If you want to recreate the 2024 Bathurst 12 Hours in single-player, there are several current racing games to choose from. But which one does it best?
On this weekend Down Under and Mount Panorama will finally be the hub of the motorsport world again. The 2024 Bathurst 12h will host the best GT drivers in the world, and we will see them fight for glory from 18 February 5:45 am AEDT (17 Feb 7:45 pm CET) on.
The GT3 class will see cars from Audi, BMW, Lamborghini, Mercedes and Porsche compete for the win, with Mercedes-AMG alone entering with eight vehicles including the winner of the last two years, Jules Gounon. In the GT4 class it will be Mercedes-AMG, Ginetta with their G55 and the hybrid McLaren Artura fighting for victory.
Even more variety and exotic flavors can be found in the invitational class. Apart from the rather widely known KTM X-Bow GT2, it will also sport several Australian MARC IRC GT and MARC II V8 as well as the French Vortex 1.0.
In each of the last two years, victory in the endurance classic Down Under went to the Mercedes-AMG GT3 from SunEnergy1 Racing. Image credit: Mercedes-AMG
But what about the Bathurst 12 Hours in sim racing? Which game recreates the 2024 Bathurst 12h in single-player the most accurately and authentically?
Is the track up-to-date? Are all the real cars in the game? What about original liveries, team and driver names? Editable AI skills? Can you simulate 12 hours? Dynamic weather and time of day? Here we present seven current racing games in alphabetical order and tell you how accurately you can recreate the 2024 Bathurst 12h in single-player in each of them.
RaceDepartment offers a seemingly infinite list of car, track and livery mods. In fact, a popular mod for the Mount Panorama circuit is available to download from the registry. Including a fairly accurate layout and an impressive 36 pit boxes, this mod can more than recreate this year’s real race. Looking aside of the RD download section for Assetto Corsa, one may find other versions of Bathurst. But quality is sure to vary.
Bathurst 12h 2024 cars in Assetto Corsa. Image credit: Kunos Simulazioni
Elsewhere, RaceDepartment creatives are typically on the ball with creating real-world liveries. At the time of writing, real 2024 Bathurst liveries are scarce. In fact, teams are yet to fully unveil their colours for the round-the-clock event. Expect this year’s cars to be available from this weekend.
Look online for accurate Bathurst 12 Hour mods for AC. Image credit: Kunos Simulazioni
However, liveries for the 2023 running are certainly available. The duo of Porsche 911 GT3 R liveries featuring in 2023 have been made available in AC thanks to user Martinez_4313. This is the same livery painter behind Mercedes GT3 and Audi R8 LMS mini packs for the same event. Finally, the BMW M4 in Shell livery that ran the 2023 race is available thanks to MEDIIZA Designs.
In addition to the many GT3 mods available online, the GT4 class cars in this year’s race are no doubt available through a bit of Googling. In the essence of simplicity however, Shaun Clarke’s Ginetta G55 GT4 is an excellent and accurate addition for this year’s race.
To drive all up-to-date GT3 cars entered in the real event, you will need additional DLC. The Challengers Pack gets the Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II on the grid, and if you want to race the Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) and Lamborghini Huracàn EVO2, the 2023 GT World Challenge Pack is another necessary purchase.
That, and the 2020 GT World Challenge Pack for the Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo 2020. And the GT4 Pack, which does not include the McLaren Artura GT4. And the GT2 Pack for the KTM X-Bow GT2, of course. The MARC and Vortex entries in the Invitational Class - six cars in total - are missing entirely.
You do not have to own all of these cars to race against them, however - getting the respective DLC is only necessary if you want to drive one of the cars yourself. The only car that you do not need to buy is the BMW M4 GT3, which was a free addition to ACC ahead of the 2022 season. Entering the event in another car included in the base game, such as the Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT3, is possible as well.
Bathurst 12 Hour and IGTC liveries can be found in the RaceDepartment download section - simply search for 'Bathurst' or 'IGTC' to get started.
Elements like the time of day and driver swaps can be replicated in ACC, although not perfectly. When setting up the race, only full hours are possible as your start time. The real race sees the green flag wave at 5:45 am local time, so you will have to settle for either 5 or 6 am as a compromise.
Driver swaps, at least offline, do not quite work as well, though. While possible, no AI driver will take over the car, so you should either be prepared with an iron will and lots of concentration, or invite a friend or two over to run the full distance with you. Or you simply use the mid-session save feature, though it has been known to be a bit bugged in the past.
Meanwhile, maximum stint times and number of allowed tire sets can also be determined in the race settings.
Despite being located in Australia, Bathurst is not immune to rain. With the race held during late summer in Australia, temperatures are going to differ considerably when transitioning from early morning to daytime, so keeping an eye on tire pressures is important.
To summarize: Yes, it is possible to run the Bathurst 12 Hour in Assetto Corsa Competizione, as you would expect due to the SRO license. However, an online event will likely be a better experience due to the driver changes not really doing anything in an offline race and the AI not being the gold standard in sim racing, either.
Original skins and real drivers? No and yes. At the time of writing, no explicit skins for the International GT Challenge were availabe, not in the game and also not as a mod. The mod that comes closest is the Fanatec GT World Challenge by John B. Ellis. This WIP livery set for the GT3 Gen2 class features a collection of individual skins from several artists on RD and combines them into a single, unified download. Alternatively, you may also search for single skins for GT3 and GT4 cars on RD.
In terms of real drivers, the answer is "Custom AI". If a proper Custom AI is not included in one of the skin packs, you can go and create or edit one yourself and set names and skills to your heart's content, thus also editing in the grid of the 2024 Bathurst 12h.
Mount Panorama is part of the base game. While design and layout are top notch, not every official sponsor on signs, banners, etc. is in the right spot.
At the time of writing, the entry list for the 2024 Bathurst 12h had not yet been finalized. However, 10 different car manufacturers were already registered.
In the GT3 class, Automobilista 2 features the BMW, Merc, and Porsche. Audi and Lambo are missing from the game. In the GT4 class it is two out of three, with the Merc and the Ginetta in the game and only the McLaren Artura missing.
As of now, the official 2024 Bathurst 12h will feature 30 cars, including the rather exotic entries in the invitational class. Thus as AMS2 allows up to 32 cars on Mount Panorama, you are good to go and race the real grid plus some cars of your preference as fillers.
Also, a complete 12-hour race is possible. Note, however, that race starts can only be set to full hours. Thus, 5am or 6am is possible, but not 5:45am, the start time of the real race. Also, we still cannot save the game mid-session but only pause it. So you will have to do your 12-hours ride while keeping the game running. Finally, technically there is now an AI driver swap in AMS2; however, it cannot be recommend as of now as it is still in an early state and will likely ruin your race.
Early morning racing at Bathurst in Gran Turismo 7
Gran Turismo 7 is an accessible entry point to sim racing – and trying to replicate the Bathurst 12 Hour event perfectly encapsulates that point.
It cannot behave like some of the PC-only simulation titles, but it does at least get most of the basics right for those starting out.
A maximum number of 20 cars is a major downside, and with the forecast for the real event looking ‘mildly moist’, dynamic weather does not function at this recreation of Mount Panorama. Shame.
The cars on offer, in terms of replicating the entry list, are weak too. There’s the facelifted AMG GT3 and…. that’s about it in terms of like-for-like.
If you don’t mind the RSR variant of the Porsche and older models from Ferrari, BMW, Aston Martin and Lamborghini, however, you can fill the grid up and even add in some slower vehicles with a custom grid for that multi-class feel. If you’d like to drive for the full race length, you can – even up to 24 hours if you’re particularly tenacious.
The livery editor is a boon too, with several community recreations from the 12-hour event available to simply download in-game and apply. VR support adds to the claustrophobic feeling of hurtling down The Dipper and night-time driving with the sun rising from behind the eminence is atmospheric.
2024 Triple Eight #888 Bathurst 12Hr livery in Gran Turismo 7
Just starting off with GT3, there are: Audi R8 LMS EVO II, Porsche 911 GT3 R (992), Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo, BMW M4 GT3 and even the 911 GT3 R 991.2. There is also the Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO in iRacing but it is not the current model that can be found racing in the real-life race.
But there are also GT4 cars. Only three though, and only one is in iRacing, the Mercedes-AMG GT4. There is a McLaren GT4 car on the sim which is the 570S but the one raced in real life is the Artura. Meanwhile the remaining one is the Ginetta G55, which is not represented in iRacing at all.
It may be lacking but with some liberties, it is possible to closely replicate the grid of the Bathurst 12 Hours. Image credit: iRacing.com
iRacing's AI stands out for its exceptional realism and adaptability, contributing to an immersive and challenging racing experience, replicating human-like decision-making and ensuring dynamic and unpredictable races. Apart from ability sliders, you can also change names and thus create the actual grid of the 2024 Bathurst 12 Hours.
Second, also iRacing does not have an option for AI driver swap, nor a save session functionality. Hence, you will have to do your complete the entire race yourself and in one go, as you can only pause the game.
Third, Pace/Safety Car and Yellow Flags do not work properly. On road courses (like Daytona), as the player in an AI session you can launch a safety car procedure. But they do not happen automatically when there is a crash, even if you tick the option when setting up the session.
Moreover, there is no full course yellow either. There are yellow flags obviously, but they don't mean much as you can overtake and don't have to slow down when they are out. While this is somewhat comprehensible for online multiplayer, in single-player this shortcoming reduces authenticity and immersion.
So if you are new to iRacing, recreating 2024 Bathurst 12 hours in single-player will cost you upwards of $90 assuming you only have the cars that are actually in the real race. To be fair though, first, there are often discounts on memberships and contents, and second, iRacing essentially is made for racing online and increasing your iRating while competing with other humans.
First off, remember that only the base game is free, allowing you to test drive any car and track. For anything else, you will have to buy them. Look out for discounts or packs to get the most for your money.
The Bathurst track in RR is as good as any, offering an exciting and immersive experience of the iconic layout up and down the mountain, yet lacking real-life sponsors on walls, signs etc.
With the Audi, BMW, Mercedes-AMG and Porsche, RaceRoom features 4 of 5 of the real GT3 cars, only missing the Lamborghini. While in the real event's GT4 class there are the Mercedes-AMG, Ginetta G55 and McLaren Artura, in RR there is only the Mercedes. However, you may fill up your grid with some of the other seven GT4 cars available in the RR store. Last but not least, there is also the KTM X-Bow GT2 in the corresponding class in RR, which starts in the invitational class in the real-life race.
Image credit: RaceRoom
The game limits race distances to either 600 minutes (10 hours) or the same amount of laps. As the 2023 winners did 323 laps, by choosing this amount of laps, you are able to cover the 12-hour distance. With 35 grid slots, you can also easily run the real amount of cars on the Bathurst circuit in RR.
Sadly, some other features, which have become state of the art, such as a day/night cycle, dynamic weather including rain, or light modding like custom skins and AI driver tweaking, are missing in the sim.
In RR it will always be dry and you will have to race with the game's generic skins and AI. While racing in the dark is absent from RR, the game at least features time and lighting progression between dawn and dusk. Luckily, for our Bathurst 12h recreation that is just perfect, as the race starts at 5:45 in the morning.
The rest of the platform though? Well, when it comes to recreating the Bathurst 12 Hour, sadly, not so much ...
On the plus side, driving in rFactor 2 is always a pleasure and the most important feature. Tyres degrade authentically, locking up causes flat spots and you really do need to watch your fuel gauge. The driving experience is an important box ticked.
rFactor 2 most of the ingredients - apart from an accurate recreation of Mount Panorama Circuit itself.
It also has some contemporary GT3 cars available, such as the BMW M4. Tick. Mid-session saves? Another tick. AI driver swaps? Yes. Customisable grids and safety cars? Tick and tick. Champagne all round!
But – and it is a big, ginormous but – rFactor 2 doesn’t offer the Mount Panorama circuit.
At least, not an official laser scan with a licence. Thankfully, the Steam Workshop modding centre can help out, and it is here where you will find Bathurst from 2014. We are thankful for the free track, made by the community, but we’d long for a version that’s closer to reality as this one is just a little bit 'off'.
Have we forgotten or missed anything? What is your favorite sim for recreating the 2024 Bathurst 12 Hours? Let us know on Twitter @OverTake_gg or in the comments below!
On this weekend Down Under and Mount Panorama will finally be the hub of the motorsport world again. The 2024 Bathurst 12h will host the best GT drivers in the world, and we will see them fight for glory from 18 February 5:45 am AEDT (17 Feb 7:45 pm CET) on.
2024 Bathurst 12h: Expect the Best
With 97 drivers in 30 GT cars from 10 manufacturers, we can look forward to motorsport in a class of its own at the 2024 Bathurst 12h.The GT3 class will see cars from Audi, BMW, Lamborghini, Mercedes and Porsche compete for the win, with Mercedes-AMG alone entering with eight vehicles including the winner of the last two years, Jules Gounon. In the GT4 class it will be Mercedes-AMG, Ginetta with their G55 and the hybrid McLaren Artura fighting for victory.
Even more variety and exotic flavors can be found in the invitational class. Apart from the rather widely known KTM X-Bow GT2, it will also sport several Australian MARC IRC GT and MARC II V8 as well as the French Vortex 1.0.
But what about the Bathurst 12 Hours in sim racing? Which game recreates the 2024 Bathurst 12h in single-player the most accurately and authentically?
Is the track up-to-date? Are all the real cars in the game? What about original liveries, team and driver names? Editable AI skills? Can you simulate 12 hours? Dynamic weather and time of day? Here we present seven current racing games in alphabetical order and tell you how accurately you can recreate the 2024 Bathurst 12h in single-player in each of them.
2024 Bathurst 12h in Assetto Corsa
With a vibrant modding scene and consistently high player numbers, Assetto Corsa is typically a go-to when it comes to recreating real races. Sure, its AI struggles compared to other titles and pulling together long lists of mods can be a long-winded process. But one can create custom grids and race through an immersive day-night cycle.RaceDepartment offers a seemingly infinite list of car, track and livery mods. In fact, a popular mod for the Mount Panorama circuit is available to download from the registry. Including a fairly accurate layout and an impressive 36 pit boxes, this mod can more than recreate this year’s real race. Looking aside of the RD download section for Assetto Corsa, one may find other versions of Bathurst. But quality is sure to vary.
Bathurst Cars and Liveries in AC
Those most committed members of the Assetto Corsa modding scene will be aware of the plethora of GT3 cars frequently releasing for the game. Major modding teams often launch their own takes on the newest racers, making for great grid recreation.Elsewhere, RaceDepartment creatives are typically on the ball with creating real-world liveries. At the time of writing, real 2024 Bathurst liveries are scarce. In fact, teams are yet to fully unveil their colours for the round-the-clock event. Expect this year’s cars to be available from this weekend.
However, liveries for the 2023 running are certainly available. The duo of Porsche 911 GT3 R liveries featuring in 2023 have been made available in AC thanks to user Martinez_4313. This is the same livery painter behind Mercedes GT3 and Audi R8 LMS mini packs for the same event. Finally, the BMW M4 in Shell livery that ran the 2023 race is available thanks to MEDIIZA Designs.
In addition to the many GT3 mods available online, the GT4 class cars in this year’s race are no doubt available through a bit of Googling. In the essence of simplicity however, Shaun Clarke’s Ginetta G55 GT4 is an excellent and accurate addition for this year’s race.
2024 Bathurst 12h in Assetto Corsa Competizione
As ACC is the go-to game for any SRO series and event, it is not much of a surprise that recreating the Bathurst 12h is easily possible. The track itself is part of the Intercontinental GT Pack DLC, which also comes with Kyalami, Suzuka and Laguna Seca.To drive all up-to-date GT3 cars entered in the real event, you will need additional DLC. The Challengers Pack gets the Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II on the grid, and if you want to race the Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) and Lamborghini Huracàn EVO2, the 2023 GT World Challenge Pack is another necessary purchase.
That, and the 2020 GT World Challenge Pack for the Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo 2020. And the GT4 Pack, which does not include the McLaren Artura GT4. And the GT2 Pack for the KTM X-Bow GT2, of course. The MARC and Vortex entries in the Invitational Class - six cars in total - are missing entirely.
You do not have to own all of these cars to race against them, however - getting the respective DLC is only necessary if you want to drive one of the cars yourself. The only car that you do not need to buy is the BMW M4 GT3, which was a free addition to ACC ahead of the 2022 season. Entering the event in another car included in the base game, such as the Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT3, is possible as well.
Bathurst 12 Hour and IGTC liveries can be found in the RaceDepartment download section - simply search for 'Bathurst' or 'IGTC' to get started.
Time of Day, Driver Changes & More
Using the IGTC filter for your grid is rather pointless, though. As one of the earlier DLC packs for ACC, it mostly features older GT3 machinery that would not race at The Mountain anymore. It is possible to choose the 2023 GTWC grid and adjust the ratio of GT4 and GT2 cars to round out the field, though. It may not be 100 percent accurate, but still believable.Elements like the time of day and driver swaps can be replicated in ACC, although not perfectly. When setting up the race, only full hours are possible as your start time. The real race sees the green flag wave at 5:45 am local time, so you will have to settle for either 5 or 6 am as a compromise.
Driver swaps, at least offline, do not quite work as well, though. While possible, no AI driver will take over the car, so you should either be prepared with an iron will and lots of concentration, or invite a friend or two over to run the full distance with you. Or you simply use the mid-session save feature, though it has been known to be a bit bugged in the past.
Meanwhile, maximum stint times and number of allowed tire sets can also be determined in the race settings.
Weather
One of the biggest challenges in endurance racing is the weather, and luckily, Assetto Corsa Competizione incorporates this. Using some rather intricate weather settings that include variability, cloud cover, precipitation probability and even an option for random weather. Setting this up to your liking will most likely result in a surprise along the way.Despite being located in Australia, Bathurst is not immune to rain. With the race held during late summer in Australia, temperatures are going to differ considerably when transitioning from early morning to daytime, so keeping an eye on tire pressures is important.
To summarize: Yes, it is possible to run the Bathurst 12 Hour in Assetto Corsa Competizione, as you would expect due to the SRO license. However, an online event will likely be a better experience due to the driver changes not really doing anything in an offline race and the AI not being the gold standard in sim racing, either.
2024 Bathurst 12h in Automobilista 2
The Mount Panorama circuit in its current shape is part of the base game, as are GT3 and GT4 cars from BMW, McLaren, Mercedes, Nissan and Porsche. However, to race the latest GT3, which are also used at the 2024 Bathurst 12h, you will have to buy the new Endurance Pack Pt. 1. This DLC adds the GT3 Gen2 class including the BMW M4 GT3, McLaren 720S GT3 Evo, Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo, and Porsche 911 GT3 R (992).Original skins and real drivers? No and yes. At the time of writing, no explicit skins for the International GT Challenge were availabe, not in the game and also not as a mod. The mod that comes closest is the Fanatec GT World Challenge by John B. Ellis. This WIP livery set for the GT3 Gen2 class features a collection of individual skins from several artists on RD and combines them into a single, unified download. Alternatively, you may also search for single skins for GT3 and GT4 cars on RD.
In terms of real drivers, the answer is "Custom AI". If a proper Custom AI is not included in one of the skin packs, you can go and create or edit one yourself and set names and skills to your heart's content, thus also editing in the grid of the 2024 Bathurst 12h.
At the time of writing, the entry list for the 2024 Bathurst 12h had not yet been finalized. However, 10 different car manufacturers were already registered.
In the GT3 class, Automobilista 2 features the BMW, Merc, and Porsche. Audi and Lambo are missing from the game. In the GT4 class it is two out of three, with the Merc and the Ginetta in the game and only the McLaren Artura missing.
As of now, the official 2024 Bathurst 12h will feature 30 cars, including the rather exotic entries in the invitational class. Thus as AMS2 allows up to 32 cars on Mount Panorama, you are good to go and race the real grid plus some cars of your preference as fillers.
12 Hours, Day and Night Transition, Real Weather
When it comes to accessibility and technical fidelity, Automobilista 2 is second to none. You only need a few clicks to set up your 12-hour Bathurst session. Then you can experience racing action with contemporary graphics and excellent performance, including dynamic weather, day and night transitions, as well as changing track conditions. If you do your recreation of the 2024 Bathurst 12h after the real event, you will also be able to pick the real historic weather in your session.Also, a complete 12-hour race is possible. Note, however, that race starts can only be set to full hours. Thus, 5am or 6am is possible, but not 5:45am, the start time of the real race. Also, we still cannot save the game mid-session but only pause it. So you will have to do your 12-hours ride while keeping the game running. Finally, technically there is now an AI driver swap in AMS2; however, it cannot be recommend as of now as it is still in an early state and will likely ruin your race.
Gran Turismo 7 and the 2024 Bathurst 12h
Gran Turismo 7 is an accessible entry point to sim racing – and trying to replicate the Bathurst 12 Hour event perfectly encapsulates that point.
It cannot behave like some of the PC-only simulation titles, but it does at least get most of the basics right for those starting out.
A maximum number of 20 cars is a major downside, and with the forecast for the real event looking ‘mildly moist’, dynamic weather does not function at this recreation of Mount Panorama. Shame.
The cars on offer, in terms of replicating the entry list, are weak too. There’s the facelifted AMG GT3 and…. that’s about it in terms of like-for-like.
If you don’t mind the RSR variant of the Porsche and older models from Ferrari, BMW, Aston Martin and Lamborghini, however, you can fill the grid up and even add in some slower vehicles with a custom grid for that multi-class feel. If you’d like to drive for the full race length, you can – even up to 24 hours if you’re particularly tenacious.
The livery editor is a boon too, with several community recreations from the 12-hour event available to simply download in-game and apply. VR support adds to the claustrophobic feeling of hurtling down The Dipper and night-time driving with the sun rising from behind the eminence is atmospheric.
2024 Bathurst 12h in iRacing
When it comes to representation of cars in this year's Bathurst 12 hours, iRacing is pretty well catered for. It ought to be with the Special Event taking place the week after the real race, albeit with just GT3 cars. Whereas in real life of course, there is more than just GT3.Just starting off with GT3, there are: Audi R8 LMS EVO II, Porsche 911 GT3 R (992), Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo, BMW M4 GT3 and even the 911 GT3 R 991.2. There is also the Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO in iRacing but it is not the current model that can be found racing in the real-life race.
But there are also GT4 cars. Only three though, and only one is in iRacing, the Mercedes-AMG GT4. There is a McLaren GT4 car on the sim which is the 570S but the one raced in real life is the Artura. Meanwhile the remaining one is the Ginetta G55, which is not represented in iRacing at all.
iRacing's AI stands out for its exceptional realism and adaptability, contributing to an immersive and challenging racing experience, replicating human-like decision-making and ensuring dynamic and unpredictable races. Apart from ability sliders, you can also change names and thus create the actual grid of the 2024 Bathurst 12 Hours.
Limitations and Drawbacks
However, also iRacing has its limitations and drawbacks. A minor issue is that though you can create AI Roster with custom skins, it is highly unlikely that you will find all authentic ones for all of the teams and cars of the Bathurst race.Second, also iRacing does not have an option for AI driver swap, nor a save session functionality. Hence, you will have to do your complete the entire race yourself and in one go, as you can only pause the game.
Third, Pace/Safety Car and Yellow Flags do not work properly. On road courses (like Daytona), as the player in an AI session you can launch a safety car procedure. But they do not happen automatically when there is a crash, even if you tick the option when setting up the session.
Moreover, there is no full course yellow either. There are yellow flags obviously, but they don't mean much as you can overtake and don't have to slow down when they are out. While this is somewhat comprehensible for online multiplayer, in single-player this shortcoming reduces authenticity and immersion.
iRacing and the Inevitable Topic of Costs
Last but not least, of course, the costs. Not only do you need an active subscription, which starts at $13 per month, you will also have to buy every new track and car individually. Since none of the assets needed for recreating the 2024 Bathurst 12 hours are part of the subscription, you will have to purchase the Mount Panorama track for $14.95 and the available cars for $11.95 each (except the legacy 911 GT3 R which is $3.95)So if you are new to iRacing, recreating 2024 Bathurst 12 hours in single-player will cost you upwards of $90 assuming you only have the cars that are actually in the real race. To be fair though, first, there are often discounts on memberships and contents, and second, iRacing essentially is made for racing online and increasing your iRating while competing with other humans.
2024 Bathurst 12h in RaceRoom
RaceRoom is another great option for recreating the 2024 Bathurst 12h in single-player. True, as in most other games, there are some shortcomings. However, here they are only minor, while in total the game comes pretty close to the real thing.First off, remember that only the base game is free, allowing you to test drive any car and track. For anything else, you will have to buy them. Look out for discounts or packs to get the most for your money.
The Bathurst track in RR is as good as any, offering an exciting and immersive experience of the iconic layout up and down the mountain, yet lacking real-life sponsors on walls, signs etc.
With the Audi, BMW, Mercedes-AMG and Porsche, RaceRoom features 4 of 5 of the real GT3 cars, only missing the Lamborghini. While in the real event's GT4 class there are the Mercedes-AMG, Ginetta G55 and McLaren Artura, in RR there is only the Mercedes. However, you may fill up your grid with some of the other seven GT4 cars available in the RR store. Last but not least, there is also the KTM X-Bow GT2 in the corresponding class in RR, which starts in the invitational class in the real-life race.
In the Dry from Dawn till Dusk
Regarding game settings, customization and modding, RaceRoom may not be as complex or open as some of its PC-game rivals. But there are still enough features for a proper Bathurst 12 Hours event.The game limits race distances to either 600 minutes (10 hours) or the same amount of laps. As the 2023 winners did 323 laps, by choosing this amount of laps, you are able to cover the 12-hour distance. With 35 grid slots, you can also easily run the real amount of cars on the Bathurst circuit in RR.
Sadly, some other features, which have become state of the art, such as a day/night cycle, dynamic weather including rain, or light modding like custom skins and AI driver tweaking, are missing in the sim.
In RR it will always be dry and you will have to race with the game's generic skins and AI. While racing in the dark is absent from RR, the game at least features time and lighting progression between dawn and dusk. Luckily, for our Bathurst 12h recreation that is just perfect, as the race starts at 5:45 in the morning.
Recreating 2024 Bathurst 12h in rFactor 2
Oh, that tyre model. For many, sim racing perfection.The rest of the platform though? Well, when it comes to recreating the Bathurst 12 Hour, sadly, not so much ...
On the plus side, driving in rFactor 2 is always a pleasure and the most important feature. Tyres degrade authentically, locking up causes flat spots and you really do need to watch your fuel gauge. The driving experience is an important box ticked.
It also has some contemporary GT3 cars available, such as the BMW M4. Tick. Mid-session saves? Another tick. AI driver swaps? Yes. Customisable grids and safety cars? Tick and tick. Champagne all round!
But – and it is a big, ginormous but – rFactor 2 doesn’t offer the Mount Panorama circuit.
At least, not an official laser scan with a licence. Thankfully, the Steam Workshop modding centre can help out, and it is here where you will find Bathurst from 2014. We are thankful for the free track, made by the community, but we’d long for a version that’s closer to reality as this one is just a little bit 'off'.
Recreating 2024 Bathurst 12h: Games and Their Features
Check and compare significant features and functionalities of all racing games capable of recreating the 2024 Bathurst 12h in single-player in one table.| AC | ACC | AMS2 | GT7 | iR | RR | rF2 | |
| Track | Mod (free) | Yes (DLC) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Mod (free) |
| Cars | Mods, mostly paid | Yes (DLC), one GT4 & all Invitational not available | GT3: 3/5 GT4: 2/3 | GT3: 4/9 | GT3: 4/5 GT4: 1/3 | GT3: 4/5 GT4: 1/3 | GT3: 2/9 |
| Current Liveries | Mods only | Mods, might get added officially later on | If, then Mods | UGC | Few | No | Mods only |
| Authentic AI Driver Names and Skills | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| 12 Hours | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| AI Driver Swap | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | Yes |
| Mid-Session Save | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| Dynamic Weather | Yes, with Mods | Yes | Yes | Not here | No Rain | No | Yes, with Mod(s) |
| Day/Night Cycle | Yes, with Mods | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Rolling Start | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Safety/Pace Car | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | Yes |
| Grid Slots | Editable | 36 | 32 | 20 | 50 | 35 | 43 |
Have we forgotten or missed anything? What is your favorite sim for recreating the 2024 Bathurst 12 Hours? Let us know on Twitter @OverTake_gg or in the comments below!
