RACE 07

Legal complications within the SimBin studio, one of the main players in the car simulator market, have resulted in ambiguous consequences. On the one hand, the breakaway team Blimey! Games released a decent BMW M3 Challenge (read about it in the review of the current issue). On the other hand, SimBin lost some of its key specialists, and this hit the quality of their projects.

Last year’s Race: Official WTCC Game was received with obvious skepticism by fans of the genre. Sim racers criticized the game for simplified physics, lack of mod support and raw multiplayer. In general, it was clear that the project was done in a hurry – apparently, they wanted to make it in time for the autumn final of the season. Nevertheless, releasing a frankly weak game based on a proven engine and content from GTR 2 is not an easy task. Then we finished the review of Race with a warning: next time such a trick will not work, especially when it comes to SimBin – they expect much more from them.

RACE 07 Free Steam Account

After the summer standalone addition Race: Caterham, which was more like a belated patch, it’s finally time for a full-fledged sequel. It seems that SimBin have temporarily put the GT theme aside and focused on licensed simulators of the world touring car championship, and they do this with enviable regularity. And this, frankly speaking, is not bad: WTCC is more popular with viewers than GT, and the annual release of a quality game is a good way to expand the fan base. True, there is a downside – this promises players annual “updates” with new car colors and minimal changes in gameplay. Something like a racing version of games from EA Sports. However, Race 07: Official WTCC Game goes slightly beyond this formula. In addition to cars decorated for the 2007 season, there is something here that can interest even those who played the previous parts.

A few words about the main star of the game – WTCC. While you are reading these lines, the 2007 season has already finished. But at the time of the game’s release, there were two stages left until the end, and there was little intrigue: the factory BMW 320 dominated the track, and Andy Priaulx was confidently moving towards his third championship title in a row. The main problem with the WTCC is that the championship desperately lacks fresh blood. In 2007, only four brands are participating in full: BMW, SEAT (Volkswagen is actively developing the sporty image of its Spanish subsidiary), Chevrolet and Alfa Romeo. The latter, by the way, are only represented by the private team N-Technology with two far from new 156 models. The factory return of the Italians, if it happens, will not happen before next year. And this is somehow modest for a series that claims global status.

And the geography of the WTCC is more European than global – the vast majority of stages are held in the Old World. But we must give credit to the organizers: the 2007 calendar still has a couple of pleasant surprises. For example, two new city tracks appeared in it – in the French Pau (where races have been held since the beginning of the last century!) and the Portuguese Porto. The narrow streets are ideal for not the most powerful two-liter cars, although sometimes they are a bit cramped there. The terrible in every sense Mexican Puebla was replaced by the more worthy Dutch Zandvoort, and the modern but boring autodrome in Istanbul gave way to the Swedish Anderstorp. The final, as always, takes place in Macau – on the legendary city track, one of the most difficult and prestigious in the world of motorsports (and no, it is not Monaco).

Start playing stress-free! A free account in steam gives you that.

Race 07: More than just WTCC

If Race 07 had been limited to the 2007 WTCC championship, it would have been boring, to put it mildly. But the developers decided not to stop there — and they did the right thing. In addition to the new season, the game also includes last year’s tournament, familiar from the first part: private teams on Hondas and Peugeots returned in full force.

But that’s not the most interesting thing. SimBin suddenly went beyond the usual touring races and added several new classes of cars to the game at once. Those familiar with the Caterham add-on have already driven nimble roadsters, and now other goodies have appeared on the menu:

• Formula 3000 — fast, powerful cars that require experience and skill;
• Formula BMW — lightweight training cars with motorcycle engines;
• Radical — lightweight sports prototypes for those who love controllability and excitement;
• WTCC 1987 — classics with an old-school spirit and roaring engines;
• Mini Cooper Cup — a cheerful classmate with character and temper.

Of course, it’s far from the “300 cars” stated on the box (after all, the developers, as usual, counted crews, not cars), but there’s plenty of variety. And the Car Filter feature allows you to race completely different cars in one race. Imagine: Mini Cooper versus F3000. It’s not hard to guess the winner, but it’s fun – that’s the main thing.

Among all the new products, Formula 3000 deserves special attention – these are the fastest and most evil cars in the game. At one time, future Formula 1 stars raced on such cars (with Lola chassis and 500-horsepower Ford engines), paving the way to the elite. Although the modern F3000 International Masters is not quite the same legendary series of the 90s, the spirit remains. SimBin was required to do very little: competently implement these championships and, where possible, patch up old jambs. In general, they coped with the task – but not without flaws. The new tracks are especially striking. For example, Zandvoort: the track is excellent, technical, and visually – as if teleported from the times of F1 2002. And this, to put it mildly, is not a compliment. Unfortunately, visual minimalism is visible everywhere – from car models to textures. The bodywork of cars suffers especially: angular, poor in detail and with muddy textures. And the final touch in this graphic retro festival is a strange brownish filter, giving the picture a shade of morning coffee. Unappetizing.

The irony is that other games on the same engine (like GTR 2 or BMW M3 Challenge) look noticeably better. But there is hope: in the depths of the studio, a completely new engine called Lizard is already brewing. The screenshots inspire optimism – if SimBin does not change their mind, everything may be fine.

Beauty is important, of course, but a racing game should be exciting first and foremost – and here Race 07 keeps up the good work. Each car feels different, the behavior differs even between front and rear wheel drive – so clearly that it is felt almost intuitively. The realism is pleasantly surprising. With formula cars, everything is even more interesting: “Formula BMW” is easy and forgiving, but the F3000 is a beast that requires a firm hand. It is not for nothing that its behavior in the game was tested by real racer Alex Danielson. The only thing that spoils the fun of open cars is the so-called “helmet view”. The thing is beautifully conceived, but in practice it is more of a hindrance. It limits vision, the overview suffers. It can safely be nominated for the title of the most useless innovation of the year.

RACE 07 System Requirements

How to play RACE 07 for free on Steam via VpeSports

Do you dream of getting into the role of a real racer and feeling every second on the track in RACE 07, but you don’t want to pay for the game? Don’t worry, there is a great way to start playing for free — and it’s right here. The VpeSports service gives you the opportunity to launch the game through special joint Steam accounts. Everything is fair, simple and, most importantly, free.

The whole process takes only a few minutes. Go to the VpeSports website, go through a quick registration and get to the section with free steam account. RACE 07 is already waiting for you there — not just a car simulator, but a real race with an atmosphere, track sounds and adrenaline at every turn. Open the game page, click the download button — and you will receive step-by-step instructions on how to start. No hassle, just clear steps and a clear route to the starting line.

After the first races, be sure to leave a review — it’s really important for us to hear your opinion. And it will help other players understand what to expect from the game. If suddenly the comment does not appear right away, do not worry: we will tell you how to correct it, and after moderation you will receive access to the account by email.

And to always be in the know, look at our Telegram – there is a lively community, up-to-date instructions, tips and just a friendly atmosphere. If suddenly something does not work out – they will help here. And for those who want to understand everything step by step, the site has already prepared a detailed guide on launching not only RACE 07, but also many other games.

Ready to hear the roar of the engine and feel the track under the wheels? Then step on the gas – and go!