: Daily, at the beginning of every even hour (01, 03, 05, 07 etc)

Format: 10 minute practice, 5 minute qualifying, 25 minute race

Open Wheel Sprint Weekly

Car: Tatuus MSV F3-020 (Steam Workshop: CLICK HERE)

Times: Weekly, Wednesday at 21:00

Format: 10 minute practice, 5 minute qualifying, 25 minute race

Touring Car Challenge

Car: BTCC (Steam Store: CLICK HERE)

Qualifying: 1x Hot lap split qualifying Monday 7 – Thursday 10 Nov / LRP

Times: 1 x Race every Friday 21:00 CEST

Hot lap qualifying: This sets the split for the season – points awarded each race will determine split for race 2-6

Format: 10 minute practice, 10 minute qualifying, changed to lap count (roughly 25 mins)

StockCar 2018x

Car: Stockcar 2018x (Steam Workshop: CLICK HERE)

Times: 1 x Race every Sunday 21:00 CEST

Format: 10 minute practice, 10 minute qualifying, 45 minute races

BMW M4 Class 1

Car: BMW M4 Class 1 (Steam Workshop: CLICK HERE)

Times: 1 x Race every Thursday 21:00 CEST

Format: 10 minute practice, 10 minute qualifying, 45 minute races

Hotlap Fixed

Hotlap – Fixed setup, with the exception of tyres, brake bias, steering lock and fuel 

The new Season 7 of the rFactor 2 Competition System is now live within the main UI of rFactor 2. 

Hello sim racers! 

The latest in our line of laserscanned Formula E circuits is about to hit rFactor 2, as we proudly introduce the innovative and very different ExCeL London Circuit. 

Developed and built by Formula E themselves for use within rFactor 2 – this is truly the ultimate representation of this circuit in sim racing.

Having caused quite a stir when the current location made its debut on the Formula E calendar, the ExCeL London Circuit is a perfect mix of drama, excitement, innovation and controversy that Formula E racing thrives upon. 

Coming in at a surprisingly lengthy 2.252 km and comprising no less than 22 turns, the ExCeL London Circuit runs along the famous Thames waterfront through a series of tight and twisty corner combinations, before dramatically diving into and back out of the ExCeL London arena, a highly unique proposition for drivers to get accustomed to in a top level racing series, and something that we think will provide a unique and rather challenging experience within rFactor 2. 

Formula E Pack | Steam Store:: CLICK HERE

Uniquely identifiable thanks to the part street, part indoor area layout of the track, it would be fair to say that this is a circuit unlike any other within the world of rFactor 2. 

To really emphasize this unusual arrangement, drivers can be in no doubt about their surroundings right from the very off, as a lap of begins immediately within the indoor section of track. Here, grip will be at an absolute peak thanks to the specially laid asphalt, before diving out onto the main part of the outdoor portion of the lap, and with it the unpredictability of street racing. 

As is always the case with a tight and twisty Formula E street circuit, here the walls line the full perimeter of the track, waiting to invite the unwary driver into an early finish or lengthy stop for repairs, and with 22 corners plus the aforementioned transition from indoor arena to the streets of London itself, that risk is amplified yet further as the cars squirm their way through the circuit fighting for each and every inch of available tarmac. 

Aside from the obvious focal point of the arena itself, London also features a number of interesting corner sections and diverse challenges for the drivers to overcome, not least of which is a steep downhill drop from the exit of turn 5 into the outdoor section of 6, 7 and 8. Here, as well as the change in road surface, drivers will have to quickly acclimatize to the additional acceleration offered by the descent, before plunging back into darkness and hard on the brakes into the tight 6 and 7 complex, getting as close to the wall as possible in a bid to shave off those all important last few thousands of a second.  

Studio 397 have worked exceptionally closely with the series for the creation of this DLC, and as such, the detail and levels of accuracy for this new track are second to none. Ever wondered what it would be like to race on one of the most distinct venues in Formula E – well, wonder no more, as the London ExCeL Circuit s coming to rFactor 2 as part of the Q4 2022 November release in just a few short weeks time.  

Q4 2022 Announcements so Far

• Bahrain International Circuit
• BMW 330i M Sport BTCC
• Vanwall Vandervell LMH
• AI Improvements
• Croft Circuit
• Thruxton Circuit

Another exciting new track with something a little bit different! The London ExCeL Circuit is Formula E, but not quite as you’ve known it before. Tight and twisty, technical and exciting, inside and outside – a track that has it all, and one we can’t wait for you to give a go for yourself when it releases this November! Remember, stay tuned on studio-397.com and the rFactor 2 social media channels for more news and announcements as we continue to build towards our Q4 2022 update and content release for rF2 – exciting times ahead! 

London ExCeL Circuit – Coming to rFactor 2 this November!

Hello sim racers,

Thruxton is coming to rFactor 2 this November, as we are proudly welcome the most dramatic and high speed racing venue in the United Kingdom.

Opened in 1950 utilizing one of the many former World War 2 airfields left over at the conclusion of hostilities, little has changed at the Hampshire venue in the following 70 years, making Thruxton a true testament to a bygone age of motorsport in the country, and with it providing one of the most thrilling and potentially dangerous active race circuits in the UK.

Thanks to the former airfield location, Thruxton is a predominantly flat circuit, with only mild elevation as cars run up to the final Club chicane to close out the 3.791 km high speed lap. Despite the lack of notable undulations, a feature so loved by racing enthusiasts, Thruxton is no less dramatic behind the wheel. Starting out on a tour of the circuit feels much like any other track throughout Europe, with a mix of fast corners and good passing opportunities quickly giving way to the long and high speed blast into the woodland countryside – and this is when things get very exciting indeed!

Once clear of the Campbell / Cob / Seagrave section, drivers will find the next few kilometres a thorough test of their racing pedigree and nerve, with foot planted firmly to the floor and the delicate dance between grip, speed and almost certain disaster one of the most thrilling experiences in modern motorsport.

How much you lift the throttle through the back section of circuit will strongly determine how quickly you break the timing beam at the end of the lap, a true adventure where driving skill, car setup and mechanical sympathy are all critical ingredients to scoring big results.

The Track

Allard

Unusually for a traditional race circuit, turn one at Thruxton is far from the usual big braking event one comes to expect. Here at Allard, the majority of cars can take this corner at near unabated speed, with often just a small lift, or light feathering of the brake required to slow the car down enough to make it through the right-hander. Having approached at speed from the fast back straight, this makes Allard a very exciting corner to drive.

Campbell, Cobb, Seagrave

On the approach to the Campbell, Cobb and Seagrave section, the circuit gently rolls to the left – here, drivers need to keep the car tight to that left hand side on approach to position yourself on the best line possible into the opening section of this iconic part of Thruxton – Campbell. Here a hard brake is required for the first right hand second, minding the bumps trying to unsettle the car, before bringing the car back over the left apex curb while managing the throttle, then hard on the loud pedal at full speed just kissing the outer edge of the curbing for the long run down into Noble.  

Noble

The fastest part of the track – in fact the fastest part of any track in the UK, the run down and through Noble is simply breathtaking in any type of racing machine. Keeping the foot firmly to the floor and trying to minimize steering input while finding the line of least resistance to maximize overall speed, get it wrong here and the only thing left to do is hold on very tight indeed.

Goodwood, Village, Church

Just like the run through the Noble section, here we are simply holding on and trying to keep the car as absolutely stable as possible. Aside from potentially a mild lift for the final Church turn, drivers can keep fairly comfortably flat through here, however, flat doesn’t mean easy, as it is critical to hold the car on a stable line and avoid upsetting the balance over the bumps, and whatever you do, stay well clear of the curbs…

Brooklands

Brooklands represents an easy arc to the left hand side and is more of an acceleration zone than an actual corner of the lap. Here, all that a driver can do is hope they carried enough speed through the previous turns as the circuit gently starts to wind up hill and into the approach to the final chicane. In race conditions, here is a good place to attempt to capture the slipstream of the car in front, giving you plenty of time to line up your rival for a late dive onto the brakes into the chicane. 

Club

The Club Chicane – scene of many a race ending shunt and two wheel heroics for those that get a touch too enthusiastic on the monster curbs that make up this final corner at Thruxton. Usually approached from the middle of the circuit at absolute top speed, the braking zone here can be tricky thanks to a small amount of steering lock having to be applied, plus of course the ever present bumps and sheer speed at which you will be travelling on corner entry. Key to getting through this section quickly is to use the curbs to your advantage, just flirting with the first right hand curb on entry, but then heavily using the second and third curb to try and straight line the last part of the chicane as much as possible for a good run back onto the start / finish straight and into another lap. 

Q4 2022 Announcements So Far

• Bahrain International Circuit
• BMW 330i M Sport BTCC
• Vanwall Vandervell LMH
• AI Improvements
• Croft Circuit

Developed fully using laserscan technology, rFactor 2 players will have the opportunity to experience every thrill this circuit has to offer, one that we at Studio 397 are certain will translate to some incredible experiences out on the virtual tarmac.

Thruxton Circuit – a track not for the faint of heart!

Thruxton Circuit – Coming November 7th to rFactor 2!

Hello sim racers,

The Croft Circuit is coming to rFactor 2!

Expanding our offering of British racing venues within the simulation, the Croft Circuit in North Yorkshire is the latest addition to our collection of high quality, ultra detailed and laserscanned circuits for rFactor 2. A mainstay of the British Touring Car Championship schedule, as well as home to numerous high profile two and four wheeled championships throughout its time, Croft is a real driver circuit, where accuracy, commitment and driving skill are the differentiators between those who complete the lap, and those who can extract the maximum time the circuit has to offer. 

Running to a total of 16 corners, the layout at Croft often produces incredibly close racing regardless of the type of car competing. A mix of high speed turns and commitment heavy sections, right alongside technical complex segments and heavy braking zones, all lead to a circuit layout that is universally loved by both drivers and fans alike. 

Starting a lap at Croft, the driver is immediately presented with one of the biggest pinch points of the circuit, as cars will need to funnel down into the fast yet challenging Clevaroux corner, before immediately going single file through the tricky chicane – many a race has been brought to an early conclusion at this point of the lap, starkly reminding drivers that although an incredibly fun circuit to drive, you will need a fair amount of concentration and self-preservation in order to come out on top at the chequered flag. 

Although the Croft Circuit is clearly tight at certain points, one of the most exciting features of this track is the ample opportunity for a committed driver to make an overtake on their rival, with several key corners representing solid opportunities to at the very least run two wide with another car. Committed on corner entry, good on the brakes and not afraid to put yourself and the car in the firing line? If this sounds like you, then Croft may well be a happy hunting ground in the virtual battlefields of rFactor 2. 

The Track

Clervaux

The opening corner of the circuit is one not to underestimate. Approached in top gear with limited visibility around the tyre stacks that mark out the off track areas of the circuit, drivers need to be accurate on the brakes and cautious with the inside curbing, take too much apex here and expect the car to become unsettled mid-corner, potentially running you out wide on exit and quickly off into the surrounding countryside.  

Hawthorne Bend

Once clear of the opening turn, drivers then approach the long radius right-hander of Hawthorne, a seemingly never ending corner that requires drivers to be aware of not just the corner in question, but to begin the preparation required to slice your way through the upcoming chicane. Here, drivers have a lot of balancing with the car to contend with, something that becomes challenging on older tyres, or if you don’t quite have the car in the correct setup window. The key tip to success here is preparation. Make sure you approach Hawthorne Bend with full understanding of what comes next, and place your car on the correct bit of tarmac in advance. 

Chicane

Through Hawthorne Bend and immediately drivers are right on top of the chicane, a very tight but deceptively quick piece of circuit that requires pinpoint accuracy. Keeping the car in tight and modulate the throttle to avoid running deep into the tyres or even compromise corner exit and the run out onto the following straight. This is a critical corner, both in terms of self-preservation, and also the need to pull as much speed as possible into the following straight. 

Tower Bend

Approaching Tower Bend you will hit a number of bumps and undulations on the circuit – remember, this is not a new venue, so be prepared to react to the car moving underneath you as you approach this next part of the circuit. The corner itself is a relatively straightforward 90-degree right-hander, however, to add a bit of spice the circuit here features two distinct crests in the road, again unsettling the car and making it potentially challenging should you veer away from the ideal racing line.

Jim Clark Esses

A thrilling section of corners, named after a thrilling Grand Prix driver from the 1960s. The Jim Clark Esses present, usually, a flat out left-right section that requires absolute commitment from the driver. Make sure you get this section absolutely right, if you lift, you’ll be heading off the circuit at one of the fastest points – not good for car preservation!

Barcroft

Now we are in to the quickest part of the Croft circuit, having whizzed through the Jim Clark Esses flat in top gear, we begin the approach to the Barcroft turn – another flat out corner that requires big commitment, but also a firm eye on the fact you will quickly need to get on the brakes once through the corner, so be generous with the amount of apex curb used here as you carry the speed, before straightening the car as efficiently as possible before getting up close and personal with the middle pedal…

Sunny In / Sunny Out

Having navigated through Barcroft, drivers must swifty transition to the brakes and down through the gears for the double right of Sunny In and Sunny out. Approached immediately after the previous turn, these two corners can still be attacked at a good speed, but remain ultra vigilant to keep the car within the confines of the circuit, as a slight over enthusiasm on entry quickly leads to progressively more problems further down the road – probably one of the best parts of the Croft Circuit.

Complex

Following a short blast down the back straight on the exit of Sunny Out, next up is ‘The Complex’ – featuring three corners comprised of a long left and two shorter, tighter right-hand turns. The first part of the Complex can be attacked at speed but requires drivers to think ahead and keep the car tight in preparation for the right, an increasingly tight double corner that again, much like the rest of Croft, invites drivers to overcook the loud pedal and push off into the tyres that surround the circuit.

Hairpin

The final corner of the circuit, and easily the best overtaking opportunity for drivers to try a last minute attempt on their rivals. One of the tightest corners in UK motorsport, the hairpin is exactly what it says on the tin –  a hairpin. Tight, slow and critical to get out of quickly for a strong launch onto the start / finish straight – get it wrong here, and all that good work earlier in the lap will be for nothing.

Q4 2022 Announcements So Far

• Bahrain International Circuit
• BMW 330i M Sport BTCC
• Vanwall Vandervell LMH
• AI Improvements

This is a track that has often been mentioned in positive tones by our sim racing community, and to bring this highly detailed laserscan version to rFactor 2 as part of our November Q4 content drop is an opportunity we at Studio 397 are incredibly excited to achieve with this latest release. Featuring all the twists, turns, bumps and bruises of the real venue, we think Croft is about to become one of the most popular tracks we have in rFactor 2. 

Make sure you stay tuned to the rFactor 2 social media channels, and the Studio 397 website for more Q4 2022 news as and when it becomes available! 

Croft Circuit – Coming November 7th to rFactor 2!

Hello sim racers, 

Now it’s time to switch things up a little, from talking about new content coming to rFactor 2 this November, to new code that will make that content all the more enjoyable in an offline environment – that’s right, for the Q4 2022 build update of rFactor 2 we’ve been working on the AI behaviour in the simulation – throttle and brake blipping be gone! 

Yes, we admit this has been a little while in the making here in rFactor 2 land, but now we are absolutely delighted to be able to bring a substantial improvement to the way the AI responds in game – from more controlled and believable behaviour on the track, to the abolishment of the frustrating on and off throttle pedal control – literally a game changing fix and improvement to the core offline racing experience! 

• Eradicated erratic throttle and brake behaviour.
• Smoothed out steering inputs and car control.
• Improved AI ability to adhere to racing surface and avoid unnecessary off track excursions and spins.

These changes will be rolled out globally across the simulation, so expect the improvements to be seen and felt immediately when playing against the AI, regardless of content type. With these changes, the AI should now offer a much more balanced and realistic racing experience, helping to not only remove the previously mentioned behaviour problems, but properly put the AI experience in rFactor 2 back on track again (no pun intended) as we continue to push the simulation forwards. Aside from the obvious improvements highlighted above, this development exercise has also allowed us the opportunity to go digging around in the previous AI code, and perform a significant amount of code cleaning and optimizing, helping us to untangle some of the historic complexities of how AI has been implemented in rFactor 2, and giving us a much stronger base on which to work from going forwards.

Q4 2022 Announcements so Far

• Bahrain International Circuit
• BMW 330i M Sport BTCC
• Vanwall Vandervell LMH

The new AI updates will form part of the wider Q4 2022 build update to rFactor 2, coming November 7th, alongside our latest array of content releases. Make sure to stay tuned to the rFactor 2 social media channels and Studio 397 website for all the latest news around the upcoming new build, and everything rFactor 2 related in the days, weeks, months and years ahead. 

AI Improvements – Coming November 7th to rFactor 2!

Hello sim racers! 

We’ve had an endurance racing classic track, a British Touring Car Championship car and now it’s time for another change of pace, as we introduce the wonderful Vanwall Vandervell LMH – built in direct collaboration with Vanwall themselves! 

Yes, an LMH has arrived in rFactor 2! Although the real world entry into top level endurance racing has been a little more complicated than initially expected for the Vanwall Vandervell outfit, the squad have been super keen to engage fully in the world of virtual motorsports, expanding their presence from the Virtual Le Mans series into designing and manufacturing this beautiful prototype for rFactor 2. 

When Vanwall Vandervell reached out to Studio 397 to explain their idea of creating an official version of their real world machine in rFactor 2, we were understandably excited to see what the team could come up with in our simulation software – utilizing their wealth of insider knowledge and data to help bring to life in virtual form one of the most attractive of the new breed of endurance races ahead of the new era of sportscar GT racing. Having already been on the track several times testing the real world machine, Vanwall Vandervell have been incredibly keen to utilize that experience and data with this new car, and what they have created is a sensational experience behind the wheel, and a great early look at how this type of car might feel in an rFactor 2 environment.  

While Vanwall Vandervell continue their own real world preparations as they bid to face off against some of the biggest names in motorsport on the world stage, sim racers will have the opportunity to sample the striking Vanwall Vandervell LMH in rFactor 2 on our many laserscanned circuits, putting the new car through its paces in an array of different driving conditions, and getting that important first taste of how this new breed of car will behave in a racing environment within the simulation. 

We’ve been incredibly excited to watch this one develop, and the results of all that work have produced a wonderful car to look at, and one that’s even better once you get it out on the circuit! 

Q4 2022 Announcements so Far

• Bahrain International Circuit
• BMW 330i M Sport BTCC

This is an exciting adventure for rFactor 2, and with such an iconic and historic name as Vanwall Vandervell, the introduction of this car is a very exciting time for the simulation – one we cannot wait to let you try out for yourself once the car releases this November! A perfect match for the Bahrain International Circuit, previously announced, Q4 2022 is already looking like another great content drop for rFactor2! 

Vanwall Vandervell LMH – Coming to rFactor 2 soon!

Hello sim racers! 

The next in our list of content reveals for the November Q4 2022 drop is here – and for this one, we continue our expansion of British Touring Car Championship content within rFactor 2, with the addition of the mighty BMW 330i M Sport NGTC car! 

A championship winner in the hands of Colin Turkington on debut in 2019, the 330 has proven itself to be one of the most potent cars of the modern BTCC, always right up towards the sharp end of the grid and maximizing the inherent advantages of rear-wheel drive, as the only car other than the already released Infiniti Q50 to feature this drive train configuration. 

The BMW continues our strong offering of modern BTCC content this year, joining the previously released Infiniti Q50, Toyota Corolla GR, Ford Focus ST and Hyundai i30N within the simulation – not to mention a raft of British circuits recently brought into the title this year. 

BTCC Car Pack 1 | rFactor 2 Steam Store: CLICK HERE

Developed by West Surrey Racing following the hugely successful professional life of the little 1 Series BMW, the 330 has quickly established itself as something of a fan favourite within the series following an impressive debut in 2019. Proving to be massively quick right out the box at Donington Park in the hands of former series champion, Colin Turkington, the 330 has gone on to become one of the most prominent and potent cars of recent years. Now under the banner of both West Surrey Racing (Team BMW) and Car Gods with Ciceley Motorsport, plus new for 2022 ROKiT MB Motorsport, the car is a proven winner in all conditions and seasons.

Returning to the more traditional saloon format favoured by touring car teams in the late 1990s, the 330 marked a refreshing transition back to the larger family layout of body style following years of the smaller, more compact 1 Series. The extra size of the 330 has its own advantages, as the car is now considered to be a much more stable platform from which the drivers can work, added to the fact that BMW traditionally run in rear-wheel drive configuration, the cards are very much stacked in favour of the 330 – providing an outstanding base on which to develop a car capable of fighting right at the very front of the field in each year since that debut outing in 2019.

BTCC Pack 2 | Steam Store: CLICK HERE

As a competitive package, the pedigree of the BMW has little in the way of an equal in modern NGTC specification BTCC racing. Results aside, one of the main reasons the car has proven to be so popular with the fans of British Touring Car racing is simply the fact it looks so spectacularly right as a modern touring car – large, aggressive and purposeful out on circuit, it would be hard to argue against placing this car in any touring car fans top 3 favourite designs, even more so in the virtual world – as I’m sure you’ll agree with me when I say this thing just looks spectacular in rFactor 2! 

Q4 2022 Announcements so Far

• Bahrain International Circuit

The BMW 330i M Sport BTCC is the latest content announcement as part of the Q4 2022 update and content drop for rFactor 2. We look forward to telling you more about what is coming over the course of the next few days, so make sure you stay tuned to the Studio 397 website and rFactor 2 social media channels for all the latest news and excitement as we continue to build towards our Q4 release! 

BTCC BMW – Coming to rFactor 2 soon!

Hello sim racers, 

The first of our Q4 2022 content announcements is here – and we are starting off with a big one – the very first laserscanned version of the Bahrain International Circuit in rFactor 2! 

Now, you may already have seen this circuit in action during the recent Virtual Le Mans opening round, however, what you haven’t been told yet is the new DLC of this track comes with a little more than ‘just’ the main variation – that’s right, in this new release we are packing together not one, but four different configurations of the track for you to enjoy within rFactor 2! 

The new DLC, available as part of the Q4 2022 content release for the simulation, will include the Bahrain International Circuit, the Endurance layout, the Outer Loop and the Paddock configuration – four very different challenges, and four unique tracks that we are sure you will enjoy in all of their laserscanned glory this November! 

An FIA Grade 1 listed track, the Bahrain International Circuit is one of the most imposing and impressive facilities on the current Formula One schedule, as well as a significant venue for the world of GT and endurance racing. With the rich, if somewhat short pedigree as a premium racing location, it made perfect sense for us here at Studio 397 to pursue a licence agreement for the track, and now, thanks to the hard work and development efforts of the rFactor 2 track team, we are delighted to be able to bring the very first fully laserscanned version of this impressive track to a modern racing simulation. 

Having initially been commissioned by Bahrain Motor Sport Federation honorary President, Crown Prince Sheikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, to become the home of the first Middle Eastern Formula One Grand Prix, famed circuit architect Hermann Tilke elected to develop in the middle of previously unoccupied desert land, allowing the German engineer scope to create a circuit without restrictions – resulting in what many regard to be one of his finest creations in modern motorsport. 

So, at 5.412 km and featuring 15 turns, how about we take a look at the beautiful Grand Prix layout in a little more detail…

The Track

T1

The first corner at Bahrain is a big braking event as cars approach at near maximum velocity, with a difficult right-hander the initial obstacle to overcome for the driver. Although technically this could be considered a recipe for a strong overtaking opportunity, with such proximity to T2, and the need to set the car up for the next part of the circuit, often times it is better for a chasing driver to hold their line and consider a pass further around the circuit, making this first turn a little bit more detailed and complex to negotiate that would ordinarily be the case for a corner of this type.  

T2 & T3

T2 is another one of those corners that appears quite simple of paper, but in reality is a much more difficult proposition to get right in a racing environment. Having used the exit of the first corner to bring the car almost fully to the right of the racetrack, here we try to swing the car into the left hand apex of T2 while balancing the inevitable desire for the car to wander to the outside of the turn and too far over onto the difficult corner exit curbing. Often the car will feel slightly unstable here, and should you get this corner wrong, or require too much corrective action on the wheel, you will be significantly compromised on exit speed into the following straight and the run into T3.

T4

Here we have another big stop preceded by a fast straight, however much like the majority of corners here at Bahrain, this isn’t quite as straightforward as would be desired. Approached at speed, the key to T3 is to keep minimum speeds as high as possible through the apex, as the corner opens up significantly on exit and allows the car to power through the turn aggressively before entering the sweeping left / right / left of the T5, 6 and 7 complex of corners.

T5/6/7

Probably one of the most satisfying sections of corners around the Bahrain International Circuit, the sweeping complex of turns that make up turns 5, 6 and 7 are often cited as critical to the overall effectiveness of the lap – as well as having a big impact on the tyre durability and balance as the car progresses through the stint phase over longer running. Approached at speed for the initial left hand kink of five, drivers begin to shed speed during this phase of the section as they shuffle the nose of the car into the right-hander of 6, aggressively using the curb on the inside of the corner to help extend the track surface area and allow earlier application of throttle, before again committing the car into the sweep of left of 7 and hard onto the power for the short run into the next big braking event of the lap, turn 8.

T8

Slightly detached in terms of distance, but still part of the earlier sequence at T5, 6 and 7 – turn 8 is a large braking zone that requires drivers to shed considerable speed on one of the tightest corners of the circuit. Slightly bumpy of corner entry, here it is critical to ensure you clear up any imbalance as early as possible, in order to facilitate a hard acceleration from the turn and onto the next long straight and run down into turns 9 and 10 – another interlinked and challenging combination of corners. 

T9/10

Turn 9 is classified as a corner at Bahrain, however it would only be fair to consider 9 and 10 as one single section when it comes to driving this outstanding circuit. Scene of many a locked inside front wheel, and certainly one of the most difficult parts of the circuit, the 9 and 10 corner complex is not for the faint of heart. Approached at high speed following the exit of T8 and run down the short straight, drivers have to use corner 9 as a turning and braking section in order to shed speed for the very tight T10, juggling both an uneven track surface and quite steep downhill gradient, making this braking event, and the complexity of balancing attack and patience, one of the biggest challenges of the lap. To make matters even more complex, immediately after these corners comes one of the longest straights of the lap – so get this wrong, and the price to pay is significant. 

T11

Turn 11 is a very fast left-hander that immediately joins up with the swooping T12 – in the right car, with enough downforce, one can carry significant speed into 11 with confidence that the car will stick and offer enough grip to pull back across the circuit and prepare for the approach into 12. 

T12

Here at turn 12, drivers have to consider this and T13 as part of the same section of circuit. Twelve is a quick corner in its own right, rapidly followed by the approach down into the difficult turn 13. Quite bumpy and almost flat out in the right car, turn 12 is very much a case of preparation for what is to follow, with most drivers merely looking through this turn as they contemplate the best way to place the car as we prepare for yet another important part of the overall lap here at Bahrain.

T13

Likely to be one of the most decisive corners in terms of overall lap time at Bahrain, Turn 13 is crucial thanks to the huge straight that immediately follows this corner – get 13 wrong, and wave goodbye to tenths of a second on the run down into the penultimate corner of the lap. 

T14/15

Almost back to the start finish straight now – T14 is another one of these corners where the driver approaches at considerable speed from the preceding straight, only this time, in combination with T15, in order to extract the most available lap time you need to be aggressive with not just the raised inside curb, but also on corner exit, maximizing the full width of available circuit whilst working hard to keep the car stable, and not fall foul of potential track limit infringements and ruin the good work you have put in up to this point. Not an easy task, much like the rest of Bahrain, but seriously satisfying for those who get it right. 

Another great addition to the growing list of rFactor 2 official laserscanned circuits, we certainly hope you enjoy this one when it releases in November – we expect this will quickly become one of the most popular tracks on the (virtual) endurance racing calendar! 

Stay tuned to the Studio 397 website and rFactor 2 social media channels in the coming days and weeks, as we begin to reveal what is coming your way as part of the November 2022 update and content release for rFactor 2. 

Bahrain International Circuit – Coming soon to rFactor 2!

The Halloween Sale is here, with big savings to be found on some of the key pieces of rFactor 2 content – available until November 1st!

Want the best deals on rFactor 2 content? Need a few new cars and tracks to help fill out your simulation install and keep things fresh? Been waiting for the right time to pull the trigger on a certain car or track? Well, now may very well be the time for you, as the big rFactor 2 Halloween Sale is live in Steam!

What’s on Sale?

For this new sale season, running between October 25th to November 1st, we’ve picked out some exciting packs and content items to receive huge discounts – from individual cars, to some of our key content packs – whatever your tastes, we should have something for you!

• Endurance Pack – 50% Off (Steam Store: CLICK HERE)
• Reiza Pack – 50% Off (Steam Store: CLICK HERE)
• IndyCar Pack – 30% Off (Steam Store: CLICK HERE)
• KartSim Esports Pack – 50% Off (Steam Store: CLICK HERE)
• McLaren Senna GTR – 75% Off (Steam Store: CLICK HERE)
• BMW M2 CS Racing Cup – 75% Off (Steam Store: CLICK HERE)
• Porsche 911 GT3 Cup – 75% Off (Steam Store: CLICK HERE)

How Long Does The Sale Last?

The Halloween Steam Sale lasts for a limited period of time, set to run from Tuesday 25th October through to Tuesday 1st November – just 7 days to pick up an rFactor 2 flavoured bargain!

How Do I Get The Content?

Easy – head to the rFactor 2 Store within the main UI of the simulation, navigate to the piece of content you are interested in, click ‘Add to Basket’, then check out the basket to make the purchase. Remember, if you’ve enabled downloads while in game via the Steam settings page, you don’t even need to exit rFactor 2 for it to install – you can get straight on track with your new purchases and go racing!

The Steam Halloween sale, now live in rFactor 2!