Spring has sprung in Forza Horizon 5 and with it comes the beginning of the end of Series 17 of the Festival Playlist and the Weekly Challenges it holds. Yes, it is the hot season in Mexico, which must be nice, and this is the last week of the Japanese Automotive series. Are we going to go out on a high, or with more of a whimper? Let’s dive straight in to the challenges on offer to deliver you the best cars and the fastest tunes you’ll need in order to find out.
Part 1: #Forzathon Weekly Challenge – Civic Duty
The subject of this week’s car challenge is to many people the epitome of a hot hatch – the Honda Civic Type R from 1997, model number EK9.
Famous for its high revving VTEC engine, and a generation of memes that followed it (usually showing a crashed Civic and the tagline “VTEC just kicked in, yo!”), this car quickly became a favourite of the JDM crowd. If you don’t have one yet, it will set you back a mere 25,000 credits at the Autoshow
Chapter 1 – EK9
Get in your shiny Honda and take it for a spin. Step one complete!
Chapter 2 -Racing Spec
Because the Type R had all unnecessary weight removed, it should be pretty rapid on the road.
We have to prove this by winning two Road Circuit events. Stock trim should be plenty, but if you are looking for a little more spice, I made this share code : 143058923.
Chapter 3 – You’re a Natural
As the VTEC boosted power towards the top of the rev band, the Type R made 162 BHP at a crazy 8,200 rpm. To celebrate this, we need to earn a Hard Charger skill.
To do this, you need to get a burnout skill, followed by a speed skill in less than 30 seconds. Take it to the highway, dump the clutch and win!
Chapter 4 – Championship White
For this final step we just need to take a photo of our Civic.
And that is the weekly challenge done, enjoy the reward of 5 points towards this week’s car.
Part 2: Challenges
The Trial – Trail Tourers
The weekly invitation to collect a group of racers and batter some Unbeatable driverbots is here. The restriction this week is a Japanese car tuned to only B Class 700, so it isn’t going to be a speedy race. The surface is also dirt, so I’m thinking something along the lines of an Evo, maybe?
An Evo VIII MR, to be exact, with share code: 141172186.
Our reward for winning the best two out of three races is a Honda NSX-R GT.
EventLab 1 – OnBluePlanet Presents : Touge Battle 06
As the blurb says, 4km, 6 Hairpins. And a limitation of a Japanese B Class 700 car, same as the Trial. So, in the interests of simplicity, and also because I had just done the Trial in it, I used the same Evo as above too.
The track does have a pretty nice flow to it, it’s just a shame that we couldn’t take a proper drift car on it.
For completing the course, a Super Wheelspin is up for grabs.
EventLab 2 – NordSeeBazi Presents : Cobra Driftpark
Same restriction as the last EventLab calls for the same car, doesn’t it?
The track this time is a real windy one, and while it does flow pretty well again, I can’t help thinking that going at it in a Formula Drift MkIV Supra would be a lot more fun.
Our prize for winning? A Forzalink phrase, “Driftacular”.
PR Stunt – Danger Sign – Boardwalk
This Danger Sign is quite tricky, as the approach is off-road through a swamp, and this season we need to fly more than 170 m.
We are limited to any S2 Class 998 car, and so I brought out the BMW X5M Forza Edition to jump about a bit. The share code for this monster is: 519084427.
Another Super Wheelspin will be yours if you jump far enough. Mind those mangrove roots.
PR Stunt – Drift Zone – Las Dunas
For this challenge, we need to score over 180,000 drift points in this course, in an S2 Class 998 car. Any car.
So, in honour of the late, great Ken Block, I used the Hoonigan Hoonicorn Mustang, in stock trim. This blitzed the course target easily.
More Super Wheelspins? Why not?
Seasonal Championship – Fly the Coupe
Japanese Modern Sports Cars, to a maximum of B Class 700, and the style of race is the Midnight Club style events. You know, the ones full of insomniac Mexicans popping down the shops as you try to race through?
So, with a limited choice, I went with a Subaru BRZ, share code: 139235813. Not the fastest class ever, but still reasonable fun.
For winning the championship solo, or best two out of three races in a convoy, you’ll take away another Subaru, the Wrx from 2008.
Seasonal Championship – Totally Toyota
Surprisingly, only Toyota vehicles are eligible here, and then only to a maximum of C Class 600.
I went with a Celica GT-Four from 1994, and the share code is : 861264673. There wasn’t a lot of tuning room in this car, but they are a pretty car at least.
For winning out, either alone or in a convoy, you can take home a Mazda Mx-5 from 2016.
Part 3: Other Challenges
We are spoiled for choice this week, with a Treasure hunt, a photo and more to go at. Let’s get on with the details, shall we?
Photo Challenge -#SecretHondaway
Take a Honda or Acura to Ek’Balam, find the secret cave with the stone lanterns in, and take a photo. What could be easier, right?
Well, quite a lot, as a secret cave is, well, a secret!
Luckily, I’ll show you exactly where this cave is. My efforts and the location are shown below.
Basically, right by where it says Ek’Balam on the map, you’ll see what looks like a tiny pool of water, this is the cave.
Another Forzalink phrase “Too soon, Junior” will be added. And bonus points to anyone who can tell me which film that is from!
Treasure Hunt – Supraman
The clue reads “Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s supraman!”, and the picture shows an older supra, the 1992 2.0 Gt, jumping from the danger sign at the end of the runway in the south of the map.
So, I guess we need to jump?
I did it in a stock car, running the full length of the runway and hitting the ramp at around 130mph.
I’ll show the location of the chest below, and it contains 100 FP.
Playground Games – Survival
We need to play Survival for this week’s challenge, which basically means trying to run away from infected players and heal your team mates.
The car restriction is B Class 700, and Japanese, and since these usually feature a large off road element, I went with the same Evo VIII MR as before – the share code is still 141172186.
For taking part (no need to win here!) we will get a Nissan Skyline GT-R from 1997.
Horizon Open – Tandem Drifting
Go to Horizon Open, chose Drifting, and pick a Japanese car to take part in.
As it could be almost any class, it is hard to recommend you a car, but if you should get lucky and S1 Class come up, the Formula Drift Supra is a cracking car to slide around.
For completing this challenge, you will earn a Nissan Silvia from 1998.
Part 4: Hot Wheels Events
Are you an elite level Hot Wheels player? If so, we have a couple of tasty extra challenges for you!
PR Stunt – Speed Trap – Hammer’s Shadow
Both the PR Stunt and the race championship this week are set to S2 Class 998, anything goes, and so there is only one car for the job – the Koenigsegg Agera, with share code: 109282883.
The target for this speed trap is over 245 mph, which counts as pretty fast, but this car is up to the challenge. Approaching from the north seems easier.
A Super Wheelspin will be winging its way to you if you manage this feat.
Seasonal Championship – Hot Pursuit
Same restriction, same car, and the Agera will dominate all in this race.
Nothing more to say, really!
Enjoy the Hot Wheels Suit that this victory will gift you.
Remember, if you haven’t yet completed the two Monthly Rivals events, then this is your last chance to do so. The rewards they bring will be gone as Series 17 ends, so hit the relevant tiles in the Festival Playlist and take on some clean laps around both the Plaza Circuit and that of Tierra Prospera.
And that concludes Series 17 of the Forza Horizon 5 Festival Playlist Weekly Challenges. It’s been a series which has allowed the chance for you to pick up some great experience as well as some great new cars – of which you should now have well enough points to gather up the Nissan GTR ‘20 and Subaru 22B.
Spring itself gives you the opportunity to drive the Sports 800 ‘65 for 20pts and the Nissan Sentra for 40pts, concluding the series.
Next up is Series 18 and it’s the Horizon Wilds Takeover that comes to the fore. Expect to find the Stunt Park back in play, along with new collectibles, cars and decorations. We’ll have guides for the challenges of Series 18 for you too.
As always, to complete the Forza Horizon 5 Festival Playlist Weekly Challenges for Series 17 – Spring, you’ll need a copy of Forza Horizon 5 in your digital library. It’s available on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S or PC, all via the Xbox Store, either for cash or through Game Pass.
Drop into the comments and let us know if the cars or tunes listed have helped you out this week. We’d love to know if you find them helpful.
really enjoy your commentary and tips, keep up the good work