The first week of the Forza Racing Championship wrapped up last Sunday. Players that participated in either the Elite or Open divisions were gifted prize cars, regardless of placement: the 1973 Ford Escort RS1600 and 1971 Ford Falcon XY GTHO Phase III, respectively.
As we’ve taken delivery of our own examples of each here at GTPlanet, we’ve put together two quick clips to show them putting in a lap at two very different circuits: a sunny Bathurst and a drenched Brands Hatch.
Up first is the Falcon, charging its way up and down the mountain. With a close-stacked box of ratios, the big Ford bangs into its rev limiter barely halfway through Conrod Straight. Those ratios help it dig in and accelerate fast out of the tighter corners that make up the circuit. It has a very relaxed balance, letting the driver steer with the throttle if they so choose.
The Escort is slow. Fun, but slow. At a soaking wet Brands, it struggles to find purchase with the asphalt. The open diff out back means the inside rear wheel spins away a lot of forward momentum every time you hit the loud pedal mid-corner.
We’ll keep the words short here, and let you watch the videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGRugaEVYD8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wfpbslf8Dg
Players looking to get their own copies of the cars still have time: Week 2 of the Open Series runs until tomorrow, and Monday brings with it the beginning of Week 3 for both cups. You can find a full breakdown of the prizes available here and here.
See more articles on Ford Falcon and Forza Racing Championship.
Was unsure about how to get the cars…Did some of the Rivals and the Escort turned up a couple of days after, but couldn’t do the League as only Silver, got a Gold months trial and did the league (new Ford GT) but the next day got another Escort! So how do I get the Falcon?
The Falcon does better if you give it it’s optional gears. They scanned one with 3.91 final drive for some reason, whilst th Bathurst ones used 3.25. Gotta find out the correct four ratios as well after you upgrade it, but it makes it much more drivable. I think they’re 2.78, 1.92, 1.36, 1.00. Toploader gears.
The Escort had an optional LSD back in the 70s, but T10 scanned one without it. Makes it nearly undrivable. Just put a 1-way into it and it goes through corners like an Escort should.
I guess that people from Brands Hatch management should do something with those big ass puddles :D