Project Motor Racing’s V8 Power Pack Launches With Nine Cars and Road Atlanta

Straight4 Studios and GIANTS Software have launched the V8 Power Pack for Project Motor Racing, adding nine rear-wheel-drive race cars divided across three generations of V8 competition. The paid expansion is available now on all supported platforms and also introduces a laser-scanned version of Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.

The selection covers more than five decades of motorsport, beginning with American pony cars from the late 1960s and early 1970s, moving through contemporary USV8 machinery and ending with modern Australian V8 Evo competition. Despite their substantial differences in engineering and performance, all three classes share the same uncompromising foundation: naturally aspirated V8 power, rear-wheel drive and no traction control, ABS or comparable electronic assistance.

The V8 Power Pack is priced at $14.99 and is also included in the Project Motor Racing Year 1 Season Pass. Version 2.2.1.0 introduced the necessary game content ahead of the DLC’s activation, alongside new Career Mode events built around the additional cars.

Nine Cars Across Three Very Different V8 Eras

Rather than assembling nine loosely related vehicles, the V8 Power Pack explores how the philosophy of V8-powered touring and road racing has evolved across different decades and championships.

The Historic USV8 class represents an era in which manufacturers transformed production-based pony cars into increasingly specialized racing machines. The modern USV8 category applies a tightly controlled technical formula to contemporary muscle-car silhouettes, while AUS V8 Evo delivers the speed, aggression and reduced-downforce character of current Australian competition.

The complete vehicle lineup is divided as follows:

Historic USV8

• 1971 AMC Javelin
• 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28
• 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 302
• 1970 Plymouth Barracuda

USV8

• 2022 Chevrolet Camaro
• 2022 Dodge Challenger
• 2022 Ford Mustang

AUS V8 EVO

• 2023 Chevrolet Camaro AU
• 2023 Ford Mustang AU

This structure gives the expansion more variety than the common engine configuration might suggest. The historic cars rely heavily on mechanical grip, body movement and careful throttle control. The modern US machines prioritize close competition through tightly matched specifications, while the Australian cars combine high power with substantial brakes and more advanced aerodynamics.

Historic USV8 Recreates America’s Pony-Car War

The four Historic USV8 cars come from a period when success on the racetrack directly supported the marketing battle between American manufacturers. Chevrolet, Ford, Plymouth and AMC used road racing to prove the credentials of their performance models, producing some of the most recognizable competition cars of the era.

Project Motor Racing’s 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 represents the evolution of the Camaros developed by Roger Penske and Mark Donohue. Their program became famous not only for its results but also for the creative engineering used to improve weight distribution and overall performance.

The 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 302 arrives as Chevrolet’s principal rival. Prepared during a period of intense factory competition, the racing Boss 302 combined its familiar road-car silhouette with major structural, suspension and safety modifications. Parnelli Jones and George Follmer helped Ford reclaim the manufacturers’ championship in 1970.

Plymouth’s 1970 Barracuda brings another very different story to the class. Dan Gurney’s All American Racers applied experience gathered from Formula 1, Indy cars and endurance racing to the project. The resulting car demonstrated genuine qualifying speed, although reliability prevented it from achieving the sustained success of its main rivals.

The 1971 AMC Javelin completes the historical lineup. AMC lacked the scale and racing reputation of Detroit’s largest manufacturers, but its collaboration with Penske and Donohue transformed the Javelin into a championship winner. Donohue won seven races in 1971, including six consecutive victories, helping AMC secure its first manufacturers’ title.

These are not merely slower versions of the modern cars. The Historic USV8 class emphasizes body roll, live rear axles, weight transfer and throttle steering. With limited aerodynamic influence and no electronic safety net, managing the car’s momentum should be as important as extracting power from the engine.

USV8 Puts the Competition on Equal Terms

The three 2022 USV8 cars take the visual identity of the Chevrolet Camaro, Dodge Challenger and Ford Mustang and place it over purpose-built tube-frame chassis. Very little of the corresponding road cars remains underneath those recognizable silhouettes.

All three use the same naturally aspirated 6.2-liter V8 package, restricted to approximately 500 horsepower and 657 lb-ft of torque. Power reaches the rear wheels through a four-speed H-pattern manual transmission and a quick-change rear differential.

The formula also limits suspension adjustment, brakes, dampers and the amount of data teams can collect. There is no ABS, traction control or advanced carbon-fiber development battle. The intention is to control costs and keep performance sufficiently close that driving technique becomes the decisive factor.

This makes the three cars particularly suitable for competitive racing. Choosing a Camaro, Challenger or Mustang changes the visual identity of the machine, but none should deliver an overwhelming technical advantage. Drivers will need to find lap time through braking, corner entry, throttle application and consistency.

The Challenger’s broad proportions give it the most imposing appearance of the group, while the Camaro and Mustang continue a rivalry stretching back to the original pony-car era. Underneath the bodywork, however, each competitor is working with fundamentally equivalent machinery.

That equality also means mistakes should be difficult to recover from. When the opponent possesses almost identical acceleration and performance, additional horsepower cannot compensate for a poor corner exit. Close racing will depend on controlling the rear tires and positioning the car correctly before committing to the throttle.

AUS V8 EVO Brings the Modern Australian Rivalry

The AUS V8 EVO class contains the 2023 Chevrolet Camaro AU and 2023 Ford Mustang AU. These purpose-built Australian touring cars represent the most contemporary and powerful side of the expansion.

Straight4 describes the pair as producing approximately 600 horsepower from naturally aspirated V8 engines. They combine rear-wheel drive with large brakes, serious aerodynamics and reduced downforce compared with the machines that preceded their generation.

The lower aerodynamic dependency is significant because it places more responsibility on mechanical grip and driver confidence. Although these cars are far more technically developed than the Historic USV8 machines, they remain demanding vehicles that can punish an aggressive throttle application or an imprecise line.

Their inclusion also creates a direct two-car rivalry. Chevrolet’s Camaro and Ford’s Mustang can compete on closely matched terms, putting the emphasis on racecraft rather than simply selecting the most dominant car in the category.

On paper, AUS V8 EVO should provide the fastest and most intense experience in the pack. The cars have the power and braking performance required for aggressive racing, but the absence of traction control and ABS means that their modern engineering does not make them effortless to drive.

No Electronic Aids Means the Driver Remains Central

The defining characteristic across the complete V8 Power Pack is not simply engine noise or horsepower. It is the absence of systems that would normally protect the driver from major errors.

Without traction control, excessive throttle can overwhelm the rear tires and destabilize the car. Without ABS, braking too aggressively can lock the wheels and compromise both stopping distance and steering control. Limited electronic assistance also makes changing track conditions, tire wear and fuel loads more noticeable during longer races.

Each category presents those challenges differently. The historic cars require drivers to manage large amounts of body movement and relatively limited grip. USV8 demands precision because the tightly controlled machinery leaves little opportunity to gain an advantage through raw performance. AUS V8 EVO combines greater speed with enough power to punish careless inputs.

This shared philosophy gives the DLC a clear identity. It is not simply a cosmetic celebration of famous American and Australian vehicles; it is a collection built around manual control, mechanical feedback and the consequences of driver decisions.

Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta Joins the Track Roster

The car lineup is accompanied by a scanned recreation of Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta. Located in the hills near Braselton, Georgia, the circuit measures approximately 2.54 miles, or just over four kilometers, and contains 12 corners.

Road Atlanta is defined by elevation changes, blind crests, fast direction changes and major braking zones. The high-speed esses demand accuracy, while the downhill approach toward the final corner can make even a familiar lap feel dangerous.

The circuit is also the home of Petit Le Mans, making it one of the most recognizable venues in North American road racing. Its combination of speed and limited visibility is particularly appropriate for the V8 Power Pack because it exposes the differences between the three included classes.

Historic cars should require patience through the faster changes of direction, where body movement and limited grip can make aggressive inputs costly. The modern USV8 racers can produce close battles through their controlled performance, while the Australian cars will place greater pressure on braking points and driver commitment.

The official DLC description advertises two Road Atlanta layouts, although the launch announcement primarily focuses on the complete 2.54-mile configuration. Both layouts expand the number of possible race formats available through the pack.

Career Mode Receives New V8 Events

Version 2.2.1.0 added Career Mode events for the V8 Power Pack, integrating the DLC into Project Motor Racing’s wider progression instead of limiting the cars to isolated test sessions or custom races.

The update was released before the pack to prepare the game for its September 15 activation. Straight4 has also confirmed that another Project Motor Racing version containing further improvements and updates is planned for later in September.

Exact event structures and reward requirements may vary between the three classes, but the addition of dedicated Career content should give players a guided route through the pack. Moving from historic machinery to USV8 and AUS V8 EVO would also provide a natural demonstration of how the same basic racing philosophy evolved over several decades.

Multiplayer players receive three new class options for organized races and private lobbies. The equalized USV8 category appears particularly well suited to competitive leagues, as its controlled mechanical package is designed to minimize performance differences between the Camaro, Challenger and Mustang.

V8 Power Pack Availability and Price

The Project Motor Racing V8 Power Pack is available now for $14.99. It forms part of the Year 1 Season Pass, meaning existing owners of that pass should receive access without purchasing the pack separately.

The DLC contains nine cars, three racing classes, Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta and corresponding Career Mode events. Project Motor Racing’s base game is required.

For players interested in analogue race cars and modern touring machines without electronic assistance, the expansion has a very specific appeal. Every vehicle demands deliberate braking and throttle control, but the way each class communicates those demands changes considerably.

The Historic USV8 cars recreate the unstable, mechanically driven character of America’s original pony-car war. USV8 turns familiar muscle-car rivalries into a controlled battle of driver skill. AUS V8 EVO delivers the quickest and most contemporary interpretation of the formula.

Nine cars, three generations and one unforgiving American circuit make the V8 Power Pack one of Project Motor Racing’s most focused expansions so far—and none of its content was designed to be driven quietly.