Preserving Historic Motorsport Through Digital Archiving – Part 3

This entry features a track that might surprise you for two reasons: 1) it’s a modern track, and 2) it doesn’t exist in the real world—only in name and location! Circuit Thermalito is a fictional 5.035 km track that began as a project by DDF Racer in rFactor almost 16 years ago. Since then, it has been completely rebuilt from the ground up by modder Nukedrop in Assetto Corsa, with crowdfunding from a Kickstarter made possible by the DDF Racer YouTube community.

The track has been built around the real-life Thermalito Dam in Oroville, California, and the actual roads that surround it, and has been made into a circuit that one could imagine fitting right into the fictional track catalog of Gran Turismo. The circuit features long straights, extreme elevation changes, sweeping, roller-coaster-like corners, and slow, technical sections, which create ideal test conditions for putting any car through its paces. One can clearly see that much effort has been put into the track, with all the details that can be found around it, including a mysterious QR code at the end of the pit lane…

The car mod by user rnoir, which has rocked the AC community this summer and received high praise on overtake.gg’s mod page, is the French-made 1972 Jidé 1600 S. At first glance, it might resemble a Ford GT40 that’s been shrunk in a hot wash, and that’s not far from the truth. Drawing inspiration from the legendary Le Mans-winning car in its design, the 1600 S held its own against Alpines and Porsches of its time, most notably claiming victory at the 1972 Rallye du Poitou. In both design and performance, one could say it stands as the GT40’s French little brother. The fact that such an obscure and lesser-known car has been ‘digitally archived’ and preserved in Assetto Corsa highlights the many wonders of the modding community. This mod is a prime example of how dedicated efforts can bring otherwise unknown historic cars into the spotlight for newer generations. Through projects like this, hidden gems of motorsport history are preserved and introduced to younger audiences who might never have encountered them, ensuring that they don’t slip into obscurity.

The Car / Track Combination

With a weight of just 640 kg and 157 bhp, the Jidé 1600 S is a natural fit for rallying. The mid-engine layout makes the car eager to swing its rear out, presenting a real challenge on the elevation changes of the Thermalito Circuit, where mastering the car requires skillful handling and a keen sense of balance. The car’s tendency to oversteer, due in part to its narrow tires, makes zero-countersteer, four-wheel drifts a breeze in the faster corners, much akin to what can be seen performed yearly at the Goodwood Circuit by cars from the same era.

The frequent rear-end slides make it an exhilarating experience to navigate the car through sweeping banked corners, where controlling the car’s weight distribution over elevation changes is crucial for maintaining grip on both the front and rear tires. The car is equipped with a five-speed transmission and exudes old-school analog charm while delivering a surprisingly modern driving experience. The lightweight design ensures sharp and responsive braking, much akin to contemporary sports cars, making the driving experience both familiar and engaging.

Did you miss the earlier entries in the series? Find them here:

Part 1

Part 2