Okay, so, like, I was messing around with some F1 history stuff the other day, right? And I stumbled across the 1975 French Grand Prix. Figured, “Hey, why not try and recreate some of that in a sim?” Sounded like a fun challenge.
First thing I did was, you know, hit up the internet. Needed to find out where the race even was. Turns out, it was held at Circuit Paul Ricard, but the super long version. So, I had to find a decent track mod for that specific layout. Spent a good hour or so digging around until I found one that looked pretty legit. Not perfect, but hey, it’s a start, right?
Then came the car. Obviously, needed a 1975 F1 car. Found a few mods kicking around, mostly for Assetto Corsa. Picked one that had decent reviews and looked like it matched the era. Installed that bad boy, and boom, ready to roll.
Next up, the actual setup. This is where it got kinda tricky. I’m no engineer, but I know enough to tweak things. Started by looking up some general info about 1975 F1 car setups. They were running pretty soft compounds back then, lots of mechanical grip. Messed around with the suspension, lowered the ride height a bit (within reason!), and played with the differential settings. Took a bunch of test laps, tweaking each setting, you know, feeling it out. Kept notes of what felt better and what made the car a total pig.
Engine mapping was a pain! These old engines were beasts. Super peaky power delivery. Spent ages fiddling with the fuel mixture and ignition timing to try and get something manageable. Eventually, got it to a point where it was usable, but still a handful. Exactly what I was aiming for!
After the setup was close enough (it’s never perfect, let’s be real), I jumped into a practice session. Did a bunch of laps, trying to get a feel for the track and the car. It was tough, man. The car was sliding all over the place, the brakes were… well, let’s just say they weren’t modern F1 brakes. But it was a blast!
Then I tried to make a race. Man, these old cars are HARD to drive for a full race distance. I was constantly fighting the car, and I made a bunch of mistakes. Spun out, locked up the brakes, ran wide… the whole shebang. But I kept at it, and eventually, I managed to get a somewhat clean run in. Wasn’t winning any championships, but I finished! That’s what matters, right?
- Track: Circuit Paul Ricard (long version)
- Car: 1975 F1 Mod
- Setup: Custom, based on research of the era
- Result: Finished the race (eventually!)
Overall, it was a really cool experience. Definitely gave me a new appreciation for the drivers back then. Those guys were absolute legends. And it was a fun way to learn a bit more about F1 history. I’d totally recommend giving it a shot if you’re into that kind of thing. Just be prepared for a challenge!
Would I do it again? Yeah, probably! Maybe I’ll try another classic race next time. Any suggestions?
