Ever since first trying Le Mans Ultimate a few weeks ago, I have been hooked. But over the past week, I have been racing every day, getting into the Sebring 12 Hour mood. It really is excellent fun.
Image credit: Studio-397
From a focus on the plethora of GTP and Hypercars entering sim racing to opinions on the sim racing representation of the sport, scroll through the numerous articles I have written and you will notice that I am very much a fan of races that go on for painful amounts of time.
Ever since I was a kid, the allure of endurance racing pulled me in. Events like Bathurst, Le Mans, Daytona and Spa all grab my attention. So as you can understand, the launch of Le Mans Ultimate, the official FIA WEC game was an exciting moment for me. Sure, it turns out it has its bugs and issues. But for the most part, it is an immersive joy to drive.
Whilst many deplore the game for only featuring the tracks from last year’s season, I am very happy about its lack of 2024 content. In fact, last year saw the WEC begin at Sebring, on the same weekend as the 12 Hours. So naturally, it is the perfect simulator to get into the Sebring mood for this weekend’s real event. Here is what I have been up to this week in LMU.
In fact, I had just returned from a trip during which I spent a weekend at Sebring in real life. So naturally, the desire to drive the circuit on the sim was strong. It just so happens that not ten days after my return, the IMSA Sportscar series would visit the track. So just as the satisfaction of driving the amazing circuit wore off, the allure of running simulated 12-hour events drew stronger.
Standing on the podium at Sebring, a dream.
In Le Mans Ultimate, the online racing scene does appear to be popular and strong. However, with Sebring on my mind, I have mostly focused on running offline races against the AI. From challenging myself to take a Glickenhaus to the podium, trying to beat Hypercars aboard an LMP2 and giving the Iron Dames the victory they missed out on – recreating scenarios in Le Mans Ultimate‘s single player mode is incredible fun.
With that fun has come what I would estimate to be well over 500 laps of the track. In fact, you could say I have completed my own 12 Hours of Sebring in Le Mans Ultimate. With each race, as I learn the game, track and cars more, the AI level has grown. So I am expecting to lose dreadfully when I move on to other tracks. But for the time being, selecting a random car, with a random race length in random weather is proving to be infinite fun.
Racing at Sebring in Le Mans Ultimate. Image credit: Studio-397
Much like Assetto Corsa Competizione in its early days, Le Mans Ultimate does not have much content. But it still enables one to run a dozen races, all of which will play out differently. That is why I keep coming back for more.
Using the rFactor 2 engine as a base, physics and force feedback feel very natural. But the true value of LMU for me is its immersion, both through sounds and graphics. Lighting is far more crisp than in iRacing. Meanwhile, audio details of cars bottoming out, different powertrain noises and chassis flex all bring life to the game.
Tracks have so much detail in LMU. Image credit: Studio 397
Visually, the tracks appear to be crafted in impressive detail in this new game. Having recently visited Sebring myself, I can say that everything from the road surface to trackside objects are accurate. Cars kick up dust wonderfully. In addition, flying past the pit building feels like a dream come true for this endurance enthusiast.
Feeling as if I have now run my own few sportscar races at Sebring, I am more ready than ever to watch this weekend’s extravaganza. If you do not hear from me for a while, I am either recovering from the late-night finish or racing Sebring in Le Mans Ultimate.
How do you get into the mood for real races? How many laps of Sebring have you done recently? Tell us on Twitter at @OverTake_gg or in the comments down below!
Image credit: Studio-397
From a focus on the plethora of GTP and Hypercars entering sim racing to opinions on the sim racing representation of the sport, scroll through the numerous articles I have written and you will notice that I am very much a fan of races that go on for painful amounts of time.
Ever since I was a kid, the allure of endurance racing pulled me in. Events like Bathurst, Le Mans, Daytona and Spa all grab my attention. So as you can understand, the launch of Le Mans Ultimate, the official FIA WEC game was an exciting moment for me. Sure, it turns out it has its bugs and issues. But for the most part, it is an immersive joy to drive.
Whilst many deplore the game for only featuring the tracks from last year’s season, I am very happy about its lack of 2024 content. In fact, last year saw the WEC begin at Sebring, on the same weekend as the 12 Hours. So naturally, it is the perfect simulator to get into the Sebring mood for this weekend’s real event. Here is what I have been up to this week in LMU.
Le Mans Ultimate: Fuelling a Sebring Obsession
Unfortunately, I was away for the first few weeks of the Le Mans Ultimate launch. However, when I got home, there was one thing that drew me in more than anything else. Most newcomers will have leapt for the iconic Le Mans, or the Algarve undulations. But I wanted to respect the Sebring bumps.In fact, I had just returned from a trip during which I spent a weekend at Sebring in real life. So naturally, the desire to drive the circuit on the sim was strong. It just so happens that not ten days after my return, the IMSA Sportscar series would visit the track. So just as the satisfaction of driving the amazing circuit wore off, the allure of running simulated 12-hour events drew stronger.
Standing on the podium at Sebring, a dream.
In Le Mans Ultimate, the online racing scene does appear to be popular and strong. However, with Sebring on my mind, I have mostly focused on running offline races against the AI. From challenging myself to take a Glickenhaus to the podium, trying to beat Hypercars aboard an LMP2 and giving the Iron Dames the victory they missed out on – recreating scenarios in Le Mans Ultimate‘s single player mode is incredible fun.
With that fun has come what I would estimate to be well over 500 laps of the track. In fact, you could say I have completed my own 12 Hours of Sebring in Le Mans Ultimate. With each race, as I learn the game, track and cars more, the AI level has grown. So I am expecting to lose dreadfully when I move on to other tracks. But for the time being, selecting a random car, with a random race length in random weather is proving to be infinite fun.
Racing at Sebring in Le Mans Ultimate. Image credit: Studio-397
Much like Assetto Corsa Competizione in its early days, Le Mans Ultimate does not have much content. But it still enables one to run a dozen races, all of which will play out differently. That is why I keep coming back for more.
Best Sebring in Sim Racing?
In the sim racing world, new top flight sportscars are far from rare. Alongside LMU sit iRacing and Automobilista 2 with official LMDh content. So you may be wondering why I am not making the most of iRacing‘s new wet weather in the GTP cars at Sebring. Well, the simple answer is that I think Le Mans Ultimate drives, feels, looks and sounds better than the online title.Using the rFactor 2 engine as a base, physics and force feedback feel very natural. But the true value of LMU for me is its immersion, both through sounds and graphics. Lighting is far more crisp than in iRacing. Meanwhile, audio details of cars bottoming out, different powertrain noises and chassis flex all bring life to the game.
Tracks have so much detail in LMU. Image credit: Studio 397
Visually, the tracks appear to be crafted in impressive detail in this new game. Having recently visited Sebring myself, I can say that everything from the road surface to trackside objects are accurate. Cars kick up dust wonderfully. In addition, flying past the pit building feels like a dream come true for this endurance enthusiast.
Feeling as if I have now run my own few sportscar races at Sebring, I am more ready than ever to watch this weekend’s extravaganza. If you do not hear from me for a while, I am either recovering from the late-night finish or racing Sebring in Le Mans Ultimate.
How do you get into the mood for real races? How many laps of Sebring have you done recently? Tell us on Twitter at @OverTake_gg or in the comments down below!
