Finally! After a long wait, the V1.9 patch is finally here. And there's plenty to talk about!
The V1.9 is one of the biggest updates in recent months. It included physics changes, new cars, a new track and more, all part of a new 2023 GT World Challenge DLC Pack.
New wheels
New season means new cars! And there's plenty in store for you here;
Ferrari 296 GT3
The new prancing horse in town is here! According to Ferrari themselves the 296 GT3 is 'Fun to race. Fun to win. It's the future of Ferrari's GT racing line. The 488 was nice, but never seemed to break any moulds. Ferrari is surely hoping to do more with this 296 than ever before.
What's noticeable? Mostly the way it looks! It's jaw-droppingly-beautiful and looks meaner, faster and more aggressive than the predecessors. The 296 GT3 is derived from the 296 GTB roadcar, which is setting new supercar benchmarks all around the world. Plenty to live up then in full GT3 spec!
Lamborghini Huracán EVO2
One of the last Huracán GT3 cars we'll see. The Huracán is probably more iconic than the Gallardo was and that says something. The raw V10 sound will be a thing of the past once the V8 replacement comes out at the end of 2024. So we will likely see another Huracán update next year as it makes its swan song.
The EVO2 then was designed and developed by the Lamborghini Squadra Corse and is based on the STO. The rear-wheel drive, naturally aspirated V10 is a beauty to behold and a force to be reckoned with. It's not the easiest car in ACC to drive, but if you get it dialled in, it won't let you down!
Just a few months ago, ACC's official youtube channel showed the car for the first time!
Porsche 911 GT3 R (992)
The 911 is a car you automatically relate to GT3 racing. The German manufacturer has been at the forefront of GT3 racing for decades and is looking to build on that with the new 992. And, like Porsche states itself, the new kid on the block has some big shoes to fill.
As always with the 911, the unique engine placement makes it a special car on track. Located just behind the rear axle, and naturally aspirated, the watercooled six-cylinder boxer engine keeps up perfectly with the heavy, larger V8's and V10. Yet, it still produced around 565hp!
Circuito Ricardo Tormo
The gorgeous track of Cheste, Valencia finally made it to the calendar. The 4 kilometres long, stop and go track is a unique blend of low speed corners and high speed swooping sections.
The track is very well known with the motorcycle community as it has hosted the MotoGP finale for some years (not in 2023 though). It has hosted Formula E, WSBK and much more. It has been around since 1999 and is still a favourite of many.
The Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS Sprint Cup championship will head there for the eight round on the calendar on 16th and 17th of September. We'll cover the track guide anytime soon so you can get accustomed to the new playground!
ACC v1.9's New tyre model
A game changer in many regards. As with real-life racing tyres define how cars handle and that is no different in-game. Kunos focussed on getting better realism into the tyres based on the pressure. Tyre pressure is a significant decider in how much grip a car has. In essence, getting your setup wrong and causing your tyres to either have high or low pressure, will result in more (negative) consequences.
But don't let that scare you. They've also changed the tyre pressure range for slicks to 26-27 psi. That's a nice and more importantly, wider operating window to work with. Additionally, the temperature range is wider too, with 70°C-100°C being the operating window. That means you get slightly more wiggle room. But go over the edge and you'll find that the car will be significantly harder to handle.
Especially the out and inside of the tire will affect how grip increases or decreases. Heat distribution and generation will become a larger part of getting the best performance from your tyres.
All together, the experience should be closer to real-life where a small powerslide won't result in an overheated tyre, but a spin will ruin your fresh set of rubber. Great!
Image credit goes to: Kunos Simulazioni