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Articles by Michael Leary
Assetto Corsa EVO PC Optimization Guide: The Best Graphics Settings
Assetto Corsa EVO is the third title in the franchise developed by Kunos Simulazioni. Currently available via Steam Early Access, the game gives players a taste of what’s to come from Kunos’ latest racing simulation. The game is currently only available on PC, which naturally raises the question of whether your hardware is up to the task.
Here’s What It Takes to Run Forza Horizon 6 on PC
We’re just under two months away from setting foot in Japan in Forza Horizon 6. Set to launch on May 19, the series finally takes place in the most requested location by the community at-large, and excitement is unquestionably at an all-time high. The upcoming open-world racer has plenty going for it, whether it’s the return of seasons, new time attack and touge events, expanded customization options, or even the return of wristbands — there’s plenty to look forward to.
Climb The Ranks in iRacing Arcade, Now Available on PC
After a small delay pushed its original release date into the new year, iRacing Arcade — the fun-sized arcade racer from iRacing Studios and Original Fire Games — is finally available on PC. Players will find themselves starting at the bottom of the racing ladder and working their way upward to the higher disciplines, including the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup and the IMSA/WEC Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2) classes.
The Crew Motorfest Season 9 Hands-On: NASCAR Steals the Show
Season 9 of The Crew Motorfest is almost here and it promises to be the most ambitious effort for Ubisoft’s open-world racer yet. With such a claim on the line, GTPlanet has been getting some one-on-one time with the upcoming season through a preview code provided by Ubisoft for PC. Having a virtually unlimited purse to indulge in the game’s wide variety of cars, planes and motorbikes is a strange kind of freedom.
iRacing Arcade Arrives on PC March 3, Coming to Consoles This Summer
Originally set for release on PC last December, the arcade-focused spin-off title fell foul to a delay, but is back once again with a new date set in stone: Tuesday, March 3. The new date comes straight from the horse’s mouth, and in just under two weeks’ time, players can finally take iRacing’s little brother for a spin on PC. Console players will have to wait just a little bit longer as a full release is earmarked for sometime this summer.
Project Motor Racing’s Short-Term Road Map to “Deepen Immersion & Elevate Sim Experience”
Project Motor Racing has had a rather rocky start in life, launching to muted reviews, but the Straight4 Studios team behind the title has now announced what it hopes is a path to redemption with a “roadmap” for development over the coming months. Touted as a spiritual successor to the now-defunct Project CARS and particularly the GTR series, PMR wasn’t entirely as it was hyped to be.
More Industry Layoffs, as Project Motor Racing and Wreckreation Devs Put Staff on Ice
While the month of December began with quite a bang with new content releases for Assetto Corsa EVO, Gran Turismo 7, and RaceRoom Racing Experience, it has quickly turned into a sour note for Straight4 Studios and Three Fields Entertainment.
RaceRoom Racing Experience Goes “Deutsche” With DTM 2002 and 2025 Car Packs, Now Available
The first week of December has proven to be jam-packed with new racing game content, and adding onto the festivities will be RaceRoom Racing Experience. Now available for the PC racer is not one, but two new pieces of content in the form of the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM) 2002 and 2025 car packs and weighs in at 5.8GB. Up first is the DTM 2002 pack which brings three new racing machines to the title: the AMG-Mercedes CLK DTM, Abt-Audi TT-R, and Opel Astra V8 Coupe.
Assetto Corsa EVO Update 0.4 Arrives December 4: Ferrari SF-25 Headlines New Car Pack, New Tracks, & More
Kunos Simulazioni has detailed everything that’s set to feature in the fourth major update for the early access version of Assetto Corsa EVO, set for release tomorrow, December 4. While the 0.4 update was originally marked for release last month, it’s finally coming across the finish line in the largest update released for the game to date.
The Crew Motorfest Now on Xbox Game Pass
Xbox and PC gamers look no further: if you’ve been on the outside looking in, waiting to take the plunge on The Crew Motorfest, there’s good news as Ivory Tower’s open-world racer is now available on Xbox Game Pass. The timing couldn’t be more convenient either as Season 8 began earlier this month, kicking off the game’s third year in what is undoubtedly the most ambitious for Motorfest by a long shot.
The Perfect Blend
by Michael O’Leary, Chairman at HRM Search Partners The world economy has changed forever. Your organisation will need to rethink its workforce planning and organisation structure. How you blend permanent employees with contract and interim talent will be a key performance driver.
The Crew Motorfest Year 3 Begins November 5, Season 9 to Add Track Creator, NASCAR, & More
Year 3 of The Crew Motorfest officially kicks off with Season 8 this November, and is packed with content for players to discover. However, that’s just the beginning of what looks to be a very promising third year for the open-world racer, as the subsequent Season 9 promises to be the “most ambitious season ever released”.
Project Motor Racing Direct Capture Onboard Gameplay Shows off Multiclass Racing
With Project Motor Racing’s release on November 25 rapidly approaching, developer Straight4 Studios has shown off some of the first official gameplay footage via a three-minute direct capture video. Posted to on the official Project Motor Racing YouTube channel, the video is an on-board look at a short portion of a race that features the Saleen S7R amid a field of GT and LMP machinery.
iRacing Arcade Demo Lands on October 13, Featuring Tsukuba and Porsche 911 Cup
This past August, iRacing Studios made the surprise announcement of iRacing Arcade that’s set to launch first on PC later this fall. Now, players will get their first impressions of the game with a free demo arriving on PC next Monday, October 13. The demo will give players their first look at the “fast, fun, and approachable style of driving” of the title.
Xbox Revamps Tiers for Game Pass, Hikes Price of Ultimate to $29.99 Per Month
Microsoft is once again revising its Xbox Game Pass subscription service, and has re-jigged tiers and the benefits players can expect from the service moving forward, all in effect as of now. The biggest (and most painful) change comes with the top-tier offering, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, which will see a 50% price hike to $29.99 (€26.99), up from its previous $19.99 — and a third price rise in two years.
Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown Season 5 Update Coming This Month, Adds Taxi Missions & More
Coming hot off the trail of Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown’s mid-season update, KT Racing has revealed what’s to come in the game’s fifth season, set to arrive later this month. In the latest Solar Club Letter, the team detailed much of what’s in store for the fifth major update to the game, including economy changes, a new addition to the casino, and core gameplay changes.
Rennsport Console Pre-Orders Now Open, Launches on November 13
Upcoming racing simulator Rennsport finally has an official release date for potential players to sink their teeth into: November 13, 2025. The news comes directly from the official pre-order trailer for the sim racer, seen above. Starting today, the game is now available to purchase early on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series consoles. Those that do will have some goodies on the other end in the form of the Ford Mustang GT3 with an exclusive livery to boot.
RaceRoom Racing Experience: Major Update Brings Visual Overhaul, Lands September 24
A new era of RaceRoom Racing Experience is nearly upon us, with the biggest update of the year for the PC racing sim set to release next week, September 24. This past July, KW Studios announced the ‘Summer Campaign’, a three-part series of events that began with an extensive free-to-play period in July, giving players an all-access pass to the game’s library of over 250 cars and 168 racing venues, including all variations.
Wreckreation Launches on Consoles and PC on October 28
THQ Nordic’s open-world smash-em-up racer finally has a release date, and it’s sooner than anyone probably expected: Wreckreation releases on all current platforms in just over a month’s time on October 28. The good news comes courtesy of the above release date announcement trailer posted on THQ Nordic’s official YouTube channel. While the 63-second trailer is short and sweet, it makes one thing abundantly clear: the world is your playground and you can do whatever you please.
Uncertainty is Opportunity
by Michael O’Leary, Chairman at HRM Search Partners For many organisations, times of uncertainty can provide significant opportunities. This is the moment to redefine culture, drive improved performance, and enhance customer experience. Rather than try and wait until the problems go away, now is the time to build and implement a new playbook that adapts to and leverages the new circumstances.
Endurance Motorsport Series: More Details Including Livery Editor, Team System, Perks, & More
Following this year’s Gamescom event in Cologne, KT Racing has revealed more about its upcoming Endurance Motorsport Series title, courtesy of its Nacon Racing channel on YouTube. It’s been a couple of months since we last talked about EMS, a rather unusual take on the world of endurance racing from the rather busy teams at Nacon and KT Racing.
Assetto Corsa EVO: Monza and Ferrari SF-25 Formula One Car Coming Soon
In a surprise announcement, Kunos Simulazioni has confirmed that Monza Circuit and — though lightly disguised — the Ferrari SF-25 are coming soon to the Early Access version of Assetto Corsa EVO. The good news comes courtesy of Kunos’ official social media channel on Twitter, and has unsurprisingly caught the attention of the community at large.
Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown Mid-Season Update Detailed: New Slots, But Poker Delayed
With Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown’s , KT Racing is back to discuss the changes coming in the promised mid-season update and a glimpse at what’s to come in Season 5. As mentioned, Season 4 began this past July and with it came new cars, event changes, quality of life adjustments, a clothing shop and car parts shop, and the hallmark inclusion of the Wintory Casino — though it wasn’t (and still isn’t) available to everyone.
Project Motor Racing’s Full List of 30 Achievements Revealed
We’re just about three months out from Project Motor Racing releasing on November 25, the debut title of Straight4 Studios. While there’s still a bit of time until the game’s launch, it appears the curtain has been pulled back a little early on the game’s structure through its Achievements. There’s 30 in total, and the full list comes courtesy of Xbox Achievement-hunting site TrueAchievements.
Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo Makes a Surprise Appearance in The Crew Motorfest
The Crew Motorfest has revealed its new Elite Bundle, a limited-time discounted offering of new cars for players to roam the game’s open world, and there’s something of a surprise contained within: the Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo. No, your eyes aren’t deceiving you.
Assetto Corsa EVO Update 0.3 Now Available in “Open” Beta Test Branch
If last week’s keynote with Kunos Simulazioni’s Marco Massarutto detailing what’s to come in the third major update for Assetto Corsa EVO piqued your interest, you’re in luck: you can get to grips with it right now. Although there’s a catch.
iRacing Studios Developing INDYCAR Racing Game, Releasing in 2026 on Consoles and PC
iRacing Studios is on full steam ahead. Last week, the studio announced iRacing Arcade, an “over the top” arcade racer that appeals to all, developed in partnership with Vancouver studio Original Fire Games. Today, the studio is announcing another venture in the form of a standalone INDYCAR racing title, thanks to a new, long-term licensing agreement between iRacing.com Motorsport Simulations and INDYCAR.
Assetto Corsa EVO Update 0.3 Will Introduce Multiplayer, Improved Physics, New Cars, Tracks & More
Kunos Simulazioni’s Marco Massarutto has detailed much of what’s on the way in the third major update for the early access version of Assetto Corsa EVO. Originally earmarked for release in July, the next update has fallen to a delay and Kunos has been teasing what’s to come for several weeks now. The latest keynote on the official Assetto Corsa YouTube Channel has detailed more of what will be included in Update 0.3 once it finally releases.
Project Motor Racing’s New Gamescom Trailer Reveals Porsche, Ford, New Tracks, & More
As we draw closer to Project Motor Racing’s launch on November 25, Straight4 Studios came to this year’s Gamescom with a new trailer and details to boot. While probably not much of a surprise, given its appearance on the game’s current cover art, the trailer immediately not only confirms the Green Hell itself, the Nurburgring Nordschleife, while also displaying the game’s weather system for the first time.
iRacing Arcade Coming to Steam This Fall, Hitting Consoles in 2026
iRacing Studios has unveiled iRacing Arcade, a one-size-fits-all approach that makes iRacing appealing to all, and it’s coming first to PC this fall. The title has been in development in partnership with small Vancouver-based studio Original Fire Games, responsible for Circuit Superstars (and the almost-abandonware Karting Superstars), for just over a year and looks set to combine iRacing’s content with Circuit Superstars‘ cutesy style.
Curiosity as a Leadership Competency
by Michael O’Leary, Chairman at HRM Search Partners Despite the need for innovation and continuous improvement, many organisations still fail to recognise the importance of curiosity as a critical leadership competency. In a previous article “Why the C in C-Suite stands for curiosity”, we explored the essential role of leadership in demonstrating and placing a high value on curiosity in order to enable breakthroughs at all levels for their organisations.
Project CARS 3 Makes Final Pitstop: Leaving All Digital Storefronts on August 24
Coming up on five years since its launch in 2020, Project CARS 3 will reach the end of its life and be delisted from all digital storefronts on August 24. The news comes directly from its digital storefront listings, clarifying all product sales will end on August 24 at 23:59 UTC in an identical statement on Steam, the PlayStation Store, and the Xbox Store. DLCs purchased before this date will still be available.
RaceRoom Racing Experience is Gearing up for a “New Era” With Summer Campaign
Things continue to heat up with RaceRoom Racing Experience as KW Studios has announced RaceRoom Summer Campaign 2025, a three-part series of events culminating in the “biggest update of the year” for the PC racing sim. The campaign extends from July to September, and will give players a taste of everything R3E has to offer. Kicking things off is the first phase, with every car and every track available to all players for free until August 18.
Tokyo Xtreme Racer Update 0.13.0 Brings Achievements, UI Updates, and New Depth
After a little lull across spring, publisher and developer Genki is back with another update for Tokyo Xtreme Racer’s pre-release version. Released earlier this year into Early Access, the update finally introduces Achievements to the game, giving players yet another reason to get behind the wheel and take in the sights.
RaceRoom Racing Experience is Free Until August 18: All Tracks, All Cars
For weekend warriors looking to get their virtual racing fix, PC racing sim RaceRoom Racing Experience will be free to play in its entirety from now until August 18. Ordinarily the title, also known as R3E, is free-to-play and consists of a handful of cars and tracks that you can access in single- and multiplayer modes. You’d need to pay for any further content you want to use, ranging from $1-$7 for individual cars or tracks and with various pack bundles included.
The Crew Motorfest Gives a Gaming Debut to the Ferrari F80 in Season 7
Ferrari’s 80th anniversary and celebratory gift to itself, the F80, will make its video game debut in the seventh season of The Crew Motorfest, available from today. Ivory Tower’s air, sea, and land open-world racer is perhaps an unusual choice for a gaming debut for the hypercar, beating the usual powerhouse suspects in this area: the Forza franchise and Gran Turismo.
WRC Franchise Returns to Nacon, Beginning in 2027
The official World Rally Championship game franchise will be returning to a familiar home shortly, with Nacon announced as the publisher for the next title in the series — and for years to come. Last month came to a close with the surprise announcement that the long-running WRC game franchise would be moving to a new developer in the future.
Assetto Corsa EVO Update 0.2 Brings “Serious Heat” With New Cars and Tracks Original
Kunos Simulazioni has confirmed the second major update for the Early Access version of Assetto Corsa EVO is scheduled for May 7 at 14:00 UTC. Following the development roadmap published earlier this year, Update 0.2 delivers significantly more content than initially outlined. While the original plan hinted at five new cars and one new track, the upcoming release is more generous: the car count increases by seven, and two new circuits are being added.
Chattanooga Officially Recognized As A Runner-Friendly Community
Chattanooga has officially been recognized as a Runner-Friendly Community by the Road Runners Club of America, thanks to the efforts of the Chattanooga Track Club. This national designation highlights Chattanooga’s commitment to supporting safe and accessible running infrastructure, active lifestyles, and a vibrant community of runners. “We’re proud to celebrate Chattanooga’s new status as a Runner-Friendly Community,” said CTC President Jason Liggins.
Neuroscience - Brains Trust
by Michael O’Leary, Chairman at HRM Search Partners In upswings and times of uncertainty, trust is a bedrock for organisational success. Neuroscience helps us to understand insights into employee behaviour. These eight processes will enable you to build leadership trust. If we expected the post-pandemic era to be a settling period in employee/employer relationships, we were mistaken.
Opposites Repel
by Michael O’Leary, Chairman at HRM Search Partners Two distinctly opposing leadership ideologies now exist, one could damage your organisation. Here’s how to avoid it. Thirty years ago, the late Colin Powell, former US Secretary of State, listed 18 lessons for leaders in a presentation entitled A Leadership Primer. He talked about authenticity, optimism, challenging others and not being afraid to be challenged back. It’s still a great read.
Blind Justice? An Analysis of Employment Tribunal
Michael Edema Leary · Follow 25 min read · -- That Justice is a blind goddess Is a thing to which we black are wise: Her bandage hides two festering sores That once perhaps were eyes. (Langston Hughes)[1] [1] (1901–1967) Growing up in Joplin, Missouri, USA his experiences of racism shaped his early and later life. He was a leading figure of the Harlem Renaissance in the 1920s-30s and an uncompromising voice for racial and social justice.
Blind Justice? An Analysis of Employment Tribunal: Perversity and Institutional Betrayal
Michael Edema Leary · Follow 24 min read · -- That Justice is a blind goddess Is a thing to which we black are wise: Her bandage hides two festering sores That once perhaps were eyes.
CropLife America Appoints Alexandra Dunn as Next President and CEO
ARLINGTON, VA – The CropLife America (CLA) Board of Directors welcomes Alexandra (Alex) Dunn as the new president and chief executive officer (CEO). Dunn joins CLA after serving as a Partner in the Environmental, Safety, and Incident Response group at the international law firm of Baker Botts, L.L.P., in its Washington, D.C., office. While at Baker Botts, Alex worked on pesticide issues, chemical regulation, water quality, enforcement, litigation, environmental justice, and community engagement.
Four Steps To Fostering Future Leadership
by Michael O’Leary, Chairman at HRM Search Partners While new leaders from external talent pools can bring new purpose and direction, sourcing leadership from within is a valuable exercise, but succession planning is not easy. Effective programmes are years in development and require the total commitment of senior leaders. Succession planning begins by identifying and developing high potential employees (HP’s) to meet future leadership needs.
The Crew Motorfest Announced, Launches Later This Year
Ubisoft has announced the third installment of its multi-vehicle-type racing game series The Crew will be called The Crew Motorfest, and is on the slate for a launch later in 2023. Developed again by Ivory Tower, the third title is set for an interesting change of location. Although it’s still based around a recreation of some of the United States, TCM has shifted from the lower 48 location of the first two games and across to Hawai’i.
Forza Horizon 5 Series 18 to Honor Ken Block, With Special In-Game Content
Although Playground Games has yet to announce the Forza Horizon 5 Series 17 update, it’s already confirmed that Series 18 will feature a tribute to the late Ken Block. The whole motoring and motorsport community was shaken by the passing of Block earlier this month in a snowmobile accident. As well as being a rally car driver, and founder of the Hoonigan racing team, Block was a car culture icon.
Forza Motorsport and Forza Horizon 5 Set For Forza Monthly January 26; Nissan Z Revealed
The next Forza Monthly — the first of the year — is set for this Thursday, January 26, and it looks to pack information for both Forza Motorsport and Forza Horizon 5. It comes in the same week where Turn10 is set to reveal new information on the next FM title at the Xbox & Bethesda Developer_Direct event on Wednesday, January 25.
New Forza Motorsport Details Coming at Xbox & Bethesda Developer_Direct On January 25
A special Xbox & Bethesda “Developer_Direct” presentation is coming on Wednesday January 25, with Forza Motorsport among the upcoming games showcased for to Xbox, PC and Game Pass. Game developers themselves will present the Developer_Direct livestream — hence the name — which will focus on “big features, extended gameplay showcases, and the latest info for Xbox games launching in the next few months”.
Forza Horizon Creative Director Mike Brown Leaves Playground Games to Set Up New Studio
In a completely unexpected development, the now-former creative director for Playground Games, Mike Brown, has parted ways with the company to form a new AAA studio along with some of his former coworkers. The new studio goes by the name of Maverick Games, and counts other senior staff from Playground among its new employees. Notably that includes lead producer Tom Butcher and audio director Fraser Strachan — the man responsible for Forza Horizon 5’s lauded current audio direction.
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