With less than three months away until the release of Forza Motorsport 6, a lot of time has been spent since its announcement speculating what incredible venues we will have to visit on our five-stop Professional Series schedule. At E3, we were finally given some concrete names of your 2016 travel destinations in Forza Drift Allstars. Although a final schedule has not been arranged, here is a quick look at some of the tracks that are returning to the franchise and what we have done in the past, and maybe what can be done with the new ones.
Returning Tracks
Circuit de Catalunya
First on Turn 10's list of confirmed tracks that we have used for competition is the Circuit de Catalunya in Spain, which we utilized for one of the Pro-AM events in the midwest series. The layout we ran can be very fast and requires absolute perfection in your timing and line to make it out alive and in one piece, as the outer boundaries of the racing surface are home to jutting tire walls and thick grass which could end your day early. The good news is that you can drive the layout on Forza Motorsport 5, so I doubt that you wouldn't be able to drive this layout in the new game.
2013 Midwest Pro-AM Round 3 @ Catalunya
1st: SLP Felon
2nd: Elite 12s
3rd: DMA Hoonigan
1st: SLP Felon
2nd: Elite 12s
3rd: DMA Hoonigan
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Hallowed grounds for Indy Car and NASCAR, Indianapolis Motor Speedway is also hallowed ground for Forza Drift Allstars as, in 2013, one of the fiercest competitions we have ever held took place on the infield of the massive oval. With a lot of drivers gearing up for the beginning of Virtual Formula Drift and hearing of the steam that Forza Drift Allstars had been chugging on, the top crop of drivers in the game at the time showed up in their new builds to do battle on the simple, yet surprisingly technical course. The star-studded final four included SO Steve, JSI Dwightt, DB BeeDee, and eventual season champion DB Drifter Dave, culminating with Dwightt taking the event victory over Dave. Forza Drift Allstars returned to Indy for the 2014 midwest Pro-AM series, where eventual #1 Pro-AM driver DVN Rauzey took out his teammate DVN Awesome, and DMA Hoonigan's 4th place finish pushed him into the season champion title. It is safe to say that the infield circuit here will once again be fair game for the 2016 Forza Drift Allstars season.
2013 Forza Drift Allstars Round 6 @ Indianapolis
1st: JSI Dwightt
2nd: DB Drifter Dave
3rd: DB BeeDee
2013 Midwest Pro-AM Round 4 @ Indianapolis
1st: DVN Rauzey
2nd: DVN Awesome
3rd: SLP Felon
1st: JSI Dwightt
2nd: DB Drifter Dave
3rd: DB BeeDee
2013 Midwest Pro-AM Round 4 @ Indianapolis
1st: DVN Rauzey
2nd: DVN Awesome
3rd: SLP Felon
Circuit des 24 Heures Du Mans (Le Mans)
While being a glorified adrenaline rush for even seasoned track racers, the Le Mans circuit was an equal challenge for drifters as well. Forza Drift Allstars utilized the front portion of the French behemoth of a racetrack for one of its Western Pro-AM events in 2013. The event itself had a particularly low turnout, as many drivers were either intimidated or just put off by the tenacity the layout required, and those who showed up were ecstatic once they got that line just right. Even though its return is welcomed, this is most likely the only track that our Pro drivers should not expect to see on the 2016 schedule.
2013 Western Pro-AM Round 3 @ Le Mans
1st: DVN Reddo
2nd: MCON Maverick
3rd: SIK Grassroots
1st: DVN Reddo
2nd: MCON Maverick
3rd: SIK Grassroots
Road Atlanta
The gorgeous stretch of asphalt rolling over the hills of northern Georgia is a favorite stop among many drivers from all across the world. The small piece of track dubbed "the horseshoe" was originally paved specifically for Formula Drift, and in the Forza Motorsport franchise was utilized for just that; a component of a very technical and extremely rewarding layout that absolutely begs for tight tandem. It was, ostensibly, then a major let-down when the first drifters to play Forza Motorsport 5 found out that the paved horseshoe was treated as grass, making it nearly impossible to drift on. With Dan Greenwalt expressing that Forza Motorsport 6 will ditch the usage of "sticky grass" altogether, it is extremely likely that the horseshoe on Road Atlanta will be driftable again, and make a fine stop on the Forza Drift Allstars schedule.
2013 Forza Drift Allstars Round 2 @ Atlanta
1st: JSI Dwightt
2nd: DB Drifter Dave
3rd: SCS Wanted
2013 Eastern Pro-AM Round 1 @ Atlanta
1st: JSI Daniel
2nd: END Impulse
3rd: DSI RABBIT
2014 Forza Drift Allstars Round 2 @ Atlanta
1st: DVN Reddo
2nd: SCS Wanted
3rd: DVN Awesome
2014 Eastern Pro-AM Round 1 @ Atlanta
1st: PAT WHALEN92
2nd: HKS Mr Bucket
3rd: Pxrody
1st: JSI Dwightt
2nd: DB Drifter Dave
3rd: SCS Wanted
2013 Eastern Pro-AM Round 1 @ Atlanta
1st: JSI Daniel
2nd: END Impulse
3rd: DSI RABBIT
2014 Forza Drift Allstars Round 2 @ Atlanta
1st: DVN Reddo
2nd: SCS Wanted
3rd: DVN Awesome
2014 Eastern Pro-AM Round 1 @ Atlanta
1st: PAT WHALEN92
2nd: HKS Mr Bucket
3rd: Pxrody
Sebring International Raceway
Sebring's infamous racing circuit built on an airfield was actually the very first venue visited debuting the new "Forza Drift Allstars" brand and multi-class system. With that event having some incredible battles, it only made sense to have the main series utilize the back end of the racetrack for a round of competition. The section itself has a very fast initiation, requiring a lot of commitment early to hit the first clipping points just right, and caused just as much excitement as it did frustration. Already being teased with screenshots of Sebring at night and in the rain, it is very possible we could see the competition at Sebring get even dicier.
2013 Eastern Pro-AM Round 2 @ Sebring
1st: DVN Rauzey
2nd: SLP Felon
3rd: Yoshi3lt
2014 Forza Drift Allstars Round 3 @ Sebring
1st: MCR Akihiro
2nd: DMA Hoonigan
3rd: HKS Mr Bucket
2014 Eastern Pro-AM Round 2 @ Sebring
1st: Pxrody
2nd: DMA Chronn1k
3rd: PAT WHALEN92
1st: DVN Rauzey
2nd: SLP Felon
3rd: Yoshi3lt
2014 Forza Drift Allstars Round 3 @ Sebring
1st: MCR Akihiro
2nd: DMA Hoonigan
3rd: HKS Mr Bucket
2014 Eastern Pro-AM Round 2 @ Sebring
1st: Pxrody
2nd: DMA Chronn1k
3rd: PAT WHALEN92
Silverstone
Anyone that has ever joined a tandem drifting lobby knows that the Silverstone circuit in the U.K. can engender some serious tandem battles, and its safe to say that it will see some time being drifted in the new Forza Motorsport 6. The track itself has greatly changed since its first appearance in the original Forza Motorsport game, which very much means that there could be a return to the overcast locale, but maybe on a completely different stretch that has not been used before.
2013 Forza Drift Allstars Round 1 @ Silverstone
1st: SCS Wanted
2nd: DMA Hiro
3rd: MCM Henri
2013 Western Pro-AM Round 4 @ Silverstone
1st: DVN Reddo
2nd: The Daiguren
3rd: DVN Sileighty
1st: SCS Wanted
2nd: DMA Hiro
3rd: MCM Henri
2013 Western Pro-AM Round 4 @ Silverstone
1st: DVN Reddo
2nd: The Daiguren
3rd: DVN Sileighty
TopGear Test Track
Last on our list of returning tracks is the airfield that the BBC TV show TopGear utilized for various car segments that was brought into the virtual world for Forza Motorsport 4. The open environment made the course an awesome place for bash and track day events, but it has also held a slew of awesome tandem events as well. Forza Drift Allstars used the track for the first time in 2013 after the final rounds of the Forza Singles League took place there on a new layout that proved to be very technical and dangerously fast. While the TopGear Test Track continued to be used in Pro-AM, the Professional Series stepped aside and replaced it with Sebring in the 2014 schedule. However, this multi-purpose playground's return to Forza Motorsport 6 could easily mean another appearance on the pro schedule in 2016.
2013 Forza Drift Allstars Round 3 @ TopGear
1st: DB Drifter Dave
2nd: JSI Dwightt
3rd: DW Flow
2013 Eastern Pro-AM Round 3 @ TopGear
1st: DVN Rauzey
2nd: DVN xexzeL
3rd: Shes Adopted
1st: DB Drifter Dave
2nd: JSI Dwightt
3rd: DW Flow
2013 Eastern Pro-AM Round 3 @ TopGear
1st: DVN Rauzey
2nd: DVN xexzeL
3rd: Shes Adopted
Tracks New to FDA
Circuit de Spa Francorchamps
Most famous for the crazy uphill chicane known as Eau Rogue, Spa Francorchamps in Belgium has a few points in the course that seem to have potential. As seen in several videos of others drifting this track, most of the layouts are decently fast-paced and require a lot of attention paid to a proper line to even navigate the course safely. With drastic changes in elevation and long sweeping corners, there could be a lot to look forward to in events held here.
Long Beach
Anyone that's a fan of drifting in the United States knows what Long Beach means; the three final corners of the California street circuit make up the concrete jungle that plays host to the season opener for Formula Drift every year for at least the past decade. The Long Beach street circuit was added to Forza Motorsport 5 as a free DLC, and now will come as part of the game at Forza Motorsport 6's release in September. It's very possible that Forza Drift Allstars may use the famous Long Beach layout in our pro schedule, as the walls lining the streets make a seemingly easy and straightforward layout unassumingly treacherous.
Mount Panorama Motor Racing Circuit (Bathurst)
When you think of "the scenic route" a place called Mount Panorama sounds like just that; however, while the view is spectacular from the top of the hill, the tightness of the track, wedged between barriers that line a twisting and turning mountain road will be sure to keep you from paying any attention to the sights, and the most attention to keeping your car in one piece. Bathurst's twisting mountain roads have some potential for a drifting event, and even the Chase after the Conrod Straight at the end of the circuit has potential. Could Forza Drift Allstars have an Australian destination in 2016?
Yas Marina Circuit
In the desert metropolis that is Abu Dhabi lies the beautiful Yas Marina Circuit. Debuted in Forza Motorsport 5, this track makes a return for the sixth installment and remains a highly anticipated track to use for the pro schedule. Formula Drift made an appearance at Yas Marina in 2010, close to the tracks opening, and the fast to technical layout that they used would make a great stop for the 2016 season. Not to mention, as much as I love a racetrack etched through the hills and forest, like Road Atlanta or Nurburgring, this circuit looks just as impressive in a completely different way.
Tracks New to Forza
Brands Hatch
While I 100% am looking forward to racing at Brands Hatch, it doesn't really look like there's much for a potential drifting event here. The hilly straights of the course are just a tad too long between each corner to make an easily flowing linkable section worthy of our 2016 schedule. There appears to be maybe two spots on the track that could be linkable with a single manji (making two successive weight transfers in order to stretch a drift through a straightaway), but we're not banking on this track being a factor for Forza Drift Allstars.
Watkins Glen
The Glen in New York strikes the same chord that Brands Hatch does; it will be a very fun track for racing, and even so for drifting, but having a nice linkable layout for competition is quite doubtful. While the Esses provide an extremely fun flat-out stretch of asphalt to drive, it may be just a little bit on the long side to make it a good competition section. The bus stop at the end of the back stretch could also be a component of a drift section, but the sweeper that follows is much longer, making the kind of speed difference between these two components monumental. The Glen, however, is one I wouldn't strike off my list too quickly, though, as the potential is still definitely there.
Rio de Janeiro
On a personal note, as someone that played the original Forza Motorsport on the original Xbox, the return to Rio de Janeiro is much overdue. The Rio circuit on Forza Motorsport 6 will act as the successor to Forza Motorsport 5's Prague circuit, Forza Motorsport 4's Bernese Alps, and Forza Motorsport 3's Camino Viejo, as a picturesque fictional circuit. From the gameplay videos we've seen from E3, there are certainly a few places on the track worth noting, but without there being an actual picture of the entire course anywhere online as of this point, we really can't show you where. A trip to Rio may be something Forza Drift Allstars may consider.
Daytona International Speedway
Daytona is one of the most prestigious stops along the NASCAR circuit in the United States, as the monstrous 2.5 mile oval plays host to the opener of every NASCAR season in northeast Florida. As the track that the old Sunset Peninsula oval was modeled after, the appearance of Daytona among the Forza Motorsport 6 track roster is pretty awesome, if you didn't like Sunset Peninsula. The Daytona infield doesn't hold a whole lot of potential for a drifting competition, but there are definitely pieces at and around the area just behind pit lane that could come into contention for a possible stop at Daytona Int'l. Global Rallycross came to Daytona for the past two summers, and depending on how much of the area they used is usable in game, its a 50/50 toss up as to whether you will see Daytona on the 2016 schedule. As someone who has been to many races and events at Daytona, I would love to see it on the schedule, but after walking that infield a few times, I can say it would be a stretch.
Thank you for reading today's blog on the Forza Motorsport 6 track list. Out of the 26 locations that Turn 10 announced were going to be in the new game, they have only released 21 (which you can see here), so there are many more possibilities as to other tracks and locations that could end up on our 2016 schedule. If you have any thoughts on the track selection in Forza Motorsport 6, or on what we think about these tracks, leave a comment below or join the discussion on our forum here. All I have to say is September can't get here soon enough.
BostonTroy
FDA Executive Administrator
BostonTroy
FDA Executive Administrator