- Site: ToCA Race Driver 3
- Publisher: Feral Interactive
- Mac Developer: Robosoft
- Developer: Codemasters
- Genre: Sports
By Brad Cook
Meet Rick. Get to know him well, because he could be the difference between crossing the finish line in first place and skidding off the track during the final turn. He’s also the guy who guides you through your career as you compete in races featuring everything from classic cars to the latest high-performance sports machines to off-road 4x4s and lightweight go-karts. You’ll find over 35 types of racing, with 80 real world tracks and 70 licensed vehicles, in the game.
After your first race, a one-lap affair that baselines your current skills, Rick gives you some pointers — “Find the straightest line through the corners, don’t hold back, and drop the hammer to the floor” — and introduces you to some of the vehicles at your disposal before asking in his thick Scottish brogue: “So, what will it be next?”
If you choose World Tour, you’ll make your way through 32 tiers of racing, each with a different focus, as you aspire for a position on the BMW Williams F1 team. Pro Career lets you choose a discipline, climb its ladder, and win cups along the way; there are 177 in all. Both modes unlock tracks and cars that you can choose from when setting up a free race, testing your newfound abilities in a time trial, or heading to the Mac-only multi-player service GameRanger for some online competition.
Your Racing Career
Rick also talks to you during races, giving you pointers, letting you know about accidents or dicey track conditions, and warning you about aggressive driving, which can lead to penalties if you start cutting corners or bumping other cars. He’ll be frank, so don’t be surprised if he expresses disappointment in your performance; if you zoom away from the pack, though, you’ll hear the excitement in his voice. (Rally racing features a co-driver who tells you about upcoming turns, as in Colin McRae Rally Mac).
Between races, you can tune many aspects of your car’s performance, such as tires, transmission, suspension, and brakes. Successful drivers study how those changes affect their driving and make any necessary tweaks before races, since the tracks vary from asphalt to dirt roads, with many featuring hairpin turns and uneven surfaces among them. You can also upgrade your vehicle’s components to improve fuel efficiency, decrease tire wear, increase brake strength, and more.
If you really want to make Rick happy, view your telemetry data after qualifying sessions and test drives to see where you applied brake or throttle and how fast you were going on each section of the track. Compare that information with previous attempts to see where you need improvement.
Your ultimate goal is to eventually hear Rick offer his heartiest congratulations: “I knew you had it in you to be a winner! Let me give you a hug.”
Game Hardware
Check out our systems for your best gaming experience.
Jockeying For Position. These lightweight vehicles spin out easily, so watch your aggressive cornering.
These Buggies Pack Plenty of Horses. Careful with those bumps: take them too fast and you’ll lose time while airborne.
Time For Some Brute Force. The classics never go out of style during the U.S. Muscle Car World Tour.
If you liked this game, check out:
System Requirements:
- Mac OS X version 10.4.8 (10.5 recommended)
- 1.8GHz Intel processor (2.4GHz recommended)
- 512MB RAM (1.5GB recommended)
- 128MB video RAM (256MB recommended; Intel GMA integrated graphics not supported)
- 8.5GB hard disk space
Career Mode Disciplines
- Classic: Tour 80 years of racing history, from the Grand Prix of the 1930s to the F1 races of the 1990s, and get behind the wheel of the 1930s era Mercedes W25, the Lancia Beta Monte Carlo Turbo that competed in the 1970s GT Cups, the Williams FW11B that scored nine Grand Prix wins in the 1980s, and more.
- GT: Tear up the track in some of the most powerful sports cars in existence, including the Palmer Jaguar JP1, the MG XPower SVR, and the low-weight Global GT Light.
- Oval: You’ll find a variety of racing types here, from the World Sprintcar Series, where the vehicles are ultra-light but very nimble, to the U.S. Speedtruck Challenge to open wheel racing with IndyCar.
- Touring Car: These vehicles pack plenty of power under the hood. Compete in the Autosport Clio Cup, the SuperTruck International Series, the European V6 Championship, and more. Beware: some of these vehicles feature front wheel drive, which can make for some tricky racing.
- Off Road: You’ll hear the dirt ping off the underside of your vehicle as you compete in this rough-and-tumble world. The Off-Road Buggy Nationals kick off the fun, which includes the Baja Motorcross Series, the 4x4 Monster Truck Series, and more.
- Open Wheel: IndyCar isn’t the only open wheel game in town. Here you’ll experience the unique Euro Karting Championship, featuring lightweight go-karts, the Formula 3 Championship, the BMW Williams F1 Challenge, and more.
- TMS (The Motorsports Sensation): Welcome to England’s 400-acre Bedford Autodrome complex, where you’ll get to try out the Formula Palmer Audi, the Palmer Jaguar JP1, and other high-performance vehicles without worrying about the competition. It’s just you and the track, and the goal is to post the best time possible. The complex’s five raceways were the inspiration of former F1 driver Jonathan Palmer.
- Honda: These unique races include the Ariel Atom Trophy, featuring a bodiless tubular chassis sports car, the Honda Civic 2006 Series, the ATV competitions in the off-road TRX 250 EX Challenge, and, yes, even Honda lawnmower racing.
Cheat If You Must
Activating cheats in ToCA Race Driver 3 is simple: enter the Options menu, select “Bonus,” and select the cheats you’d like to unlock. You can add a boost that makes your car jump over the others, turn your vehicle invincible, drive toy cars and a slot racer, and more.