ExoCross Championships: Vulcan XC-1500 Open

In ExoCross Championship Mode, you’ll take on six different series—two per car—on the path towards becoming ExoCross’ Ultimate Champion. As you advance, you’ll take on higher horsepower and more challenging courses with each series. Today, we start things off with a look at the Vulcan XC-1500 Open, your entry point into Proteus and a whole new world of racing.

Vulcan XC-1500 Open

The oldest championship in ExoCross also features some of the sport’s most approachable tracks. Between its fast and flowy layouts and the Vulcan XC-1500, the easiest car to drive on Proteus, this is where the beginners go to cut their teeth and start their journey.

Round 1: Speedring Forward | 4 Laps

Alphaterra’s most identifiable layout features “the most famous first turn in ExoCross.” It’s an asymmetrical oval layout where the first corner is wider and more sweeping, the backstretch kinks a little bit to keep you on your toes, and the final corner narrows to the point where you might need to check up to get your angles right. Keep the first 80 percent of the lap or so fresh in your mind—you’ll see it again soon.

Round 2: Bluetree Harvest Reverse | 2 Laps

Welcome to Ultima, home of some of the most wide open spaces on Proteus. Bluetree Harvest is your introduction to reading the desert, where sometimes the fastest lines are a little off the beaten path—especially in the first corner, a tight left-hander, and the run-up back to the finish line. Read the surfaces to find the quickest way through, and don’t be afraid to push boundaries… after all, if you slide off the path and start barrel-rolling, you can always reset!

Round 3: Velocidrome Lower Reverse | 2 Laps

Like we said, most of Speedring comes into play again in this series when you take on Velocidrome. The big difference? You’ll be running in the opposite direction, so the first half of the lap or so will be all new, and the second half will take you through the returning sections in reverse. From one of the longest full-throttle sections on Proteus to the bridge underpass that forces you to commit to one lane or the other, this is where we start to up the ante a little bit.

Round 4: Lakefront Esses Forward | 2 Laps

You’ll wrap up the first season with your first look at Megaterra and its undulations. The first challenge sees you take on a tricky paved chicane that sends you under another bridge—so be patient and don’t force a move too quickly! Once you get to the back half of the lap, be sure to watch your braking points so you don’t go flying off track. The very last corner sees a huge dip where, if you don’t slow down in time, you can fly straight off the grated banking into oblivion before finishing your lap. There’s no more heartbreaking way to lose a championship… just ask some of the drivers you’re racing against.