Here we stand on the inaugural weekend of the 2017 Formula One season, and with so much having changed over the previous year, things are looking interesting to say the least. Nico Rosberg has exited the sport as the undefeated Driver’s Champion, and in his seat sits former Williams driver Valtteri Bottas.
If the first practice sessions are any indication (and typically speaking, they aren’t), the status quo is going to remain the same as far as the top-tier teams are concerned but there is cause for concern from Mercedes on behalf of Sebastian Vettel and Ferrari. It looks to be a promising season and we’re excited to see how things play out. One thing is certain, by season’s end there will be a new Driver’s Champion.
Onto the week at hand: while it’s been on the quieter side than others, it has been eventful all the same. Here’s a quick recap:
- A Closer Look at the Team Management Features of DiRT 4
- These Early Gameplay Videos of Gravel Look Promising
- Enrollment for the Gran Turismo Sport Closed Beta Has Ended (It’s Really Closed Now!)
- Daytona USA Arrives on the Xbox One Courtesy of Backward Compatibility
- 12 Cars We’d Like to See Return to Forza Sooner Rather Than Later
- Assetto Corsa’s Private Lobbies Are Coming to Console Players in April
- New Need For Speed Title Will Be Playable in LA This June
GTPlanet Picture of the Week
While not an official member of the Assetto Corsa car roster just yet, the 2015 Audi R8 LMS is the star in this week’s screenshot. Coming to us courtesy of G.T.Ace, the red mid-engined racer is seen tackling the daunting Nürburgring.
Circuit of the Americas is Coming to Project CARS 2
Project CARS 2 appears to grow more impressive by the hour, and the recent addition of Circuit of the Americas to the game’s track roster only adds to its appeal. Featuring a series of replica sections from other famous circuits, many would rightfully consider COTA to be an amalgam of some of the world’s more renowned circuits.
Designed with overtaking in mind, the Texan circuit features a straight just over one kilometer in length leading up to Turn 12. The stretch should not only make for some great position battles in-game, but a speed chase of up to (and over) 200 mph. For the original story look no further than right here.
Assetto Corsa Update 1.13 Drops the Mazda 787B, MX-5 NA, and the Porsche 911 RSR
After the initial confirmation last year, both the first-generation MX-5 Miata and the legendary Le Mans-winning 787B have come to Assetto Corsa as free bonus content to PC players first. Both have been available to the PC community as mods for quite some time, but much like other additions in the past, this week’s update makes the duo official members of the team.
Joining them is the long-awaited mid-engine Porsche 911 RSR. While players weren’t able to christen the new-for-2017 Porsche alongside its on-track debut back in January, the opportunity to jump behind the wheel at a moment’s notice remains as attractive as ever.
Unfortunately, there’s no release date outlined for the newest content coming to console racers. For the full breakdown, including what’s been changed in the latest update tune in to the original news item here.
GTPlanet Vehicle of the Week
I forgot to include this last week, didn’t I? It’s back with nary a scratch now so you’re free to stop shouting at me now. With that being said, the 2017 season of Formula One is set to kick off this weekend, and what better time to compare the engine notes of the past.
The full gamut is on display here: V12, V10, V8, and the current (2014 spec) V6 formulae. It goes without saying that the current V6 era hasn’t been the most exciting in regards to engine noise, but this isn’t the first time the engine has played a role in the sport. The above video may focus entirely on Ferrari, but the point remains the same: what’s your flavor?
The Last Lap
It’s now been one week since the Gran Turismo Sport closed beta has been made available to select US residents, and while most details are to remain private, the general consensus appears to be that things are going well.
As discussed earlier, this week has been quieter than others but with E3 drawing near there should be plenty to discuss in the coming weeks leading up to the gaming extravaganza. Aside from 2015 there hasn’t been a year that’s felt more crowded with games than this one, and not just racing games. While it’s a good thing to have so much to anticipate, it dances too fine a line around sensory overload.
Needless to say, we’re looking forward to the rest of 2017. Until next time, keep racing.
Trucks.
See more articles on GTPlanet Weekly Rewind.
