SimHQ.com - Motorsports Zone - GTR2 vs rFactor vs LFS Shootout #2: The Caterhams

Some drivers don't mind driving simulated cars without an in-car cockpit view and at the end of the day it is your decision. However, an in-car view is very important to other drivers and if you are like me you'll appreciate the added immersion of a well-rendered interior.

Specs.	Live for Speed	Simbin RACE	rFactor v1.250


Models	LX4, LX6	CSR 200, 260 & 320	A lot!
Power	LX4: 1.3 L, 4 cyl. 105 kW/140 bhp @ 8212 rpm LX6: 1.6 L, 6 cyl. 142 kW/190 bhp @ 8429 rpm	2.261 L, 4 cyl. 200: 200 bhp @ 7000 rpm 260: 260 bhp @7500 rpm 320: 320 bhp @ 7750 rpm	From 1.4 L, 79 kW @6000 rpm to a truly stupendous Powertec V8, 279 kW @ 10200 rpm
Torque	LX4: 131 Nm @6917 rpm LX6: 173 Nm @7059 rpm	200: 165 Nm @ 5750 rpm 260: 200 Nm @ 6200 rpm 320: 225 Nm @ 6750 rpm	From 130 Nm @8000 rpm to 285 Nm @ 8300
Weight	LX4: 499 Kg, LX6: 525 Kg	575 Kg	No information
Drive-train and engine displacement	Front engine, rear wheel drive	Front engine, rear wheel drive	Front engine, rear wheel drive
Author	LFS Development Team	Simbin Development Team AB	Image Space, Inc. and Caterham 1 a mod by Majort Parts/Cubits

The dashboards vary a bit between simulations, but a quick search on YouTube for onboard videos of Caterhams revealed that similar variations exist in the real cars. That is perhaps is not surprising considering that the Caterham is sold as a kit-car and that various modded versions exist. Among those are a widened Caterham with a 1300 cc Hayabusa motorcycle engine and sequential 6 speed motorcycle gearbox. A Hayabusa-engined version is available in the rFactor mod.

Test Drive

There won't be a comparison between the cars on the same track in this feature because as far as I'm aware, there isn't a track in existence that is common for all three sims.

Live for Speed Caterham

LFS is the only sim in our comparison that generates the wind-noise which is so prevalent when you watch the onboard videos. A big thumbs up to the LFS crew for getting this aspect included.

LFS interesting cam-angle

Remembering again that LFS is officially labeled "Alpha", as in Pre-Beta and that the original model is already a few years old, it perhaps does not feature quite as much detail and as many polygons as the models in the expansion pack for RACE or the rFactor mod. The LX4 and LX6 — as they are named in LFS — deliver in terms of the much and justly acclaimed tire model which lets you steer the car on brakes and throttles alone and using the steering wheel mostly to correct the way you're pointing. This is the car that I feel is the "easiest" or most accessible to drive and is still very rewarding to drive well. There is something in the way that LFS reacquires tire traction that feels very real to me and makes it my favorite in terms of exactly this characteristic.

The feeling of weightlessness while driving on the limit which is described in greater detail below does not seem as pronounced as in RACE.

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