As night follows day, and boredom follows the screening of a football match, so Winter follows Autumn in the world of Forza Horizon 5 and the Festival Playlist Weekly Challenges. Yes, it is the dry season in Mexico, and after all the rain I’ve seen this week, it is something of a relief.
So, let’s dive straight in with the weekly hints, tips and tunes you’ll need to make sure that this dry season is a good season.
Part 1: #Forzathon Weekly Challenge -Up To Speed
The weekly car challenge this week kicks off on a budget, as we have to drive a Honda. Well, an Acura, to be precise, as Honda’s are called in America for some reason.
Yes, we need to get into an Acura Integra Type-R, which is reputedly one of the finest of the front wheel drive cars when it comes to handling. It’s pretty wallet friendly too, with a new example setting you back a mere 25,000 Credits at the Autoshow.
Chapter 1 – Japanese Performance
Get in your Integra and drive. Step one complete.
Chapter 2 – Championship White
Take a photo of the car. Not sure what else to tell you, really.
Chapter 3 – Built to Race
Finally we get to see what the fuss is about, as we need to win a Street Race in the car.
I’ve tuned mine a tad, but kept it front wheel drive in an attempt to preserve the car’s USP. Share code is 671828283 if you want to try it out.
Chapter 4 – VTEC just kicked in!
Even though this title needs a “Yo!” on the end, VTEC is a pretty trick bit of kit, giving more power to the car the faster you go.
In order to celebrate this, we need to earn a Slingshot skill, which basically means drafting behind someone then overtaking them at the last minute. Easiest done in a race, I feel, and the previous tune shouldn’t see you have any difficulty in achieving it.
And that is the weekly challenge done. Enjoy those 160 Forza Points.
Part 2 – Weekly Challenges
For Series 14 Winter, it’s time to pretend to be a pirate again, as the Treasure Hunt is back, alongside the usual mix of The Trial and some hardcore racing, plus the motley assortment of PR stunts.
Oh, and the Eventlab is back, let’s get hyped! Or not…
The Trial – Bumper 2 Bumper
I have completely run out of gags this week, so I’ll stick to the facts.
The Trial means we have to team up with a bunch of randoms from the internet, and race and beat some unbeatable Driverbots.
The theme this week is B Class 700, that is all, and so I went with a Camaro Super Sport Coupe, on the basis that when it comes to engines, bigger is always better. My share code is: 144142144. This is a pretty easy race this week, to be honest, we won easily.
Our prize is a Ferrari 488 Pista, should we emerge victorious.
Eventlab – Subie156 presents Horizon Super Scramble
Yay, it’s back, limping into view and sitting in the mix of weekly fun like a dog egg on a beach. Still, since we can win big, let’s give it a try.
Pick an S1 Class car, any S1 Class car, and so I went with literally the first one in my garage, an Ascari KZ1R, which I left stock. No point tuning in a one horse race, after all…
Tips? There are a lot of stupid jumps, so keep your speed up, and just before the finish line is a massively tight chicane, so be careful.
Prize? Remember when I said we would win big? It was a lie, we will win a Builder’s Helmet. Matron.
PR Stunt – Trailblazer – City Escape
Blaze through the city streets and complete the course with 46 seconds on the clock. Sounds tricky? Well, that’s because it is!
We can use any S2 Class 998 car we fancy, so how about a Koenigsegg Agera with share code : 109282883. This did it first run, and hitting the gate as fast as you dare will help, as will braking as hard as possible to make the left at the little roundabout.
A Super Wheelspin is the prize for hanging on like grim death.
PR Stunt – Speed Trap – Oceano Azul
We have to get through this speed trap at 95 mph, which doesn’t sound that fast. Until you see the restriction – Ford Wagons to a max of D Class 500. I’m not sure one of those would hit 95 mph if you dropped it out of a plane!
Still, a challenge has been issued, and so we must meet it, but there is a wrinkle. You see, the only car we can use is the very one that we win for amassing 20 points this week, and so you’ll want to do some other events first.
Once you have your hands on it, the share code for mine is: 166287192. 1,750 bhp and stock tyres, what could possibly go wrong? It has a future as a drift car, let’s put it that way!
Again, a Super Wheelspin is yours should you manage it.
Seasonal Championship – Real Mechanic.
Take a classic muscle car, tune it to C Class 600, and then go and race a bunch of similar vehicles. What could be better?
I chose a Mustang, as this is always the answer to a question involving muscle cars. I used a Mustang GT Coupe from 1965, and my share code is: 823624989.
We can get our hot little hands on a BMW M2, famously not a classic muscle car should we win.
Seasonal Championship – D List
No, not the inhabitants of the stupid jungle program that is polluting the airwaves at the moment, but instead a championship on the slower side .Any D Class car will do, and so I built a little Datsun 510, with share code: 161701898.
I learned to drive in a Datsun – little fun fact for you there!
Our reward for ambling about the place? An Ultima 1020. Nice.
Seasonal Championship – Versus
This is the big one, the grudge match, Audi Vs BMW, with A Class 800 being the limit.
I’m not really sure which way I swing with this, as I’d prefer something Japanese really, although I’m sure the Germans have gone off the Japanese just now (football gag!).
Anyways, I used the classic M3 GTR, as why wouldn’t you, and the share code is: 198385025.
Our prize is neither of the protagonists, instead being a Mercedes Benz A45.
Part 3 – Other Challenges
The Treasure Hunt makes a triumphant return this week, and there’s a photo to take and some Eliminator nonsense. Busy week!
Photo Challenge – #BUFFHORSES
Take a Mustang GT from 2018, rock up to Teotihuacan, and take a picture. What could be simpler? Well, not much to be frank!
I’ll show you mine if you show me yours, along with the location to help you out.
For all this effort, we get a Raul Urias Horizon Cap. Gotta love winning clothing you’ll never wear. And yes, I’m still dressed as a pinata from way back.
Treasure Hunt – Money Pit
The clue this week reads as follows: “The experimental project – Number 5 needs 10,000 upgrades” alongside a picture of a Mazda MX-5. Doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that we need to spend 10,000 credits on upgrading an MX-5, does it?
I built the following share code to spend the necessary credits: 799173893.This is built on the 2016 MX-5.
I’ll share a picture of the chest and its location below. It contains 100 FP, which is nice.
The Eliminator – Survive into the Top 30.
Like it says on the tin, we just need to survive until enough people have knocked each other out of the Eliminator. Discretion is always the better part of valour, in my book, and so I take the coward’s approach and hide in a bush. But you do you!
Getting into the Top 30 will get us a Forzalink phrase, “Mo Powa Baby”.
I don’t know what I have done all this time without it, to be frank.
Part 4 – Hot Wheels Events
As we all know by now I’m sure, you have to have reached Elite level in the Hot Wheels expansion in order to compete in these events. If you have, let’s crack on, if not, you best keep pushing.
PR Stunt – Danger Sign – Canyon Jump
Take an S2 Class 998 car, any car you like, and try to fly. How far? How does more than 480 metres sound? Like a tall order?
Well, relax, as I’m here to tell you that it is every bit as hard as you think.
I used my go to, now with super fast gearing, the Koenigsegg Agera with share code: 109282883. Steer left a bit to avoid an unfortunate car/cliff interface.
Sailing this far will get you a Super Wheelspin.
Seasonal Championship – The Joy of Cars
The joy this week is to take an A Class 800 car, and win some races in it. Best two out of three in a convoy, or if solo you will have to do all three races.
Since it is pretty much anything goes again this week, and the race is largely on track, I went with the something pretty left field, a Range Rover from 1973 (same age as me, and I certainly don’t run this fast) with 1070 BHP, and a share code of: 820731923. Enjoy!
A word of warning: this is a challenge, but a fun one.
We can win a Morgan 3-Wheeler for pedalling to victory, so do your best.
We’re well over the midway point for Series 14 and in theory you should already have added a host of cars to your library. If not, there are a few more points in offer through the Donut Media Horizon Story and the two Monthly Rivals events too. You just need to hit up a clean lap around Horizon Mexico Circuit for the EV challenge and the same again around the Playa Azul Circuit.
The points this week will help you go driving in the Ford Wagon (20pts) and the Zenvo ST1 (40pts), with the full Series 14 rewards card being those of the SF90 Stradale and the Alpine A110 ’17. If you’ve been following our guides, you’ll be well on your way to nabbing these.
Next week sees the conclusion of Series 14 and as Spring springs, further opportunity awaits – opportunity being the chance to get behind the wheel of the Morris Traveler and the 911 GT3 ’21. After that? Series 15!
Forza Horizon 5 needs to be in your digital library in order for you to try and complete these challenges. It’s available to play on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and PC, all through the Xbox Store. If you don’t want to open the wallet, you can use the Game Pass service to get free access.
We’d love to hear what you think of this article. Does it help with the challenges in Forza Horizon 5? The comments or the socials are waiting – we’re always around for a chat.
