Sunday, December 24, 2023

My FH5 Log: SUPER SECRET SANTA

The Winter Wonderland series update on Forza Horizon 5 challenged players to send as many gift cars as possible to hit two desired targets containing two "New to Horizon" cars such as the Gordon Murray T.50 and a Super Secret Car that is Secret...until now.


This is the Gordon Murray T.50 given to players after hitting the 50% mark at the series update's Secret Santa campaign. 

With only 100 units made and sold, the T.50 is the true spiritual successor to the legendary McLaren F1. It features a signature 3.9L natural aspiration V12 engine made in cooperation with Cosworth, producing 663PS power and 467Nm of torque while mated to a 6-speed MT. Because it weighs 986kg, the T.50 has a weight-to-power ratio of 207kg/100PS.

Aerodynamics aside, the GMA T.50 features a controversial rear-mounted 400mm fan that actively manages the body's airflow, balancing drag and downforce at various speeds. It also interacts with a pair of active rear spoilers, generating more downforce when needed.


Lastly, after hitting the 100% mark in the Secret Santa campaign, the secret car is revealed as the Aston Martin Valkyrie, the hypercar that is as close as you can get to a Formula 1 car.

Spawned from the collaboration between Aston Martin and Red Bull Racing as the AM-RB-001 project, the Valkyrie is a hybrid engine-wielding hypercar that features F1-inspired, space-age aerodynamics that makes it capable of taking corners at over 3.3G, as well as carbon blade designed by space shuttle engineers made it capable of impossible performance even at 220mph, Apache-inspired hydraulics, extensive use of lightweight materials, and a naturally-aspirated 6.5L V12 engine developed by Cosworth mated to an F1-derived KERS, producing a total power output of a whopping 1139HP, making it the most powerful Aston Martin road car ever made.

Only 150 of these units were made and sold.


These Secret Santa prize cars are like the past and the future because if the T.50 is a celebration of the past, thanks to the theory that this is the spiritual successor to the McLaren F1, the Valkyrie is what the future of hypercars will be; advanced, fast, and space-age witchcraft straight from sci-fi. Either way, they're fast enough to blow your head off at such intimidating speeds, and always ready for the climax.



Speaking of climax, let's find out which of these Secret Santa prize cars is superior, the celebration of the past or the shape of future hypercars. Because this is the Winter Wonderland series update, the clash between the T.50 and the Valkyrie takes place at the time-limited Winter Wonderland Circuit for a one-lap time attack. As always, the fastest time wins.

Let's roll the tape.



And now the results...

T.50 - 0m59.860s

Valkyrie - 0m58.425s

It's a razor-thin result! Although the futuristic F1-inspired Aston Martin Valkyrie is more powerful than the neo-classic GMA T.50, the gap between them is nearly a second apart, probably because of the technical segments the Winter Wonderland Circuit possesses. Still, it's a win for the Valkyrie, the prize car gifted to all FH5 players after hitting the 100% mark at the Winter Wonderland Secret Santa campaign. Yay.


The GMA T.50 and the Aston Martin Valkyrie are two incredible supercars that have been making headlines for quite some time. Although the Valkyrie is slightly faster than the T.50, the choice between these two supercars comes down to personal preference and which feature set resonates with you the most.

I hope you enjoy driving the two Winter Wonderland Secret Santa prize cars as much as enjoying the holidays in Horizon Mexico.

FELIZ NAVIDAD!

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