After a stalled start last year, NASCAR 21: Ignition is slowly improving. Recent updates have added long-requested features such as Stages and private parties for online racing.
Now, the latest NASCAR 21: Ignition update is live on all platforms, adding a new game mode ahead of the Daytona 500 this weekend.
Test drive the Next Gen Ford Mustang Car
Available to download on PC, PS4, and Xbox One, update 1.4.5.0 adds a new game mode called "Test Drive Next Gen Car".
Just in time for this weekend’s Daytona 500, the new mode lets you take the No. 78 Live Fast Motorsports Next Gen Ford Mustang Car for a spin at Daytona International Speedway.
Unfortunately, the Test Drive mode is restricted to hot laps, so you can’t race with other Next Gen cars like you can in iRacing. We’ll have to wait and see if more Next Gen Cars are added to NASCAR 21: Ignition in future updates.
Debuting in the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series, the new Next Gen stock cars are redesigned with a completely new chassis, independent rear suspension, and composite bodywork to make the races more competitive exciting.
You can also try NASCAR 21: Ignition for free on Xbox this weekend from 17-20 February.
In April, the next major update will include a free PS5 and Xbox Series X|S players upgrade improving the performance.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7G0dhqmprgM
As well as adding the new Test Drive mode, update 1.4.5.0 fixes issues with the cars, tracks, and AI. It also adjusts the rules for corner cutting penalties on certain tracks and adds a new camera shake option for impacts.
You can find the full list of changes in NASCAR 21: Ignition update 1.4.5.0below.
NASCAR 21: Ignition update 1.4.5.0 patch notes
Game modes
- Added “Test Drive Next Gen Car” to Race Now menu.
Cars & Schemes
- Fixed an issue that could cause player car to not drive straight after a yellow flag restart.
- Fixed an issue that could cause wheels to appear to spin while the car was stopped.
- Fixed an issue that could cause the car splitter to appear yellow on Playoff schemes.
- Fixed an issue that caused some logos to be missing on Denny Hamlin’s Playoff scheme.
- [PC-only] Fixed an issue that could cause reflections in the rearview mirror to render incorrectly
Tracks
- Fixed an issue that could cause placeholder textures to appear in the terrain of certain road courses.
- Fixed a portion of missing collision in the wall at Charlotte and Charlotte Roval.
- Fixed an issue that could cause some signage, billboards, and screens to display placeholder content on various tracks.
- Fixed a stability issue at the end of a race at Texas Motor Speedway.
AI
- Fixed an issue that could cause the AI to enter the track during the player’s qualifying session.
- Fixed an issue that could cause the AI to take control of the player’s car during Qualifying at Michigan after skipping the Practice session.
- Fixed an issue that could cause the AI to retain control of the player’s car if they did not pit after the Stage 1 results screen.
- Fixed an issue that caused unintended AI behavior after cautions at Bristol.
Pits Stops
- Fixed an issue that could cause the lap counter to function incorrectly in pit road at Phoenix.
- Fixed an issue that could cause the player to pit incorrectly at Daytona.
- Fixed an issue that could cause the player car to float above the ground in the pit road at Pocono.
- Fixed an issue that could cause the pit crew to not be anchored correctly in pit road.
Multiplayer
- Fixed an issue that could cause the player car to be controlled by AI.
- Fixed an issue that could cause players to not be removed from online servers after the race has ended.
NASCAR Rules
- Adjusted the criteria that triggers corner cutting penalties at Road America.
- Adjusted the criteria that triggers corner cutting penalties at Indianapolis.
- Adjusted the criteria that triggers corner cutting penalties at Daytona Road Course.
- Adjusted the criteria that triggers corner cutting penalties at Charlotte Roval.
- Adjusted the criteria that triggers corner cutting penalties at Sonoma.
- Adjusted the criteria that triggers corner cutting penalties at Circuit of the Americas.
- Fixed an issue that could cause the corner cutting flag to be displayed incorrectly during Practice.
Replays
- Fixed an issue that could cause the game to freeze.
UI
- Fixed an issue that could cause lap data to display incorrect times.
- Fixed an issue that could cause the Race Results to display incorrect driver positions.
- Fixed an issue that could cause the data on the “View Standings” tab to display incorrectly.
- Fixed an issue that caused placeholder information to appear in the Results screen.
Audio
- Fixed an audio issue when checkered green flag was thrown
Settings
- Added a setting to enable/disable camera shake on impact.
- Fixed an issue that caused the option to change the Default Camera View to be missing in the Main Menu and Datapad.