{"id":802,"date":"2025-07-22T13:29:39","date_gmt":"2025-07-22T13:29:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/draplenvuxio.com\/?p=802"},"modified":"2025-07-23T09:32:44","modified_gmt":"2025-07-23T09:32:44","slug":"le-mans-ultimate-review-the-real-endurance-driving-simulator","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/draplenvuxio.com\/index.php\/2025\/07\/22\/le-mans-ultimate-review-the-real-endurance-driving-simulator\/","title":{"rendered":"Le Mans Ultimate review \u2013 the real endurance driving simulator"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n\t\t\"Le\t<\/div>
Le Mans Ultimate \u2013 a serious drive (Motorsport Games)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This new officially licensed World Endurance Championship game is a technical marvel but it\u2019s definitely not an arcade racer.<\/p>\n

Of all the world\u2019s most prestigious motor racing series \u2013 namely, those run by motorsports governing body the FIA<\/a> \u2013 the World Endurance Championship is probably the most hardcore. The clue is in the word \u2018endurance\u2019 \u2013 WEC races are long and brutal, with various classes of cars, each shared by several drivers, and then there\u2019s the jewel in the series\u2019 crown: the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans.<\/p>\n

The long-form nature of endurance racing has meant that in the past, few have attempted to translate the format into video games<\/a>. But now we have an officially licensed WEC game, in the form of Le Mans Ultimate. It\u2019s been developed by Netherlands<\/a>-based Studio 397, best known for the racing sim rFactor 2, whose parent company, Motorsport Games, is run by Stephen Hood \u2013 who helmed Codemasters<\/a>\u2019 Formula One games between 2009 and 2014.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s plenty of motorsports pedigree at work here, but beyond the official licences, Le Mans Ultimate and F1 25<\/a> come from very different ends of the motorsport gaming spectrum. Whereas the latter attempts to appeal to all F1<\/a> fans, regardless of driving talent, Le Mans Ultimate is a racing simulator, squarely targeted at hardcore petrolheads.<\/p>\n

For starters, Le Mans Ultimate is PC-only (although Studio 397 and Motorsport Games are thought to be working on console versions). Although it does support conventional gamepads, as well as home rigs with steering wheels and pedals, it forces you to use a mouse to scroll through its menus \u2013 gamepad control only kicks in when you\u2019ve told the game to exit from the pits.<\/p>\n

Format-wise, Le Mans Ultimate\u2019s single-player element is about as simple as you can get: a series of race weekends consisting of three sessions \u2013 practice, qualifying and the race \u2013 for which you must choose your circuit and your car. At this point, it\u2019s important to bear in mind that the game has been in early access for the best part of a year, during which period the developer has been adding a constant drip-feed of cars and tracks.<\/p>\n

So while it has a relatively small amount of tracks, many of the world\u2019s best are included. There\u2019s Le Mans, of course, but also Spa, Imola, Fuji, Interlagos, Bahrain, Qatar, and Austin. Silverstone is in the works and at some stage in the future a simulation of the whole European Le Mans Series will be added to the game as an alternative and very welcome single-player option.<\/p>\n

\n

\n\t\t\t\tExpert, exclusive gaming analysis\t\t\t<\/h2>\n
\n

Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter<\/strong><\/a> for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n
\n