MY FH5 Log: More Apex Legends

Motorsports hit Horizon with the Apex All-Stars update of Forza Horizon 5, where players are introduced to the greatest race cars ever assembled.

In my previous post, I've already tackled the cars of the Apex All-Stars DLC Pack in alphabetical order. Now, let's drive the Apex All-Stars prize cars.

First up, the #66 GTLM Le Mans that I won from the Apex All-Stars' Wet Season playlist. Based on the second-generation Ford GT, this race car won the 2016 24 Hours of Le Mans in its class. Not only that, it scored class wins at Daytona and Sebring.

The second prize car in the Forza Horizon 5 Apex All-Stars playlist is the #98 Bryan Herta Autosport Elantra N. I won this car at the Storm Season playlist. This Elantra N TCR is a race car configured for the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge. It won races at Laguna Seca and Lime Rock Park and finished 2nd overall in the TCR class.

The 2013 Chevrolet Summit Racing Pro Stock Camaro is the overall prize car throughout the Apex All-Stars playlist for 80 points. This marks the first time the Forza franchise has partnered with the NHRA. The car is a 2013 NHRA Series winner and can complete a quarter-mile drag race in just six seconds, reaching a top speed of 310 kilometers per hour.

The #1 Sierra Sierra Enterprises Lancer Evolution Time Attack is a monster of a machine. It's the fourth car on the list, and I won it in the Forza Horizon 5 Apex All-Stars playlist. It has the longest name of any car featured in a Forza game, but it's worth it because this Time Attack machine, driven by David Empringham, won the fastest laps in the Unlimited AWD Class at Super Lap in 2009 and 2010.

The #92 Porsche GT Team 911 RSR is the last prize car in the Apex All-Stars update. I won it in the Hot Season Playlist. This car is based on the 991-spec Porsche 911. It has won four Teams' Championships, two Constructors' Championships, and five Drivers' Championships. It has also won the 6 Hours of Fuji and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

I've sent these apex legends through various EventLab creations curated by Horizon Mexico's finest game masters to demonstrate their might. Let's find out if these race cars are worthy of being called "legends."

Roll the tapes.

These race cars proved their worth.

Now that we got the entire Apex All-Stars sorted out, prepare for The Dumpster Battle because the next update will throw us to the 80s-related dumpster battle where a Hyundai concept car, a long-overdue remake of the greatest Lamborghini of all time, and a garbage bag full of 80s cars. Be ready for a long fight because, truth be told, no one's going to like the '80s dumpster battle.

Until then, enjoy your new cars.

MY FH5 Log: Apex Legends

Motorsports hit Horizon with the Apex All-Stars update of Forza Horizon 5, where players are introduced to the greatest race cars ever assembled.

There are two groups of race cars assembled in the FH5 Apex All-Stars update. The first group is the paid DLC Car Pack called the Apex All-Stars Car Pack consisting of seven race cars. The second group is the prize cars scattered throughout the Apex All-Stars playlists. Let's begin with the paid DLC Car Pack.

The Apex All-Stars DLC Car Pack consists of seven of the world's greatest race cars assembled such as this:

1) 2018 BMW #1 BMW M Motorsport M8 GTE - It's a racing version of the revived 8-Series made to compete in the LMGTE class.

2) 2015 Cadillac #3 Cadillac Racing ATS-V.R - It's a race-prepped version of the ATS-V Coupe made to compete in the SCCA Pro Racing's GT Class. It reminded me of the one used in the Superrace Championship before it got replaced by the Toyota GR Supra-based Super 6000-class machine.

3) 2020 Chevrolet #3 Corvette Racing C8.R - Based on the C8 Corvette, it was coveted as the last LMGTE AM-class winner before the WEC transitioned to the GT3 class.

4) 2019 Ferrari #62 Risi Competizione 488 GTE - This 488-based race car from Risi Competizione made headlines when it won the GTE class at the 2019 Rolex 24 Hour of Daytona.

5) 2020 Lexus #14 Vasser Sullivan RC F GT3 - This Lexus RC F GT3 race car used by the Vasser Sullivan racing team emerged as the dominant force in the IMSA's GTD class.

6) 2018 Mercedes-AMG GT3 - A GT3-class car based on the Mercedes-AMG GT sports car improved to comply with 2018 GT3-class regulations. From DTM to Super GT, this is something.

7) 2018 Porsche 911 GT3 R - A 991.2-spec 911-based race car made to comply with GT3-class regulations.

Now that we got the pecking order with the Apex All-Stars Car Pack...

It's time to give this group a quick race across the circuit venues around Horizon Mexico, showing them what these Apex Legends are made of. Roll the tapes.

These Apex Legends proved their worth although the use of Horizon Mexico is somewhat out of context. Still, it's hard to decide which one in the Apex All-Stars Car Pack is the favorite.

Next time, let's drive the Apex All-Stars prize cars. Until then, enjoy your new rides!

My FM Log: Race Cars kids today don't know

Update 7 of Forza Motorsport not only welcomed players to Brands Hatch but also race cars kids today don't know about. Yes, it's all about older-generation race car garbage and the worst offenders are the 1964 Brabham BT8 and the 1977 Renault #15 Equipe Renault Elf R.S. 01. Is there such a thing as a Renault R.S. 01 in 1977?

First and foremost is the Brabham BT8, a metallic toxic waste that I've got from winning the Update 7 Open Class Tour until May 15, 2024.

Debuted at the 1964 Earls Court Motor Show, the BT8 is the successor of the BT5, which was introduced a year before.

Most BT8 race cars are fitted with the 2.0L Coventry Climax 4-cylinder engine but one has a BRM V8 engine and the other one owned by Jack Brabham has a 2.7L Climax Engine.

Produced between 1964 and 1966, the BT8 won four races and secured ten podium finishes, including the one where Arthur Owen drove the BT8 at the 1964 Singapore Grand Prix and finished second in the Sports and GT race.

Forza Motorsport fans were disappointed when the producers brought in the wrong Renault R.S.01 race car. They were expecting the one with the turbocharged engine that powers the Nissan GT-R R35. Instead, they got the 1977 Renault #15 Equipe Renault Elf R.S. 01. This misprint is the limited-time prize car that can be won by beating the Retro Racers Tour until May 28, 2024.

Created for the 1977 Formula 1 championship, the Renault R.S. 01 is the first F1 car powered by a turbocharged engine in the form of a 2.0L V6 engine. It was also the first F1 car to use radial tires, provided by Michelin.

Designed by Andre de Cortanze and driver Jean-Pierre Jabouille, the R.S. 01 made its racing debut at the 1977 British Grand Prix. Although it faced chronic reliability issues, the R.S. 01 scored points by finishing fourth at the US Grand Prix at Watkins Glen.

With Brands Hatch as the star track of the update, it's time to drive these race cars kids today don't understand around the track to prove their worth. Roll the tapes.

Forza Motorsport features cars from an era that only parents and grandparents can truly understand. Why show these cars to younger players who don't know anything about them? IT'S COMPLICATED.

Enjoy your new rides.

My FH5 Log: The real Horizon Race-Off

With the seventh-generation Mustang and the Ford F-150 Raptor R already in every Forza Horizon 5 player's garage, the time has come for the real Horizon Race-Off to begin.

Throughout the Horizon Race-Off series update on FH5, players worldwide raced through different road and dirt tracks to gain access to these modern-day Blue Oval heroes. The pro-asphalt aimed for the all-new Mustang while the pro-offroad worked hard to get the F-150 Raptor R. As the goals were met, they've got the chance to try them both but the real question is, which one is the best?

Being an idiot savant myself, I've sent the Mustang and the F-150 on a best-of-three match to determine the winner. The first match will be...

The Airport Cross Country Circuit. This abandoned airfield is the Raptor's advantage because being Built Ford Tough, it will be smooth sailing for it. Let's roll the tape.

F-150 Raptor R - 1m08.585s

Ford Mustang '24 - 1m11.672s

So, the F-150 Raptor R wins Game 1 but there's still time for the Mustang to shine because Game 2 will be this.

The Lookout Circuit located outside the Horizon Rush site. This bone-shaped asphalt course will showcase the all-new Mustang's improved dynamics. Let's roll the tape.

F-150 Raptor R - 1m12.439s

Ford Mustang '24 - 1m05.566

The Mustang wins Game 2, making this match a stalemate. With both Blue Ovals won, it's time for the winner-take-all finale to determine which Ford is the best. Although it's hard to determine which venue will be, there's only one choice...

Race to the Horizon Mexico Festival site. Whichever the fastest Ford to arrive at the main festival gate is the winner. Think of it like the final duel on the game show Physical 100 but this is Forza Horizon 5. No rope-pulling, no pole-dropping, no limits. It's just two modern-day Fords the community worked hard to obtain throughout the Horizon Race-Off series update. Let the battle commence.

GO!

F-150 Raptor R - 3m11.408s

Ford Mustang '24 - 2m57.528s

The all-new 2024 Ford Mustang is the winner!

The Horizon Race-Off is finished, but having proved that cars like the Mustang and the F-150 are extremely debatable, rivalries will go on. Win or lose, they're all in this together.

Being pro-asphalt or pro-offroad, it makes no difference because in a game like Forza Horizon 5, ANYTHING GOES. That is the bottom line.

MY FH5 Log: Supreme Version

JLR's Special Vehicles Operations are widely known for producing their strongest take on the company's luxury cars. By making them unique, implanting them with supercharged V8 power, and giving them sports-tuned dynamics, the SV cars are as supreme as...Gaia in his SV form. Plus Ultra.

As the supercharged V8 engine era of JLR is drawing to its bittersweet end, it's time to pay tribute to the SVO's supreme masterpieces.

The Range Rover Sport SVR is based on the second-generation Range Rover Sport. It's infamous for being used by Spectre goons in the James Bond film series. It has the same supercharged 5.0L V8 engine as the Jaguar F-Type R, producing 550HP of power and 502ft-lb of torque.

The Jaguar F-Type Project 7 is a limited-edition model that pays tribute to the legendary D-Type race car. The supercharged 5.0L V8 engine was upgraded to produce 575hp of power. Because it lost nearly 190lbs compared to the base V8 F-Type R Convertible, it's faster as well. Only 250 units were made and sold worldwide.

The Jaguar F-Type SVR, obtained from the Horizon Race-Off Hot Season Playlist, is no doubt the most powerful series production F-Type ever made. Premiered at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show, the SVR's 5.0L V8 supercharged engine produces 567hp of power and 700Nm of torque. Little-known trivia is that then-Top Gear host Rory Reid drove the F-Type SVR to the Geneva Motor Show.

Obtained from the game's Acceleration Car Pack, the Jaguar XE SV Project 8 is the most powerful Jaguar ever made. The 5.0L V8 supercharged engine has reached its peak 600hp output. Only 300 were made and offered in three different versions; the four-seater with front Performance seats with magnesium frames, the two-seater Track Pack, and a subtle Touring variant. As production of the Jaguar XE SV Project 8 ended, it set a Nurburgring Nordschleife lap record of 7m18.361s.

Time to give the JLR's supercharged V8 power the supreme farewell by comparing four SVO models around the cathedral, finding out which one is the supreme being. Let's roll the tape.

And now the results...

RRS - 1m12.422s

Project 7 - 1m09.036s

F-Type SVR - 1m06.083s

XE Project 8 - 1m04.431s

The most powerful Jaguar ever made is the supreme leader after all.

It's a real shame that the glorious roar of the supercharged V8 engine has reached its endgame in the age of the new normal but even in the end, the JLR SVO performed the supreme task of making the most insane vehicles that existed. This is true British grit the world will never forget.

The road and track are the stars of SVO.

EPILOGUE

Since the Jaguar XE SV Project 8 is the supreme compared to the other JLR SVO models offered in Forza Horizon 5, it's time to give the most powerful Jaaag the best send-off it deserves, and this means...BLAST FROM THE PAST.

Hello again, Mahiru Kasumi. I hope your reprise fits well.

With the XE Project 8 reprising the role of Aikatsu Stars' Mahiru Kasumi during my Horizon Australia days with the base XE, it's time for its final act in an EventLab re-enactment of Lydden Hill, curated by a certain Forza fan named Fod13xbox. Let's roll the tape.

Here it is, the last Romance Kiss it will never forget.

The Jaguar XE Project 8 has completed its final mission. The days of the supercharged V8 power is officially perished but the roar lives on forever.

Mission Accomplished.