Despite the launch of the new Forza Motorsport (keep an eye out for the upcoming review, racing fans!) there is another new Series of challenges appearing in Forza Horizon 5 this week.
Series 26 is called Dia Des Muertos, and judging by the amount of new achievements I have gotten just by turning the game on, it promises new achievements as well as the usual new cars and events, so win-win!
Well, it is the Day of the Dead apparently, so despite everything that video games have taught me about what happens when the dead walk, let’s go for a drive instead, shall we? And as we do, let me help you out with the best cars and tunes needed in order to complete the Festival Playlist Weekly Challenges for Series 26 Summer in Forza Horizon 5.
Part 1: Weekly Car Challenge – Lightweight Revolution
The weekly challenge car this week is a Porsche, and it is a Porsche that is the same age as me – the 1973 911 Carrera RS.
The RS stands for “Race Sport” apparently, so hopefully this will be a fun week to try this car!
Weirdly, it doesn’t seem to be available to buy from the Autoshow, so if you don’t have one yet, I guess the Auction House will be your only hope!
Chapter 1 – Rennsport
Get in your new car, take it for a spin. Step one complete!
Chapter 2 – What’s in a Name?
The name Carrera came from the Carrera Panamericana race that this car did quite well at. Celebrate this feat by winning two road races. Pick your best one and let rip! In fact, if you go to Bahia de Plano, some kind soul has made an Eventlab race for this challenge that is only one lap long, so can be ticked off fast.
Chapter 3 – Shake of a Duck’s Tail
Next step is to Score 5 stars at drift zones. Should be easy enough in the arse engined car, right? The zone at the Horizon Mexico site is nice and short, and only needs 30,000 for three stars.
Again, pick your favourite and hold on tight! I’m still in stock trim, by the way…
Chapter 4 – Eyecatch
Take a photo of your car. Yep, it is that simple!
And with that, the weekly car challenge is complete, and we’re five points closer to the reward cars that are in place during Series 26.
Part 2: Weekly Challenges, Championships and PR Stunts
With that out of the way, let’s have a look at what new delights await us on the playlist this week. Hopefully the Eventlabs will be dialled back a bit from Series 25 and make way for some proper racing. I’m guessing the usual bevy of PR Stunts will be in full effect too. Let’s dive in and have a peep, shall we?
The Trial – Driving in Circles
We need a Volkswagen this week, but only to a maximum tune of B Class 700. With that in mind I went with a Golf R from 2021, and the share code is : 906454196. It should hopefully do the job!
Please people, remember this is a co-op race. I lost last week after a “teammate” decided the best way to get around a corner was to smash into me when I was in third, ruining both our chances. Let’s be nice to each other! Of course, the people in the Trial are pussycats compared to the folk online in Forza Motorsport…
Should we manage to win two out of three races, a lovely Hoonigan Nova is ours.
Eventlab 1 – JAYW72 Presents – 3AM Rush
We need a Cult Car for this event, to a maximum of D Class 500. It is supposed to be spooky because it is so slow? Still, I went with an Abarth 595 Esseesse, and the share code is : 264491875.
I’m unsure what to make of this track, as it is just an existing race route with some blue lights and fog added. Somewhat lazy, I feel…
The prize for completing this race is a new car, the Crown Victoria. Let’s be cops!.
Eventlab 2 – JOHCEE Presents Scinaty Part 2
For this Eventlab, we need to use an Extreme Track Toy class vehicle, tuned up to S2 Class 998. I went for the Bugatti Divo, with share code : 169915677.
This is a track that I just didn’t get on with, from the jump in the first tunnel that means that you fly off the track through to the sudden width restriction right before the end, it didn’t flow for me. More imaginative than the last one, mind.
But there’s a prize on offer for completion – a Super Wheelspin to add to the collection.
PR Stunt 1 – Danger Sign – Heights of Mulege
This week the tuning limit for these events is B Class 700, and the car used must be a Nissan.
We need to jump 122 m (oddly specific, but still…) and as the approach is off road, I went with a Nissan Safari Turbo, and the share code is not available currently. Look for Safari in conjunction with Red620Ti, my GT.
We get a Super Wheelspin in return though. It’ll do. It can be added to the rest of those I’ve got sitting in the bank.
PR Stunt 2 – Speed Zone – Riviera Maya
The target this time is 85 mph, and the choice of car is still restricted – so I used a Nissan Skyline GT-R(R33) from 1997 and the share code is : 224199956. Why wouldn’t you use a Skyline if it’s an option?
Another Super Wheelspin awaits.
PR Stunt 3 -Speed Zone – Airfield Speed Zone
Another speed zone to go at, and this time we need to score over 105 mph on average.Same Skyline!
Yet another Super Wheelspin to add to the pile.
Seasonal Championship 1 – Wild Nightlife
Tuning Limit of A Class 800 this week, and the category is Cars from the 2000’s. So, in keeping with last week, I’m going with the BMW M3 GTR again, and the share code is still : 198385025.
For winning outright solo, or best two out of three in a convoy, we can take home a Ford Falcon from 2015. Mmmmm, Aussie!
Seasonal Championship 2 – Dune Buggies
The class this time is D Class Buggies, and so I went with a VW Class 5 Baja Bug, and the share code is : 115504920.
We can walk away with another prize for winning, an Exocet Off Road buggy. Bit quicker!
Horizon Arcade – Mini Games
This week it is the turn of the Horizon Arcade to be in the spotlight, and you should know the score by now – complete three rounds of drift (preferably), speed, wreckage, chaos or air to win a staggering prize.
Profit to the tune of three whole points, and if that doesn’t stagger you, well, nothing will!
Part 3: Other Challenges
There’s always more to get involved in than just the racing, and that is the case again this week.
There’s the Photo Challenge, and a Treasure Hunt. Nice to see it back! Oh, and a spot of Open Racing too…
Photo Challenge – #Mari-Arch-I
Another pun? We need to take a 1970 Chevy El Camino 454 to the Arch of Mulege, and take a photo with the wheels turned to the right. Got that?
I’ll post the location and my artistic effort below. Let me know what you think. I am somewhat saddened to see that the dinosaur suit isn’t an option in Forza Motorsport…
The reward? A new emote “What’s inside?”
Treasure Hunt – In Good Spirits
The clue this week reads “Ghost the competition as you surpass your rival. Student beats Mazda after all!”. Well, I’m guessing a rival needs to be beaten, and we need to do it in a Mazda, so pick your poison.
I did it in a stock RX-7 Spirit R on Bahia de Plano circuit. Nothing else worked!
The chest contains 100,000 credits, and the location is shown below.
Horizon Open Racing – Sting of a Scorpion
Sounds cool, right? Well, all it means is that you need to use an Abarth car to take part in an Open race.
I can’t recommend a tune, as it could be any class, but a Chevy ZR2 truck will be your reward for taking part. You don’t need to win, fret not!
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 – Drift Zone – Rockslide
This week, we are limited to the same restrictions as previously, a B Class 700 Nissan.
I used a stock 350Z to do the sliding, and the target is a mere 117,000 points
A Super Wheelspin is your reward. Yes, you read that right – Another Super Wheelspin.
Seasonal Championship – Something Different
It is time for a Daily Driver this week, and the tuning limit is B Class 700. Again, not a searchable category, so I went with a stock Civic Type R from 2016, as it is pretty much at the correct level.
Completing the championship will get us a Honda Civic Type R from 2016… Inception, anyone?
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 – Cascada Fuerte
Same car limit, but a speed trap this time, and off road to boot.
Step up the Safari again, share name Safari (surprisingly) with my GT, Red620Ti. We need to hit 70 mph to clear this one. Slightly easier this week!
The prize is another Super Wheelspin.
Seasonal Championship – Rally Retro-Spective
This time we need an C Class 600 Retro Rally car, and I went with a Celica GT-Four ST205, and the share code is : 861264673.
For winning out, we can take away a Range Rover, ideal for posing about the place.
With Series 26 just getting started, the Series reward motors are up for grabs, and this time around they are a Ferrari 250GT for 80 points, and for 160 pts it is a Ferrari F8 Tributo, a hard to find set of wheels. You can start on your journey to Ferrari ownership this week, but can’t bring them home yet…
If you need a few extra points to get you over the line, the monthly Rivals challenges are here; Chihuahua Circuit for proper cars, and Desierto Trail for EV’s.Stick some clean laps and Bob should be the brother of your mother.. 4 points are on offer if you return clean laps for each one, so worth having a go at!
Grab enough points and Series 26 Summer will also see you gifted with the exclusive Nissan Tsuru (nope, never heard of it, and I thought I was a JDM fan) for 20 points. Additionally, for 40 points we can get a Nissan Z ‘23, a hard to find car apparently.
Stick around for the tunes you’ll need for Autumn, Winter and Spring of Series 26 in the weeks ahead.
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.
Let us know in the comments if I have helped, hindered or missed the mark with these tunes, and good luck in Series 26.
