Most rally fans would probably name the spectacular, dangerous and short-lived Group B period of the 1980s as rallying’s golden age, but equally, few would disagree that the 1990s weren’t far behind. The move over to the slower but more affordable Group A ruleset saw a new wave of big-budget manufacturer involvement, while a spectacular subset of specialised front-wheel drive machinery known as F2 kit cars were making a name for themselves on asphalt – and today, one car from each of those celebrated 1990s classes comes to Early Access rally sim Assetto Corsa Rally in its v0.4 update.
Representing the all-wheel drive Group A machinery is a car that needs no introduction whatsoever to rally fans, especially those in Britain. It’s the original Subaru Impreza, complete with blue and gold livery and L555 plates – a combination that’s nothing short of iconic, thanks to it taking Colin McRae to his famous World Rally Championship win in 1995.
Assetto Corsa Rally – Subaru Impreza Group A
The car added to AC Rally isn’t that exact one – it’s the earlier 1993-spec car, the Impreza’s first year of competition. Frankly, though, the differences are minimal, and the Subie still looks entirely at home on the sim’s laser-scanned Welsh stages, its legendary flat-four rumble recreated in glorious fidelity. It also provides a much-needed complement to the title’s other Group A car, the equally famous Lancia Delta Integrale.
If the Subaru feels perfect for AC Rally’s Rally Wales, then the other new car in this update, the 1997 Peugeot 306 Maxi Kit Car, could be purpose-built for its tarmac Alsace stages. Featuring front-wheel drive and screaming 2.0-litre naturally aspirated engines, the F2 kit cars did run on gravel, but it was asphalt where they really came into their own, upsetting the apple cart on a couple of occasions by beating the full-fat four-wheel drive cars to take outright tarmac WRC event wins.
Assetto Corsa Rally – Peugeot 306 Maxi Kit Car
The 306 is arguably the most recognisable of them all, thanks in no small part to its wide-arched, amped-up look that could have been ripped straight from the pages of Max Power magazine, and its engine that would rev out beyond an astonishing 10,000rpm.
There are no new stages to try out with this update, but a new dimension comes to the existing Wales and Alsace stages with the addition of winter weather conditions. This is a particularly welcome addition for Wales – back in the days when the RAC Rally was the November season-closer for the WRC, it wasn’t all that unusual to see a dusting of snow on some of the stages.
Assetto Corsa Rally – Peugeot 306 Maxi Kit Car
Elsewhere, there are various physics, audio, UI and environmental tweaks, with more promised as AC Rally makes the slow but steady journey towards a fully-fledged release. In the meantime, it remains available in Early Access for PC gamers only, with update 0.4 out now.
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