It has now been two years since the last update to rFactor 2's British Touring Car Championship content. But with Le Mans Ultimate now Studio-397's focus, how does BTCC stack up in 2025?
The British Touring Car Championship pack for rFactor 2 was one of the last pieces of content released for the popular simulator. It includes four tracks, eight cars, and three seasons' worth of circuits.
Showing impressive detail and melding brilliantly into rFactor 2's celebrated physics engine, it certainly is not controversial to say that the release, spread over multiple years as it may, was met with fantastic reviews. Especially from the UK-based crowd, or fans of the series, the ability to race a full grid of the recent years' worth of championships felt like an ode to the sport.
Hitting the track with BTCC cars in rFactor 2. Image credit: Studio-397
But with the content pack's last update coming in May 2023—that's two years ago already—and a full game releasing in the form of Le Mans Ultimate since, now is as good a time as ever to revisit the content pack. So, does BTCC content in rFactor 2 still hold up, or are fans of the release looking fabulous with rose-tinted glasses?
Now, the complete pack costs €29.99 / £25.50 / $33.95, which is a lot of money for a DLC. But if you think of it as a full British Touring Car Championship game with three full seasons (third-party mods required), it is better value than most other sim racing games that offer a similar thing.
rFactor 2: One of the few official Thruxton-inclusive titles. Image credit: Studio-397
This includes eight individual car models, each featuring three full seasons' worth of liveries and drivers and four circuits from the series. Unfortunately, the likes of Snetterton, Silverstone, Oulton Park and Knockhill never got their full detail release, but bringing Brands Hatch, Croft, Donington Park and Thruxton to life, there is a lot to enjoy.
Typically, this omission of circuits would not phase us in rFactor 2, given the title's vast array of third-party creations, filling first-party content gaps. However, given these four circuits' sheer level of detail, immersion, and realism, running the equally qualitative BTCC cars in anything other than these top venues almost feels wrong. From their visuals to the road texture and even the AI lines, races always feel particularly immersive.
On the BTCC grid at Donington Park. Image credit: Studio-397
Built from scratch within the game commonly known for its natural and realistic handling, British Touring Car content harnesses everything that makes rFactor 2 and, by extension, LMU tick. Throttle responsiveness aboard these turbocharged bees feels similar to the real world, and you can feel how the tyres behave beneath you.
Just like other pieces of content in rFactor 2, sliding does seem to be the fastest way around a track. Still, there is a fine line to this, meaning that if you get in even marginally wrong—slightly misjudging the turbo's power delivery, for example—you will end up face-to-face with the tyre barrier. But with responsive force feedback that feels natural to comprehend, it is easy enough to feel where that limit is, making for a supremely engaging drive.
Immersive handling paired with the game's overall atmosphere means you really feel sucked into a BTCC race in rFactor 2.
AI races in rFactor 2 are a lot of fun. Just remember to get your elbows out. Image credit: Studio-397
And that is even more so when the AI makes moves either in offence or defence. Indeed, setting up offline racing in rFactor 2 can be just as intense as online racing, similar to its renewed and focused sibling, Le Mans Ultimate. You can even pretty much transfer your difficulty settings between the two, with 95% AI difficulty in rFactor 2's British Touring Car pack matching the speed of Le Mans Ultimate's challenge at the same level.
Elsewhere, and from a predominantly single-player standpoint, the AI's balance of performance and relative speed appears to be fabricated.
Balance of Performance is a bit skewed in the rFactor 2 BTCC pack. Image credit: Studio-397
To begin with, the AI clearly has a knack for wheeling rear-wheel-drive cars, meaning that between the Infinitis and BMWS up front and the rest of the grid behind, a gap will inevitably form. If that was not enough, relative performance between cars in their own sub-classes is a little off, with the Cupra consistently placing as the fastest FWD model and the Ford straddling at the back of the grid—the opposite of a real-world situation.
That disparity in performance differentials versus the real world is compounded by what seems to be an inability to modify AI talent files as you would with most rFactor 2 car sets. The result being that despite earning himself three BTCC championships so far in his career, Ash Sutton dwells at the back of the grid whilst a real-world backmarker in the shape of Nicolas Hamilton is suddenly in contention for race wins frequently.
Far from the most immersive experience for those most enthusiastic about the sport, this is particularly noticeable after a run in Le Mans Ultimate, where the AI, apart from Porsche GT3 models lapping at what appears to be GT4 pace, is especially close to real-world results and pace. Back markers in real life sit at the back in-game, and faster teams in real life more often than not vie for trophies.
Sure, it makes the most of its title's critically acclaimed physics, and sure, it came to be thanks to the collaboration of the official series. But despite sitting within a game riddled with mismatched content, unique intricacies, and oddball issues, this touring car pack veritably shines like a diamond in the rough.
And that is what makes the BTCC story in rFactor 2 even sadder. Rewind the clock a few years, and we faced the promise of an official, standalone British Touring Car Championship game akin to what Le Mans Ultimate is achieving now with all the tracks, cars, teams, drivers and rules allowing players to immerse themselves in this unique sport. Having seen just how far the FIA World Endurance Championship's official game has come and experienced what a Studio-397-developed BTCC game could look like, that idea does leave a particularly sour taste in our mouths.
What do you make of British Touring Car Championship content in rFactor 2 in 2025? Let us know in the comments below, and join the discussion in our rFactor 2 forum.
The British Touring Car Championship pack for rFactor 2 was one of the last pieces of content released for the popular simulator. It includes four tracks, eight cars, and three seasons' worth of circuits.
Showing impressive detail and melding brilliantly into rFactor 2's celebrated physics engine, it certainly is not controversial to say that the release, spread over multiple years as it may, was met with fantastic reviews. Especially from the UK-based crowd, or fans of the series, the ability to race a full grid of the recent years' worth of championships felt like an ode to the sport.
Hitting the track with BTCC cars in rFactor 2. Image credit: Studio-397
But with the content pack's last update coming in May 2023—that's two years ago already—and a full game releasing in the form of Le Mans Ultimate since, now is as good a time as ever to revisit the content pack. So, does BTCC content in rFactor 2 still hold up, or are fans of the release looking fabulous with rose-tinted glasses?
BTCC in rFactor 2: Tracks and Cars
Initially released in smaller chunks, the British Touring Car Championship content for rFactor 2 is now part of a larger content pack. You can buy individual pieces of content, be it cars or tracks, but the most efficient way to get your hands on them is via the full BTCC Total Pack.Now, the complete pack costs €29.99 / £25.50 / $33.95, which is a lot of money for a DLC. But if you think of it as a full British Touring Car Championship game with three full seasons (third-party mods required), it is better value than most other sim racing games that offer a similar thing.
rFactor 2: One of the few official Thruxton-inclusive titles. Image credit: Studio-397
This includes eight individual car models, each featuring three full seasons' worth of liveries and drivers and four circuits from the series. Unfortunately, the likes of Snetterton, Silverstone, Oulton Park and Knockhill never got their full detail release, but bringing Brands Hatch, Croft, Donington Park and Thruxton to life, there is a lot to enjoy.
Typically, this omission of circuits would not phase us in rFactor 2, given the title's vast array of third-party creations, filling first-party content gaps. However, given these four circuits' sheer level of detail, immersion, and realism, running the equally qualitative BTCC cars in anything other than these top venues almost feels wrong. From their visuals to the road texture and even the AI lines, races always feel particularly immersive.
- Brands Hatch
- Croft
- Donnington Park
- Thruxton
- BMW 330e M Sport
- Cupra Leon
- Ford Focus ST
- Honda Civic Type R
- Hyundai i30 Fastback N
- Infiniti Q50
- Toyota Corolla GR Sport
- Vauxhall Astra
Driving British Touring Cars
Lacking an offline championship mode or additional frills you would expect from a racing game, Le Mans Ultimate's core strength is its driving model. Having spent some time aboard these rFactor 2 BTCC cars, it is clear that the strength stems from developments made towards the end of rFactor 2's lifespan.On the BTCC grid at Donington Park. Image credit: Studio-397
Built from scratch within the game commonly known for its natural and realistic handling, British Touring Car content harnesses everything that makes rFactor 2 and, by extension, LMU tick. Throttle responsiveness aboard these turbocharged bees feels similar to the real world, and you can feel how the tyres behave beneath you.
Just like other pieces of content in rFactor 2, sliding does seem to be the fastest way around a track. Still, there is a fine line to this, meaning that if you get in even marginally wrong—slightly misjudging the turbo's power delivery, for example—you will end up face-to-face with the tyre barrier. But with responsive force feedback that feels natural to comprehend, it is easy enough to feel where that limit is, making for a supremely engaging drive.
Immersive handling paired with the game's overall atmosphere means you really feel sucked into a BTCC race in rFactor 2.
AI races in rFactor 2 are a lot of fun. Just remember to get your elbows out. Image credit: Studio-397
And that is even more so when the AI makes moves either in offence or defence. Indeed, setting up offline racing in rFactor 2 can be just as intense as online racing, similar to its renewed and focused sibling, Le Mans Ultimate. You can even pretty much transfer your difficulty settings between the two, with 95% AI difficulty in rFactor 2's British Touring Car pack matching the speed of Le Mans Ultimate's challenge at the same level.
rFactor 2 BTCC Shortcomings
The BTCC content pack for rFactor 2 is not all sunshine and rainbows, however. It certainly suffers from a few major downfalls. The most obvious of which are the four additional circuits required to complete a full British Touring Car Championship. Sure, mods will fill those gaps, but the stark difference in quality between first- and third-party content will surely get to you.Elsewhere, and from a predominantly single-player standpoint, the AI's balance of performance and relative speed appears to be fabricated.
Balance of Performance is a bit skewed in the rFactor 2 BTCC pack. Image credit: Studio-397
To begin with, the AI clearly has a knack for wheeling rear-wheel-drive cars, meaning that between the Infinitis and BMWS up front and the rest of the grid behind, a gap will inevitably form. If that was not enough, relative performance between cars in their own sub-classes is a little off, with the Cupra consistently placing as the fastest FWD model and the Ford straddling at the back of the grid—the opposite of a real-world situation.
That disparity in performance differentials versus the real world is compounded by what seems to be an inability to modify AI talent files as you would with most rFactor 2 car sets. The result being that despite earning himself three BTCC championships so far in his career, Ash Sutton dwells at the back of the grid whilst a real-world backmarker in the shape of Nicolas Hamilton is suddenly in contention for race wins frequently.
Far from the most immersive experience for those most enthusiastic about the sport, this is particularly noticeable after a run in Le Mans Ultimate, where the AI, apart from Porsche GT3 models lapping at what appears to be GT4 pace, is especially close to real-world results and pace. Back markers in real life sit at the back in-game, and faster teams in real life more often than not vie for trophies.
Conclusion: A Missed Opportunity
Every game, DLC, car collection, and update has ups and downs. But overall, the British Touring Car Championship content for rFactor 2 still presents a brilliant corner in the sim racing space that deserves more appreciation for what it achieved.Sure, it makes the most of its title's critically acclaimed physics, and sure, it came to be thanks to the collaboration of the official series. But despite sitting within a game riddled with mismatched content, unique intricacies, and oddball issues, this touring car pack veritably shines like a diamond in the rough.
And that is what makes the BTCC story in rFactor 2 even sadder. Rewind the clock a few years, and we faced the promise of an official, standalone British Touring Car Championship game akin to what Le Mans Ultimate is achieving now with all the tracks, cars, teams, drivers and rules allowing players to immerse themselves in this unique sport. Having seen just how far the FIA World Endurance Championship's official game has come and experienced what a Studio-397-developed BTCC game could look like, that idea does leave a particularly sour taste in our mouths.
What do you make of British Touring Car Championship content in rFactor 2 in 2025? Let us know in the comments below, and join the discussion in our rFactor 2 forum.
