NASCAR returns to Forza Motorsport in Update 14

November 2024 is American Thunder Month within the current Forza Motorsport, as Microsoft celebrates the return of NASCAR to its preeminent track racing game.

While official driver names and paint schemes will be absent, the present 2024-spec NASCAR Cup Series vehicles will be added as part of a free update.

That means three fresh varieties of stock car:

• 2024 Chevrolet NASCAR Next Gen Camaro ZL1
• 2024 Ford NASCAR Next Gen Mustang Dark Horse
• 2024 Toyota NASCAR Next Gen Camry XSE

Naturally, with Forza Motorsport running the gamut of automotive culture, and it not being a dedicated NASCAR game (that arrives next year), not all Cup Series tracks are present – but there is Daytona and Homestead-Miami at least.

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course is also present, alongside the likes of the fictional Eaglerock Speedway oval.

NASCAR was present in Motorsport’s predecessor, Forza Motorsport 7, via a DLC expansion that added 2016-spec cars. This is the first time the Next Gen specification models appear in a Forza title.

Historic Trans Am bonus and wild Camaro

To go with the new NASCAR Cup Series cars is a series of themed events. Within the American Thunder single-player tour is a ‘Modern NASCAR’ series events, followed by American Road Racing, American Le Mans and Daytona Prototypes.

Complete all four of these tours over the next four weeks, and you will unlock a fourth new car:

• 1988 Chevrolet #77 Beretta Trans Am

A fifth new car is the Hennessey Camaro Exorcist – a tuned road-going coupe with 1,000bhp.

To claim this, you must complete the latest set of single-player Open Tour events, or by completing 10 Cycled Class Series races in Featured Multiplayer. September’s Update 12 added the ability to unlock new vehicles in multiple ways.

• 2019 Hennessey Camaro Exorcist

AI tweaks

To go with the new content comes a litany of changes to how your on-track rivals perform. Or in Forza parlance, ‘drivatars’.

According to developer Turn 10 Studios, they will now be better behaved at the start of an oval race, less prone to driving into the back of other cars and a new multi-car aero model has been introduced.

Rolling starts can be now used within multiplayer too, and the way ghosts are implemented during online racing is said to have been changed. Such as predicted high-velocity crashes, driving below a certain speed and during dangerous re-joins.

The latest NASCAR content will also be used in a Featured Multiplayer playlist across the month, alongside fresh Rivals challenges.

Update 14 for Forza Motorsport is available to download for PC and Xbox Series X|S today, 4th November. The new spotlight cars and in-game events start 6th November.

Forza Motorsport Update 14 at a glance

• Fresh suite of single-player tours, featured multiplayer events and Rivals challenges
• Five new cars – 2024 Chevrolet NASCAR Next Gen Camaro ZL1, 2024 Ford NASCAR Next Gen Mustang Dark Horse, 2024 Toyota NASCAR Next Gen Camry XSE, 1988 Chevrolet #77 Beretta Trans Am and 2019 Hennessey Camaro Exorcist
• Revised AI behaviour for oval tracks
• Enhanced multiplayer ghosting system
• Online rolling starts added