After missing its original December release date, Le Mans Ultimate is set to be 2024’s first major racing game release.
With just over a month until launch, a new trailer shows off fresh footage of the Toyota GR010 Hybrid prototype being put through its paces around the Portimao circuit.
Watch the Toyota GR010 Hybrid tear up Portimao
While the Toyota GR010 Hybrid has already been shown in screenshots and made a brief appearance in the debut trailer, the new video provides a closer look at the meticulously modelled hypercar prototype.
We also get a first look at the Algarve International Circuit in Portimao, Portugal, home of the WEC’s 6 Hours of Portimao race. Notably, this is Studio 397’s first sim racing game to feature the Portuguese circuit.
Visually, Le Mans Ultimate looks like a step up from rFactor 2, so you'll probably need a powerful PC to run it optimally. However, frame rate drops in the trailer suggest further optimisation is needed. With the February release date fast approaching, there isn't a lot of polishing time left, but we're hoping Studio 397 can pull it off.
Toyota is synonymous with endurance racing, with the Toyota Gazoo Racing team winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans for five consecutive years until Ferrari stole the crown last year. It was a historic win, marking the Italian manufacturer’s first Le Mans victory in 50 years. This year, Toyota will be looking to reclaim the top stop in the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans race.
Launching in just over a month, Le Mans Ultimate will feature the entire 2023 WEC Hypercar class grid from Toyota, Cadillac, Peugeot, Porsche, Vanwall and Glickenhaus.
Several WEC cars still haven’t been shown in-game, but this will hopefully change over the next few weeks in the run-up to release. As well as the Hypercar class, the car list also includes LMP2 and GTE cars. An asynchronous multiplayer mode will allow players to take on the 24 Hours of Le Mans as a team at scheduled times.
Release date
Powered by rFactor 2's engine, Le Mans Ultimate is set to release on PC via Steam on 20 February. Console ports are yet to be confirmed, but Studio 397 is considering bringing Le Mans Ultimate to other platforms if the initial PC release is successful.
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