Le Mans Ultimate reaffirms 1.0 content, adds in BMW M4 Evo, changes DLC packaging

• Le Mans Ultimate leaves early access and hits Version 1.0 on 22nd July
• Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR LMH and Mercedes-AMG LMGT3 added for free
• 2025 real-world season Hypercar and LMGT3 liveries also include,d LMP2 later
• Newcar setup user interface and further LMGT3 tyre physics changes also arrive
• Prior free cars and DLC packs repackaged, game part of a limited-time sale
• Price increases in August 2025

When Le Mans Ultimate exits early access and hits the much vaunted Version 1.0 status on 22nd July, it will add two cars for free – the screaming Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR LMH and the more sedate Mercedes-AMG LMGT3.

However, that is not all, as a spate of quality-of-life changes and a further car roster addition will join the previously announced duo.

Le Mans Ultimate Version 1.0 new cars and liveries

For those who own the BMW M4 LMGT3, part of the 2024 Season Pass or part of the 2024 Pack 3 DLC, they will receive the ‘Evo’ specification facelift (main article image and below). That means fresh head and tail lights, wing mirrors and hood vents alongside the 2025-season paint scheme.

To be clear, the Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR LMH and Mercedes AMG LMGT3 are free to anyone already with the game, or included for those who make a new game purchase.

The same is true of the current season’s livery designs for both Hypercar and LMGT3 come the release next week. 2025-spec LMP2 designs will arrive ‘soon’.

2025-season tweaks

The additional car models and liveries aren’t the only change to reflect the present real-world FIA World Endurance Championship season, as the menus will now be reorganised. For example, when setting up a new single-player race weekend, you will be able to cycle through 2023, 2024 and 2025-season options – each adding the correct cars and designs to the field.

There’s also an ‘ELMS Coming Soon’ option.

The car setup screens are also said to have been streamlined, with popular items such as virtual energy, tyres and electronics now all on the first setup screen you visit.

Further LMGT3 tyre changes

Following the last major update, which introduced a divisive change to the LMGT3 tyre physics model and thus their on-track behaviour, the Studio 397 development team has released tweaks via hotfixes. These will change again for Version 1.0, mainly to thermal behaviour, which it claims will “increase the performance range as well as smoothing off the drop in performance.”

Driver Swap race

After initially releasing the mid-race multiplayer driver swap feature in June, the first online event to test the feature was delayed, and instead, this will now be held after Version 1.0 across 1st and 2nd August.

That aforementioned early access update not only added new features and content, but a spate of new bugs.

“We have fixed networking issues for players with specific Internet Service Provider network types (CGNAT) having unexpected player consequences that really could never have been found without your help,” said Motorsport Games.

“These are the types of scenarios that Early Access was built for – we just don’t have the internal testing capacity to check every piece of hardware or 100s of different ISP network configurations. The good news is – we’re now done with those major changes, but it was vital to do this before the release of ‘Version 1.0’.”

Repackaged content, pricing changes

Three free cars have been added to Le Mans Ultimate during its early access period, which began in February 2024.

The BMW M Hybrid LMDh, McLaren 720S and Ford Mustang LMGT3 were indeed without charge, but listed as separate DLC items on Steam that needed to be added to your library. With Version 1.0, this will no longer be the case, with those models integrated into the base game download.

The base price of Le Mans Ultimate will not change on 22nd July, but it will change in August.

Initially, Version 1.0 (from 22nd July) will be available on Steam with a 13% launch discount from the SRP of £28.99 / €34.99 / $37.99.

This will last until 5th August, when the game’s SRP will increase to £34.99 / €39.99 / $39.99.

The 2024 Season Pass will be formally ‘retired’ (in name) and the existing DLC available with the following discounts:

• The DLC content will remain in the existing arrangement of five separate paid-for packs.
• For those who already own the game, but no DLC, a ‘WEC Full Access Bundle’ lumps all DLC packs together with a 15% saving.
• For those who already own the game and some of the DLC packs, the ‘WEC Full Access Bundle’ adds a 15% discount on the remaining DLC packs not already owned.
• If you don’t own the game or any DLC, then the ‘WEC Full Access Bundle’ will apply a 15% discount across all content in one purchase.

The full Version 1.0 patch notes, or changelog, are expected upon release. Early versions of Silverstone scenery have also been showcased, which will make up the European Le Mans Series content expected later this year.