Let's be real, in the grand scheme of things, right now who out there in the wide world gives a toss about BTCC, LeMans, Indycar, Nascar etc?
Relatively speaking, not very many people, because all of these racing categories which used to be very entertaining to watch have now been ruined by excessive interference and are now boring as hell. We're not in the 1980s or 1990s or even 2000s anymore, when things used to be cool and original. We're in 2024 - we're everything is a boring malaise of soulless corporate garbage, with the only interesting things coming from independent creators.
I really hope it doesn't, but I think LeMans Ultimate will fail commercially, because who really cares about driving those cars - no one I know.
Yet every car guy I've ever met has dreamed every day for thier entire life of driving a Ferrari F40, a Shelby Mustang, a Porsche 911 a Lamborghini, an Aston Martin etc, or OLD racing from the 70s, 80s, 90s.
Why was AC a wild commercial success and rF2 a complete commercial failure even though it's physics were far superior? Imo because AC had cars that people actually want to drive and are fun to drive, plus loads of mods.
Why was BeamNG wildly popular - because it was different and original/made for good youtube content.
Keep the hardcore physics, keep the racing cars, but also appeal to a broad audience with cars people want to drive, or support modders to make those cars.
Take a risk and be innovative, like having some kind of option for people to get a car that they want created, or a section of road they want created, or an online driving school, or just SOMETHING different.
But obviously none of this will ever happen, because no offence but the visionary individuals who created rF1 & rF2/ and those who continued development of rFactor2, have all left. No offence to the current incredibly talented developers, but the direction is corporate and soulless.
In saying all that, what the hell do I know, nothing really. I hope it succeeds I really do. Personally I would be putting my efforts towards creating rF3, include a wide variety of road cars and older racing cars, obviously with the most realistic physics possible, but also including physical deformation and damage to as many components of the car as possible, especially the tyres/chassis etc. Realistic crashes will drive an insane amount of content on YouTube and just be very cool. Simulate an actual car in all it's aspects - not just simulate driving a car.
Help modders as much as possible to create content, and include it in the game and promote it if it meets a certain standard, so people know it exists.
All a pipedream I know!