Series 22 is history. Long live Series 23!
As a new series and season dawns in Mexico, all of us Forza Horizon 5 fans are dying to know what is in store in the Festival Playlist and the Weekly Challenges for Series 23, most specifically, Summer. Well, the subtitle for this Series is “Summer Party” and so hopefully there will be enough food and drink to go around. If not, we shall complain.
What we do know is that in addition to a new story to take part in (called Icons of Speed), is a series of weekly challenges to enjoy. And that is where these articles come, as hopefully they will give you a clue as to what we need to do in order to discover a life of completion. I may even manage to suggest a car or a tune for you to try out.
So, let’s hit the party! Oh, and bring the sun cream, will you?
Part 1: Weekly Car Challenge – Cat out of Hell
The subject of this week’s weekly challenge is a car that seems very American to me – that is brash, loud and a bit showboaty!
It is the 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat, a car that is very fast and yet subtle…
Should you not have this particular cat in your garage, a quick trip to the Autoshow will let you swap 80,000 credits for one. Or maybe 75,000, as there are two…
Chapter 1 – Intimidating and Iconic
Get in your new car, take it for a spin. Step one complete!
Chapter 2 – Cat’s Out of the Bag
Apparently a Hellcat comes with two keyfobs, depending on how much of a hooligan you want to be. We now need to use the power fob, unleash all 717 BHP, and win six stars at speed traps.
Easy, right?
Chapter 3 – Devil’s in the Details
Because the Hellcat picture is liberally splashed around this car, we now need to take a photo. It doesn’t specify if we just need to photograph the badge or the whole car, so use your best judgement.
Chapter 4 – Drag Demon
Now, for a final step – win a drag race! Saw that one coming, right?
And with that, the weekly challenge is complete and we are five points closer to the reward cars of Series 23. Do we actually need more cars in Forza Horizon 5?
Part 2: Weekly Challenges, Championships and PR Stunts
Anyways, Summer is here, and it is party time. With that are a host of new challenges. This week’s collection in the Forza Horizon 5 Festival Playlist is as follows…
The Trial – Hot Rod
The Trial for Series 23 Summer sees us limited to only using Rod and Customs cars, and then only to a tuning ceiling of C Class 600. Of the not massive choice, I chose a Plymouth Fury, Christine herself!
Of course I tuned her a bit, and the share name is Christine under my name, Red620Ti.
Hoping against hope, but maybe you will find people who are interested in racing. I noticed a trend last week of people quitting when it looked like we were losing, which saddened me. If you don’t try, how can you win?
Should we manage to win two out of three races, a lovely VW Golf R ‘14 is our reward.
Eventlab 1 – Renegade6783 presents Arco Raceway
For this event, we need only use an A Class car – but a soft top. I chose a stock Caterham Superlight R500. Can’t get much more open top than that.
This is a long but very well designed track, and I had fun throwing the car sideways whenever I could. Although my choice of car is a little lively.
The prize for completing this race is a BMW M1.
Eventlab 2 – TYPEHARDFARK Presents Circuito De Los Pinos
For this challenge, we need a Track Toy, tuned to A Class 900, and so I went with the same Caterham from above, still in stock trim. No point tuning for a one horse race, am I right?
This is another well designed course, that was fun to drive. Does that mean the Eventlabs are actually getting better?
But hey, a Super Wheelspin will be yours for completing the course – maybe you can spin new clothes?
PR Stunt 1 – Danger Sign – Valle
We are back to using S2 Class cars for the PR Stunts this week, and so it may be time to let some old faves run amok.
Starting with this Danger Sign, we need to clear over 300 m to win, and I used the BMW X5M FE to do it. Share code (remember those?) is : 519084427.
A Super Wheelspin? Makes up for the suspension damage I suppose!
PR Stunt 2 – Trailblazer – City Escape
An urban Trailblazer is always tricky, and having to finish it, with 45 seconds left on the clock, means it has to be time for my Koenigsegg Agera to make a comeback, share code : 109282883.
Hitting the start line as fast and as straight as possible is key to this one.
Another Super Wheelspin awaits.
PR Stunt 3 – Drift Zone – Farmland Trial
Same class of car, but a different challenge this time – let us slide!
Yes, we need to get sideways and score over 170,000 drift points, and so the car of choice this time is a Hoonigan Hoonicorn in stock trim. Ken knew how to slide, right enough.
Yet another Super Wheelspin to add to the pile.
Seasonal Championship 1 – And Now, The Classics
Classic Sports Cars, tuned to D Class 500? May be quicker to walk!
I went with a Toyota Sports 800, which even after tuning has a heady 59 bhp. Look for the tune named 800 under my GT, Red620Ti.
For winning outright solo, or best two out of three in a convoy, we can take home a Chevy Camaro from 1969.
Seasonal Championship 2 – Scrambling for More
Modern Rally car, B Class 700 – it can only be the EVO VIII MR, with share code : 141172186. In fact, listing this one means this article is fast becoming a greatest hits of my tuning career.
We can walk away with another car for coming out on top – a Lotus Elan from way back when.
Part 3: Other Challenges
Series 23 – Summer focuses on the Photo Challenge, the Treasure Hunt, a bit of a Horizon Open, and some Arcade action. Let’s get cracking!
Photo Challenge – #HotShot
Not too tricky this week – we simply need to take a Hot Hatch car to the Street Scene Outpost and snap away. What could be easier?
I’ll post the location and my artistic effort below for your admiration. Or maybe ridicule. You decide and let us know what you think of it in the comments. Is it time for a new costume? My editor thinks it is. [Ed: Yes, Paul – it’s time!]
The reward? A new Doodle Pattern Cap. Groovy.
Treasure Hunt – “Sting Like a Beetle”
The clue this week reads “Trade colours as these tiny bugs menace the road”.
So, a Beetle, and get some trading paint skills I assume, where you just brush against traffic. Will be easiest done on the highway through the middle of the map, I feel.
Three Trading Paint Skills seemed to be enough.
For finding the chest (I’ll put a picture of the location below) we will receive 100 FP.
Horizon Tour – Open Racing – Summer Fun
Now we just have to complete a Horizon Open Event to win big this week. Pick your favourite discipline and have fun.
We can win a Clock Tower Horn for our trouble.
Horizon Arcade
For this, it is a case of completing three rounds of the Horizon Arcade. Drift is obviously best, but Wreckage, Chaos, Air and Speed are also available should you prefer those. Get through all three rounds to complete this step.
Three points to the weekly total is your reward.
Part 4: Hot Wheels Events
If you have the Hot Wheels expansion and are an Elite Level player, then you get to enjoy a couple of extra events.
Seasonal PR Stunt – Speed Zone – Supersonic Spiral
S2 Class and speed means that Koenigsegg again, and the share code is : 109282883.
We need to average over 170 mph, and approaching from the left seems a tad easier.
A Super Wheelspin is your reward.
Seasonal Championship – Dragons Quest
We need to keep the old British Flag flying here as we need to use a McLaren, tuned to S1 Class 900, to compete.
I went with a Classic F1, and the share code is : 160610239.
Winning all the races, or two out of three in a convoy, will get us a new car, a Buick GSX.
Part 5: Rally Adventure Events
The Rally Adventure expansion brings even more events to the roster and provided you are already a Horizon Badlands champion, you’ll get access to…
Seasonal PR Stunt – Speed Trap – Orogrande Rush
Now for something a bit different. A Speed Trap in an S2 Car!
On road means it has to be the Beemer again, right? The X5M FE with share code : 519084427.
We need to hit over 160 mph to win, and the prize is another Super Wheelspin.
Seasonal Championship – Twists and Turns
For this series of races, we need a Volkswagen, tuned to B Class 700, and so I went with a Golf, as you’d expect. The R32 from 2003 to be precise, and the share code : 156548623.
For winning out, we can take away a new bit of clothing, some white skinny jeans. I can’t think of anything worse!
With Series 23 just beginning, the Monthly cars have reset. 80pts will get you a Ford Mustang DD, while saving up 160 points will see you grab a Dodge Super Bee, exclusive to this contest.
The new monthly Rivals challenges are also live and changed. Chuck in some clean laps around Cathedral Circuit (I hate this track) and the other around Arch of Mulege circuit. Do these at some stage in the month, but doing them the first week will see you score the points for these at the start of each week, so soonest is bestest.
Grab enough points and Spring will also see you gifted with the exclusive Ford XB Falcon for 20 points and the gorgeous McLaren 765LT for 40 points.
And what’s to come? Well, stick with us through the whole of Series 23 for more guides covering Autumn, Winter and Spring. Onto the future….
To enjoy these events in the Festival Playlist Weekly Challenges, you’ll need a copy of Forza Horizon 5. It’s available on Game Pass, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC and on the cloud via mobile. The Xbox Store will sort you out with a download.
As always, the comments section is below. We’d love to know if these cars and tunes have helped you out. Perhaps you have a better tune or car? Let us know about it.
