I just got through comparing the FSONE 2008 mod for rFactor with F1 Challenge '99 - '02. Yes, I still have that sim on my hard drive. My version of F1C is enhanced with the 2003, 2004 and 2005 seasons with car graphic upgrades from Ralph Hummerich. Here's what I concluded:

1. Engine sounds are identical. I'm very suspicious about that but it's true.
2. Ralph Hummerich's cockpit graphics are outstanding. They are the equal of those in the mod, although I enjoyed the steering wheel in the car I drove in the mod a bit more.
3. Track graphics were about even in Suzuka. I preferred the F1C version of Interlagos. Sky graphics, sunny or overcast, are better in the mod, but where's the helicopter from F1C?
4. The mod has more cockpit shake but the road surface feels more realitic and bumpy in F1C.
5. I don't feel much difference in the physics models, with similar aids turned either on or off.

This oldie but goodie - F1 Challenge '99 - '02 - especially with Ralph Hummerich's 2003 - 2005 season add-ons, holds up as well as attempts by modders in 2008-9 to recreate F1. And for single-player racers, the tweakability features in the A.I. drivers individual skill levels enables one to set it all up exactly the way that works most competively for you. Of course, it is also complete with the Season Driver's and Constructors Season point tallies to track your progress. With the Hummerich add-ons, it's seven complete F1 seasons, 1999 - 2005, including car changes for each season.

The only legitimate racing simulation ever branded under EA still holds up chest to chest with the best today.

... until you want to race online.

Hi

F1C is a classic for sure.
Some of my best gaming experiences were found behind the wheel of a car in F1C.
And those were Online play.

I liked CTDP F1 mods better than RH's though.

I no longer play it, as I have moved on to rFactor. But I still have fond memories of it. I miss my pit crew and the rain.

Tailflamer: Ya, I have the CTDP F1 2005 mod for rFactor too. It's great. Now I have the FSONE 2008 mod. I probably race 90% of the time offline. But I still have fun with F1C and GPL and NASCAR Racing 2003 Season occasionally.

JOe: When I'm available to race online, nobody from SimHQ or anyone else is around. When SimHQ is racing, I'm doing something else like watching NFL football on Sunday. I"d like to race more online, but the drawbacks reduce the fun. In Single-Player, I get to choose the venue; I get to choose the cars or the car series; I get to choose the rules and the race conditions. On the rare occasion that I get to do multi-player, I usually have fun but I don't get to pick anything. But I have at least as much fun racing whole championship seasons offline. Why would I give it up to do online racing only? I don't see how my life would be improved by becoming a great online racer versus being a pretty good offline racer.

Just pointing out a frequent problems with older titles that have high-quality mods available: usually the original online code is unmodified. That results in the situation you describe - lots of added value offline but not as much online.

The fun of online is racing against real people with real reactions. Since rFactor's AI is often so poor, the contrast between online and offline in that title is huge. I started sim-racing too late to become involved in F1C, but it definitely sounds like a good one.

Yeah, the net code wasn't the best with F1C, but it wasn't all that bad either. I used to host races with 512kb upload and could handle 12 drivers fairly well. 8 or less was much better though.
So no, it wasn't great by no means, but doable.

rFactor's net code is loads better as I have been in races with 32 drivers and didn't experience any real problems.

And rF's AI is sometimes not so good. F1C does have a better raceable AI. In rF, sometimes it seems they have no clue where you are. But, rF was really meant as a online racer, more than single player. I did do the default race series with it offline though. Didn't have too much trouble, but do remember I got hit by the AI a lot. In F1C, they would avoid you pretty well.

For single player offline, F1C is the best? I have GP3, GP4, is it worth it to get find a copy (expensive) of F1 challenge or just stay with GP4/3? I havent loaded them in a bit, but i do remember issues with the controllers.. I have a MS sidewinder nonFF wheel that i really like. any help?

I liked it better than GP4. I may have played GP4 20 hours tops, but F1C probably 2000.
Both are good, and GP4 is fantasic looking in the wet, compared to F1C. But overall F1C was my favorite. I recommend it.

well, I loaded GP4 and it seems to run fine. It must have been GP3 that i had issues with. I ran rfactor, and i do like the graphics, but not the interface menus...

Any good GP4 download sites? GP4 looks, once i get all the settings down and controls... it looks good...

IMHO GP4 can't touch F1C. Especially if you can still find Ralph Hummerich's mods which updates liveries, enhances cockpit, tire and wheel graphics, all for three additional seasons: 2003, 2004, and 2005. So you will then have seven complete seasons. The main game is 1999-2002.