I’m excited to unveil my newest release: the Benetton B197 (1997) in collaboration with the talented David Marques.
If you’ve tried my 1997 Jordan, you’ll notice immediately: this 3D model is on another level. I faced a familiar dilemma every modder knows too well — do I sink countless hours into a hyper-detailed model that could stand proudly in a modern engine? Or aim for something simpler and more in line with an older game’s limits?
This time, thanks to the wealth of reference photos from track-run B197s in recent years, I went for detail!
The result is we have a high quality car, complete with a fully built cockpit, accurate rear-end geometry, diffuser, crash structure, gearbox, and subtle internal components. The best thing is that this car is still within GP4 limits for polygon counts.
While I tackled the painting on most of the internal elements, David Marques once again elevated the project with his impeccable mapping and paintwork on the main body, plus new 3D bolts, multiple wing specs, and gorgeous full 4K textures. Every race of the 1997 season gets its own unique livery — all thanks to David’s dedication and obsessive eye for historical detail, with help from Quickslick.
Since the B197 evolved directly from the ’96 car — itself evolved from the ’95 championship winner, which I made not too long ago, it helped me recreate some parts quickly and accurately that would usually take me a long time in making parts that are difficult to see from pictures.
On track, the B197 had flashes of brilliance. Wurz debuted in it and immediately impressed with a podium at Silverstone. Alesi delivered a pole and several strong finishes. And of course, after recovering from illness and reeling from personal tragedy, Berger returned to the cockpit with that unforgettable, inspired victory at the German Grand Prix. This would also be Berger's swansong season finishing a strong fourth place, just shy of the podium at the final round at Jerez.
This release is for Grand Prix 4 of course, but it is also jointly being released in F1 Challenge.
I hope you enjoy driving it as much as we enjoyed bringing it back to life.
1997 Benetton B197
by fongu & David Marques
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