As part of a recent patch, Automobilista 2 saw physics improvements to its range of go-karts, namely the Superkarts. So how good are they, and just what are these manic creations?
A large wing, stiff suspension with zero concept of actually working like suspension should, and a 250cc engine capacity amounting to upwards of 250km/h of manic motorsport with more health and safety breaches than a bullfight. That pretty much sums up the Superkart formula, something rarely seen in motorsport today and even more seldom present in sim racing.
But an old vestige of its Madness Engine, Automobilista 2 has included the oddball regulations since its inception. Now, though, following the update to version 1.6.3.5, which comprised a total physics revision to all Kart classes, these monstrous tokens of a bygone era are actually worth giving a go. Here is what they are all about.
Fitted to the extremely rigged chassis lacking any sense of suspension or plushness to the hard plastic seat is a 250cc two-stroke engine with a six-speed sequential transmission. That may not sound like a lot, but somehow, these brutes pump out over 100 brake horsepower. Pair that with their sub-200kg weight, including the driver, and these bonkers back-breakers will accelerate to 100kph in under three seconds and cap out at an astonishing 250.
If that wasn't enough, streamlined bodywork surrounds the driver, and a massive wing hangs out the back for commendable amounts of downforce.
Unlike the un-be-winged go-karts we are more used to, Superkarts do not fit the confines of a normal karting track. Instead, they take to much longer layouts, more commonly taken to by cars.
Superkarts compete on full-size car tracks. Image credit: Reiza Studios
Dig deep enough and you will find that most countries have their own Superkart series, even still to this day. But no doubt the most famous championships featuring these cold-shoulders to health and safety is the British and Australian series. Watching these miniature single-seaters take on full-scale tracks like Donnington Park is a sight to be seen.
The Peel Kart Grand Prix was an annual, single-day event that saw the streets of Peel, a small town on the Isle of Man, close for the day before rushing to the sound of two-stroke Superkarts. Running well into the early-2000s, the Grand Prix was officially coined the only British Karting Street Race. However, take a look at the onboard videos, and you will understand why it was the only one.
Indeed, it was in 2005 that Helen Adcock became the first and last casualty of the event, running coming to a close on the 1.25-mile course soon after.
Certainly a tragic end to the event, sim racing is the perfect avenue to restore what is now an unimaginable era in motorsport. Sadly, the Peel Grand Prix circuit is unavailable in virtual motorsport to the best of our knowledge. But the karts themselves are very much present in AMS2 and, better yet, are incredibly fun to tame.
Following the most recent physics overhaul, however, Automobilista 2 finally shines a spotlight on what is a frequently forgotten car class. They really are a lot of fun.
Group racing in Automobilista 2 Superkarts. Image credit: Reiza Studios
As part of their preset in Automobilista 2, Superkarts focus on the numerous British circuits in the game. However, any fast-flowing layout will work well for the bonkers mini cars such as the collection of old-school Brazilian locations. In years gone past, the ridiculous creations have also raced on the streets of Adelaide, something one could very much recreate in Automobilista 2.
Straight out of the pits, you can sense the incredible torque the little engine produces. Spinning the tyres is not the biggest cause for concern, it is more the fact that if you are not careful, you will soon be going far quicker than expected. So make sure to turn onto pit road before actually hitting the gas.
Leave the pits and pick up the speed and you immediately understand why the terms manic, brutal and dangerous best describe Superkarts. Not only do they accelerate to breath-taking speeds faster than you can say, "Where are the brakes," but they also amplify the effects of any bump in the road. A stiff chassis and a lack of springs were never supposed to tackle Snetterton's Turn 1 at 200 kph.
What happens when you strap an F1-style wing to a go-kart? Image credit: Reiza Studios
In addition to the lumpy, bumpy ride, Automobilista 2's visuals do a great job of representing the speed of these things as trackside scenery flies by at an incredible rate.
Just like any go-kart, the lack of weight means they will slow down incredibly easily, so just a little bit of brake pressure is needed. Overstep the line, and you will soon lock the rears, sending your screen into a near-300kph spinning top.
The same delicate approach has to be said about the steering. Before jumping into the game, ensure Automobilista 2 is set to adapt your wheel rotation, as in these things, it should lock to about 180° of the possible range. As such, you will only need very small amounts of input for quite an aggressive change of direction. Go over the limits of tyre grip, and understeer city will gain an inhabitant.
Be careful not to lose control of your Superkart in AMS2. Image credit: Reiza Studios
Toeing the line between braking oversteer and turn-in understeer is even more difficult at higher speeds. With that massive wing over the rear wheels, the front will lose a lot of control above a certain speed. As such, even faster corners may require some excessive slowing down unless you want to plough straight on into the gravel. In fact, you will want to square exits off as best as possible in order to optimise your lap times. Once you see an easy line to the end of a turn, plant the throttle and watch the aero wash take you to the kerb.
Do not get too close to the kerb, though, as with tiny little wheels, the undulation of an exit stone will send ripples through the chassis, causing a hopping effect which will soon produce wheelspin and send you off-track.
Extremely difficult beasts to tame, Superkarts are some of the most rewarding vehicles to drive in sim racing right now. In fact, once you get into a rhythm and find yourself clocking off the laps, the thrill is equal to only the craziest of Formula One racers.
What do you make of the Superkarts in Automobilista 2? Let us know in the comments.
A large wing, stiff suspension with zero concept of actually working like suspension should, and a 250cc engine capacity amounting to upwards of 250km/h of manic motorsport with more health and safety breaches than a bullfight. That pretty much sums up the Superkart formula, something rarely seen in motorsport today and even more seldom present in sim racing.
But an old vestige of its Madness Engine, Automobilista 2 has included the oddball regulations since its inception. Now, though, following the update to version 1.6.3.5, which comprised a total physics revision to all Kart classes, these monstrous tokens of a bygone era are actually worth giving a go. Here is what they are all about.
What are Superkarts?
At their core, Superkarts are very similar to the standard rental machines the majority of race fans will be accustomed to. However, much like their more regular competitive counterparts, these get more race-oriented tech.Fitted to the extremely rigged chassis lacking any sense of suspension or plushness to the hard plastic seat is a 250cc two-stroke engine with a six-speed sequential transmission. That may not sound like a lot, but somehow, these brutes pump out over 100 brake horsepower. Pair that with their sub-200kg weight, including the driver, and these bonkers back-breakers will accelerate to 100kph in under three seconds and cap out at an astonishing 250.
If that wasn't enough, streamlined bodywork surrounds the driver, and a massive wing hangs out the back for commendable amounts of downforce.
Unlike the un-be-winged go-karts we are more used to, Superkarts do not fit the confines of a normal karting track. Instead, they take to much longer layouts, more commonly taken to by cars.
Superkarts compete on full-size car tracks. Image credit: Reiza Studios
Dig deep enough and you will find that most countries have their own Superkart series, even still to this day. But no doubt the most famous championships featuring these cold-shoulders to health and safety is the British and Australian series. Watching these miniature single-seaters take on full-scale tracks like Donnington Park is a sight to be seen.
Spotlight: Peel Grand Prix
But that is not to mean that Superkarts only ever race on fully permanent venues with nice grass verges between you and your inevitable doom. No, take the short - it really isn't that short - ferry trip across the Irish Sea to the Isle of Man and the land of the TT is also known for another death-defying stunt.The Peel Kart Grand Prix was an annual, single-day event that saw the streets of Peel, a small town on the Isle of Man, close for the day before rushing to the sound of two-stroke Superkarts. Running well into the early-2000s, the Grand Prix was officially coined the only British Karting Street Race. However, take a look at the onboard videos, and you will understand why it was the only one.
Indeed, it was in 2005 that Helen Adcock became the first and last casualty of the event, running coming to a close on the 1.25-mile course soon after.
Certainly a tragic end to the event, sim racing is the perfect avenue to restore what is now an unimaginable era in motorsport. Sadly, the Peel Grand Prix circuit is unavailable in virtual motorsport to the best of our knowledge. But the karts themselves are very much present in AMS2 and, better yet, are incredibly fun to tame.
Superkarts in Automobilista 2
As aforementioned, Automobilista 2's incorporation of Superkarts is no doubt an archaeological remnant of its Madness Engine roots. The class also appeared in both Project Cars games, though with their particular approach to physics, they were rarely the most enjoyable cars to drive.Following the most recent physics overhaul, however, Automobilista 2 finally shines a spotlight on what is a frequently forgotten car class. They really are a lot of fun.
Group racing in Automobilista 2 Superkarts. Image credit: Reiza Studios
As part of their preset in Automobilista 2, Superkarts focus on the numerous British circuits in the game. However, any fast-flowing layout will work well for the bonkers mini cars such as the collection of old-school Brazilian locations. In years gone past, the ridiculous creations have also raced on the streets of Adelaide, something one could very much recreate in Automobilista 2.
Straight out of the pits, you can sense the incredible torque the little engine produces. Spinning the tyres is not the biggest cause for concern, it is more the fact that if you are not careful, you will soon be going far quicker than expected. So make sure to turn onto pit road before actually hitting the gas.
Leave the pits and pick up the speed and you immediately understand why the terms manic, brutal and dangerous best describe Superkarts. Not only do they accelerate to breath-taking speeds faster than you can say, "Where are the brakes," but they also amplify the effects of any bump in the road. A stiff chassis and a lack of springs were never supposed to tackle Snetterton's Turn 1 at 200 kph.
What happens when you strap an F1-style wing to a go-kart? Image credit: Reiza Studios
In addition to the lumpy, bumpy ride, Automobilista 2's visuals do a great job of representing the speed of these things as trackside scenery flies by at an incredible rate.
Taming the Beast
With immense power and the ability to swap ends at any opportunity, there is no denying that the Superkarts are some of the trickiest models to drive in AMS2. Sure, you get a sense of what the tyre is doing following the recent update, but it is far from an easy time.Just like any go-kart, the lack of weight means they will slow down incredibly easily, so just a little bit of brake pressure is needed. Overstep the line, and you will soon lock the rears, sending your screen into a near-300kph spinning top.
The same delicate approach has to be said about the steering. Before jumping into the game, ensure Automobilista 2 is set to adapt your wheel rotation, as in these things, it should lock to about 180° of the possible range. As such, you will only need very small amounts of input for quite an aggressive change of direction. Go over the limits of tyre grip, and understeer city will gain an inhabitant.
Be careful not to lose control of your Superkart in AMS2. Image credit: Reiza Studios
Toeing the line between braking oversteer and turn-in understeer is even more difficult at higher speeds. With that massive wing over the rear wheels, the front will lose a lot of control above a certain speed. As such, even faster corners may require some excessive slowing down unless you want to plough straight on into the gravel. In fact, you will want to square exits off as best as possible in order to optimise your lap times. Once you see an easy line to the end of a turn, plant the throttle and watch the aero wash take you to the kerb.
Do not get too close to the kerb, though, as with tiny little wheels, the undulation of an exit stone will send ripples through the chassis, causing a hopping effect which will soon produce wheelspin and send you off-track.
Extremely difficult beasts to tame, Superkarts are some of the most rewarding vehicles to drive in sim racing right now. In fact, once you get into a rhythm and find yourself clocking off the laps, the thrill is equal to only the craziest of Formula One racers.
What do you make of the Superkarts in Automobilista 2? Let us know in the comments.
