Welcome to Mexico, and welcome to Winter! Instead of snow and Mariah Carey, over there in the winter it is the dry season, and so we are all set for our weekly dose of motoring shenanigans with Forza Horizon 5 and the Festival Playlist Weekly Challenges – this time for Series 8 Winter.
Continuing the theme of German machinery that was established over the previous two weeks of Series 8 – Summer and Series 8 – Autumn, we are going to be getting behind the wheel of some of Deutschland’s finest.
So let’s hit the trial and see what’s happening, providing you with some of the best cars and the quickest tunes that you’ll need in order to grab the latest Forza Horizon 5 rewards.
Part 1 – Weekly Challenge – M for Motorsport
As we are all aware by now, the start of any week’s festivities is to buy a car and do stuff in it.
This week the car is the BMW Z4 M Coupe from 2008, luckily not the one that looked like a bread van. A mere 82.000 credits is all you need to slip behind the wheel.
Chapter 1: Sheer Driving Pleasure
Get in the car, and drive it a bit. Step one complete.
Chapter 2: Distinct Design
Step two is equally as straight forward, simply take a photo of your new car.
Chapter 3: Racing Sports
In order to celebrate this car’s success in GT3 racing, we have to now win three Road Racing events.
Seems easy enough, even in stock trim. If you are having trouble, remember there is no shame in lowering the Driverbot difficulty – it’s not like you need the credits at this stage, right?
Chapter 4: Ultimate Drifting Machine
Finally, we get to pay homage to the BMW’s rear wheel drive and front engine layout by earning drift skills, twenty of them to be precise. While in stock trim it won’t hold a protracted drift, it’s possible to poke it with a stick and make it slide.
Do it a few times to finish this week’s challenge.
Part 2 – Weekly Challenges
The usual mixture of weekly challenges awaits us once we’ve done messing about in the Beemer. There are only two racing championships this week, which for me personally is a shame, but at least we get to play the Playground games again. That’s something, right?
Anyway, let’s check out what’s on offer this week.
Eventlab – AVERAGEONE0710 presents Not So Deep Forest Raceway.
Another week, another Eventlab.
This time we have to use any German Car, tuned to a Maximum of S1 Class 900. I went with an off-road tuned Audi TTS – share code 162231695.
Despite the name, this is not an off road race, so despite this car being wholly inappropriate, it was still quick enough to win out.
For winning this event, it’s a shiny new Porsche 911 Turbo from 1982 that will be landing in your garage.
The Trial – Stock Showdown: Porsche No.65 911 Desert
Once again, the Trial this week is about a stock car, this time the Porsche #65 911 Desert vehicle.
Pedalling it to victory, in concert with your team (or despite them, if the recent week’s have been anything to go on) will see you come out on top and win a very nice car indeed.
How nice? How does a Porsche GT2 RS grab you?
Danger Sign – Event Horizon
This sounds like a tall ask this week, with a Porsche 911 GT3 from 2004 being asked to fly over 310 metres. With a lightened frame and over 900 BHP, this share code made it the distance required: 385016344.
Hitting the ramp at around 150 mph saw me jump over 360 metres with no issues.
For flying like an automotive eagle, a Super Wheelspin will brighten your day.
Speed Zone – Mountain Pass
For this challenge, we have to take an Opel Manta 400, tuned to a maximum of B Class 700 and blast through the zone at an average of 100 mph.
Given that as stock, it tuned to 691 in a B Class, this is a close to stock as makes no odds. Luckily, stock will just about cut it, as long as you take care with the two big bends in the zone.
Another Super Wheelspin will be yours!
Speed Trap – Arid Hills
A BMW M5 from 2018, a tuning ceiling of S1 Class 900, and a target of 200mph to get this challenge done.
What could possibly go wrong?
Well, with this share code: 929137542 still quite a lot!
The issue is the hill just before the camera if you come from the south, or the bends in the road from the north. Try and carry as much speed through whichever route you choose, and a shiny Super Wheelspin will be your reward.
Seasonal Championship – Modern Classics
We need to choose a German Modern Sports Car for this event, tuned to a maximum of A Class 800, and really there’s only one choice – the Audi TT RS Coupe from 2010
The share code is: 146170671. Being on road, I much prefer the stability of AWD, and the little TT delivers that.
Win and a Porsche 911 Turbo (the second this week) will be delivered to your door.
Seasonal Championship – Road Show
This promises to be a little more exciting, with the class of German Modern Super Cars (not a huge list of cars) and a maximum of S1 Class 900.
The Choice of cars led me to the door of the Audi R8 V10 Plus from 2013, and the share code is: 646685057. And of course the bodykit is required.
Winning this championship will net you the AMG Hammer Coupe, so that’s nice.
Seasonal Playground Games – Pick and Mix
German Pick-ups and 4X4’s, to a maximum of B Class 700 are what’s required to take part in this event this week, and so it’s the old favourite – the stock Porsche Macan Turbo that we used last week that gets the nod.
Win (or lose) two rounds out of three to be awarded a “Thumbs Up” emote.
Part 3 – Other Challenges
Photo Challenge, Treasure Hunt and a go on The Eliminator – what more could you ask for to round out the Series 8 – Winter challenges…
Photo Challenge – #PITCHPERFECT
You need, this week, to take a photo of the Audi TTs from 2015, and do it in the Stadium in the middle of the map .I’ll share the location and my artistic interpretation of the brief below!
For doing this, you’ll receive a lovely Red Suit. Kinds like Santa, I guess, since it is winter!
Treasure Hunt – High Jump
The clue this week reads “Couped up? Let’s up the ante by seeing the Heights of Mulege”. Now, I’m no expert, but cooped up isn’t usually spelt like that, and the picture that goes with the clue is a Mercedes Coupe. A clue?
Why yes it is! Use the Mercedes-AMG C62 S coupe, and score a measly one star on the Heights of Mulege danger sign, and the quest is complete .I’ll show you where the treasure chest is below.
The Eliminator – Battle Royale
The usual deal here: survive in The Eliminator until you are in the top 30 contestants, then either go on to win or fail miserably and be knocked out, like I am every time I play this. My tactics involve a forest and hiding, so whatever works!
Surviving until the last 30 will award you an Opel Manta 400, so it’s worth a try!
Series 8 – Winter is full of great racing and better PR stunts, with plenty of rewards attached to each. Follow our guide and you’ll earn enough points to nab the weekly car rewards – the M-B AMG GT (20pts) and the #185 Porsche 959 (40pts). It’ll also help you work your way towards the full Series 8 rewards of the Mercedes AMG E63 (80pts) and the AutoUnion Type D (160pts)
Series 8 Spring challenges will be up next – we’ll have another guide to walk you through those too, delivering the fastest cars and the finest tunes your way.
To play Forza Horizon 5 on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S or PC, you’ll need to visit the Xbox Store. It’s freely downloadable through Game Pass.
The comments are below – we’d love to know if our tunes have helped you out.
I just Lost my season 8 completely. Now it just shows season 7 to do list. What can i do?