Things have been quiet regarding RaceRoom – until the announcement of the Circuit de Pau-Ville coming to the sim. For Yannik, this is a great example of new content renewing interest in a sim racing title.
Images: RaceRoom/KW Studios
New content in racing sims is almost always appreciated. After all, more choice in cars and tracks on your favorite platform is a good thing, right? Automobilista 2 proves that time and time again as it did with the Formula HiTech as well as the LMDh and GT3 Gen 2 cars. Similarly, players were flocking to iRacing when it added further LMDh (read: IMSA GTP) vehicles in the summer of 2023. And Assetto Corsa Competizione’s player numbers are most likely going to explode once the Nürburgring-Nordschleife is released on April 1.
RaceRoom, on the other hand, did not really have much going for itself lately. Of course, the late 2023 physics update, which came with a well-refined tire model, elevated the sim’s handling. As for content, the 2023 DTM Car Pack was nice, but ultimately another batch of GT3 cars, so not much of an attention-getter for me personally.
As you may or may not know by now, I have an enormous soft spot for historic racing. And this is why the newest addition to RaceRoom’s track roster has made me anxious to get behind the virtual wheel in the sim again. The Circuit de Pau-Ville comes in its modern guise, just like the other tracks in RR, but it has history behind it that other tracks will have a hard time matching.
Pau, however? The same layout as almost 90 years ago. A seemingly unbelievable feat, and yet, current-day Formula 4 drivers have to conquer the very same streets 1930s Grand Prix heroes like Tazio Nuvolari, Rudolf Caracciola or Maurice Trintignant battled on in the early days of motor racing. I find that utterly fascinating.
This probably comes from the fact that even permanent racing circuits rarely are still in their original form despite having decades of history behind them. Road America is a good example, having never changed its main layout – only the motorcycle chicane at The Kink having been added in 2003, but that is not used for races on four wheels. Its surroundings may have changed since 1955, but not the track layout itself.
Almost 90 years of racing: This layout of Pau has been in use since 1935. Image credit: racingcircuits.info
Pau does not have the international significance it once held anymore, with the main event being French Formula 4 in 2023, and the 2024 edition not taking place as it stands at the time of writing this article. In previous years, it was part of the WTCC calendar, and several other classes like Formula Renault 2.0, Formula 3000, TCR, GT3 and 4, and Formula 3 have raced at Pau in the past.
In sim racing, the track is hard to find as first-party content despite its longevity. In fact, the only sim that features the Circuit de Pau-Ville is Race 07, as it was part of the 2007 World Touring Car Championship the game portrays. Apart from that, there are mods for Assetto Corsa, of course, rFactor 2 and even GTR2. Now, RaceRoom steps up to the plate.
Are you looking forward to RaceRoom adding the Circuit de Pau-Ville? Let us know on Twitter @OverTake_gg or in the comments below!
Images: RaceRoom/KW Studios
New content in racing sims is almost always appreciated. After all, more choice in cars and tracks on your favorite platform is a good thing, right? Automobilista 2 proves that time and time again as it did with the Formula HiTech as well as the LMDh and GT3 Gen 2 cars. Similarly, players were flocking to iRacing when it added further LMDh (read: IMSA GTP) vehicles in the summer of 2023. And Assetto Corsa Competizione’s player numbers are most likely going to explode once the Nürburgring-Nordschleife is released on April 1.
RaceRoom, on the other hand, did not really have much going for itself lately. Of course, the late 2023 physics update, which came with a well-refined tire model, elevated the sim’s handling. As for content, the 2023 DTM Car Pack was nice, but ultimately another batch of GT3 cars, so not much of an attention-getter for me personally.
As you may or may not know by now, I have an enormous soft spot for historic racing. And this is why the newest addition to RaceRoom’s track roster has made me anxious to get behind the virtual wheel in the sim again. The Circuit de Pau-Ville comes in its modern guise, just like the other tracks in RR, but it has history behind it that other tracks will have a hard time matching.
Pau in RaceRoom: Almost 90 Years Of Consistency
The street circuit in the South of France has seen racing since the 1930s. And remarkably, the layout that is in use today has remained unchanged since 1935 – a feat that is unheard of for street circuits. Monaco has changed considerably throughout the years. Spa-Francorchamps has made the transition from a pure street circuits (though on country roads instead of city streets) to a permanent race track. And even Macau, which has seen racing since 1954, has seen changes, albeit very minor ones.Pau, however? The same layout as almost 90 years ago. A seemingly unbelievable feat, and yet, current-day Formula 4 drivers have to conquer the very same streets 1930s Grand Prix heroes like Tazio Nuvolari, Rudolf Caracciola or Maurice Trintignant battled on in the early days of motor racing. I find that utterly fascinating.
This probably comes from the fact that even permanent racing circuits rarely are still in their original form despite having decades of history behind them. Road America is a good example, having never changed its main layout – only the motorcycle chicane at The Kink having been added in 2003, but that is not used for races on four wheels. Its surroundings may have changed since 1955, but not the track layout itself.
Almost 90 years of racing: This layout of Pau has been in use since 1935. Image credit: racingcircuits.info
F1, F2, WTCC...
Even F1 raced in Pau after World War II, although the race did not count towards the World Championship. Still, greats like Juan Manuel Fangio, Jim Clark or Jack Brabham battled it out in F1 machinery here. Later, when the event was held under Formula Two regulations, drivers like Jochen Rindt, Graham Hill, Jackie Stewart also competed at the track.Pau does not have the international significance it once held anymore, with the main event being French Formula 4 in 2023, and the 2024 edition not taking place as it stands at the time of writing this article. In previous years, it was part of the WTCC calendar, and several other classes like Formula Renault 2.0, Formula 3000, TCR, GT3 and 4, and Formula 3 have raced at Pau in the past.
In sim racing, the track is hard to find as first-party content despite its longevity. In fact, the only sim that features the Circuit de Pau-Ville is Race 07, as it was part of the 2007 World Touring Car Championship the game portrays. Apart from that, there are mods for Assetto Corsa, of course, rFactor 2 and even GTR2. Now, RaceRoom steps up to the plate.
Pau In RaceRoom: The Difficult Question Of What To Race First
So it is about time I finally catch up on doing some laps at the vintage French street circuit. Which car to choose, though? Well, there is a little time left to make that decision. F3 sounds good, don’t you think? Or maybe a TCR car? Maybe both? Ah, why not.Are you looking forward to RaceRoom adding the Circuit de Pau-Ville? Let us know on Twitter @OverTake_gg or in the comments below!
