There are plenty of sim racing games out there if you want to indulge in some reckless driving over the Christmas break. But Grand Pro Circuit goes about things in a different way. This open-wheel racing sim specifically focuses on cars from the late 1980s, and while its release date is "to be announced", it's something I may well be asking Santa for.
So what is this new simulator? Grand Pro Circuit brings the fun of retro racing to the modern day: lightweight cars, manual gearboxes, and minimal driver aids promise to create the perfect gameplay for the racing fan. Vintage low-poly graphics promise to differentiate it from the likes of iRacing, and while the teams, drivers and sponsors are "legally-distinct but instantly familiar", the game's racecraft and strategy will be nostalgia-driven.
Hilariously, the Steam Store outlines some of the teams and drivers on offer. Spot the difference:
"Join famous teams like MacLoud, Tyrol, Kokus, Baron, Renato, Wilhelms or Enzoni and compete against legendary drivers like Miki Lauder, Allen Prof, Aaron Siena, Gaston Virlogeux or the great British, Neville Mansfield, and many others," it reads.
On top of this, the simulation model will be highly intelligent, with bespoke vehicle dynamics, aerodynamics that are affected by temperature and altitude, realistic tyre wear and temperature behaviour, as well as realistic track conditions with varying weather.
The 'career' aspect of the game will see the player fighting through 10 seasons (1980-89), 20 circuits, and 12 teams. And to create an even more realistic experience, the cars will be susceptible to the mechanical issues you'd expect of this era. Fortunately, marshals will be standing by for when you inevitably break down sometime during your campaign.
It's important to note that this game isn't pretending to be something it's not. Keyboard controls are available if you don't have a fully fledged sim set-up. But if you do want to plug in something to up the ante, then that's possible too.
Credited to developer Marcell Baranyai and publisher Mascot Entertainment, it looks to be a game to add to your watchlist for when it's finally released to the market.
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