rFactor 2 Formula E DLC Preview and Marcel Offermans Interview

[Paul Jeffrey]

Studio 397 have released a new preview video of the upcoming Formula E content for rFactor 2, and we sit with head man Marcel Offermans to discuss what Formula E means to the simulation...

Love it or loathe it, Formula E is very quickly forcing itself into the racing limelight following a seemingly endless number of manufacturers flocking to the all electric single seater racing series in recent months. Brainchild of Spanish businessman Alejandro Agag, the FIA supported Formula E series has made a steady start in life as it looks to break into the wider motorsport consciousness of fans brought up on the sounds and smells of the combustion engine.

Running electric power and featuring some high profile drivers, the series has really stepped up a gear towards the end of the previous season and the build up to the opening round of 2017/18, confirming top level manufacturers such as Porsche, Mercedes, BMW and Audi all in recent months, some very experience World Endurance Championship calibre drivers and an already established line up of works teams and well sorted privateer entries..

As a marker of the level of popularity the series now seems to have achieved, Studio 397 have taken their relationship with the controversial championship to the next level with confirmation that a new DLC is on the way to rFactor 2, bringing all the cars, teams and drivers of the category to the incredible rFactor 2 simulator. Below you can check out the preview video and catch up on our brief interview with the head of Studio 397, Marcel Offermans;

RD: So Marcel, Formula E? What attracted you to the series and made you think the cars and tracks would be a good match for rFactor 2?

MO: There are a lot of things that attracted us to Formula E to be honest. For one it is definitely a rising star, attracting more top drivers, teams and manufacturers in record time than any other series. It does a lot of things right in terms of engagement and leveraging its unique capabilities. It also early on recognized the value of esports and the synergy that comes from close collaboration, which is why we're so proud to be able to work with them to bring their series to the leading platform in terms of simulation: rFactor 2!

RD: You have the first official licence to fully recreate the series as a whole, how close is the technical partnership between S397 and Formula E, what sort of involvement have they allowed the studio to enjoy?

MO: We have had the opportunity to work with Formula E very closely over the last couple of months, and continue to do so. This means for example that we get highly accurate CAD designs of their tracks including all the barriers they install and several other aspects like ambient sounds. For the cars we have worked with both Formula E, teams and manufacturers to get the correct physics, 3D and sound data.

RD: So will you be replicating the full grid in this new pack, and which season will it cover?

MO: The pack will come with the cars, teams and drivers of the upcoming 2018 season that starts at Hong Kong in the weekend of the 2nd and 3rd of December.

RD: And how about tracks? I see the pack will come with Hong Kong, will we be seeing more from the Formula E schedule over time?

MO: Yes, we anticipate to bring more tracks over time. We don't have a specific timeline yet.

RD: rF2 is a very advanced simulation, how have you found the challenges of modelling a rather unique form of racing compared to the usual combustion engine cars seen traditionally in the sim?

MO: Obviously a Formula E race is different from your typical race with cars that use combustion engines. During a race you are allowed to use two cars and each race is very tactical because you need to manage the available power so you can make it to the end. We have obviously simulated the electric engine and these aspects and like in the real races you will typically use the maximum available power and downforce during qualification and for the race switch to a setup with minimum downforce and slightly less power. During the race you can constantly adjust your "regeneration" settings, giving you the option to either regenerate more energy when braking and as a consequence brake a little less efficient or regenerate less and have a shorter braking distance. When battling other cars on the track, that can become very tricky and also a lot of fun, as we've already found in private testing.

RD: Obvious question but one probably most popular.. when and how much?!?!

MO: The how much question we will reveal when we release the pack. The "when" is easier: this will be out before the season opener, so next week!


So there you have it folks, Formula E is coming to rFactor 2 next week! Stay tuned for more as and when it becomes available..

rFactor 2 is a PC exclusive racing simulation available worldwide via the Steam network.

Check out the rFactor 2 sub forum here at RaceDepartment for all the latest news and discussion with regards to the simulation. You can take part in lively debates with fellow rFactor 2 fans and take part in some great Club and League racing events..! Head over to the forum now and share the love this simulation so very much deserves...

Excited to see Formula E cars coming to rFactor 2? Do you think the series will transfer well to simulation racing? Looking forward to seeing more quality Studio 397 DLC content? Let us know in the comments section below!

 

[2stains]

I'll probably get it for the track alone! I hope they do separate sales though.

 

[dave kirk]

Awesome can't wait, I really wanted an official series on RF2, I just hope they manage to do alot of the tracks so I can do the race weekends the same time as real life event. I guess it will be around £25-30

 

[Marc Collins]

I read your comment in Saul's voice!!

Regarding Formula E, I loathe the series but I love that S397 is showing that rF2 is still pretty much alive and ahead of the curve with this one. Plus those tracks can be used for other series as well, so it's all good.

"those tracks"

When I see a track list of what's coming, I will consider buying this. FE is not of maximum interest to me, but I have learned from AMS that series I thought I would have zero interest in can be fun to race. And these are not in every other sim, so that is also a positive.

 

[Depco]

The regenerative technology could potentially be used on other mods like the hybrid cars... so while FE may not be terribly popular with many sim racers it speaks volumes about where S397 and rF2 are going with regards to being forward thinking and ready to do new things. Great times ahead for this most excellent sim.

 

[MPortnoy]

"those tracks"

When I see a track list of what's coming, I will consider buying this. FE is not of maximum interest to me, but I have learned from AMS that series I thought I would zero interest in can be fun to race. And these are not in every other sim, so that is also a positive.

I've never been a huge fan of OW in any sim but the tracks look well suited for BTCC/WTCC, Clio cup and every other slower tourers.
Tho the regeneration part sounds interesting. Will give it a try for sure

 

[Dirk Steffen]

I have currently zero interest in Formula E, I never had.
I find the cars incredibly ugly and see personally currently no emotional connection whatsoever with the racing series or the vehicles.
I find it hurts me that Formula E will be that start of the end of our beloved combustion engine competition era. There will be no more hair raising, goosebump inducing, ear shattering racing at some point and we can only enjoy the last few years out of that soon to be lost era.


Studio 397 offering a Formula E DLC ?



I will instantly buy it, support Studio 397, will most likely love the tracks and maybe, just maybe even might find out that Formula E has aspects to it that make it interesting. Who knows, it might very well turn into a modern Wipeout for sim racing (and Wipeout was one of the very best racing experiences when it was released even for die hard sim racers).

Now I absolutely do hope that Studio 397 takes that Formula E DLC profit and reinvests it into:

Porsche 911 RSR GTE
Ford GT GTE
Aston Martin New Vantage GTE
Ferrari 458 GTE

… all of that right after finishing the GT3 field with at the very least a Porsche 911 GT3 R

+ tracks for the 2018 WEC season (especially my home track of Shanghai International Circuit)

If that is the sort of content to be built by Studio 397, I will buy Formula E DLCs all day long if I have to …

 

[Nickolay Pryamitsin]

Will we see Race Department E Championship with fan boost?

 

[KittX]

I like the idea of throwing a used up car in the garage and hopping into a new one

Haven't it been implemented for years, once you press "escape" button?

 

[MPortnoy]

I have currently zero interest in Formula E, I never had.
I find the cars incredibly ugly and see personally currently no emotional connection whatsoever with the racing series or the vehicles.
I find it hurts me that Formula E will be that start of the end of our beloved combustion engine competition era. There will be no more hair raising, goosebump inducing, ear shattering racing at some point and we can only enjoy the last few years out of that soon to be lost era.


Studio 397 offering a Formula E DLC ?



I will instantly buy it, support Studio 397, will most likely love the tracks and maybe, just maybe even might find out that Formula E has aspects to it that make it interesting. Who knows, it might very well turn into a modern Wipeout for sim racing (and Wipeout was one of the very best racing experiences when it was released even for die hard sim racers).

Now I absolutely do hope that Studio 397 takes that Formula E DLC profit and reinvests it into:

Porsche 911 RSR GTE
Ford GT GTE
Aston Martin New Vantage GTE
Ferrari 458 GTE

… all of that right after finishing the GT3 field with at the very least a Porsche 911 GT3 R

+ tracks for the 2018 WEC season (especially my home track of Shanghai International Circuit)

If that is the sort of content to be built by Studio 397, I will buy Formula E DLCs all day long if I have to …

I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for Porsche and Ferrari but we can only hope. Would love to see that Ford GT as well.

As of Shanghai, there's a very good quality mod of it. Funny enough I just did a 40 minute multiclass race in it a couple hours ago with the GT3 pack and the URD LMP's. Don't think it's been updated to DX11 tho, as I'm still in DX9.

 

[Chobonator]

Will we see Race Department E Championship with fan boost?

I will always vote for NASCRAP.

 

[Dirk Steffen]

I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for Porsche and Ferrari but we can only hope. Would love to see that Ford GT as well.

As of Shanghai, there's a very good quality mod of it. Funny enough I just did a 40 minute multiclass race in it a couple hours ago with the GT3 pack and the URD LMP's. Don't think it's been updated to DX11 tho, as I'm still in DX9.

Do you have any pointers for the track? I could not find it yet.

 

[MPortnoy]

Do you have any pointers for the track? I could not find it yet.

Google RaceRfactor tracks. It's in the first link (internationalsimracing)

 

[Matt]

Looks like it will be fun, screw the haters

 

[Benjamin Kronaveter]

Formula E...no tanks!

 

[LeSunTzu]

Hopefully the mod is better than the version used in the Formula E village. That one was disappointing.

 

[F_B]

Interesting content. These cars on the narrow street curses could be a lot of fun.
Though I wonder if they really can add more complex street circuits in a shorter period of time.

 

[Menos]

Very excited to see an official licensed series be added to the game. Along with the tracks (in due time). Will be getting this as I have been starting to follow Formula E more. Interested in the future of the series.

The only thing that worries me is the fact it'll be another paid DLC. I paid a good chunk of money for rF2 back in the day and now all the new cars seem to become paid DLC. While I'm not against supporting the developers, and understand why it's being done. The base game without paid DLC isn't good enough on it's own. It needs quality base content before you should be getting paid DLC.

Hopefully after the FE pack, there will be one or two (smaller) series/track packs as base content for people to enjoy.

 

[thepharcyde]

Wow more stuff that no doubt impacts completion of the existing unfinished content / features.... Why?

I purchased the GT3 pack, but will not part with any cash until I can see s397 actually see through what they already have released and charged for.

I think they need to hire a new PM and start listening to their stakeholders

 

[Andrew Harper]

Well I may give this a go. Providing it does eventually get all the tracks. The one thing a lot of us were asking for on a separate subject some time ago was a complete experience (mod or DLC). The cars and all the tracks from a season. Well in theory this is it! So from that point of view I'm impressed that they are working on this for the near future.

Depends on the relationship I suppose but the FE teams use RFactor Pro for all their sim work. Each track on the calendar is laser scanned just for them by the RF Pro group. So whether Studio397 have done a deal to use that data? Or maybe they've got access to the actual track files and they are just polishing them up to make them look better and more immersive? The sim imagery I've seen looks ok but it's very basic. Which would make sense as it's just for testing.

The only other thing I'd like to see but probably wont happen is the new car concept implemented. That looks miles better than the current one. Haha.

 

[Sfrost]

So there you have it folks, Formula E is coming to rFactor 2 next week! Stay tuned for more as and when it becomes available..

That's how you announce DLC, no long wait periods just right around the corner till launch. Looking forward to it