An exciting new sneak peek was released across the BeamNG.drive socials last week, and it has new rally content. BeamNG has been accused of being directionless with its updates in the previous year, but this rally content is starting to perk up the ears of sim racers across the spectrum of the hobby.
This idea of BeamNG.drive being a great rally simulator is not a new idea or concept to us here at OverTake; we all agree that the title has a lot of potential to rival the likes of EA Sports WRC and Richard Burns Rally if it would just commit to doing so, and 2025 looks to be the year that that is going to happen.
There is no shortage of tarmac stage variety when mods are involved! Image credit: Track Broseff
A Jimmy Broadbent video on this topic got me thinking about what BeamNG needs to do and is expected to deliver in 2025. So, while there will be some references to Jimmy's video, I want to explore some aspects further.
BeamNG's mechanical damage is ideally suited to punishing your mistakes on the rally stages.
The game's tyre model falls short slightly. While indeed an advanced simulation of tyre technology, it is not quite as advanced as the rest of the car's physics. The BeamNG cars handle confidently when pushed hard on both tarmac and dirt stages.
I agree with Broadbent that the tarmac stages in the pre-release Rally mode feel more connected and engaging than EA Sports WRC's or Richard Burns Rally's offerings. However, the title still misses many of its contenders' gamification aspects.
The threat of significant damage does contribute to the fear factor of BeamNG's rallying experience; that is certainly one area in the sim that sets it apart from its other rallying rivals. If you make a mistake and put your car in a ditch, you could rip the rear bodywork off your vehicle and buckle a wheel. The level of detail and damage simulation is unique.
Some rally mod packs even have service areas.
When gravel stages are introduced, the enjoyment starts to multiply. Every little rut in the road impacts your car and forces you to drive as if the damage were coming out of your monthly paycheck. This risk versus reward driving style has also been present in the career mode for nearly two years, another half-finished mode within BeamNG.
With the gravel and dirt stages, you have to be pretty picky. Often, trials on Jungle Rock Island, for example, are unsuitable for rally cars; they are more catered for crawlers and jeeps. There are mod packs that introduce a broad range of timed rally stages with accompanying rally stage decorations such as hay bails and tape marking the correct route through the stage, an essential aspect considering there are no pace notes, either visual or audible.
Plenty of fantastic rally cars are available in the base game, and others can be downloaded from the BeamNG repository.
The problem with BeamNG becoming a competitive rally simulator is the lack of gamification. The title is not designed entirely around the discipline of rally, so having this dedicated mode is essential. However, it is solely a time trial as it currently stands. There are no other times apart from your own, and excluding any BeamMP Multiplayer rally championships, there is no way to compare times with your friends.
BeamNG's rally competition has strong game modes encouraging players to keep playing rather than simply improving their stage times. For example, Richard Burns Rally's extensive online catalogue of cars and locations has helped keep a game that should be long dead alive and kicking as a market leader in the rally discipline. EA Sports WRC has the Moments mode, which offers variety and a medal system to reward improvement over some of the title's most difficult combinations and real-life recreations.
This mod pack adequately prepares you for rallying in BeamNG. It has some of the best car configurations available on the mod repository. With creative minds in the community who can add something of this calibre to BeamNG, the future looks bright for Rally within BeamNG.
Group B inspired Civetta Bolide. Image: Track Broseff
The new official rally content, which will be available sooner rather than later, will only add to the content pool available for those who like to send cars sideways through the gravel stages. If you have not tried a rally stage in BeamNG before, I would certainly recommend you do so!
What do you think about the future of rallying within BeamNG? Let us know in the comments down below!
This idea of BeamNG.drive being a great rally simulator is not a new idea or concept to us here at OverTake; we all agree that the title has a lot of potential to rival the likes of EA Sports WRC and Richard Burns Rally if it would just commit to doing so, and 2025 looks to be the year that that is going to happen.
There is no shortage of tarmac stage variety when mods are involved! Image credit: Track Broseff
A Jimmy Broadbent video on this topic got me thinking about what BeamNG needs to do and is expected to deliver in 2025. So, while there will be some references to Jimmy's video, I want to explore some aspects further.
Dirt and Tarmac Physics
What's the most essential aspect of a rally simulator? The driving physics, of course. This vital part of sim racing has often been compromised in big rally titles of the past, but BeamNG is entirely based around the unique and highly technical physics engine, so driving physics is what they do best.BeamNG's mechanical damage is ideally suited to punishing your mistakes on the rally stages.
The game's tyre model falls short slightly. While indeed an advanced simulation of tyre technology, it is not quite as advanced as the rest of the car's physics. The BeamNG cars handle confidently when pushed hard on both tarmac and dirt stages.
I agree with Broadbent that the tarmac stages in the pre-release Rally mode feel more connected and engaging than EA Sports WRC's or Richard Burns Rally's offerings. However, the title still misses many of its contenders' gamification aspects.
The threat of significant damage does contribute to the fear factor of BeamNG's rallying experience; that is certainly one area in the sim that sets it apart from its other rallying rivals. If you make a mistake and put your car in a ditch, you could rip the rear bodywork off your vehicle and buckle a wheel. The level of detail and damage simulation is unique.
Some rally mod packs even have service areas.
When gravel stages are introduced, the enjoyment starts to multiply. Every little rut in the road impacts your car and forces you to drive as if the damage were coming out of your monthly paycheck. This risk versus reward driving style has also been present in the career mode for nearly two years, another half-finished mode within BeamNG.
With the gravel and dirt stages, you have to be pretty picky. Often, trials on Jungle Rock Island, for example, are unsuitable for rally cars; they are more catered for crawlers and jeeps. There are mod packs that introduce a broad range of timed rally stages with accompanying rally stage decorations such as hay bails and tape marking the correct route through the stage, an essential aspect considering there are no pace notes, either visual or audible.
Plenty of fantastic rally cars are available in the base game, and others can be downloaded from the BeamNG repository.
The problem with BeamNG becoming a competitive rally simulator is the lack of gamification. The title is not designed entirely around the discipline of rally, so having this dedicated mode is essential. However, it is solely a time trial as it currently stands. There are no other times apart from your own, and excluding any BeamMP Multiplayer rally championships, there is no way to compare times with your friends.
BeamNG's rally competition has strong game modes encouraging players to keep playing rather than simply improving their stage times. For example, Richard Burns Rally's extensive online catalogue of cars and locations has helped keep a game that should be long dead alive and kicking as a market leader in the rally discipline. EA Sports WRC has the Moments mode, which offers variety and a medal system to reward improvement over some of the title's most difficult combinations and real-life recreations.
BeamNG.rally and AI Pacenotes
The faithful and passionate BeamNG fanbase has created fantastic mods for rally fans, from AI pace notes to 20+ stage events. My favourite mod is the fantastic Project BeamNG.rally mod from the creator Track Broseff. This pack is great when paired with the AI Pacenotes mod from the creator dirtwheel.This mod pack adequately prepares you for rallying in BeamNG. It has some of the best car configurations available on the mod repository. With creative minds in the community who can add something of this calibre to BeamNG, the future looks bright for Rally within BeamNG.
Group B inspired Civetta Bolide. Image: Track Broseff
The new official rally content, which will be available sooner rather than later, will only add to the content pool available for those who like to send cars sideways through the gravel stages. If you have not tried a rally stage in BeamNG before, I would certainly recommend you do so!
What do you think about the future of rallying within BeamNG? Let us know in the comments down below!
