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.
Shortly after the release of Grand Prix Legends the sim racing community looked forward to another title that promised to offer a similar insight into historic racing. Trans-Am Racing ’68-’72 ultimately never released, a victim of a publishers shady dealings, but as a part of my research I uncovered a VHS of a never-released trailer for the game. Watch the trailer and read about what sim racing missed out on.
On Thursday iRacing released an update containing some updates and fixes for the 2022 Season 2 Release, as well as the release of the 2022 laser scanned dirt version of Bristol Motor Speedway.
Build notes:
iRACING UI:
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Create a Race
The “Race Options” step has been moved to after both the car and track selection steps to allow for a better user experience for defining event rules, such as forcing tire compound changes.
Paint Shop
ButtKicker logo has been updated.
SIMULATION:
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Race Control
Update the “must use multiple tire compounds” rule enforcement to only disqualify drivers that have both taken the checkered flag and not met the rule requirement. Drivers who do not finish the Race for any reason and have not met the rule requirement will not be disqualified by this rule.
– – This behavior better matches rules in real world series that use multiple tire compounds.
Fixed a race server crash issue that could occur when an event Admin tried to extend a Caution after it was already double file by enough laps that it would try to go back to single file. Instead, now the Caution will simply stay double file.
AI Racing
AI Drivers have improved their pit strategy with the Mercedes-AMG F1 W12 E Performance.
AI Drivers have improved their driving skills with the GT3 Class cars.
Fixed an issue where CPU demand of AI Drivers running with Mercedes-AMG F1 W12 E Performance was inordinately high.
Physics
A system has been added to prevent suspension hyper-extensions.
– – This system applies to both Old Damage Model and New Damage Model cars.
Tires
Race Servers will now correctly track tire compound usage when sessions are reset.
New Damage Model
Fixed an issue where a detached wheel could cause some damage system instability.
Spotter
Fixed an issue where the spotter was providing gridding fuel messages during non-Race events.
CARS:
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NASCAR Classic 1987 Cars External shift lights have been updated.
NASCAR Next Gen Cars Cooling and aerodynamic parameters have been updated while running at Dirt Oval tracks.
Models and textures have been optimized as the camera changes distances from these cars. This should allow for some improved framerates.
Various minor artistic updates for the wheel textures, flaps, and suspension.
ARCA Menards Chevrolet Impala
Fixed an issue with floating tape.
Aston Martin Vantage GT4
Fixed a minor issue with the rotation point of the trunk, when popped open.
Audi R8 LMS
Stint fuel used now references the updated fuel cell capacity.
Chevrolet Corvette C6.R GT1
Fixed an issue with the rear view camera where the display would be too dark and not work well with auto-exposure.
Dallara P217
Reverted a previous change where the clutch would no longer disengage the engine while driving at high speeds.
– – This fuel saving technique may now be used once again, at your own risk.
Honda Civic Type R
The rear wing stamp has been moved to the car decal texture so that it may be altered in custom paints.
Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO
Stint fuel used now references the updated fuel cell capacity.
McLaren 570s GT4
Fixed an issue where car numbers were not appearing correctly on one of the car paint patterns.
NASCAR Buick LeSabre – 1987
The rear fenders have been flared out a bit to more accurately replicate how the body panels would have been in 1987.
Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (992)
iRacing setups have been updated.
Porsche 911 R GT3
Fuel used in the current stint has been corrected to be in our typical form and reference the correct fuel cell capacity.
[Legacy] NASCAR Nationwide Chevrolet Impala – 2012
Fixed an issue where some incorrect textures were being used.
TRACKS:
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Bristol Motor Speedway
New Track configuration: Dirt!
– – A new dirt oval track configuration, Dirt, is now available at this track!
– – – – This new Dirt track configuration has been generated with brand new real-world laser scan data from the upcoming event! The entire track surface has been fully rebuilt and reprofiled for a brand new dirt oval experience.
– – This track configuration is available to all users who currently own this track. This configuration is named “Dirt”.
– – The original dirt track configuration, “Dirt”, has been renamed “Dirt – 2021” to reflect its build date, and remains ready for racing.
Add Bristol Motor Speedway, including the new Dirt track configuration, to your digital landscape by purchasing it from the iRacing Store here: https://members.iracing.com/membersite/member/TrackDetail.do?trkid=442
Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55
The pace car driver has improved his pit entry line and should no longer crash into the large tire.
It looks like I missed the previous patch. Check out the release notes:
This Patch contains some updates and fixes for the 2022 Season 2 Release, as well as the release of the iRacing Formula iR-04 for AI Racing!
iRACING UI:
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Series Racing
Added an entry to “Series Details” to indicate if the use of multiple tire compounds is required while participating in the series.
Create a Race
The validation flow for the option to enforce the use of multiple tire compounds when creating a race has been updated.
AI Racing
For creating AI Races, the option to require racers to begin the race with the tire compound used to set their best Qualifying lap has been added.
Time Attack
Fixed an issue with Time Attack modal windows erroring out if a retired car was previously preselected but had been replaced with a newer version.
Paint Shop
A new sponsor, CarQuest, has been added to the Paint Shop!
SIMULATION:
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AI Racing
AI Racing is now available with the iRacing Formula iR-04.
AI Drivers have improved their racing skills at Winton Motor Raceway, particularly in the Esses.
Fixed an issue where some AI Drivers would attempt to leave the grid before the car ahead of them had begun to move.
Reduced the CPU demand of AI Drivers when running with Mercedes-AMG F1 W12 E Performance.
Display Mode
A confirmation dialog box will now display when a user chooses to auto-config their graphics if they already have a “renderer.ini” file and do not have a display mode .ini file.
Spotter
The low fuel warning message upon gridding is now disabled if you haven’t generated any fuel data.
Interface
Fixed an issue where if the Dash Box was open, mouse-inputs for other Black Boxes were being ignored.
Fixed an issue where the Dash Box would not keybind correctly.
CARS:
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NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Trucks Updated some older contingency decals to their 2022 versions.
NASCAR Classic 1987 Cars External drivetrain audio levels have been reduced.
Fixed an issue where opponent cars could appear to be scraping at high banked tracks.
Fixed a slight off-center issue with the art for wheel hubs and pivots. This issue had no effect on car physics or performance.
NASCAR Next Gen Cars Updated the windshield braces.
Several texture files have been updated.
Fixed a cyclic modulation in the upper RPM engine sound for in-car mics.
Stock Car Pro Series Cars Information for the Extra Power System (status and uses remaining) has been added to the Black Box for these vehicles.
Fixed an issue where the windshield lights for the Extra Power System were not working correctly on opponent vehicles.
Aston Martin Vantage GT4
Fixed some issues with the rear wing, including the pivot angle, a texture issue, and having it visually disappear at certain camera distances.
Fixed an issue with the steering wheel shift LEDs.
The IMSA leaderboard is now present in the interface model of this car.
Audi RS 3 LMS
Fixed an issue with the Dash Box for this vehicle where the RPM range did not match the shift lights.
Ford GTE
Fixed an issue where the steering wheel was being incorrectly removed when the option to only show a steering wheel if it has a display was enabled.
Hyundai Elantra N TC
Fixed some ambient occlusion issues with the trunk area.
Hyundai Veloster N TC
Dashboard specular texture has been improved.
iRacing Formula iR-04
Paint textures have been updated and some details have been moved into the decal stamp layer so they may be customized.
Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO
Closed a visible gap above the driver’s side door.
McLaren MP4-12C GT3
Fixed an issue with a rear vent visually disappearing at certain camera distances.
Mercedes-AMG GT3
iRacing setups have been updated.
NASCAR Buick LeSabre – 1987
Fixed an issue where custom driver helmet textures were not displaying properly.
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Chevrolet Silverado
Removed a duplicate set of pedals.
Stamped decals have been updated.
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Ford F150
Rear license plate decal has been updated.
Fixed an issue where a side logo was mirrored.
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Toyota Tundra TRD Pro
Fixed a texture mapping issue on the vehicle body texture.
Pontiac Solstice
The roll bar camera view is no longer blocked.
Stock Car Pro Series Chevrolet Cruze
iRacing setups have been updated.
Stock Car Pro Series Toyota Corolla
Fixed an issue with a rear hose.
Fixed an issue where a paint pattern was not rendering correctly for this car.
TRACKS:
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Circuit Zolder
The threat level of the turtles in this environment has been reduced.
– – A geometry error was causing curbs here to be nearly lethal in some cases for cars using the New Damage Model.
Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55
Pit speed limit has been reduced.
Fuel tanks have been grounded.
Updated the grandstands specular texture map.
Winton Motor Raceway
Some missing trees have been planted.
Fixed an issue where some brake markers would disappear at certain graphics settings.
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