A premier is waiting for the SimRacing community! On April 5th 2023 the KTM X-Bow GT2 (and GTX) will be added to RaceRoom Racing Experience as officially licensed cars.
The first time the star fighter like racecar from Mattighofen will appear in a SimRacing game, steeling the show from Assetto Corsa Competizione, which will add the GT2 class later this year.
But what can we expect from the Austrian racers?
Let's start off with the differences between the SRO GT2 spec and the GTX model.
On paper you'll only find 2 major details: Weight and power.
The GTX version only weighs 1048kg while the GT2 model is 295kg heavier due to the SRO regulations for the GT2 class. However the GT2 wins back its disadvantage with more power. 600hp vs "just" 530hp in the GTX spec.
A minor detail that often escapes the eye is the rear wing - a difference that R3E hasn't picked up in its game models - where the GT2 features a slightly more downforce trimmed wing compared to the GTX.
How do the twin racers compare on track though? As there is no comparison from other games just yet, we're gonna look at what we know from chats with Drivers from our time at the real Nordschleife during the NLS season 2021&2022.
Both models can definitely put the GT3s in trouble in the right conditions, being lighter and more powerful respectively, the KTMs will be very close at high speed tracks like Spa and Monza and of course at the Nordschleife.
The team of Teichmann Racing even managed to beat some GT3s at last years qualifying for the 12h race in tricky half wet conditions, running in the GTX model.
During the 50th edition of the 24h of the Nürburgring, 2 factory run - but specially modified - GT2 versions managed to fight for top 5 positions in the race.
The basic characteristics of both the GTX and the GT2 are very similar, almost identical from what we were told by KTM factory drivers. It depends a lot on where the car is being driven: the SRO spec (which will be added to R3E) could potentially be beaten by a completely unrestricted GTX model. By the sound of the developers blog that is exactly what they have created: a BOP'd SRO GT2 model and an unrestricted GTX.
Overall the cars are extremely well balanced and easy to get used to. Carrying a huge potential the star fighter like racers are going to be a lot of fun on track. It will be interesting to see how R3E has managed to translate the characteristics into their game.
Look out for our team members testing out the abilities later this week, on some public race room servers. And make sure to come back for our first impressions report this weekend!
