Grand Pro Circuit, the ambitious simulator aiming to revive the essence of 1980s Formula 1, has taken a decisive step in its development. Marcell Baranyai, the solo developer leading the project, has confirmed the implementation of turbocharged engines—one of the community’s most requested features and a defining element of racing’s golden era.
Although Baranyai was initially hesitant to include this technology, it appears that community enthusiasm and his own personal interest eventually led him to integrate it into the title.
Bringing Back the Raw Power of the ’80s
In this sense, the turbo engine represents a historical milestone in competition; a technology that reached its peak in 1986 before being regulated and eventually banned in favor of naturally aspirated engines by the end of that decade.
According to Baranyai’s social media posts, his original plan was to forgo them, but he eventually “got excited” about the possibility of recreating that raw power. In fact, recent previews showcase the behavior of a “MacLoud Henna” single-seater—a fictional nod to classic teams—lapping the Imola circuit.
Artificial Intelligence Pushed to the Limit
However, what stands out most in this new preview is the behavior of the Artificial Intelligence. The video shows the virtual driver struggling with the turbo’s characteristic power delivery, inducing rear-end slides and requiring steering corrections that suggest driving on a knife-edge.
While the engine sound in the current build still reflects a naturally aspirated V8, the developer is expected to implement specific sound effects for turbo configurations, as he has confirmed there will be no mixed grids featuring both technologies simultaneously.
Optimization: 60 FPS on Decade-Old Hardware
On the other hand, Baranyai has placed a strong emphasis on democratizing the game through exhaustive optimization. Despite some criticism regarding the “retro” aesthetic, the developer has defended this design choice to ensure the title remains functional on older hardware.
According to his own tests, conducted on a ten-year-old laptop featuring an i7-7700 CPU and a GTX 1050Ti GPU, the game reaches frame rates between 100 and 200 fps at max settings. The ultimate goal is to maintain a solid 60 fps at Full HD resolution, even with 24 cars on track during rain conditions.
Dynamic Weather and Technical Performance Impact
The weather system is another pillar providing realism to Grand Pro Circuit. The game, which runs on DirectX9, will simulate sun movement and shadow progression—factors that directly influence track temperature and air density.
This technical detail will affect engine performance, granting a strategic advantage to turbo units at high-altitude circuits, such as Mexico City, where thinner air typically penalizes naturally aspirated engines.
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