The latest cold snap in Forza Horizon 5’s month-long freeze has arrived, with the second week of Winter Wonderland now upon us.
Series 28 (for those still keeping count) sees an unusual change of the weather as, for the first time, one season grips the entire four-week event. That is, of course, winter.
It’s one of the most obvious changes this month, which also sees a makeover at the Horizon Stadium. Bearing the same name as the series, the Winter Wonderland Stadium has a very Christmassy feel — from snow and trees to a manger — as well as a small, complex race track laid out within the stadium.
Future winter seasons in other series will see the circuit return, along with its other winter features like an ice rink and a toboggan run.
Secret Santa also returns for its third year, encouraging players to send vehicle gifts through the Winter Wonderland location in order to earn rewards for the whole community. The first gift, the Gordon Murray Automotive T.50, has already been distributed, with the not very secret final reward likely to come soon.
There’s also four new vehicles to score this month, along with an Evolving World Accolade for collecting them, and a new paid DLC pack — the “Fast X” car pack — which adds vehicles from the Fast and Furious movie series.
Table of Contents
- Series 28: Winter Wonderland
- Series 28 Winter/Dry Season Rewards
- Series 28 Winter Playlist: Forzathon Events
- Series 28 Winter Playlist: Season Events
- EventLab: GP Goyta Full
- EventLab: Laderas Grand Prix
- EventLab: Ninja Marv Muddy Mangos
- Drift Zone: Las Curvas
- Speed Trap: Pyramid of the Sun
- Speed Zone: Ladera
- Seasonal Championship: An Oldie But a Goodie
- Seasonal Championship: Dish the Dirt
- Seasonal Championship: What’s the Miata?
- The Trial: We Could Be Heroes
- Series 28 Winter Playlist: Challenges
- Series 28 Winter Playlist: Monthly Events
- Series 28 Winter Bonus DLC Events
- Series 28 Winter Forzathon Shop
Series 28: Winter Wonderland
As all four new cars come as season rewards, the two Series rewards are again cars we’ve seen in previous playlists, but both are worth the effort.
Scoring 80 points — which was already possible in the first winter season — will add the Porsche Mission R concept to your garage.
This all-electric race car, which was a seasonal reward back in Series 20, is Porsche’s concept of what a future, one-make Porsche race series could look like after liquid fuels have been left behind.
Thus it’s intended to be as fast around any given race track as a 992 GT3 Cup car, with a 40:60 split all-wheel drive system boasting some 1073hp.
For 160 points — not quite possible this week — and you’ll earn yourself the 2011 Koenigsegg Agera, which was previously a reward in Series 13.
Although it’s not in the upper echelons of Koenigsegg’s speed machines, at “just” 250mph, the Agera formed the basis of its slightly more insane machines such as the record-breaking Agera RS.
Series 28 Winter/Dry Season Rewards
Coming along at 20 points this series is the Morgan Aero GT, a last-of-line special edition of the Aero 8 produced in a highly limited, eight-unit run.
Loosely based on the company’s GT3 car — and yes, this thing actually went GT3 racing (and even more remarkably, won) — the Aero GT sports all manner of aerodynamic tweaks that differentiate it from the regular 8.
Sporting nearly 400hp from its BMW-sourced V8, the lightweight Morgan also came with adjustable suspension and a relatively civilized interior.
At 40 points you’ll have another chance to collect one of the game’s racing cars, with the Lynk&Co 03 #100.
Last seen in Series 14, the 03 was almost an all-conquering TCR machine, winning three WTCR manufacturers’ titles and two drivers’ titles in three seasons — before withdrawing in 2022 after several tire failures.
Second Winter will run until 1430UTC on Thursday December 21, with two more Winter seasons to follow running through to the same time on Thursday January 4.
Series 28 Winter Playlist: Forzathon Events
This week’s Forzathon Weekly Challenge focus is a car most eminently unsuited for winter, as you’ll be mucking about in the single-seat BAC Mono. Own and drive Liverpool’s supercar — it’s in the Forzathon Shop this week if you don’t already have one — to get Welcome BAC underway.
You’ll be doing everything that Mono owners should do in this week’s event, so firstly get out and get some speed out of the car: earn five “Great Speed” Skills — reaching near 160mph will be enough to earn one — to progress.
Next go out and win a race at any Road Racing Series circuit race. Ensure it’s a circuit race, as point-to-point events won’t count.
Finally, and the most simple task, just take a photo of the Mono. It may be worth waiting until Monday’s Daily Challenge and stage a shot with your avatar outside the car to kill two birds with one snap.
Finishing that will earn you five Playlist points and 80 Forzathon Points, with the FP doubled if you own the Casa Solariega player house.
Weekly Challenge: Welcome BAC
- Car: BAC Mono ’14
- Chapter 1: Own and drive the BAC Mono
- Chapter 2: Earn five Great Speed Skills in the Mono
- Chapter 3: Win any Road Racing circuit race in the Mono
- Chapter 4: Take a photo of the Mono
- Reward: 5 points, 80FP
More winter-themed Daily Challenges arrive this week, coming up at the rate of one a day — at 1430UTC — with seven days to complete each one for one point a time.
Do You Even Gift Bro? is further encouragement to head to the Winter Wonderland and send a gift to another player for Secret Santa. Maybe save this one for Tuesday?
You’ll need to earn at least two Stars at the Northern Passage Speed Trap using the Volvo V60 Polestar to pass North Polestar.
Get into The Spirit of Christmas by completing any Horizon Arcade theme — Air, Chaos, Drift, Speed, Wreckage — in the 2002 Mazda RX-7 Spirit R.
Head back to the Stadium and smack a Snowman in the 1974 Holden Sandman, earning the relevant Skill to Enter Snowman. If you want to be efficient, head there on Tuesday…
Next, take a photo of any car with your avatar standing outside to complete Let Me Take an Elfie.
You’ll be Singing Loud for All to Hear on Tuesday. This event is back at the Stadium again, and you’re required only to beep your horn three times – hence the advice above…
Finally get a Hard Charger Skill (for an uninterrupted period of acceleration of ten seconds or more) in any Acura or Honda to show that VTEC Just Kicked In, Yo!
Daily Challenges
- December 14 – Do You Even Gift, Bro?: Send a Gift Drop to another player
- December 15 – North Polestar: Earn two Stars at the Northern Passage Speed Trap in the Volvo V60 Polestar
- December 16 – The Spirit of Christmas: Complete a Horizon Arcade in the Mazda RX-7 Spirit R ’02
- December 17 – Enter Snowman: Get a Snowman Skill in the Holden Sandman ’74
- December 18 – Let Me Take an Elfie: Take a photo with your character outside of any car
- December 19 – Singing Loud for All to Hear: Beep your horn three times at the Winter Wonderland Stadium
- December 20 – VTEC Just Kicked In, Yo!: Get a Hard Charger skill in any Honda or Acura
Series 28 Winter Playlist: Season Events
It’s a very cubic list this week as three events of three types populate the single-player events. That’s three three PR Stunts, three Seasonal Championships, and three EventLabs.
All three of the EventLabs are lengthy custom routes around locations in the east of the map, and consist of races against a small pack of AI. You’ll need to win the races then to take the three points and the bonus prize in each case.
GP Gotya Full is a custom race arena based around Los Jardines, for S2 Class (901-998PI) Extreme Track Toys, with a Holiday Tree Outfit bonus. Laderas Grand Prix uses widened roads — and watch out if you run past the new asphalt, as returning is tricky — around the Stadium, for an S1 Class (801-900PI) race in Modern Supercars. It’s a dirt race for A Class (701-800PI) Modern Rally and Rally Monster cars in Ninja Marv Muddy Mangos, which awards a Super Wheelspin.
All three PR Stunts require a different vehicle this week, with each relatively straightforward even in standard cars, and two points and a Super Wheelspin each time.
It’s a C Class (501-600PI) Chevrolet Nova for the Pyramid of the Sun Speed Trap, with a 100mph target that’s not tricky if you head cross country rather than sticking to the roads. You’ll need a B Class (601-700PI) Nissan Fairlady Z ’94 for the Las Curvas Drift Zone, with the 80,000pt target a pretty simple ask. Finally take an A Class (701-800PI) Ford Focus RS to a 90mph average at the Ladera Speed Zone.
As you’d expect, the three Seasonal Championships are the usual three-race events against Highly Skilled AI, worth five points apiece. You’ll need to top the points table at the end of the championship to win the points and bonus prize.
Head off-road in B Class (601-700PI) Retro Muscle cars in Dish the Dirt (AWD swaps will help!), which awards a 1995 Chevrolet Corvette. It’s a B Class (601-700PI) street race for any Mazda MX-5 model in What’s the Miata?, with a Mazda RX-7 Spirit R bonus prize. Finally you’ll win a Lola T70 for winning the road racing event An Oldie But a Goodie, in any A Class (701-800PI) Classic Racers.
EventLab: GP Goyta Full
- Car: S2 Class, Extreme Track Toys
- Location: Los Jardines
- Challenge: Win the race
- Reward: 3 points, Holiday Tree Outfit
EventLab: Laderas Grand Prix
- Car: S1 Class, Modern Supercars
- Location: Estadio Horizon
- Challenge: Win the race
- Reward: 3 points, Porsche Cayenne
EventLab: Ninja Marv Muddy Mangos
- Car: A Class, Modern Rally/Rally Monsters
- Location: Riviera Maya
- Challenge: Win the race
- Reward: 3 points, Super Wheelspin
Drift Zone: Las Curvas
- Car: B Class, Nissan Fairlady Z ’94
- Location: Tierra Prospera
- Challenge: 80,000pt
- Reward: 2 points, Super Wheelspin
Speed Trap: Pyramid of the Sun
- Car: C Class, Chevrolet Nova ’69
- Location: Teotihuacan
- Challenge: 100mph
- Reward: 2 points, Super Wheelspin
Speed Zone: Ladera
- Car: A Class, Ford Focus RS ’17
- Location: Guanajuato
- Challenge: 90mph
- Reward: 2 points, Super Wheelspin
Seasonal Championship: An Oldie But a Goodie
- Car: A Class, Classic Racers
- Location: Hotel Mirador
- Challenge: Win the Championship
- Reward: 5 points, Lola T70 #6
Seasonal Championship: Dish the Dirt
- Car: B Class, Retro Muscle
- Location: Gran Puente
- Challenge: Win the Championship
- Reward: 5 points, Chevrolet Corvette ’95
Seasonal Championship: What’s the Miata?
- Car: B Class, Mazda MX-5
- Location: Gran Puente
- Challenge: Win the Championship
- Reward: 5 points, Mazda RX-7 Spirit R ’02
There’s a single multiplayer event this week, requiring an Xbox Core subscription to take part on console — although it’s free to take part on PC.
Of course that is The Trial, which is a permanent part of the Playlist. If you haven’t yet taken part in one, it’s a best-of-three-race series, with you and a team of up to five other humans racing against a squad of six “Unbeatable” AI.
The goal is to score more team points than the AI do, and “team” is key here. Each player on each team scores 100pt for each opponent they beat, but nothing for beating a team-mate.
That means a solo win is of no use to anyone; you need to work together to ensure the best result for all the humans, by hindering the AI to allow players to pass. Generally, having the top two places — or any three of the top four — will be good enough for the overall win, unless there’s a lower-order catastrophe.
The racing this week ought to be relatively controlled as it’s a road racing challenge for A Class (701-800PI) cars. You’ll need a vehicle from the custom “Homologation Heroes” hopper — essentially limited-run road cars used as the basis for race cars — for the races, but it should be an easy win inside two.
Taking victory earns everyone ten points and a Mercedes-AMG GT R.
The Trial: We Could Be Heroes
- Car: A Class, “Homologation Heroes”
- Location: Estadio Horizon
- Challenge: Win the Championship
- Reward: 10 points, Mercedes-AMG GT R
Series 28 Winter Playlist: Challenges
It’s another set of three Challenges this week, with The Eliminator returning alongside a new Collectibles event and the permanent Photo Challenge.
You’ll need Xbox Core to access The Eliminator on console, but it’s the usual event. That means finishing 30th or better in any round of The Eliminator — usually a matter of surviving a couple of minutes — and you’ll earn two points and an “I Am Become Meme” Forza LINK greeting.
For the Collectibles event the Snowman returns. This time it’s not up at the top of the volcano though, but inside the Winter Wonderland stadium. Find and smash ten to earn three points and a Sad Snowman Head; doing so in a Holden Sandman after 1430 UTC on Sunday will earn a Daily Challenge point too
This week’s Photo Challenge, #StormInATeacup, you’ll need a bit of lateral thinking. Firstly, you’ll need to find a car with a “stormy” name — the task is illustrated with a GMC Typhoon, we used a Lamborghini Huracan — and then take it to the “secret” cave at Ek’Balam. You can find this by heading to the south-west corner of the solid dirt route east of the location and driving south-west.
Once in the right place with the right car, take a snap to earn the two points and a Holiday Jumper.
Collectibles: Snowman Smash!
- Cars: Any
- Location: Winter Wonderland Stadium
- Challenge: Smash ten Snowman statues in the Winter Wonderland Stadium
- Reward: 3 points, Sad Snowman Head
The Eliminator: Battle Royale
- Cars: Any (provided)
- Location: The Eliminator
- Challenge: Finish 30th or better in The Eliminator
- Reward: 2 points, “I Am Become Meme” Forza LINK
Photo Challenge: #StormInATeacup
- Cars: Specific car list
- Location: Ek’Balam
- Challenge: Photograph any car with a stormy name in the secret cave at Ek’Balam
- Reward: 2 points, Holiday Jumper
Series 28 Winter Playlist: Monthly Events
The two Monthly Events remain in place across the whole Series, with each worth four points — one point per Season — awarded whenever you complete them during the 28-day window.
While similar to Rivals events, you’re not required to bear any lap times — although you will be “chasing” a ghost. Instead your goal is to complete a clean run of the courses, with the cars provided to, so just keep it off solid objects, hit your checkpoints, and avoid using the Rewind feature.
That’s not necessarily easy. The Marigold Sprint point-to-point course — introduced last Series — provides plenty of opportunity to muck it up even if the new Subaru BRZ is a nice car to drive. The same can’t be said of the Dodge Charger Fast X — a teaser for the DLC pack — and the Winter Wonderland Circuit is a pretty tight course for such a wayward vehicle…
Monthly Rivals: Marigold Sprint
- Cars: Subaru BRZ ’22 (provided)
- Location: Costa Rocosa
- Challenge: Post a Clean Lap
- Reward: 4 points (1 added to each season)
Monthly Rivals: Winter Wonderland Circuit
- Cars: Dodge Charger Fast X (provided)
- Location: Estadio Horizon
- Challenge: Post a Clean Time
- Reward: 4 points (1 added to each season)
Series 28 Winter Bonus DLC Events
As usual there’s up to 14 bonus points available for players who own the DLC expansions — seven in each location. Although not required for completion, they’re a handy way to get some additional points for your weekly goals.
Each location hosts a PR Stunt and a Seasonal Championship, worth two and five points respectively along with a bonus prize for each event.
The PR Stunts are similar to those on the main map, requiring specific cars, but unlike those in Mexico you’re going to need to get tuning.
That’s because the 315m target for the Forest Leap Danger Sign in Hot Wheels requires about as much speed as an A Class (701-800PI) Honda NSX-R ’92 can offer, while the 120mph goal in a C Class (501-600PI) Peugeot 205 Rallye at the Canyon Rush Speed Trap in Rally Adventure is beyond the standard car’s gearing…
As with the main map, the Seasonal Championships are also three-race events against Highly Skilled AI, with five points and a bonus car for coming first overall.
You’ll need an S2 Class (901-998PI) Hypercar for Hyped for the Holidays in Hot Wheels, which offers a Mercedes-Benz SLK as a reward. Meanwhile any B Class (601-700PI) Ford Raptor model is required for the Rap-Tor Battle in Rally Adventure, awarding a 2012 Porsche 911 GT2 RS.
Hot Wheels Danger Sign: Forest Leap
- Car: A Class, Honda NSX-R ’92
- Location: Hot Wheels Forest Falls
- Challenge: 315m
- Reward: 2 points, Super Wheelspin
Hot Wheels Seasonal Championship: Hyped for the Holidays
- Car: S2 Class, Hypercars
- Location: Hot Wheels Forest Falls
- Challenge: Win the Championship
- Reward: 5 points, Mercedes-Benz SLK
Rally Adventure Speed Trap: Canyon Rush
- Car: C Class, Peugeot 205 Rallye
- Location: Sierra Nueva Senda de Montanana
- Challenge: 120mph
- Reward: 2 points, Super Wheelspin
Rally Adventure Seasonal Championship: Rap-Tor Battle
- Car: B Class, Ford Raptor (any)
- Location: Sierra Nueva Joya Marron
- Challenge: Win the Championship
- Reward: 5 points, Porsche 911 GT2 RS ’12
Series 28 Winter Forzathon Shop
Two quite different takes on the low volume, mid-engined, British supercar are available in this week’s Forzathon Shop.
Fronting the store is the 2019 Aston Martin Valhalla Concept, a car which is essentially the baby Valkyrie — a car which has (only just) yet to appear in FH5…
Unlike the eventual production model (and PG’s pre-launch description of it) the Valhalla Concept — actually the original AM-RB 003 — carries a hybrid, KERS-boosted, three-liter V6 twin turbo and aero tech from the Valkyrie.
Coming in with a third of the power of the Valhalla is the BAC Mono, which takes a different approach to incredible speed around a track.
That comes from light weight, of a type that allows you to put three Monos on the other side of the scales to one Valhalla and have them about even.
At 600FP, the Valhalla Concept isn’t a bad deal against the 1,150,000cr in the Autoshow. The Mono meanwhile isn’t available in the Autoshow at all, so at 350FP it seems like a good idea.
Other store items this week include the Snowman Outfit, Happy Snowman Head, and Deck the Halls Horn at 75FP each. The Wheelspin (60FP) and a Super Wheelspin (150FP) occupy their regular spots.
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