The Best Wet Weather Sim Experience?

In my last piece, I mentioned how we have been teased with the various media releases so far. One of those things was wet weather. Driving on a wet track is something that no sim has really got right, but can ACC be the first to get close?

As I hinted at, wet driving hasn't really been done correctly in any sim so far. There are so many variables to take into account when it comes to the modelling. The amount of water in specific places is never the same, the rain falling changes the track from corner to corner and the cars shift the water through the lap. It is the ultimate test of feel, skill and adaptability.

Now, before I delve into what I think about the rain as it is, I haven't been able to sample the dynamic weather yet. At present, you can only select weather presets, rather than have it build up gradually -- hopefully this isn't too far away. With that in mind, here goes.

This is, without any doubt in my mind, the best wet weather driving experience in sim racing. It may not have the dynamic aspect available right now, but Kunos appear to have an incredible base to build on. In other sims, it feels like you're driving on a surface that is just less grippy. In ACC? It truly feels like a wet circuit with standing water.

I've never been so excited to completely lose control in a straight line. That happened coming out of T6, where I was simply too aggressive for the standing water and looped it. Given everything was sodden, the car slid all the way down the hill to the Dunlop Curve gravel trap. Whilst my lack of patience didn't help, it felt like I lost it because the car got on top of the water and spun. This was one of the most realistic crashes I've ever had; wet or dry.

That sort of incident will happen regularly if you aren't paying attention 100% of the time. Even on the pit straight, you can feel the car moving around underneath you, as the tyres again struggle to shift the water. I have never felt anything like this in other sims, not even close. This sort of experience is a game changer.

Corners that are easy in the dry, become the biggest test on the circuit. The kink after the Bit-Kurve is the perfect example of that. Easy flat in the dry, but murderous in the wet. The car doesn't want to turn, whilst simultaneously wanting to spin, because the tyres can't cut through the water.

There's still a long way to go for ACC, but this really excites me. If they can achieve this sort of wet weather experience, then they can probably achieve anything. Anyway, it's time for you to laugh at my wet driving ability!

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Jimmy Broadbent

I like to make videos. Simple as that.