Xbox for Bathurst

Xbox Australia, a division of Microsoft Australia, today announced the launch of the Xbox One V8 Racing team with the target of sending international champion race car drivers Andy Priaulx and Mattias Ekström to Mount Panorama and the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000.

Under the guidance and mentorship of Xbox ambassador and six-times winner of the iconic race, Mark Skaife, the team is heading to the mountain as a wildcard entrant.

“This is a milestone not only in racing but gaming history and I’m proud to continue working with Xbox as we turn Aussie gamers’ dreams into a reality,” said Skaife.

“The Bathurst 1000 is watched in 137 countries around the world and now, with the inclusion of the famous Bathurst track at Mount Panorama in Forza Motorsport 5, Australia’s place in the global racing circuit will be cemented in one of the highest rated racing game franchises in history,” said Skaife.

Alan Bowman, Regional Vice President of Microsoft’s Greater Asia Region, said: “Xbox has had a strong association with the sport of V8 Supercars over the last decade and for years Australians have been asking us to include the Bathurst track into the Forza Motorsport games.

“We have taken notice and to celebrate the inclusion of the Bathurst track and two V8 supercars in ‘Forza Motorsport 5’, we will launch a truly international and competitive racing team.

“This is unprecedented in Australia. After months of working in secret to create a piece of racing and gaming history, we are excited to finally reveal that the wildcard entrant and 29th car making its mark at Mount Panorama this year will be the stunning Xbox One car,” concluded Alan.

Forza Motorsport 5 will be one of the release games when Microsoft’s next home gaming console, the Xbox One, hits Australian stores on November 22.

The Xbox One V8 Racing car is the latest Holden VF Commodore and comes equipped with a 5.0-litre naturally aspirated V8 with an estimated output of 640hp and a top speed of almost 300km/h.

The team will be supported by the expertise of Triple Eight Race Engineering team owner, Roland Dane.

“There is no surprise that we love a challenge,” said Dane. “When we heard this unique proposition from Xbox to turn everyone’s most-loved racing game into a reality on-track, we knew it was too good an opportunity to pass on.

“Andy and Mattias are two of the best touring car racing drivers in the world today and I can promise Bathurst and V8 fans that this will be one team to watch come race day in October,” concluded Roland.

On the video game front, putting Mount Panorama into a racing game is always a huge boon to the developers. Over at Turn 10 Studios, the inclusion of the famous track into Forza Motrorsport 5 has excited the team.

Dan Greenawalt, Creative Director at Turn 10 Studios, said: “Few circuits have been requested more by the worldwide Forza fan base than Bathurst, and for good reason. It holds a special place in motorsports history as one of the most demanding and challenging circuits in the world.

“In addition, the timing couldn’t be better to finally bring Bathurst to the Forza series; with Forza Motorsport 5 we’re able to bring the circuit to life in a way that nobody else can.

“Through the use of cutting-edge technology like laser-scanning and our new materials-based graphics engine, we can now precisely reproduce the characteristics of every corner, straight and detail to sub-centimetre accuracy; from the narrow twists and turns of the Esses, to the thrilling rollercoaster sprint down the Conrod Straight. This is the Bathurst that racing fans have been asking for for years and we’re proud to bring it to them in Forza Motorsport 5.”