RaceRoom’s Algarve International Circuit remake teases graphical improvements

• 2024-spec changes for notable tracks
• The Algarve International Circuit has been remade
• AI tweaks also part of the latest RaceRoom update

Three tracks have received free updates within RaceRoom, alongside a complete overhaul of the Algarve International Circuit near Portimão.

The undulating Portuguese venue, which held Formula 1 races in 2020 and 2021, has been a mainstay of RaceRoom’s roster for a decade. It is one of the base tracks included for free.

Now, though, it has received a makeover, with noticeably different run-off areas and kerbing. The layout itself is also said to have been updated.

“Completely redone with latest tech and precise references,” claims developers KW Studios in the changelog.

While the track is live now, the reveal trailer (embedded below) teases work-in-progress graphics engine enhancements. Rendering updates that are perhaps long overdue for the venerable platform, and seeing how and when they roll out is something we shall be following throughout 2024.

It is, however, not the only circuit that has seen revisions. Bathurst’s Mount Panorama, Imola and the Sachsenring have received ‘2024’ tweaks including an updated grandstand in Australia, modified gravel tracks in Italy and a DTM-aping penalty area for the German location.

Collisions around the recently released Circuit de Pau-Ville have also been refined.

Away from track changes, a handful of cars have received updates to AI behaviour, to “fix certain bad trends”, such as the Formula RaceRoom X-22, Mazda MX-5, Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (991.2 and 992), Gr.2 VW Scirocco and the WTCR class.

The full update list is below, and the update is now available (22nd May 2024) alongside the BMW Pack which provides the option of purchasing three new-to-RaceRoom cars.

RaceRoom May 2024 Update Changelog

• New content: BMW M2 CS Racing
• New content: BMW M4 GT4 (G82)
• New content: BMW M8 GTE
• Physics – Added ABS Level settings. ( Car setup as well as new key bindings )
• Physics – Traction Control settings now offer both Slip (reacts to longitudinal loss of traction) and Lateral (reacts to lateral slip)
• Physics – Driving assist for artificial Traction Control (when a car does not have factory traction control) now uses the same logic as the factory TC.
• Physics – Driving assist for countersteering has been reworked to be smoother and never exceed the maximum steering lock of the car
• Driving assists and preferred default levels for ABS and TC are now saved in controller profile, making it possible to assign different default settings for wheel users and gamepad users
• Dedicated server – setting qualifying session to 0 minutes will actually skip it instead of adding a default 5 minutes
• Fixed a memory leak that was relating to using esport liveries
• GTR4 car class – BoP rework to better bring all cars together
• Autódromo Internacional do Algarve ( Portimao ) – Free update of the track,completely redone with latest tech and precise references
• Bathurst – Updated to 2024 specs, new viewing platform, grandstand in turn 1, new tent stands on s/f straight, updated some on-track sponsors
• Circuit de Pau-Ville – updated collision walls and added some collision to the bridge
• Imola – Updated to 2024 specs, new curbs, modified gravel traps and more tweaks
• RaceRoom Raceway – Red and blue stripes now use different materials, similar to Paul Ricard, various tweaks and a wip “drift area”.
• Sachsenring – Updated to 2024 specs with new runoffs, penalty lap area, various tweaks and fixes
• Shanghai – Added terrain normal maps, various tweaks and fixes
• Zhejiang – Added terrain normal maps, various tweaks and fixes and another pass at optimising performance
• AI improvements all around (content listed further below with “AI improvements” received increased attention to fix certain bad trends the AI was having)
• Aquila CR1 – Polished baseline setup
• Crossle 9s – Tweaked base setup to improve traction and reduce turn-in understeer
• Formula RaceRoom Junior – Stiffer ARBs at both ends, Reduced anti-dive, Increased anti-squat, Reduced rear FVSAL, Damper tweaks
• Formula RaceRoom X-22 – AI improvements
• Mazda MX-5 – AI improvements, Updated ride height/pitch drag and lift sensitivity (less sensitive now), Increased mechanical trail so lower FFB multi is used, baseline setup tweaks
• Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (991.2 and 992) – AI improvements, Updated aero pitch/ride height behaviour, Nudged CoG 1% back
• Tatuus F4 – Polished baseline setup
• VW Scirocco Gr.2 – Increased drag, slight increase of mechanical trail, AI improvements
• WTCR cars – AI improvements