Hands-on with rFactor 2’s Q1 2023 GT3 update

As we reported last week, rFactor 2’s Q1 2023 update has been delayed until the 21^st of February. However, Studio 397’s much-anticipated GT3 Balance of Performance (BoP), physics and tyre model upgrades were still on target for the 7^th of February. 

Right on time, the GT3-only update landed yesterday, and we’ve had a chance to sample rFactor 2’s heavily revised grand tourers.  

Assetto Corsa Competizione (ACC) is widely seen as the premier GT3 simulator on the market, so the question is does rFactor 2’s new generation of GT3 cars match the feel of Kunos Simulazioni’s official game of the GT World Challenge series? 

We’ve outlined the changes and our initial thoughts on the GT3 update below. 

GT3s in rFactor 2: A brief history 

GT3 racing in rFactor 2 has been a bit of a disappointment, to be honest. I drove them often four or five years ago but struggled to feel a connection. Making a GT3 go fast in rFactor 2 was a case of utilising oversteer. Essentially, sliding the car around gave you better lap times, which, as we know is not a realistic way to drive a GT3 car. 

Set-up tricks such as reducing the rear anti-roll bar to minimum also helped stabilise the rear end, ensuring the car could be effectively driven on the throttle. It was an unsatisfying – and unsatisfactory – way to simulate a GT3 car in my opinion. 

GT3s in rFactor 2: What’s changed? 

Studio 397 has collected reams of data to help adjust the BoP of the GT3 class, acknowledging it may not get the calculations right the first time out. They expect to release tweaks to the formula with the delayed Q1 2023 update on the 21^st of February. 

The GT3 tyre model has been updated to reflect the newer rFactor 2 content such as the BTCC cars, INDYCAR IR-18 and Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (992) car. GT3 cars also gain non-adjustable tender springs to allow a better platform for the suspension to work optimally and shift protection – no more quickfire downshifting to gain lap time! 

The GT3s now use rFactor 2’s new sound engine, making them sound a lot more visceral. The cars also use the sim’s recently revised traction control (TC) and anti-lock braking systems (ABS), bringing it more into line with ACC’s systems. 

GT3s in rFactor 2: Hands-on at Daytona International Speedway 

The proof of the pudding is in the eating, and I’m just about to gorge myself on some GT3 pie.  

For starters, I jumped into the 2020 Bentley Continental GT3. In terms of sounds, it was very quiet in the cockpit but did sound nice externally. So much so, in fact, that the clicky gearshift effect overpowered the meaty V8 under the bonnet.

Another glaring issue I felt was the downshift protection. The system is designed to protect the car’s engine and transmission from excessive revs and forces but it didn’t seem to enjoy changing gears at all. 

As it turns out, if you tend to overlap your brake and throttle inputs to balance the car in a braking zone, the gearbox will essentially refuse to do anything (other than beep at you with each unsuccessful gearshift attempt). 

To complete a clean downshift you have to be disciplined with your pedal inputs, which is straightforward for right-foot brakers – less so for the more common left-foot braking GT3 technique. Even in real GT3 racing, it’s common to see even a slight overlap in brake and throttle inputs from drivers and they can definitely still downshift, as is the case in ACC.

The Bentley feels less lairy and on edge than the last time I drove it two years ago, and driving it sideways no longer seems to make it go faster, which is an encouraging sign. 

I switched over to the mid-engined McLaren 720S GT3 next and was pleasantly surprised with its onboard sound. To me, it sounds much better than the Bentley, and arguably better than ACC’s McLaren (and ACC is lauded for its vehicle audio design). 

It’s less convincing externally, however, but still sounds distinctively like a McLaren V8. The McLaren is a bigger challenge to drive than the Bentley, with the default TC and TC Cut values of ‘2’ proving to be a little low, resulting in a few moments of power oversteer.  

The lower default values do make more sense in terms of realistic GT3 car settings, however, tallying with the approach of ACC’s quicker set-up values. 

My experiences with the sounds of the McLaren and Bentley left me feeling a little disappointed with the GT3 cars’ move to rFactor 2’s new sound engine. Some engine sounds, like those on the AMR Vantage, don’t sound much different to before. I feel like there’s still work to do in this department. 

In terms of handling, the cars are definitely nicer to drive now. Whether they are up to ACC’s standard I can’t say for sure yet; more seat time will provide the answer. I can definitely say this represents an encouraging step forward, though. 

The biggest change to GT3 racing in rFactor 2 is still to come, however, as soon players will be able to join a GT3 race server without requiring ownership of the entire GT3 field.

This will surely bump multiplayer numbers up and finally – thanks to the new GT3 tyre model and physics – rFactor 2 will have the GT cars it needs to at least compete with ACC. 

rFactor 2 GT3 update changelog 

Aston Martin Vantage GT3 v3.51 

• Added new TC and ABS systems 
• Added new GT tyres 
• Added separate adjustment for rear brake cooling ducts 
• Added gear shift protection 
• Added new sound engine 
• Added tender springs 
• Higher car inertia 
• Lower CG 
• More aggressive downforce drop off from yaw for rear wing and diffuser 
• Recalculated differential locks 
• Recalculated anti-roll bars 
• Softer rear springs 
• Added TC and ABS lights to cockpit 
• Updated tire materials to latest technology 
• +10kg to driver weight, 
• BoP adjustment: +25kg weight 

Audi R8 GT3 2018 v3.51 

• Added new TC and ABS systems 
• Unlinked TC maps 
• Added new GT tyres 
• Added separate adjustment for rear brake cooling ducts 
• Added gear shift protection 
• Added new sound engine 
• Added tender springs 
• Adjusted car inertia 
• Higher maximum packer stack 
• Added TC and ABS lights to cockpit 
• Updated tire materials to latest technology 
• +10kg to driver weight 
• BoP adjustment: +25kg weight 

Audi R8 GT3 2020 v3.51 

• Added new TC and ABS systems 
• Unlinked TC maps 
• Added new GT tyres 
• Added separate adjustment for rear brake cooling ducts 
• Added gear shift protection 
• Added new sound engine 
• Added tender springs 
• Adjusted car inertia 
• Higher maximum packer stack 
• Added TC and ABS lights to cockpit 
• Updated tire materials to latest technology 
• +10kg to driver weight 
• BoP adjustment: +45kg weight, +2% engine performance 

Bentley Continental GT3 2017 v3.51 

• Added brake pressure smoothing 
• Added new GT tyres 
• Added separate adjustment for rear brake cooling ducts 
• Added gear shift protection 
• Added new sound engine 
• Added tender springs 
• Added TC and ABS lights to cockpit 
• Updated tire materials to latest technology 
• +10kg to driver weight 
• BoP adjustment: -10kg weight, -4% engine performance 

Bentley Continental GT3 2020 v3.51 

• Added new GT tyres 
• Added separate adjustment for rear brake cooling ducts 
• Added gear shift protection 
• Added new sound engine 
• Added tender springs 
• Increased engine inertia 
• Added TC and ABS lights to cockpit 
• Updated tire materials to latest technology 
• +10kg to driver weight 
• BoP adjustment: +10kg weight, -2% engine performance 

BMW M4 GT3 v3.51 

• Added new TC and ABS systems 
• Added new GT tyres 
• Added separate adjustment for rear brake cooling ducts 
• Added gear shift protection 
• Added new sound engine 
• Added tender springs 
• Higher car inertia 
• Added TC and ABS lights to cockpit 
• Updated tire materials to latest technology 
• +10kg to driver weight 
• BoP adjustment: +25kg weight, -5% engine performance 

BMW M6 GT3 v3.51 

• Added new TC and ABS systems 
• Added new GT tyres 
• Added separate adjustment for rear brake cooling ducts 
• Added gear shift protection 
• Added new sound engine 
• Added tender springs 
• Added TC and ABS lights to cockpit 
• Updated tire materials to latest technology 
• +10kg to driver weight 
• BoP adjustment: -10kg weight, +2% engine performance 

Callaway Corvette C7 GT3-R v3.51 

• Added new TC and ABS systems 
• Added new GT tyres 
• Added separate adjustment for rear brake cooling ducts 
• Added gear shift protection 
• Added new sound engine 
• Added tender springs 
• Higher car inertia 
• More aggressive downforce dropoff from yaw for rear wing and diffuser 
• Higher maximum packer stack 
• Added TC and ABS lights to cockpit 
• Updated tire materials to latest technology 
• +10kg to driver weight 
• BoP adjustment: +10kg weight, -3% engine performance 

Ferrari 488 GT3 v3.51 

• Added new TC and ABS systems 
• Added new GT tyres 
• Added separate adjustment for rear brake cooling ducts 
• Added gear shift protection 
• Added new sound engine 
• Added tender springs 
• Higher car inertia 
• More aggressive downforce drop off from yaw for rear wing and diffuser 
• Added TC and ABS lights to cockpit 
• Updated tire materials to latest technology 
• +10kg to driver weight 
• BoP adjustment: -2% engine performance 

McLaren 650s GT3 v3.51 

• Added new TC and ABS systems 
• Added new GT tyres 
• Added separate adjustment for rear brake cooling ducts 
• Added gear shift protection 
• Added new sound engine 
• Added tender springs 
• Slightly higher CG 
• Higher roll inertia 
• Higher maximum packer stack 
• More aggressive downforce dropoff from yaw for rear wing and diffuser 
• Added TC and ABS lights to cockpit 
• Updated tire materials to latest technology 
• +10kg to driver weight 
• BoP adjustment: +30kg weight 

McLaren 720s GT3 v3.51 

• Added new TC and ABS systems 
• Added new GT tyres 
• Added separate adjustment for rear brake cooling ducts 
• Added gear shift protection 
• Added new sound engine 
• Added tender springs 
• Higher maximum packer stack 
• Slightly higher CG 
• Higher roll inertia 
• More aggressive downforce drop off from yaw for rear wing and diffuser 
• Added TC and ABS lights to cockpit 
• Updated tire materials to latest technology 
• +10kg to driver weight 
• BoP adjustment: +20kg weight, -3% engine performance 

Mercedes AMG GT3 v3.51 

• Added new TC and ABS systems 
• Added new GT tyres 
• Added separate adjustment for rear brake cooling ducts 
• Added gear shift protection 
• Added new sound engine 
• Added tender springs 
• Reworked suspension 
• Added mandatory stack of bump stops (means, less damper travel on compression) 
• Correction to car inertia 
• More aggressive downforce dropoff from yaw for rear wing and diffuser 
• Updated steering animation 
• Small tweaks to front wing ride height and rake sensitivity 
• Added TC and ABS lights to cockpit 
• Updated tire materials to latest technology 
• +10kg to driver weight 
• BoP adjustment: -3.5% to engine performance, -5% to aero drag 

Porsche 911 GT3R v3.51 

• Added new TC and ABS systems 
• Added separate adjustment for rear brake cooling ducts 
• Added gear shift protection 
• Added new sound engine 
• Added tender springs 
• Added new GT tyres 
• Added TC and ABS lights to cockpit 
• Higher car inertia 
• More aggressive downforce dropoff from yaw for rear wing and diffuser 
• Updated tire materials to latest technology 
• +10kg to driver weight 
• BoP adjustment: +15kg weight, +2% aero drag 

Radical RXC Turbo GT3 v3.51 

• Added new TC and ABS systems 
• Added separate adjustment for rear brake cooling ducts 
• Added gear shift protection 
• Added new sound engine 
• Added tender springs 
• Added new GT tyres 
• Added TC and ABS lights to cockpit 
• More aggressive downforce dropoff from yaw for rear wing and diffuser 
• Higher maximum packer stack 
• Updated tire materials to latest technology 
• +10kg to driver weight 
• BoP adjustment: -10kg weight, +5% engine performance 

Electric Docks v2.34 

In addition to the GT3 update, we have also released a small update to the Electric Docks circuit, details of which can be seen below: 
 

• Updated Advertisement Branding 
• Minor colour balance updates 
• Minor LOD Optimization 

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