As a direct ancestor of iRacing, the ‘Grand Prix Legends engine’ had multiple stock car racing false starts, before eventually releasing as NASCAR Racing 4. The original NASCAR 3, cancelled and replaced by one that used NASCAR 2’s engine, is barely remembered.
If you ever played Papyrus’ seminal Grand Prix Legends then you’ve read his name. Rich began working as a tester on NASCAR Racing (1994) and was with Papyrus at the end. In this interview, published in 2022, we discuss his time at the legendary studio and the design of Grand Prix Legends, including initial feelings of hurt at not being asked to join iRacing.
Share This Page
Support RSC
Papyrus Racing Games
Originally known as Papyrus Design, the legendary Massachusetts-based software studio developed highly-regarded simulation titles and published with Electronic Arts, Virgin Interactive and Sierra before their shutdown by Vivendi, owners of Sierra, in 2004.
Co-founded by arguably the father of the modern racing simulation, David Kaemmer, the studio created NASCAR and IndyCar titles that consistently pushed the genre forwards.
Their groundbreaking Grand Prix Legends game engine was used in three NASCAR titles between 2001-2003, evolving to become iRacing after Kaemmer re-acquired former Papyrus assets for his new company.
NR2003 is a simulation of the 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup. It featured a selection of chassis and all tracks from the real-life schedule.
SS500 is a demo version of NASCAR Racing 2002 Season that’s branded for Dale Earnhardt Jr’s sponsors.
NR2002 is a simulation of the 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup. It featured a selection of chassis and all the tracks from the real-life schedule.
A demo version of NR2002 was released as a standalone “game” called Super Snack 500.
N4 is a groundbreaking simulation of the 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup. It featured a selection of chassis and all tracks from the real-life schedule for the first time.
The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Expansion Pack was an official addon for NASCAR Racing 3 (1999) that added six real-world racing tracks and the 1999 NASCAR Truck and Truck Series schedule.
The pack added Evergreen, Heartland Park, I-70, Las Vegas, Louisville and Portland.
A night version of Texas was also included.
NL is a simulation of the 1970 NASCAR Grand National Series. It featured a selection of period chassis and 16 period tracks.
N3 featured the 1999 NASCAR Winston Cup and Busch Grand National Division drivers, teams and tracks with the exception of Daytona and Pocono. However, Daytona was later made available via a Daytona 500 program giveaway at the 2000 Daytona 500.
A later add-on for N3 added the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and relevant content.
NCTR was a standalone game based on NASCAR Racing 1999 Edition engine that simulated the 1998 season. However, only eight tracks were included. The product was not well received due to poor timing of the NASCAR Racing 3 and N3 Truck Add-on releases.
Originally announced to be the launch title for “GPL physics” in the Papyrus NASCAR titles, this eventually became NASCAR Racing 4.
The first title from Papyrus to include all three major NASCAR series without the use of paid additions, NASCAR Racing 1999 Edition was unfortunately a graphically updated NASCAR Racing 2 underneath the surface. By the time of its release there were more advanced simulations coming on the market.
GPL is a simulation of the 1967 Formula One World Championship. It includes 11 tracks (10 from the real-life schedule) and allows the player to choose from seven period cars.
SODA is a simulation based on the Short Course Off-Road Drivers series, but did not contain any officially licensed cars or real-world tracks.
Official 1997 Busch Grand National Series addon for NASCAR Racing 2, featuring many drivers, teams and tracks from the Busch series.
NASCAR Racing 2 is a 1996 racing video game by Papyrus Design Group based on the NASCAR Winston Cup Series of the same year, with a later addon for the 1997 Busch Grand National Series. It featured many drivers, Gen-4 chassis and tracks from both series.
Papyrus developed this title and released multiple NASCAR-based video games with incremental changes up until their transition to the “GPL engine” used in NASCAR Racing 4.
Re-release of IndyCar Racing II, a simulation of the 1995 IndyCar Series. The re-brand was prompted by the IndyCar “split” that formed the Indy Racing League and CART championships. It featured 15 tracks and a selection of chassis and engines.
The PlayStation release of NASCAR Racing featured the 1996 season instead of the 1994 drivers and liveries of the original DOS release.
The Mac release of NASCAR Racing featured the 1996 season instead of the 1994 drivers and liveries of the original DOS release. The software ran inside a window within the OS, using similar options to those seen in the Windows release of IndyCar Racing II the same year.
ICR2 is a simulation of the 1995 IndyCar Series. It featured 15 tracks and a selection of chassis and engines.
Re-released as CART Racing.
The NASCAR Track Pack was an official addon for NASCAR Racing (1994) that added seven real-world racing tracks.
The pack added Charlotte, Dover, Pocono, Rockingham, Richmond, Sears Point and North Wilkesboro.
N1 is a simulation of the 1994 NASCAR Winston Cup. It featured a selection of chassis and engines, nine tracks, and had an official addon with seven more.
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway expansion pack was an official addon for IndyCar Racing (1993) that updated the software to the latest version, added RaceCar Paint Kit, Replay Cut and Settings Print utilities, along with Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
The IndyCar Circuits expansion pack was an official addon for IndyCar Racing (1993) that updated the software to the latest version, added Replay Cut and Settings Print utilities, along with seven real-world racing tracks.
The pack added Burke Lakefront Airport, Phoenix, Surfers Paradise, Belle Isle, Road America, Mid-Ohio and Pacific Place (Vancouver).
ICR is a simulation of the 1993 IndyCar Series. It featured a selection of chassis and engines, eight tracks, and had official addons with eight more tracks.
Arcade bike racing title that allowed players to use violence to slow opponents. Ported to and programmed for DOS by Papyrus in 1995.
About RSC
A site by a sort of sim racer, for sim racers, about racing sims. News and information on both modern and historic sim racing software titles.
All products and licenses property of their respective owners. Some links on this Web site pay RSC a commission or credit. Advertising does not equal endorsement.
Podcast
Join Jon Denton, Tim Wheatley and Simon Croft as they discuss sim racing and racing games past, present and future.