Column: Brazilian Stock Cars Are Not As Popular As They Should Be

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Sim racing is objective, each person is going to like different categories and styles of racing. However, one series that I feel is criminally underrated is the Brazillian Stock Car Pro Series.

Automobilista 2 is the go-to place for Brazilian stock car racing with so many different eras represented within the sim. The original 1979 Chevrolet Opala is a stand-out addition alongside the modern Toyota and Chevrolet machinery.

Not only is there variety within the car choice, but also within the track choice. 43 Brazilian track layouts are available within Automobilista 2, so a full championship re-creation is certainly on the cards for those who love to relive the past through sim racing.

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1986 Chevrolet Opala saw the second era of the Brazilian Stock Car Pro Series.

What is the Brazilian Stock Car Pro Series?​

Originally based upon the road-going Chevrolet Opala, the Brazilian Stock Car Series was born when General Motors separated the dominant Chevrolet Impala from Division 1 racing. The Opala one-make series quickly gained popularity. Many F1 drivers have raced in Stock Car Brasil such as Rubens Barrichello, Felipe Massa, Nelson Piquet Jr., Jacques Villeneuve and Ricardo Zonta.

After the success of the late 1970s and early 1980s, the late 80s and early 90s saw a decline in popularity for the series. This era isn’t represented in Automobilista 2, mainly due to the regulations being swiftly changed back.

After 1994, the main car was the Chevrolet Omega. Race day tickets were also free to the public. The stands were filled once more and the championship would enjoy a great few years before General Motors sold up in 1999.

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2023 Toyota Corolla

The 2000s brought a new engine to the series, the V8 from JL Racing. More manufacturers came and went and the cars became spectacularly fast for the circuits they raced on. This era of the Brazilian Stock Car Pro Series would last until 2019 when Toyota Gazoo Racing would enter with their Corolla.

The series was refreshed for the 2020 season and was called Nova Geração – New Generation. The new-generation cars were redesigned to throw back to the championship’s roots. The cars are still based on the JL09 chassis that was used throughout the 2010s.

Brazilian Stock Car Pro Series In Automobilista 2​

Single-player racing in Automobilista 2 can be so immersive and rewarding. Especially when cars and tracks that are period-correct are used. The 1979 Chevrolet Impala mixed with a classic layout of Interlagos is unbelievably fun.

The cars are controllable with just the right amount of horsepower partnered with a 4-speed H-pattern gearbox. The door-to-door touring car-style racing is blood-pumping and full of hard racing. The cars are tough and can withstand punishment. Do not be afraid to get your elbows out!

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1979 Chevrolet Opala saw the inception of the Brazilian Stock Car Pro Series.

Automobilista 2 is famous for its immersive VR experience. These basic and analogue cars fit the bill for immersion perfectly.

Use an H-pattern shifter and clutch pedal if you have them. Whilst not essential, using a shifter and clutch adds a level of realistic control that you will lose out on if you drive it like a modern sequential car. Driving quickly and slightly sideways seems to be the best way to drive these old beasts. Clutch control and being in the right gear are important to reach that level of control.

There are online challenges and time trials that include the Brazilian Stock Car Pro Series, but online races are few and far between. Open lobbies are often chaotic, but they are not all the same. Check out our other Automobilista 2 column to discover how open lobbies can be great fun!

iRacing And A Lack Of Players​

iRacing is often considered the pinnacle of online sim racing. The Brazilian Stock Car Pro Series was added to the service in March 2022. Since its inception, the series hasn’t been a mainstay on many users’ calendars.


When the series was released, community races and events were plentiful. However, the series’ fate already seemed sealed only a month after its release. People moved back to the GT classes and the fantastic Brazilian Stock Car Pro Series was lost to the realms of the unpopulated iRacing series’.

The dissipation of popularity seems to stem from the lack of an international viewing audience for the real series. The track calendar normally consists of some of the more obscure and less popular iRacing locations as well, further alienating the user base from the series.

Outside of iRacing and Automobilista 2, the Brazilian Stock Car Pro Series does not make an appearance in any modern titles. There is a significant lack of support for this series, somewhat undeserved, but despite this, there are events now and again that form strong grids within Automobilista 2 – if you can find them.

What do you think about the Brazilian Stock Car Pro Series? Let Us Know your Experiences on X @OverTake_gg or down in the comments below!
About author
Connor Minniss
Website Content Editor & Motorsport Photographer aiming to bring you the best of the best within the world of sim racing.

Comments

Premium
I think that active player base shows a lot where these "superior" games are at. If they were that great, they wouldn't be practically dead would they? Racing games have advanced so much in last like 5 years, some people just live in past/nostalgia.
eat *****, million of flies can't be wrong

most of active fan base is playing Forza with controller. btw if I look back at GTR2/Race07/RF1 I wouldn't say racing games have advanced so much - many of the modern titles have arguably worse physics
 
Premium
For all the lovers of Stock Car Pro Series, the new season of racecraft.online will have 13 weeks of Stock Car Pro Series 2024 in the Bronze license. Basically the whole 2024 season plus some tracks from recent seasons to avoid using same track twice. All rules matching real life as closely as possible, so 30-minute races, mandatory pitstop for at least 2 tires, no refuelling, etc.
If you like these cars and would like to do a ranked season, maybe have a look.
 

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