EA Sports WRC: General Discussion

[Dreadmed]

After doing a quick run through of the new stages earlier, Umea in the hybrid Puma was... alright. Nothing much to really write about although it seems the bridge before the barn arena is a fair bit wider and flatter in-game compared to my memory of it (2024).

Harvati in the '01 Impreza was a ton of fun! Starts off fast and gradually gets a bit more tighter and technical the further in you get while still retaining a nice flow. I'll be doing a few more runs of it in different classes to get a better feel for it but (for me) it's already up there with the MC stage.*

*Edit: The only issue I have with Harvati is the numerous streams in the first half, even then that's an interior cam/game/me problem due to hitting them too fast rather than one with the stage itself. In all other respects...

 

[rich m]

Really like the new Sweden stages, looks so much better than the existing ones.
Playing Quickplay is going to get old quick though. Desperate to be able to use them in Career. Like Les Maestros, i’ll just have to do with the new liveries in Career for now. Been hoping for the BP Ford livery for a long time.

 

[MagpieRacer]

Spent a lot of time with the DLC today, here's my thoughts on the elements.

I'll start with the livery selection, top tier. The BP Focus, Michelin Escort, Evans' Cordoba, the OG 206, all brilliant additions among the various others, but the standout for me is the Stobart Monster Focus, looks brilliant and is one of my favourite real WRC liveries so to have it in the game is a treat.

Stages; Umea, it's fine, it's nice to have an up to date Swedish stage, unfortunately just like the real Umea rally, it's not particularly exciting. Not a fault of CM or the game, just that it's not an amazing stage in its own right. Has some fun sections and the Red Barn arena will become iconic over time. Umea sprint at night is where it shines.
Harvati on the other hand is superb, comfortably the best Greek stage and one of the best hot gravel stages in the game. Loads of watersplashes, fast sections, twisty climbs, it's a buttclencher and I love it.

Cars:
Hyundai i20 Coupe. Fits in nicely with how the rest of the cars in this class feel, alarmingly fast at times, very high grip and fun to hoon around. Exceptional on tarmac. 8/10

Ford Focus '99. Surprise hit for me, looks great, livery is a solid non alcohol effort, sounds a bit more lively than the 2001 Focus and I found it a little more drivable. A nice surprise. 9/10

Ford Escort MK1. Not a huge classic car lover, it's a nice looking car and drives well, sounds decent. Won't use it much. 6/10

Opel Corsa Rally4. Absolutely fine, basically a reskinned 208, but does look slightly nicer. Inoffensive to drive, probably won't be a go to in Rally4 but solid. 7/10

Renault Clio Rally4. Will probably be my go-to in Rally4, looks great, sounds good and drives very well. Enjoyable to throw around. 8/10

Renault Clio Rally3. Superb, what a treat this car is. 260bhp 4WD, very quick, very easy to chuck around, looks fantastic and the sound is absolutely brilliant. 10/10, car of the pack.

 

[AttackDickie]

Michelin Pilot livery > everything else

 

[Cabelmania]

The usual Showcase video from me is coming tomorrow, but I can already spoil that everything that @MagpieRacer said about the Clio Rally3..............is true

 

[RYAN]

I remember watching a Video of last years Rally Finland where there was a Clio R3 and I remember the exhaust/Anti Lag being very aggressive. It was on the short spectator stage that starts on city streets. I'll try and find it.

Edit - Here it is. Stage is Harju the first stage of the rally.

Clio R3 at 6:35



Also, There's already a newer model Clio R3!

 

[m355y]

The liveries are the best thing about this for me. The Pilot Escort, the '99 206, the Breen 208 and especially the two Focus liveries (BP and Stobart) which are two of my favourite WRC liveries.

The stages are nice, but here's where I'm probably going to get controversial. I don't quite understand this strategy of releasing new routes for existing locations. I'd be so, so much more excited if this was a Wales stage and an Australia stage, for example. I feel like more variety adds more to the game and personally given these are beautifully done and completely distinct to the other stages in these locations, they must have taken just as much work as adding a totally new rally. Just personal opinion but I've been trying to put my finger on why I've maybe been a little less excited about this DLC and think that's a big part of it. The locations are similar and the cars are mostly different iterations of cars already in the game. There's little that feels truly exciting for me.

That said, still a fine addition. I hope there's more to come.

 

[tbtstt]

I remember watching a Video of last years Rally Finland where there was a Clio R3 and I remember the exhaust/Anti Lag being very aggressive. It was on the short spectator stage that starts on city streets. I'll try and find it.

Edit - Here it is. Stage is Harju the first stage of the rally.

Clio R3 at 6:35

That is how you convince me to try the Clio R3: that sounds awesome!

 

[TypeRDC5]

The liveries are the best thing about this for me. The Pilot Escort, the '99 206, the Breen 208 and especially the two Focus liveries (BP and Stobart) which are two of my favourite WRC liveries.

The stages are nice, but here's where I'm probably going to get controversial. I don't quite understand this strategy of releasing new routes for existing locations. I'd be so, so much more excited if this was a Wales stage and an Australia stage, for example. I feel like more variety adds more to the game and personally given these are beautifully done and completely distinct to the other stages in these locations, they must have taken just as much work as adding a totally new rally. Just personal opinion but I've been trying to put my finger on why I've maybe been a little less excited about this DLC and think that's a big part of it. The locations are similar and the cars are mostly different iterations of cars already in the game. There's little that feels truly exciting for me.

That said, still a fine addition. I hope there's more to come.

+1 for Wales as a new location from me, Codemasters have always nailed Wales Rally GB in their games even in the PS1 days, would be nice to see it added since we have other rallies already included which don't form part of the WRC schedule. I bet it would sell really well too!

Also not adding new stages to career mode seems like a massively missed opportunity although I know it's not that simple as already mentioned.

 

[PJTierney]

Harvati is quite fun when you have a car that likes to rotate.

 

[RYAN]

That is how you convince me to try the Clio R3: that sounds awesome!

I tried it on Harvati, Suited the stage well. Especially in the more tighter and narrower sections. 👍

 

[tbtstt]

I tried it on Harvati, Suited the stage well. Especially in the more tighter and narrower sections. 👍

Didn't get on the PS5 until late, so not quite as much playing time as I hoped.

Started to work through the new moments (of course beginning with the Michelin Pilot EsCos!). The new i20 feels ridiculously quick in those Iberia stages, definitely want to do some back-to-back comparisons with the cars in that class.

Did the '99 Focus moment in Kenya and barely scraped a bronze, so need to revisit that one (felt weird not getting a gold first time out!). Didn't feel radically different to the '01 Focus, but again I'd like to do some more comparison runs to get a proper feel for both of them.

Gave the Kenya Mk.1 Escort moment a try, although the car has an engine issue for that moment, so not the best way to sample it.

Given the praise for it here I finished off with one of the Rally3 Clio moments... and yeah, I can see why you are so positive about it. Fun to drive and it sounds great as well. Probably the surprise of the DLC for me, as I completely overlooked it when the Hard Chargers content was revealed.

The liveries are the best thing about this for me. The Pilot Escort, the '99 206, the Breen 208 and especially the two Focus liveries (BP and Stobart) which are two of my favourite WRC liveries.

The Rally3 Clio is a pleasant surprise, but the Michelin Pilot EsCos and Gronholm livery for the Focus are the standouts of this DLC for me. As much as I appreciated having cars like C4 WRC and later Focus WRC in previous CM rally titles, those cars never seemed quite complete to me without proper liveries. Brilliant to have those now.

That said, still a fine addition. I hope there's more to come.

Agreed. Sure it isn't perfect, but I can't see me being done with this game for some time, so I'll continue to welcome new content for it (as long as it isn't Nicki Minaj skins).

 

[RYAN]

I forgot about the new moments to be honest, I'll have a bash at those today.

 

[Nebuc72]

99 Focus is a right banger to drive. Thought it'd be a waste with the '01 Focus existing but it feels significantly different to drive, and fares a lot better in my incapable hands. Absolute ton of fun.

Didn't get the livery I was hoping for but that's no issues, can mostly do it myself.

 

[Cabelmania]

The usual Showcase video from me is coming tomorrow, but I can already spoil that everything that @MagpieRacer said about the Clio Rally3..............is true

And there it is



Harvati, sincerly, is nothing different from Gravia, so I like Umea more

 

[UKMikey]

Michelin Pilot livery > everything else

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You were right and the M-Sport Cossie was indeed a pleasure to drive. "It's got what it takes" as it says on the livery which was unfortunately too mud-spattered for me to appreciate in its full glory.

I also tried the Clio R3 out in the Perachora moment. I don't think I'm going to be able to gold this one any time soon but it sure was nice driving a Greek stage where I was counting the number of water splashes instead of hairpins for a change.

Did the Swedish Iceman stage in the Focus '08 and it wasn't Haga the horrible as the track boundaries were clearly visible unlike on the old stages. That last square left caught me out a bit the first time though.

 

[UKMikey]

Next up was the Focus '99 at Parbiou. Aaaahhh, snowy Monte Carlo... it's been too long. No, actually, to be honest, it hasn't been long enough. Beginner's luck got me through the stage with only one 180° spin at the end. Yay!

Unfortunately I was unable to perfect the run, having decided to indulge in a drinking game whereby I took a small sip of beer every time I incurred a five-second corner cut penalty on the acute hairpin right turn near the start and I shdhgy bgytrg huytgserhydg5%^@.

 

[Tool1312]

There's people that say the inclusion of the '99 Focus is a bit silly as it's the same as the '01 version BUT when you drive it, it's a lot better to drive, looks better and sounds better especially from driver cam view. I'll definitely choose it over the '01.
Loved the Clio Rally 3, brilliant to chuck around the new Greece stages, great audio aswell.
Also good to see they corrected the roll cage in the '08 Focus, it got in the way beforehand

 

[SPhilli911]

I know it's not a new car to the game but the thought came up again when driving the Peugeot 206 with the new livery... is that car tough to drive for you all?

I am very much an amateur at the game, but the car feels a little unpredictable compared to other cars in the class (or compared to any other AWD car in the game for that matter). I love the car, but I feel like I can't push it.

Also, the '99 Focus is indeed fantastic, such a good one to drive.

 

[MagpieRacer]

I know it's not a new car to the game but the thought came up again when driving the Peugeot 206 with the new livery... is that car tough to drive for you all?

I am very much an amateur at the game, but the car feels a little unpredictable compared to other cars in the class (or compared to any other AWD car in the game for that matter). I love the car, but I feel like I can't push it.

Also, the '99 Focus is indeed fantastic, such a good one to drive.

Yeah I struggle with the 206 as well, very twitchy and wants to rotate a lot.

 

[Cabelmania]

Yeah I struggle with the 206 as well, very twitchy and wants to rotate a lot.

yeah, me too

 

[Tool1312]

Yeah I struggle with the 206 as well, very twitchy and wants to rotate a lot.

Has it got a shorter wheelbase than most of the others?

 

[rich m]

Speaking of the 206, is it just me, or does anyone else think it sounds a bit naff, particularly within the cockpit

 

[RYAN]

Speaking of the 206, is it just me, or does anyone else think it sounds a bit naff, particularly within the cockpit

The Peugeot fascination of always having lower speed gearboxes ruins it for me. Would be interesting to see what the infamous 307 WRC's 4 speed would be like in game. Horrible like IRL no doubt 😄

 

[UKMikey]

I think I picked this car for the 1997-2011 events in my last Career tour having recognised it as one of the more manageable vehicles from DiRT Rally 2.0 and although it got me through to the end I remember it span me round (like a record baby right round right round) on a couple of stages.

I haven't had a chance to try many of the others to compare but I did notice the Mini Countryman felt heavy to me on the steering compared to its nimbler peers. Could be my imagination though.

 

[rich m]

The Peugeot fascination of always having lower speed gearboxes ruins it for me. Would be interesting to see what the infamous 307 WRC's 4 speed would be like in game. Horrible like IRL no doubt 😄

Ha yeah, that doesn’t help either, makes it feel underpowered
Yeah, maybe the 307 wouldn’t lend well to being added to the game, would be like driving an old Mercedes from the 80’s

 

[RYAN]

I really enjoyed the Focus '99 Moment at Monte. People were right about it, Sounds amazing and somehow handles better than the '01 Evolution.

 

[Tool1312]

I really enjoyed the Focus '99 Moment at Monte. People were right about it, Sounds amazing and somehow handles better than the '01 Evolution.

I definitely feels better and sounds better

 

[RYAN]

I definitely feels better and sounds better

I watched the replay of that run and it sounds incredible externally.

 

[Scaff]

My thoughts on the DLC