Project Cars 2 - A very good sim (IMO)

[Wiltshire Tony]

Some of you may of been aware that I recently bought Project Cars 2 (and all it's add-ons) from Steam, when it was offered at 50% off.

Since then I have found it's content to be the most immersive driving experience I have had in sim racing. To me, they just seem to have got everything right.

Sometime in the future I would very much like to offer a multiplayer series, either through this site, or independently.

Now I know that it's not cheap. And unfortunately, as I already own the title, Steam prevents me from adding it to a wishlist, so I cannot tell you guy's when it's on special offer.

Project Cars 3 is rumoured to be due a release soon so I would expect Steam to discount PC2.

I would urge you to go to Steam and add PC2 to your wishlist, then you will be emailed when it's discounted.

Here is a link to the PC2 blurb on Steam https://store.steampowered.com/app/378860/Project_CARS_2

Here is a comprehensive car content list (which includes add-on pack content) https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/articles/e-sports/project-cars-2-car-list

And this is the track list, taken from the official PC2 forum.

Info for the track origin (leading character on the list):

(L) - Laser/drone scanned real world track
(S) - Standard real world track
(F) - Fictional track

ASIA & OCEANIA

China - Zhuhai International Circuit
(S) GP

Japan - Fuji Speedway
(L) GP

Japan - Sakitto
(F) GP
(F) Sprint
(F) National
(F) International

Japan - Sportsland Sugo
(L) International

UAE - Dubai Autodrome
(S) GP
(S) International
(S) National
(S) Club
(S) Kartdrome

Australia - Mount Panorama Circuit (Bathurst)
(S) Road

New Zealand - Mike Pero Motorsport Park (Ruapuna)
(S) GP
(S) Club
(S) Club without dipper (outer loop)
(S) A Circuit
(S) B Circuit



EUROPE & AFRICA

Austria - Red Bull Ring
(L) GP
(L) National
(L) Club

Belgium - Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
(S) 1947-1978 Historic GP
(S) GP (with original grid & F1 pits)
(S) Karting (Greenwood)

Belgium - Circuit Zolder
(S) GP

Czech Republic - Masaryk Circuit (Automotodrom Brno)
(S) GP

England - Brands Hatch
(L) GP
(L) Indy
(L) 1982-1994 Historic RX {Fun Pack}

England - Cadwell Park
(L) Full (GP)
(L) Club
(L) Woodland

England - Chesterfield
(F) Karting

England - Donington Park
(S) GP
(S) National

England - Glencairn
(F) Full
(F) Reverse
(F) East
(F) East Reverse
(F) West
(F) West Reverse

England - Lydden Hill Race Circuit
(L) GP
(L) RX

England - Oulton Park
(L) International
(L) Island
(L) Fosters

England - Silverstone Circuit
(S) 1975-1986 Historic GP
(S) Arena GP
(S) International
(S) National
(S) Stowe Long

England - Snetterton Circuit
(L) 300 (GP)
(L) 200
(L) 100

France - Circuit de Lohéac
(L) RX

France - Circuit de la Sarthe (Le Mans)
(S) Circuit des 24 Heures
(S) Le Circuit Bugatti
(L) Karting International

France - Côte d'Azur (Azure Coast)
(F) Full
(F) Stage 1
(F) Stage 2
(F) Stage 3
(F) Reverse (Westbound)

France - Rouen-Les-Essarts
(S) 1955-1970 Historic GP
(S) 1972-1973 Historic GP (short)

Germany - Hockenheimring
(S) 1982-2001 Historic GP
(S) GP
(S) National
(S) Short Circuit 2
(L) RX

Germany - Nürburgring
(L) Nordschleife & GP combined (without Mercedes arena, through motorcycle chicane)
(L) Nordschleife
(L) GP
(L) Sprint
(L) Sprint (short, without Mercedes arena)
(L) Müllenbachschleife
(L) Nordschleife stage 1
(L) Nordschleife stage 2
(L) Nordschleife stage 3

Germany - Motorsport Arena Oschersleben
(S) A Course (GP)
(S) B Course
(S) C Course

Italy - Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari (Imola)
(S) GP

Italy - Autodromo Nazionale Monza
(S) 1955-1969 Historic Full Course (Road + Oval combined)
(S) 1955-1973 Historic Road Course (GP)
(S) 1955-1969 Historic Oval
(S) GP
(S) Junior (short, with extra chicane)

Monaco - Circuit de Monaco (Azure Circuit)
(S) GP

Norway - Lånkebanen (Hell)
(L) RX

Portugal - Autódromo Internacional do Algarve (Portimão)
(L) Fast Fast (no chicanes)

Scotland - Bannochbrae
(F) Road Circuit

Scotland - Knockhill Racing Circuit
(L) International
(L) International Reverse
(L) National
(L) National Reverse
(L) Tri-Oval
(L) RX

Spain - Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya
(S) GP
(S) National (through Nissan Chicane)
(S) Club
(L) RX {Fun Pack}

Sweden - Mercedes-Benz Onroad Winter driving events
(L) Ice Track 1
(L) Ice Track 2
(L) Ice Track 3
(L) Ice Track 4
(L) Ice Track 5 (Track 2 & 4 combined)
(L) Ice Track Full (area free roam)

South Africa - Wildcrest Rallycross
(F) RX



NORTH AMERICA

Canada - Sampala Ice Circuit
(F) Ice Circuit

USA - California Highway
(F) Full
(F) Stage 1
(F) Stage 2
(F) Stage 3
(F) Reverse

USA - Circuit of the Americas
(L) GP
(L) National
(L) Club

USA - Daytona International Speedway
(L) Tri-Oval
(L) Road Course
(L) RX

USA - DirtFish
(L) Pro Rallycross Course
(L) Mill Run Course
(L) Boneyard Course

USA - Indianapolis Motor Speedway
(L) Oval
(L) Road Course

USA - Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
(S) Road

USA - Mojave Desert
(F) Boa Ascent
(F) Sidewinder
(F) Coyote Noose
(F) Gila Crest
(F) Cougar Ridge

USA - Road America
(S) Road Course

USA - Sonoma Raceway
(S) NASCAR Circuit (Short)
(S) Long Circuit (GP)
(S) 2005 Indycar Circuit (National)

USA - Summerton Karting Circuit
(F) Full
(F) National
(F) Sprint

USA - Texas Motor Speedway
(L) Oval
(L) Road Course
(L) Infield Course

USA - Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach
(L) Street Circuit

USA - Watkins Glen International
(S) GP
(S) Short

USA - Willow Springs International Motorsports Park
(S) Big Willow
(S) Horse Thief Mile

[phspok]

I trust your judgement Tony, but I got Pcars1 and then Pcars2, and thought it was so poor, I got my money back.
The cars felt rubbish to me, more arcade than simulation. It was when it was first released, so maybe it's got better?

I fancied running Rf1 or Rf2 as the cars in that feel really good IMO, but the cars are mostly fantasy, so never bothered.

I am always up for replacing R3E with something that gets more drivers, though we have a small band of dedicated
racers, and for me R3E is one of the best for league racing as most of the car groups are fairly well matched.
It's the limited historic cars, and the lack of tracks that kills R3E for me.

Tuesday test races perhaps? or, if no one steps up to run the Weds AC events, that might become an opportunity?

[Wiltshire Tony]

I don't know which cars you drove or how much attention you gave to setup configuration but I have not had one single "arcade" experience. You do have to get the steering setup right as well as FFB, and these are personal things; what suits one will not suit another.
I haven't driven many cars yet, mainly concentrating on the career progression (and some invitational events) and using cars that are offered through that side of the sim. But the cars do feel different to each other. As an offline sim it would take a while to cover all of the content. That is why I chose the career mode as it spoon feeds you content in a progressive way.
Online race's and championship's can be setup quite easily and it seems that you do not require a dedicated server. This side of the sim is still a steep learning curve for me currently.
I would quite like to setup a few trial online races just to test the water, so to speak.
I am intrigued by the possibility of running online races which use accelerated daylight, variable weather, AI opponents to create bigger grids but it will probably be best to take small steps rather than try everything out at once.

[phspok]

I use Pcars1 to do some virtual learning of real tracks. Got Pcars2 and  I tried the Sierra and a couple of others and
really didn't like them, each to his own. Happy to test anything though.

[Wiltshire Tony]

What does seem "arcady" are the crashes. Although the cars take damage (steering, suspension etc) I would like to see more damage. Also the AI can be a bit "rude" i.e. crash into the back of you sometimes, but generally they give a good race.

[Wiltshire Tony]

Jimmy Broadbent demonstrates the day/night/day changes in PC2 in this great You Tube video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbzJ9lVw0IY

Some PC2 50's action at Spa https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uv3FuOag1o

PC2 Ford v Ferrari in the rain at Le Mans https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqneS7WZWUE

PC2 Classic cars at Brands Hatch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pga0BSJPdI0

I'm keeping an eye out for when PC2 is next discounted on Steam and I'll post here when/if it is.

Well worth the spend just for the Career mode.

[phspok]

This seems to be getting some good reviews from the beta. might give it a whirl:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1066890/Automobilista_2/

[Wiltshire Tony]

This seems to be getting some good reviews from the beta. might give it a whirl:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1066890/Automobilista_2/

It's PC2 in a different coat but "improved"?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4cKLsmrxE4

Preliminary content shown here https://forum.reizastudios.com/threads/automobilista-2-all-cars-and-tracks-currently-in-the-game-beta3.8704/

[Hristo Itchov]

I bought PC2 about a year ago and I agree it's really good! Even though I've not been playing it often, I've enjoyed it a lot whenever I did. I even tried it with VR goggles at a friend's place, with his modern steering wheel (I'm still using an old DFP), and it's just an amazingly immersive experience, particularly with some car/track combinations and dynamic weather.

[Mike1158]

I spotted a link while checking out the program and found what seemed good but is probably a dodgy link.  Firefox cancelled the connection which would suggest something underhand/illegal.  https://getgamez.net/project-cars-2-free-download/

[Wiltshire Tony]

I spotted a link while checking out the program and found what seemed good but is probably a dodgy link.  Firefox cancelled the connection which would suggest something underhand/illegal.  https://getgamez.net/project-cars-2-free-download/

Not only are these site's illegal but many cracked/torrented games games contain malware, mostly spyware and ransomware, if I were you I would not be downloading this type of stuff.

Just google the site name if you need more proof.

[Adam Parle]

Dodgy as!

A pCars2 Steam key can be had legitimately for the cost of a couple of pints.  I've had stuff from https://www.cdkeys.com/ in the past, giving a big saving over the RRP on Steam.  There are sites selling keys even cheaper, but I tend to stick with what I know.

[Mike1158]

I thought I'd give steam a last go, as it happens I cannot get acknowledgement emails for some reason and therefor cannot open an account but that's life and support is no doubt thin on the ground for the same reason everything else is in short supply.  Stuff, huh?

[phspok]

Might have another go at this. Why did you get the deluxe edition ( I assume)

[Wiltshire Tony]

Might have another go at this. Why did you get the deluxe edition ( I assume)

Who me?
I bought Project Cars 2 (and all it's add-ons) from Steam, when it was offered at 50% off.