RKM Motorsport: NSX-R 3rd Anniversary [Follow Up]

Initial Review: NSX-R 3rd Anniversary

I have two accounts that I play GT5 on: my normal everything account and one I created specifically to compete in the GTPlanet Weekly Race Series. Since the GTP account is still working up through the levels I took my second NSX out for a run in the expert level Japanese Championship. The five race series gave me some variety and a better impression of the car overall.

When I first ran this test I believe I was still running with TCS at 5. Since then I have steadily moved it down and now normally run at a 2 on my way to ditching it completely. I had a couple less than smooth moments, particularly on the tight corners at Tsukuba. It took me a few laps but I found my control and didn't have much problem from there on out. The car remained as stable and composed as when I first tested it. When I inevitably came into a corner too hot and started to slide it around it was still just as easy as before to keep a handle on it through the exit.

While there was "traffic" on the courses with me they were generally long gone by the middle of the first lap. A few kept up on the map with me on the higher speed courses but still at a good distance behind. It ended up that these races were pretty much a five lap time attack for me and the NSX. I think I did fair as I haven't spent much time on most of the courses besides GVS in the 3rd race and Monza in the 4th. With Monza I am somewhat prone to cutting the chicanes but forced myself mentally to keep it clean for the sake of fair comparison later. Overall I would say that my opinion of the car has not changed. With aid on or off it seems like it will still be both fun and fast.

Below are the lap records for each course. On GVS I was not able to beat my previous lap record, though I was able to come close, and so I have left it off. More practice should yield better times, particularly at Tsukuba and Suzuka. I feel I left a lot of time on those two.

Tsukuba: 59.755"

Fuji Speedway F: 1'48.243"

Monza: 1'57.488"

Suzuka: 2'13.682"

RKM Motorsport: F430 Stradista [Follow Up]

Initial Review: F430 Stradista

I have finally taken a run on GVS with this stallion and I must admit that I am quite impressed. There was something about SSR5 that wasn't quite right, most likely that I have far less experience there than at GVS. A fun track but as they say, knowledge is power. So I brought it to what could be a home course for me and had a go.

On the same asphalt it could be likened to...a less tame NSX-R. The speed is fantastic, sliding easily controlled but it lacks the otherworldly grip of the NSX. I'm sure the extra ~250HP might have a thing or two to do with that. Still, it is fast. Much more so than it seemed during my run. This and the NSX are still the only two tuned cars I've run under the 2' mark on this track. The NSX edges out by just a few tenths but kudos to the Stradista for posting up a time a good couple seconds faster than I thought it pulled, officially marked at 1'59.465".

As I've no doubt said before, or at least alluded to, the drift character of the RKM tunes is incredible. Both RJ and Roj claim to make powerful cars more accessible and there is truth in that claim.

To echo my initial review, another job well done!