View source for F1 Career Challenge

{{Short description|2003 video game}}
{{one source|date=March 2023}}
{{Infobox VG
| title = F1 Career Challenge
| image = F1 career challenge cover.jpg
| developer = [[Visual Science (game company)|Visual Science]] <small>(GC, PS2, Xbox)</small> <br /> [[Image Space Incorporated]] <small>(PC)</small>
| publisher = [[EA Sports]]
| series = ''[[F1 (video game series)|F1]]''
| platforms = [[GameCube]], [[Microsoft Windows]], [[PlayStation 2]], [[Xbox (console)|Xbox]]
| released = {{vgrelease|AU|June 23, 2003<ref>{{Cite web |title=GameCube Australian Release Dates - News |url=http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/8777/gamecube-australian-release-dates |access-date=2023-03-06 |website=Nintendo World Report |archive-date=2023-03-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230306160304/http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/8777/gamecube-australian-release-dates |url-status=live }}</ref>|NA|June 24, 2003|EU/POL|June 27, 2003}}
| genre = [[Racing game|Racing]]
| modes = [[Single-player video game|Single-player]], [[Multiplayer video game|multiplayer]]
| caption = European cover art featuring [[Williams Grand Prix Engineering|Williams]] driver [[Juan Pablo Montoya]]
}}

'''''F1 Career Challenge''''' ('''''F1 Challenge '99-'02''''' for the [[Microsoft Windows]] version) is a [[racing game]] based on four [[Formula One]] seasons: the [[1999 Formula One World Championship|1999 season]], the [[2000 Formula One World Championship|2000 season]], the [[2001 Formula One World Championship|2001 season]], and the [[2002 Formula One World Championship|2002 season]]. It was the last Formula One video game to be published by [[EA Sports]] until ''[[F1 2021 (video game)|F1 2021]]'', when EA purchased [[Codemasters]].

After losing the official [[Formula One]] license from [[Formula One Administration Ltd.]] to a multi-year exclusive licensing contract between FOA and [[Sony Computer Entertainment Europe]] (publishers of the competing Formula One series on [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]]/[[PlayStation 2]]) in late 2002 that became active starting from the 2003 season, barring any developer EA included to make a game centered around these later seasons, the decision was made to produce one final game using the four seasons that EA Sports had previously licensed.

== Background ==
Because of the progressing potential of the game engine, several assets were re-imagined in order to make them more realistic than ever before as well as making the game more adaptable for less powerful [[personal computer]]s. The car models and associated textures were rebuilt from scratch, whilst the physics engine was significantly improved over prior releases to provide a simulation that was critically lauded. In order to provide a more authentic simulation, every track received minor changes for each season covered, including sponsor boards (barring tobacco and alcohol advertising) as well as external visual changes.

== Legacy ==
The modding capabilities of ''F1C'', as it is occasionally referred to by its dedicated [[video game modding]] community, are extensive and since the game's release in 2003, has gone on to cover many different seasons of Formula One racing, as well as being able to simulate racing series outside of Formula One, such as [[Le Mans Prototype]]s and [[NASCAR]], among many others. This is due in part to the use of simple text files for several important game asset parameters such as the physics, cars, drivers, and tracks which has allowed the game to flourish on various online communities long since its release. Even a few of these developers and modders ended up years later as professionals in the videogame industry.

== Errors and mistakes ==
* There is an error on the PlayStation 2 and Xbox versions of the game: on the Teams and Drivers mode selection, the BAR Team in 1999 was mentioned as [[BAR Honda]] but in fact BAR's engine supplier was [[Supertec]].
* The Indianapolis pit lane entry takes place between turns 12 and 13 (2000-2002).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250531224329/https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/07/24/f1-career-challenge-walkthroughfaq-430332|title=Walkthrough/FAQ|work=Ign.com|access-date=1 June 2025}}</ref>
* The entrance to the pit lane at Suzuka takes place before the last two corners (1999-2002).

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{moby game|/f1-career-challenge}}

{{F1 series}}
{{Formula One games}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:F1 Career Challenge}}
[[Category:2003 video games]]
[[Category:EA Sports games]]
[[Category:F1 (video game series)]]
[[Category:Formula One video games]]
[[Category:GameCube games]]
[[Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games]]
[[Category:PlayStation 2 games]]
[[Category:Sports video games set in France]]
[[Category:Sports video games set in Germany]]
[[Category:Sports video games set in Italy]]
[[Category:Sports video games set in Japan]]
[[Category:Video games developed in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Video games set in Australia]]
[[Category:Video games set in Austria]]
[[Category:Video games set in Barcelona]]
[[Category:Video games set in Belgium]]
[[Category:Video games set in England]]
[[Category:Video games set in Hungary]]
[[Category:Video games set in Indianapolis]]
[[Category:Video games set in Malaysia]]
[[Category:Video games set in Monaco]]
[[Category:Video games set in Montreal]]
[[Category:Video games set in São Paulo]]
[[Category:Windows games]]
[[Category:Xbox games]]
[[Category:Visual Science (game company) games]]