rFactor 2 is a 2013 computer racing simulator developed by Image Space Incorporated (taken over by Studio 397 in 2016) and released for Windows in 2013. Like its predecessor rFactor, rFactor2 is designed to be modified and used by professional racing teams for driver training and race car development. Much of its source code is derived from rFactor Pro, which is also used by professional racers and most of the Formula One teams and NASCAR manufacturers.
rFactor 2 is designed to simulate any type of multi-wheeled vehicle of any era, including four-wheeled and six-wheeled vehicles with either two or four steered wheels. It features advanced physics, suspension, and tire model.EmptyBox Chimes in on rFactor 2's Studio Change, virtualr.net, October 2, 2016rFactor 2 – Physics Behind The Scenes, virtualr.net, August 29, 2013
Background After the initial success of Sports Car GT (1999), Image Space Incorporated used its self-developed software engine Motor1 for several racing titles, including the Formula One simulators F1 2002 and F1 Challenge '99-'02. iMotor is an umbrella term that covers every component of the software engine,History of the Image Space Inc. Software Engine, at imagespaceinc.com including the graphics engine gMotor and the physics engine Motor.Cars | Image Space Incorporated, June 26, 2012rFactor 2 – Car Production Making-Of, virtualr.net, June 26, 2012 After the release of F1 Challenge '99-'02, isiMotor was licensed to another company for the first time, SimBin, who went on to produce popular retail sim racing titles GTR and GTR 2.
Image Space Incorporated then made a racing simulator with open architecture and provided tools for the modding community to create third-party content. This title became rFactor, released in 2005, which was the first ISI title using the software engine referred to as isiMotor2.
isiMotor2 was further licensed to companies such as Slightly Mad Studios, Reiza Studios, and 2Pez Games. isiMotor2 also laid the foundation for rFactor Pro, a software simulation engine used by real-life racing teams and car manufacturers, including most of the current Formula One grid and NASCAR manufacturers. Image Space Incorporated took the experience from isiMotor2 and rFactor Pro and began the development of rFactor 2. From this point on, the software engine would be referred to as isiMotor2.5. rFactor 2 also incorporated code that was developed for rFpro. At the same time, rFpro continues to use the developments made by ISI to the rFactor codebase.INTERVIEW du DIRECTEUR (RF2), Interview with GJON CAMAJ Vice president of Image Space Incorporated, SIM MAGSIM MAG, 30 October 2015
Development From announcement to open beta (2009–2012) The public first became aware that the development of rFactor 2 was underway when Gjon Camaj of Image Space Incorporated posted WIP in-game screenshots on Twitter in early March 2009.rFactor 2 – First Screenshot!, virtualr.net, March 3, 2009 Later that month, he revealed more details about the upcoming simulator alongside additional in-game screenshots. In October 2010, Camaj revealed in an extensive interview plans for including licensed content, a new reworked UI, inclusion of dynamic weather, new innovative dynamic racing surface technology, improvements to the AI logic, and a new force feedback system with lower input lag and much faster and more direct steering rack forces, similar to the popular third party developed RealFeel plug-in for rFactor.
By December 2011, more features were confirmed to be included in the then-upcoming open beta, including rain, wet/dry track transitions, dynamic track elements (groove/marbles), new tire model, new physics, and a new collision model.rFactor 2 – More Open Beta Infos, virtualr.net, December 29, 2011 The first open beta (Test Build 49) was released on January 10, 2012.rFactor 2 – Open Beta Now Available, virtualr.net, January 10, 2012rFactor2 testing continues, post on the official development blog rfactor.net on 23.7.2012rFactor 2 Developer's Corner with build notes since 2010, archived on November 28th, 2016 After the December 2012 release (Update 10, Build 134)Build notes for Update 10, Build 134 Test Build 49 has been out of beta since early 2013,Thread: A few changes, including refund policy on the official forum in January 2013 and the official Steam store page retrospectively listed it as released on March 28, 2013 (which corresponds to build 198).Official Steam store page, archived on May 1st, 2017
Development by ISI after release (2013–2016) Tire degradation was added with a beta build 146 in February 2013, along with other related tyre physics updates.rFactor 2 – Build 146 Released, virtualr.net, February 4, 2013 In November 2014, a new build was released with a new tire contact patch physics, although it wasn't yet applied to any car.rFactor 2 – Build 880 Released, virtualr.net, November 1, 2014Darin Gangi rFactor 2 Build 880 Released, isrtv.com, October 31, 2014
Among the free content released with the game was the Corvette G6.R, Nissan GTR, Chevrolet Camaro GT3 (released in August 2013) and among the race tracks Silverstone and Lime Rock Park.ISI Chevrolet Camaro GT3 Now Available!, rfactor.net, 08/01/2013 Historical cars were later released for rFactor 2.Historic Content Coming to rFactor 2, rfactor.net, 07/25/13 In May 2014 the Formula Renault 3.5 was released,Formula Renault 3.5 2014 World Series Car, Image Space Incorporated, May 2014 shortly followed by the Dallara DW12 and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway race track, the first oval content for rFactor 2.Gangi, Darin rFactor 2 – Dallara DW12 and Indianapolis Released, May 24, 2014Indy car and Indy Now Available!, rfactor.net, 24 May 2014Announcing Indy 500 Licensing for rFactor2, Image Space Incorporated, 05/24/2013 Some historical Indycar content was also released.
Between 2014 and 2015, ISI tasked Marcel Offermans from Dutch software company Luminis to bring rFactor to the Steam store, which was completed in March 2015. This was also done as an exploration for also bringing rFactor 2 to Steam, which effectively happened in November 2015. This led to Gjon Camaj, ISI's vice president, and Offermans discussing the possibility of Luminis taking over the development of rFactor 2, which was effectively announced the following year with the creation of Studio 397.rFactor 2 – Marcel Offermans Interview – Managing Director At Studio 397, at bsimracing.com, 08/10/2020Exclusive interview: Managing Director at Studio 397 Marcel Offermans - Part 1, at Global Sim Racing Hub, Jun 29, 2020
A non-Steam version of rFactor 2 continued to be available until May 2016.rFactor 2 Goes Steam-Only – FAQ, virtualr.net, May 2, 2016 That month, an official physics development blog aimed at modders was launched, giving detailed information on the physics engine and how to create cars for rF2,Hello and welcome to our new physics development blog, studio-397.com, May 7th, 2016 including posts on the tire creation process.Tyres… The Big One. (Part I), studio-397.com, July 31st, 2016
Development moved from ISI to Studio 397 (2016) At Simracing Expo held in September 2016, ISI announced a partnership with Dutch software company Luminis with the goal of bringing new features to the software.Announcing Studio 397, studio-397.com, September 16, 2016 Luminis already had experience with racing simulators, having supported Reiza Studios in the development of Automobilista, which was based on rFactor siMulator 2 engine. This partnership brings the development of rFactor 2 to a new company called Studio 397, based in Apeldoorn. Studio 397 managing director Marcel Offermans stated that a lot of new features would be implemented in the game, including a more web-based UI, a DirectX 11 compatible graphics engine and the VR support for Oculus Rift and HTC Vive. Moreover, a new "paid-content system" would allow ISI to add more licensed content to the simulator.
The following month, Studio 397 released information about the new content. The developers revealed that they had acquired the license of U.S. F2000 National Championship, Radical Sportscars, and NOLA Motorsports Park. The new rFactor 2 version was available only on Steam.Roadmap Update October 2016, studio-397.com, October 14, 2016 With their first build release in December, Studio 397 made online racing free to all users, removing the previous subscription fee model.rFactor 2’s Build 1108 Is Now Available, Adds Free Online Racing, virtualr.net, December 20, 2016 In May 2017, the open beta for the new DirectX 11 graphics engine was releasedrFactor 2 In DirectX 11 Open Beta Coming May 1st, virtualr.net, April 21, 2017 Jimmy Broadbent rFactor 2 - DX11 Preview + First Impressions, Apr 30, 2017 and became the default graphics engine later the same year, discontinuing support for DirectX 9.DOM DUHAN Roadmap Update December 2017 With DX11, support for Virtual Reality was introduced.GamerMuscle Checks Out VR in rFactor 2, virtualr.net, May 2, 2017
From July 2017, Studio 397 started to release a series of updates to the tyre model, starting with the Radical SR3 RSX,DOM DUHAN Roadmap Update July 2017, studio-397.com, July 22nd, 2017 and continuing with a contact patch model (CPM) update in October of the same year.GT3 Power Pack Release!, studio-397.com, October 17th, 2017 Later in December, a new build introduced an update to the tire contact patch model (CPM) physics, which developer Michael Borda deemed "the biggest change in rF2 since the introduction of the contact patch model" (which was with the 880 build back in 2014).MICHAEL BORDA Return of the development blog, point-based accelerations for TGM (QSA) analysis, December 25th, 2017Roadmap Update October 2017, October 31st, 2017 The updated CPM was also available to modders, and was used in the 2018 version of the GP3 Series mod.GP3 SERIES 2016/2017/2018, release notes , May 8th, 2018 In 2018, Studio 397 conducted tests at the Mechanopôle test track in Alès (France), in collaboration with Duqueine Engineering and Indy Lights and LMP2 driver Nicolas Jamin (which were using Michelin tires), to fine-tune physics and tire data for the LMP and GTE cars.CHRISTOPHER ELLIOTT Keeping it Real – Our Visit to Duqueine Engineering, studio-397.com, July 31st, 2018
After the Le Mans 24 Hours Virtual in February 2020, Michelin stated that the tire wear rate in rFactor 2 was higher than in real life, and that they looked forward to working with Studio 397 to improve rF2 tire compounds on this aspect.Le Mans 24 Hours Virtual: a compelling Esport experience for Michelin, by Gonzalo at boxthislap.org, June 15, 2020 Further physics updates were released in the same month, also based on feedback from 2017 World's Fastest Gamer winner Rudy van Buren.CHRISTOPHER ELLIOTT Build 1117 and Content Weekly Updates, studio-397.com, Feb 17, 2020