Endurance Series 1.0 - Released

[TimCollier]

Note: This is the mod that has been remarked by many as the one to knock the ILMS Mod out of commission.
I'm very curious to see how it is, but after reading that traction control is recommended, I'm not sure what to think.... - Tim


Enduracers have released the first version of their highly-anticipated Endurance Series mod for rFactor, adding some of the world’s most exciting prototypes and GT’s to rFactor.

The initial version of the mod includes 11 sports car models from the Le Mans Prototype and GT classes, allowing you to relive the exciting action of series like the Le Mans Series and the FIA GT.

Features:

- 11 Brand new 3D models from 2006 to 2008 from ALMS and LMS championships, with accurate shapes and aero configurations and high detail cockpits.
- All the cars skins from 2006 to 2008 seasons of ALMS, LMS, Le Mans and FIA GT Championships available in high/low detail.
- Helmet and Driving suits of each Team.
- Pitcrew suits for each Team.
- Several graphic details added for more realism and to feel the “endurance spirit” better.
- Specific UI Data menu textures, using modern showroom by Maciex.
- Realistic sounds for all cars using real onboard & exterior recording sounds samples, and with a completely new development philosophy. Thanks to several real racing teams for their collaboration.
- Very accurate physics, created in collaboration with Gentlemen Racers physics team, with help from real teams and drivers.
- Physics validated with telemetry and real drivers, up to date specific
- 1.250 optimisations (tyres wear curves, pit menu,…).
- Specific real endurance racing physics settings : tyres choices, fuel consumption, aero configurations, traction control use, engine mapping configurations,…
- Driver swap support.
- Realistic pit crew menu configuration.
- FFB upgrades to choose your preferred steering force, see following paragraph to have optimum settings for FFB.
- Real Feel FFB and Leo FFB support (see readme for tested setups).
- Advanced damages.

http://enduracers.com/

Their extensive mod has been tested by real-life sports car racing drivers such as Tommy Milner, Stuart Moseley and Sean Edwards, making sure to give us a realistic endurance racing experience.

Make sure to check out the mod’s detailed readme to find FFB settings, info on the car’s physics and much more.

[JoJoTIMB]

Note: This is the mod that has been remarked by many as the one to knock the ILMS Mod out of commission.
I'm very curious to see how it is, but after reading that traction control is recommended, I'm not sure what to think.... - Tim

The only thing I have to say to this is that the ALMS and Le Mans Endurance Series allow traction control. So technically a suggestion to run it would be more realistic to the series they are emulating. That said there has been a stigma in the sim racing world, that assists = less talented. But as you can see with F1 as of late, even professional drivers have issues once you remove the crutch.

That said, I feel the ILMS mod works great without aids, and feel that the way we do things work perfect for us. But if the mod was designed in such a way to almost require aids, that could be a cool concept, but will not fly in the sim racing world, as most of the racers feel that like I said above, assists = noob.

[Chaz]

Traction Control Usage:

The TC is activated with the F8 button by default, you should assign this to your steering wheel.

The use of traction control is something currently totally misunderstood in Simracing. Several leagues forbid it because it's too easy to drive with. But this is not reality.

The traction control is a multiple choice button often found on steering wheels of the real cars in order to setup the level of TC. So, in real races, the driver can change it on the fly, going from no TC to full TC when the track requires it.

So all servers should allow the TC at all levels and let the driver choose the one he wants to use.

Yes, it does seem odd they recommend "all servers should allow the TC at all levels".

AutoBlip:

The autoblip allows the driver to have an easier downshift with the car. It's an electronic device that adds an automatic blip on the throttle when the driver is downshifting, in order to synchronize the engine RPM with the transmission to prevent transmission lockup under braking.

Autoblip is only available, in real-life and in the mod, on prototypes P1 and P2. So for GT cars, GT1 and GT2, you will have to blip the throttle manually when braking and downshifting in order to keep the car balanced and prevent the rear wheels from locking up.

So when you drive the GT cars, you have to manually blip the throttle. Considering the majority of simracers use autoblip, you have to change your driving.

[Ricardo]

And it seems the brake pressure is stuck at 100%. You can't change it.

Ricardo

[jabber09]

Comparing these two mods is like comparing apples and oranges. To say one is better than the other would be like saying Megan Fox looks better than (insert random girl here).

I spent pretty much all evening playing this mod on tracks from Portimao to mid ohio to sebring to Nothamptonshire and most classes of cars. To put it simply, these cars are made to simulate a real life series, with close attention to detail. I personally like the realism factors it has. Sure traction control is there, but nothing substitutes for how well you use your right foot. Something I did notice is that with the TC system would be more noticable at different tracks due to the different grip levels of the track. At the beginning of the night I started with medium TC, but eventually got used to the cars, worked on the setup and turned it off. Class separation is noticable, and each car has its strengths and weaknesses.

Giving the throttle a kick took only a couple of laps to get used to, but when i switched into a prototype i found myself still blipping at points. I found this gave the car some more stability at points. The various boost levels in all the cars simulated differnt fuel mappings. The sounds are amazing, easily the best i have heard since the sports car challenge.

I have more to write later when my internet comes back up, and i dont write from my cell phone......

[flowie]

ILMS works fine without any driving helps, the Endurance Series mod is undriveable for me without traction control. Ok, to be honest I only did a few laps so far without working on the setup.
I don't see any competition between the two mods. Both have different car selections and physics. Qualitywise I simply can't judge apart from graphics and sounds due to a lack of real world racing experience. Somehow the situation is similar with the CART factor and the 2006/2007 ChampCar World Series mod.
What makes the ILMS for me so special is the "jet fighter feeling" you get when really pushing it. Spending ours to drive some more milliseconds per lap faster.

[Chaz]

ILMS will not have to worry about being "put out of commission". Both mods can co-exist with each other, offering something the other does not. There will always be the "haters", but ILMS will have it's niche.

The one thing that ILMS currently has over Endurancers is that ILMS is established and beyond v1.0. Enduracers has work ahead of them to fix bugs and supply more add-ons. Also, ES does not score properly to work at Race2play.com. Until the modders fix that, ES will miss out on big exposure at R2P.

Also, I didn't realize the GT cars have boost in real life. Am I mistaken that I can select from booost 1-3 in the Endurance Series GT1 cars? The forced manual blip in GT cars is still irking me, along with not being able to change brake pressure, 100lb. spring changes, and some of the car sounds are just odd. But that is just my opinion.

[davidan]

ILMS will not have to worry about being "put out of commission". Both mods can co-exist with each other, offering something the other does not. There will always be the "haters", but ILMS will have it's niche.

The one thing that ILMS currently has over Endurancers is that ILMS is established and beyond v1.0. Enduracers has work ahead of them to fix bugs and supply more add-ons. Also, ES does not score properly to work at Race2play.com. Until the modders fix that, ES will miss out on big exposure at R2P.

Also, I didn't realize the GT cars have boost in real life. Am I mistaken that I can select from booost 1-3 in the Endurance Series GT1 cars? The forced manual blip in GT cars is still irking me, along with not being able to change brake pressure, 100lb. spring changes, and some of the car sounds are just odd. But that is just my opinion.

Well said Chaz, no reason both mods can't co-exist and probably no reason why CMS or other leagues couldnt choose to enjoy them both if you guys wanted to. Simply continue running ILMS and if you want to (or have demand) for the new EnduroRacers Mod either work it into the fun series, or create a division or something for it -- it's all Lemans Racing isnt it? I've been hearing good things about this mod so far -- and we all know how the community feels about ILMS, it's been in the hall of fame for sometime now -- so both are great rFactor add on options from what I can tell.

I have also heard rumors that iRacing may be working on an American Lemans Contract too.

[aichseamido]

I actually think for league racing the ILMS mod may be a little better (mind you this is just a few hours last night) because the cars are tested to be competitive with each other. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the endurance series mod, it's one of the reasons that I bought rfactor, and it's really, really good. That being said, they're not the same thing. One's designed for absolute realism, the other is tested to be both realistic and competitive (correct me if I'm wrong here).

Both mods will continue to flourish in my opinion, both are good products and fun to drive.

PS-A fun series sounds muiy well, FUN!

[jogan]

after half a night of playing around, traction control is not needed. it's available, just like in the real series. but with a little setup time, it isn't mandatory. i ran a few hours with the vette and the porsche without touching tc. the setup values are different from what we're used to (ilms mod) but again, after some setup tuning, it all comes together. unlike the ilms mod, the endu series default setups are pretty far off from what i like to drive. that is purely personal. one of the faster guys in the room with us was merely changing to max downforce and max camber front and rear and keeping up with everyone else in the servers all night long. i will say, i'm not a fan of the vette so far. i don't know if i've been spoiled by what i've got with the ilms vette or not, but i couldn't get that thing to work last night if my life depended on it! plastic brake discs and a center of gravity about ten feet above the hood. that plus a nasty habit of stepping out the ass end at low speeds didn't make for a fun time. but again, this is a personal experience and i simply didn't put in hours and laps of setup time in the vette. the gt2 porsche on the other hand......yummy!

i don't see the need to feel the ilms mod is being "threatened." and i'm not sure who "they" are when someone says, "they say this is gonna beat ilms blah blah blah." they're two separate mods for our beloved game. if you like it, by all means, race all ya want! if you don't, it's just a short trip from the hard drive to the recycle bin. give it a shot, just do so with an open mind.