The Benefactor BR8 is an open wheel car featured in Grand Theft Auto Online as part of the Los Santos Summer Special update.
Influence[]
The BR8 incorporates elements from various Red Bull Racing Team F1 cars. The cockpit design and nose resemble the Red Bull RB7, while the side intakes and upper engine intake, excluding the F-duct, bear resemblance to the Red Bull RB6. The BR8's name and certain bodywork seem to draw inspiration from the Red Bull RB8, and the stock front wing is based on the Red Bull RB5. Additionally, the rear wing and some other components are borrowed from the Mercedes MGP W01, while the rear diffuser shares a similar shape with the one found on the Ferrari F10. The mirrors on the BR8 are reminiscent of those on the McLaren MP4-21. Notably, the BR8 features a blown diffuser, where the exhaust is directed into the diffuser, a characteristic seen on F1 cars from the late 1980s and early 1990s. This design element is likely taken from the McLaren MP4/7A, and the engine model, although slightly modified, is reused from the PR4 and based on the Honda RA121E V12.
Design[]
The BR8 features a narrow, low-profile design, where the front has a distinctive flat, elevated nose with a main wing mounted underneath, numerous curved wings on either side and fins on the edges, as well as small antenna on top of the nose, the control arms for the front wheels and black narrow ducts for the front brakes. The middle section features narrow, triangle-shaped intakes beside the nose and small curved panels below, while the center features an open driver compartment with a small windscreen on the front, two rectangular mirrors beside it and a tall circular intake with small fins behind.
The rear end features a single rectangular-shaped tail light, a diffuser with four blades and two exhaust pipes, as well as the corresponding control arms and brake ducts. The rear wing is mounted on two support frames and is made up of dual surfaces on top and a single surface at the bottom, along with two riveted fins with a seemingly large profile. The entire underside of the vehicle is Kevlar plated, using a unique texture in comparison to the carbon-fibre plating to the other Open Wheel vehicles, separated into narrow panels for part of the nose/cabin area and a wider panel for the main body and diffuser.
Its interior uses a unique and modernized steering wheel with a digital display above and numerous buttons around, which is shared with the DR1.
The vehicle is prominently painted with the primary colour, with the upper fins of the front wing, the panels below the side intakes and the vertical fins of the rear wing painted in a secondary colour. The BR8 uses its own custom "Race" wheels with racing slicks similar to vehicles such as the Drift Tampa and the Hotring Sabre, being a silver variation of the "Gridline" rims fitted with "Atomic Logo" tyres.
Current Design Gallery[]
Performance[]
Vehicle[]
The BR8 is largely similar to the other open wheel vehicles, having fair handling and excellent braking. At high speeds, the vehicle can be prone to slight understeer when attempting tight turns, but this is mitigated through the use of brakes. The downside of using this vehicle, however, is that the driver cannot use drive-by weapons, being prone to gunfire until the player exits the cockpit. Due to its long wheel base, The BR8 is arguably the best open-wheeler to be used in racing, as its traction outranks all other vehicles in the class.
Unlike other vehicles, the BR8 damage absorption will not result in deformation but instead the body kit falling off, exposing the engine and side frames. This can result in more understeer if the car loses its front wing. The BR8 loses more traction and downforce the more parts are detached, especially if the spoiler is gone.
Due to the immense downforce, the BR8 can also drive on walls, even ones that are slightly curved outwards, and even ceilings if the player angles the car correctly, especially in the Los Santos Storm Drain, where there are inclines.
The BR8 is powered by a V10 engine fitted with what appears to be a large intake with double-barrel carburetors/throttle bodies. Its sound appears to be the same one from the Cheetah, with an additional high-pitched effect that appears to derive from the GP1 and the Autarch.
Like the PR4, the R88 and the DR1, the BR8 is known to have different downforce values in Freemode. Depending of the front and rear wing setups, one is able to provide either lower downforce to increase speed or higher downforce to provide better cornering abilities. These will carry over in Open Wheel Races.
| Acceleration (0-60 mph in Seconds) |
Maximum Velocity (mph / kmh) |
Gears | Engine | Drivetrain (FWD / RWD / AWD) |
Mass (kg / lbs) |
Fuel Tank Size (litres) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N/A | 100.97 / 162.50 | 6 | N/A | RWD | 550 / 1212 | 65 |
| N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| N/A | N/A | 6 | RMR SOHC V10 (In-game model) | RWD | Cannot be observed | Cannot be observed |
Features[]
In addition to its already impressive speed, the BR8 also has KERS, allowing the driver to increase their speed even further by activating the boost, in a similar manner to the Lectro and the Vindicator. The boost lasts for four seconds and it takes about six seconds to recharge to its full capacity, but it does not have to be full to activate it. In order for the boost to recharge, the vehicle needs to begin slowing down to let it charge. Stopping the vehicle, accelerating, or reversing will prevent the boost from recharging.
Rockstar Games Social Club[]
Modifications[]
| Category | Modification | Price | Image | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Armor | No Armor | $1,000 | ||
| Armor Upgrade 20% | $7,500 | |||
| Armor Upgrade 40% | $12,000 | |||
| Armor Upgrade 60% | $20,000 | |||
| Armor Upgrade 80% | $35,000 | |||
| Armor Upgrade 100% | $50,000 | |||
| Brakes | Stock Brakes | $1,000 | ||
| Street Brakes | $20,000 | |||
| Sport Brakes | $27,000 | |||
| Race Brakes | $35,000 | |||
| Super Brakes | $60,000 | |||
| Front Wings | Stock Front Wing | $2,200 | ||
| Medium Front Wing | $4,600 | |||
| Circuit Attack Front Wing | $7,400 | |||
| Championship Front Wing | $11,700 | |||
| Legendary Front Wing | $14,500 | |||
| Engine | EMS Upgrade, Level 1 | $9,000 | ||
| EMS Upgrade, Level 2 | $12,500 | |||
| EMS Upgrade, Level 3 | $18,000 | |||
| EMS Upgrade, Level 4 | $33,500 | |||
| Exhausts | Stock Exhaust | $260 | ||
| Titanium Tipped Exhaust | $750 | |||
| Aluminum Tipped Exhaust | $1,800 | |||
| Carbon Tipped Exhaust | $3,000 | |||
| Explosives | Ignition Bomb | $5,000 | ||
| Remote Bomb | $7,500 | |||
| Livery* | None | $11,400 | ||
| Pisswasser | $18,240 | |||
| Refers to: Ferrari 641 [1] | ||||
| Estancia | $19,380 | |||
| Refers to: Lotus 98T [2] | ||||
| Atomic | $20,520 | |||
| Refers to: McLaren MCL34 [3] | ||||
| Meinmacht | $21,660 | |||
| Refers to: Marussia MR03 [4] | ||||
| The Quick Fix | $22,800 | |||
| Refers to: Mercedes AMG F1 W10 EQ Power+ [5] | ||||
| Fixup | $23,370 | |||
| Refers to: Renault R25 [6] | ||||
| Ecola | $23,939 | |||
| Refers to: McLaren MP4-27 [7] | ||||
| Sprunk | $24,510 | |||
| Refers to: Jordan 191 [8] | ||||
| Redwood | $25,080 | |||
| Cerveza Barracho | $25,650 | |||
| Refers to: Red Bull RB11 testing livery [9] | ||||
| Loss/Theft Prevention | Tracker | |||
| Full Coverage | ||||
| Respray | Main article: Vehicle Customization in GTA V/Respray Colors | - | ||
| Sell | Sell Vehicle | |||
| Skirts | Stock Skirts | $2,500 | ||
| Stock Rear Intake Scoop | $5,500 | |||
| Lightened Aerodynamic Body | $8,000 | |||
| Racing Aerodynamic Body | $10,500 | |||
| Extreme Aerodynamic Body | $14,000 | |||
| Spoilers | Stock Spoiler | $6,000 | ||
| Cut Off Wing | $7,050 | |||
| Small Extreme Wing | $10,000 | |||
| Angular Wing | $13,000 | |||
| Cut Off Tail Fin | $14,000 | |||
| Racing Tail Fin | $16,000 | |||
| Extreme Shark Fin | $16,500 | |||
| Transmission | Stock Transmission | $1,000 | ||
| Street Transmission | $29,500 | |||
| Sports Transmission | $32,500 | |||
| Race Transmission | $40,000 | |||
| Turbo | None | $5,000 | ||
| Turbo Tuning | $50,000 | |||
| Wheels** | Race | Stock Wheels | $3,000 | |
| Classic 5 | $42,075 | |||
| Classic 5 (Striped) | $47,815 | |||
| Retro Star | $44,970 | |||
| Retro Star (Striped) | $51,100 | |||
| Triplex | $42,735 | |||
| Triplex (Striped) | $48,565 | |||
| 70s Spec | $42,405 | |||
| 70s Spec (Striped) | $48,190 | |||
| Super 5R | $55,000 | |||
| Super 5R (Striped) | $62,500 | |||
| Speedster | $43,065 | |||
| Speedster (Striped) | $48,940 | |||
| GP-90 | $47,665 | |||
| GP-90 (Striped) | $54,165 | |||
| Superspoke | $32,175 | |||
| Superspoke (Striped) | $36,565 | |||
| Gridline | $40,920 | |||
| Gridline (Striped) | $46,500 | |||
| Snowflake | $51,975 | |||
| Snowflake (Striped) | $59,065 | |||
| Tire Design | Stock Tires | $200 | ||
| Atomic Logo | $42,075 | |||
| Atomic | $47,815 | |||
| Fukaru White | $44,970 | |||
| Fukaru Red | $51,100 | |||
| Chepalle Yellow | $42,735 | |||
| Chepalle Green | $48,565 | |||
| Main article: Los Santos Customs/Wheels | - | |||
- * There are 10 liveries available to be applied, most of which reflect those that were used by various Formula One teams from the early to mid 2000s.
- ** Vehicle is limited to Wheel Color, Bulletproof Tires and Tire Smoke. Custom Wheels are restricted to the options listed above.
Gallery[]
Locations[]
- Available for purchase from Legendary Motorsport for $3,400,000.
Events[]
- Could be won from the Lucky Wheel in the Casino during the GTA Online Bonuses (November 2020 Part 3) event.
Trivia[]
- Its engine model reuses the "Dinka Racing Division" badges found on the PR4, albeit replacing the original "Dinka" with the corresponding manufacturer's name instead.
Oversights[]
- The vehicle is intended to feature a Cinematic Camera intended to replicate the on-board camera found on real-life Formula One cars (in a similar manner to the PR4 and the DR1). However, the camera is set behind the character's head when stationary, and won't switch back when in motion.
See Also[]
- DR1 - Another open-wheeler added within the same update.
- PR4 and R88 - Two open-wheelers added in the Diamond Casino Heist update.