Over the weekend, the developers from Turn 10 released these gorgeously detailed, high-resolution images of their new Forza Motorsport 3 racer, all but confirming the inclusion of the Le Mans famed Circuit De La Sarthe. [Update: one lap video]
The announcement that the famed 8.489 Mile, 21 turn Circuit De La Sarthe will be included in the next generation of the famed Forza series has got to get more than just a few enthusiasts excited. Previously the only way you could act out your French endurance dreams was by going to the Playstation-based series, Gran Turismo. Thankfully Turn 10 developers made the trek across the pond to measure, photograph and accurately re-build the famed circuit in digital form for us to create our own epic 24 Hour of Le Mans battles. In fact, Turn 10 Track Team Lead, Matt Collins, apparently collected over 15,000 images to help with the Stateside team's digital replica including images of the track barriers, road materials, rumble strips, vegetation and trackside buildings. The nearly 60GB of source material has been accurately placed with the help of physical data collected via GPS to create ultra realistic digital versions of both circuit configurations, Bugatti and Sarthe.
Also released this weekend was this partial car list of ten included Le Mans Prototypes along with a few detailed images of the exterior and interior of each of the digital versions of these famed racers which you can see below.
We've also compiled a list of the cars that we know will make the game thus far, but remember this is nowhere near the final list as there will be over 400 cars from 50 different manufacturers, all of which will feature full range of visual and mechanical customization. Also, expect to see more parts-flying carnage thanks in part to a more realistic damage model that will also include the ability for cars to completely roll over during a race, a feature not previously attempted in a racing game.
(Updated: 07.15.09) Forza Motorsport 3 Confirmed (Partial) Car List:
Alfa Romeo* 8C Competizione
Audi
* 2 Audi Sport North America R8
* 2 Audi Sport North America R10 TDI
* 8 Audi Sport Team Joest Audi R10 TDI
* 2009 Audi Q7 V12 TDI
* 2010 R8 V10
* R8 V8 FS I
* 2010 S4
* 2009 TTAston Martin:
* 2009 DBS
* DB5 VantageBentley
* 7 Team Bentley Speed 8
BMW
* 15 BMW Motorsport V12 LMR
* 2008 135i Coupe
* 2009 M3
* 2009 BMW X5 xDrive 4.8i
* Mini Cooper
* 2009 BMW M5 E60Cadillac
* 6 Team Cadillac Northstar LMP-02
* 2009 CTS-VChevrolet
* 2006 Corvette Z06
* Corvette ZR1Chrysler
* 2008 Chrysler 300C SRT-8
Dodge
* Challenger SRT-8
* Viper SRT-10 Coupe ACRFerrari
* 30 MOMO Doran Racing F333 SP
* California
* Dino
* 2007 430 Scuderia
* 599 GTB FioranoFiat
* 500
Ford
* 2005 GT
* RS200
* 1968 Shelby Mustang GT-500KRHolden
Honda
* Civic
* 2009 Jazz
* NSXInfiniti
* 2009 G37
Jaguar
* XKR-S
Land Rover
* 2008 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
Lamborghini
* Murciélago LP640
Lexus
* 2009 IS-F
Lotus
* Elise
* EvoraMaserati
* GranTurismo
Mazda
* 2008 Mazdaspeed 3
Mercedes-Benz
* CLS 63 AMG
* McLaren SLR
* ML 63 AMG
* SL 65 AMG Black SeriesMitsubishi
* Lancer Evolution VIII MR
* Lancer Evolution X GSRNissan
* 3 YellowHat YMS TOMICA GT-R (2008)
* 12 Calsonic IMPUL GT-R (2008)
* 21 Nissan R390 GT1 (1997)
* 23 XANAVI NISMO GT-R(2008)
* 2009 370Z
* Sentra
* Skyline GT-R R33
* 2008 TiidaPagani
* Zonda C12-S
Peugeot
* 3 Peugeot Talbot Sport 905 Evo 1C
* 8 Peugeot Sport 908Pontiac
* 2009 Pontiac G8 GXP
Porsche
* Porsche AG 906c
* Porsche 956
* 997 GT2
* 2009 Porsche Cayenne Turbo SSeat
* Ibiza
Subaru
* Impreza WRX STI
Toyota
* 3 Toyota Motorsports GT-ONE TS020
* 6 ENEOS SC430(2008)
* 25 Eclipse Advan Supra (2006)
* 2009 YarisTVR
* Sagaris
Volkswagen
* 2008 Volkswagen Touareg R50
As we mentioned above, the Circuit De La Sarthe will see its Forza debut along with 100 other real life global circuits which will include drift circuits, road courses, oval tracks and the long-rumored drag strip. You'll be able to pick up your very own copy of Forza Motorsport 3 this October. [via ForzaMotorsport]