Development · Sardinia Drive
The Making of Sardinia Drive
A convertible, a tractor and a race against the clock from Alghero to Ittiri.
The Capo Caccia bus
Three vehicles are already ahead of you at the start. The blue bus starts in the right lane, 151 route units from the grid, and cruises at about 63 km/h before the roadworks. The convertible can reach 170 km/h, so it catches up quickly. That first pass teaches you how much space you need to pull out and get back in before the next bend.
A route you can learn
The stage runs from Capo Caccia to Ittiri over 5,130 game units. The three checkpoints sit at 1,130, 2,260 and 3,840, roughly 22%, 44% and 75% of the route. The first is near the Alghero bastions. The second comes before Lago Cuga. The third waits beyond the works at Paulis. These are distances in the simulation. The landmarks give you cues you can recognise on your next run.
The clock counts down as you drive. Each checkpoint awards time once, provided you reach it before zero. If you get to the first one in the convertible on Normal with eight seconds left, you leave with about 45. In the tractor, the same eight seconds become about 54.
The convertible and the tractor change the rhythm
| Difficulty | Convertible | Tractor |
|---|---|---|
| Easy | 41 · +40 | 47 · +49 |
| Normal | 35 · +37 | 41 · +46 |
| Hard | 32 · +34 | 38 · +43 |
On Normal, crossing all three checkpoints gives the convertible a total time budget of 146 seconds and the tractor 179. The convertible accelerates faster and gains time on the straight. On rough ground, extra drag kicks in above 47% of its top speed. The tractor tops out at about 140 km/h on the speedometer. Its drag starts at 78% of top speed and is weaker. You feel the difference when a wide pass takes you onto the shoulder.
The queue beyond Paulis
The roadworks warning is 105 units before the lane closure. Soon after the sign, vehicles on the right begin merging left and traffic through the area slows to about 58 km/h. The simulation updates the lead vehicles first. Each following vehicle checks its path and limits its advance when its footprint overlaps laterally with the vehicle in front. A gap can close as you approach it.
The game checks relative movement between frames on both axes. A rear-end collision brings you back towards the lead vehicle’s speed. A sideswipe pushes you apart and cuts 24% of your speed on first contact. Hitting the roadworks barrier triggers a brief recovery that moves you left. Next time you see the sign, try choosing your lane before you reach the cones.
Finishing in Ittiri
Cross the finish line with time left and the race gives way to an arrival sequence lasting just over four seconds. The camera follows the vehicle as it slows and centres itself. The map then returns with the finish marked at San Pietro in Vincoli.