When Le Mans Ultimate was released through an early access programme on PC via Steam in February 2024, it included the full grids and track list for the 2023 FIA World Endurance Championship. That means seven tracks (initially) and 12 cars (initially) across three categories.
However, we are in 2024, not 2023. For the current season’s cars and tracks, some of them will arrive in free game updates, some will be paid downloadable content in packs or through a season pass.
Here’s when content releases, how much it costs and what to expect.
There is paid Le Mans Ultimate DLC even though it is still in early access
Somewhat unorthodox in its approach, Motorsport Games and Studio 397 (the teams behind Le Mans Ultimate) will be releasing DLC that is paid-for while the sim racing platform is still in early access.
The theory is that the title is in early access – in terms of features, visuals and stability – but the content (cars and tracks) are complete.
“We have a standard where we say everything has to be laser scanned,” said Motorsport Games and Studio 397 CEO Stephen Hood to Traxion.
“It’s very tricky to keep true to that promise when you are up against deadlines and costs. It’s very expensive to buy some of these laser scans, but we think the quality of that approach will pay dividends over time.
“We see Studio 397 as a boutique software developer, they are not just going after the biggest audience to begin with, they are trying to deliver a high-quality labour of love. Wherever we can maintain that quality we will stay true to it and it’s expensive [to make]”.
Which 2024-WEC-season content will be added to Le Mans Ultimate for free?
- BMW M Hybrid V8 – already released
- Two LMGT3 cars – TBC
- 2024-season liveries – Hypercar already released, LMP2 TBC
Before we address the paid DLC and season pass, some 2024 content will be free for Le Mans Ultimate.
All additional tracks will be premium additions, but some cars will be arriving simply through game patches.
The Hypercar-class BMW M Hybrid V8 LMDh arrived for free in June and will be part of the roster for anyone who hasn’t purchased the base game yet, too. It includes the standard 2024 liveries, plus the art car designed by New York artist Julie Mehretu for this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans event.
Later in the year, two LMGT3 cars will be added for free too. In theory, as this will be a new class to the embryonic game, providing two for free prevents splitting the online racing player base.
Which two, however, is not yet confirmed. Perhaps it is worth noting that developer Studio 397 already created the BMW M4 GT3 for its rFactor 2 simulation, for example, so like the GTE cars in Le Mans Ultimate, this could be the same model but updated for the newer title.
Finally, 2024-season livery designs from the real-world competition will be free. The Hypercar class has already received these, with the LMP2 field expected later this year.
How will DLC be released for Le Mans Ultimate?
Upcoming DLC will consist of new cars and new tracks. This will be across a series of four packs, so the cars and tracks will not be available separately like some contemporary rivals.
The first two packs include two cars and one track each, the third pack three cars and one track while the financial pack consists of four cars and one track.
Le Mans Ultimate DLC Schedule
The DLC packs will be released during the following estimated timeline, with the expected content:
- Pack 1 Tifosi Italia – 23rd July 2024 – Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari (Imola) circuit plus Peugeot 9X8 2024 and Lamborghini SC63 cars (Hypercar class)
- Pack 2 – Expected September/October 2024 – One track and two Hypercars: Isotta Fraschini Tipo 6 LMH-C and Alpine A424
- Pack 3 – Expected December 2024 – One track and three LMGT3 cars
- Pack 4 – Expected Q1 2025 – One track and four LMGT3 cars
Which cars are confirmed for future Le Mans Ultimate DLC?
Upcoming cars for Le Mans Ultimate will include the entire 2024 FIA WEC grid (and thus 2024 24 Hours of Le Mans event).
The following are expected by the end of Q1 2025:
LMGT3 cars
Two of these will be free, the rest will be premium DLC
- Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 Evo
- BMW M4 GT3
- Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R
- Ferrari 296 GT3
- Ford Mustang GT3
- Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo 2
- Lexus RC F GT3
- McLaren 720S GT3 Evo
- Porsche 911 GT3 R (992)
Hypercars
The following 2024-spec cars will be premium DLC
- Alpine A424 – DLC Pack 2
- Isotta Fraschini Tipo 6-C – DLC Pack 2
- Lamborghini SC63 – Tifosi Italia DLC Pack 1
- Peugeot 9X8 2024 – Tifosi Italia DLC Pack 1
Which tracks are confirmed for future Le Mans Ultimate DLC?
Upcoming tracks for Le Mans Ultimate will include the venues from 2024 FIA WEC calendar, that are not already in the base game. You will need to own the DLC tracks to race them online.
The following are expected by the end of Q1 2025:
- Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari (Imola) – Tifosi Italia DLC Pack 1
- Autódromo José Carlos Pace (Interlagos)
- Circuit of the Americas
- Losail International Circuit (Qatar)
How much is Le Mans Ultimate’s DLC?
The first two DLC packs for Le Mans Ultimate (Tifosi Italia out in July and a second just September/October 2024) will be priced at £9.99 GBP / €11.99 / $12.99 USD.
However, packs three and four are expected to rise in price due to the inclusion of more than two cars. The third pack will feature three cars, the fourth pack four cars. Each pack will include a track.
What is the Le Mans Ultimate Season Pass?
The Season Pass for Le Mans Ultimate is a package that includes all four DLC packs for the sim racing game. If you purchase it now, you will receive access to the upcoming DLC packs when they arrive. It is optional.
- DLC Pack 1 (2024-season content)
- DLC Pack 2 (2024-season content)
- DLC Pack 3 (2024-season content)
- DLC Pack 4 (2024-season content)
How much is the Le Mans Ultimate Season Pass?
The Le Mans Ultimate Season Pass costs £39.99 GBP / €46.99 / $49.99 USD.
With the first two DLC packs priced at £9.99 GBP / €11.99 / $12.99 USD, and if that pricing were to continue for the third and fourth packs, then it would be 3p cheaper to buy each pack individually than the pass… Or in Euros, just 0.97 cheaper to buy the pass or in dollars $1.97 cheaper with the pass.
Right now, it does not seem like a notable saving, however, Pack 3 and Pack 4 will be more expensive than Pack 1 and Pack 2, so in the long run we do expect the Season Pass to be cheaper than purchasing each as they release.
How much is Le Mans Ultimate?
The base game, Le Mans Ultimate, costs £24.99 GBP / €29.99 / $32.99 USD.
You may notice that this is cheaper than the Season Pass. The game has 13 cars and seven tracks, the Season Pass DLC will add 11 and four respectively. This is, according to Motorsport Games and Studio 397, because the feature set on the platform is early access, but the car and track content is final.
Secondly, the base entry fee is listed as an “introductory Early Access game price” by Studio 397 so expect it to rise, perhaps as the title progresses through early access or for a ‘version 1.0’ release.
