Proyect: Modern F1 Broadcast Graphics to Grand Prix 2

[elmalaguero]

Latest Release: GP2Lap F1 HUD v0.32

Google Drive Folder: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/ ... drive_link


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I’ve been working on a major update for GP2Lap that brings modern Formula 1 broadcast graphics directly into Grand Prix 2. The new HUD includes compact race and qualifying towers for TV and onboard views, live gaps and intervals, position changes, pit-stop counts, fastest-lap and pit indicators, driver cards, sector timing, microsector comparisons, and two circuit-map layouts with live car positions. It also adds configurable driver names, abbreviations, numbers, team colors and CarId mappings, while preserving and restyling GP2’s original messages with the KH Interference font.

The project also supports external team logos, reads driver and team information from GP2.EXE, and introduces GP2Mem-based features such as fuel control, with more race-control tools planned for future versions. The final release will include an editor that makes it easy to customize teams, colors and logos for different seasons.

As soon as I can, I’ll share a fully working version for everyone to try!

[Rocket Ron]

Wow - this looks superb!

[elmalaguero]

Hi, you can now test this GP2Lap mod.
It comes preinstaled with the 2026 teams, logos, colors and drivers, but I urge you to try the Editor to load your GP2 team/driver roster and modify Logos, colours and numbers.


I have tested it with both an original and a modified version of GP2.


GP2Lap F1 HUD v0.22 — Installation and Editor Guide

Google Drive Folder: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/ ... sp=sharing

• GP2Lap-F1-HUD-v0.22.zip (Zip with all the files necesary and the source of this GP2Lap version - instructions for modifications further down below)
• 2026_Carset.GP2 (2026 Season - Carset for GP2Edit)

GP2Lap F1 HUD v0.22 adds modern Formula 1 graphics directly inside Grand Prix 2.

The HUD is rendered natively by GP2Lap. It does not require OBS, React, Node.js, Electron or a browser window while the game is running.

Main features

• Support for up to 14 teams and 28 qualifying drivers
• Support for the 26 drivers selected by GP2 for the race
• Custom driver names, abbreviations and racing numbers
• Custom team names and colours
• External team logos
• Race and qualifying towers
• Driver and timing cards
• Track maps
• Sector and microsector information
• Configurable fuel drain function

1. Back up your current installation

Before installing v0.22, make backup copies of:

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GP2LAP.EXE
GP2LAP.CFG

Also preserve your existing SEASONS folder if you already use custom logos.

2. Extract the v0.22 package

Extract GP2Lap-F1-HUD-v0.22.zip into a temporary folder.

The main files are:

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GP2LAP.EXE
EDITOR.html
GP2LAP.CFG
README.txt

Copy the following files into the Grand Prix 2 folder where your current GP2Lap installation is located:

Code: Select all

GP2LAP.EXE
EDITOR.html

Replace the previous versions when prompted.

If you already have a customized GP2LAP.CFG, do not replace it with the example included in the package. The included CFG is only a starting point for new installations.

3. Open the HUD Editor

Open EDITOR.html with a modern browser such as Chrome, Edge or Firefox.

The editor works locally. It does not upload your files and it does not modify GP2.EXE.

The editor includes:

• Teams and logos
• Drivers
• Import GP2.EXE
• Open CFG or saved project
• Save project
• Export ZIP

4. Import GP2.EXE

Click Import GP2.EXE and select the executable used by your installation.

The editor reads:

• Team names
• Driver names
• Driver CarId values
• Team and driver order

It automatically detects whether the executable contains:

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13 teams / 26 drivers

or:

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14 teams / 28 drivers

After importing, review the names, abbreviations, racing numbers and team assignments.

Importing the executable only reads its information. The editor does not write anything into GP2.EXE.

5. Configure the teams

Open the Teams and logos section.

For each team, you can edit:

• Team name
• Team colour
• Identification mode
• Custom logo

Team names are automatically converted to uppercase when the configuration is exported.

The available identification modes are:

• Built-in logo for this slot
• Custom logo
• Colour only

The fourteenth team does not have a built-in logo. It must use either a custom logo or its team colour.

6. Import a custom logo

Click Import image under the corresponding team.

The editor accepts common image formats such as PNG, JPEG, WebP and SVG.

It will:

1. Crop transparent margins if that option is enabled.
2. Resize the image to the native HUD logo size.
3. Convert it into the format used by GP2Lap.
4. Display a preview of the converted logo.

Use the stroke strength control if the converted logo becomes too thin or difficult to read.

Click Use logo to apply it.

The native team logo is only 16 × 12 pixels. Simple versions of team emblems usually produce the clearest result.

7. Configure the drivers

Open the Drivers section.

Each driver has the following fields:

• CarId
• First name
• Last name
• Three-letter abbreviation
• Racing number
• Team
• Drain fuel selection

The CarId links the HUD entry to the corresponding driver inside GP2. It must be unique and remain between 1 and 40.

When GP2.EXE is imported, the editor fills these values automatically. They should only be changed if your executable or car set uses a different mapping.

8. Select a season folder

Enter a name in the Season folder field.

For example:

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2026

Custom logos will be exported to:

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SEASONS/LOGOS/2026/

The individual files will be named:

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TEAM01.F1L
TEAM02.F1L
TEAM03.F1L
...
TEAM14.F1L

Use only letters, numbers, underscores or hyphens in the season folder name.

9. Using the Drain Fuel function

The Drain Fuel function was added mainly for seasons that contain fewer than 13 teams.

GP2 normally expects a full field, so some historical or fictional car sets may need additional filler cars. These cars can remain in the entry list even when they are not meant to participate in the actual race.

The fuel drain function provides a way to make selected filler cars run out of fuel after the session has started.

It can also be used to test:

• Car retirements
• HUD retirement states
• Cars stopping on the circuit
• Incident behaviour
• Future Safety Car logic

To configure it:

1. Open the Drivers section.
2. Enable Drain for every filler car you want to remove from the running order.
3. Enable the fuel drain function.
4. Set how long the fuel should be held at zero.
5. Export and install the new configuration.
6. Start a live GP2 session.
7. Press 7 when you want to activate it.

GP2Lap sets the selected cars’ fuel to zero and keeps it at zero for the configured duration.

The duration uses simulation time. Pausing the game pauses the timer, while accelerated time makes the configured period pass faster.

The previous fuel quantity is not restored when the timer ends. The affected cars should eventually stop or retire according to GP2’s normal behaviour.

The function is disabled by default and only affects the CarId values selected in the editor.

This does not remove the filler cars from the entry list or starting grid. It provides a controlled way to retire them after the race or session has begun.

10. Save the editor project

Use Save project if you want to continue editing the season later.

The project file preserves:

• Driver information
• Team information
• Colours
• Configuration options
• Fuel drain selections
• Converted logo pixels

The project file is used only by the editor. GP2Lap does not read it directly.

11. Export the configuration

Click Export ZIP.

The editor creates:

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GP2-HUD-config.zip

The ZIP contains:

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GP2LAP.CFG
SEASONS/
└── LOGOS/
    └── <season>/
        ├── TEAM01.F1L
        ├── TEAM02.F1L
        └── ...

Only teams using custom logos will have an .F1L file.

12. Install the exported configuration

Extract GP2-HUD-config.zip directly into the Grand Prix 2 folder, beside GP2LAP.EXE.

Allow it to replace GP2LAP.CFG when prompted.

Keep the exported folder structure intact:

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GRAND PRIX 2/
├── GP2.EXE
├── GP2LAP.EXE
├── GP2LAP.CFG
├── EDITOR.html
└── SEASONS/
    └── LOGOS/
        └── 2026/
            ├── TEAM01.F1L
            └── TEAM14.F1L

If the SEASONS/LOGOS structure or season folder name is changed, GP2Lap will not find the custom logos.

13. Restart GP2Lap

Configuration changes are loaded when GP2Lap starts.

Close the game completely and start it again using your normal GP2Lap launch method.

Changing GP2LAP.CFG while the game is running will not update the active HUD.

14. HUD controls

• 3 — Show or hide the race or qualifying tower
• TAB — Cycle through the race tower information modes
• 4 — Show the timing card and switch between sectors and microsectors
• 5 — Show or hide the selected driver card
• 6 — Show the map and switch between its available views
• 7 — Activate fuel drain for the configured cars

The displayed information changes according to the session and camera:

• TV view can display the complete classification.
• Onboard view displays a compact five-driver window.
• Qualifying and practice use lap times and gaps.
• Race sessions use positions, intervals and the selected TAB mode.

15. Using 14 teams and 28 qualifying drivers

With an original or modified GP2.EXE, all 28 drivers can participate in qualifying.

The HUD reads the qualifying classification by CarId and can display up to 28 entries.

GP2 then selects the fastest 26 drivers for the race. The race HUD follows those 26 actual participants, regardless of which of the 14 teams they represent.

The two drivers excluded from the race are selected by GP2’s qualifying results. GP2Lap does not change that selection.

16. Updating a season later

To make additional changes:

1. Open EDITOR.html.
2. Load your saved editor project or current CFG.
3. When opening a CFG with external logos, also select its corresponding .F1L files.
4. Make the required changes.
5. Export a new ZIP.
6. Extract it into the game folder.
7. Restart GP2Lap.

Keeping the editor project is recommended because it stores the converted logo data and is easier to update than rebuilding everything from the CFG.

[samsepi0l]

great work! does your gp2lap have the random seed feature?

[elmalaguero]

No it doesn't. I just found out about it. I guess I did knew about it but was using it to replicate errors in my testing runs

[elmalaguero]

GP2Lap F1 HUD v0.32- New Features and 1990s Graphics Mode

Hi everyone,

I have been working on improving the GP2Lap F1 HUD based on the suggestions and issues raised during testing. The project has evolved considerably since version 0.22, and version 0.32 now includes a much more complete native overlay for Grand Prix 2.

Still does not include the random seed feature!


The F1-HUD now includes:

• TV and onboard race towers.
• Compact five-car onboard view.
• Race tower cycling with TAB for normal gaps, position changes, pit stops and distance to the leader.
• Individual position-change indicators with green up and red down arrows.
• Pit-stop counting, including unexpected stops, failures and Accelerate Time mode.
• More stable gap calculation based on common timing points around the circuit.
• Progressive gap calculation using the latest valid microsector references.
• Qualifying and practice tables with time, gap and inactive-driver indicators.
• Support for 14 teams and 28 cars in qualifying and practice, with 26 cars available for the race grid.
• Full-track map with team-colored car markers.
• White outline around the selected car on the full-track map.
• Driver cards with position, surname, team, number and team colors.
• Improved sector timing card for TV and onboard views.
• Thirty microsectors, with sector and microsector display modes.
• Absolute microsector records shown in violet.
• Previous records changing to green when another driver improves them.
• Fuel-drain tools for removing unused filler cars from seasons with fewer than 13 teams.
• English HUD editor for drivers, teams, colors, abbreviations, numbers and CarId mappings.
• Additional diagnostics, validation tools and test fixtures.

Let's go back to the 90s
I also added a separate 1990s-inspired graphics mode. different visual language, typography and layout, while keeping the same underlying timing and race data. It is intended to resemble the style of late-1990s Formula 1 television graphics and includes alternative race, qualifying, driver-card, sector and map presentations. Some indicators are intentionally different: for example, the 1990s race tower does not display the permanent fastest-lap marker.

To activate this graphic mode you'll have to change the GP2Lap.CFG and set the last variable HudTheme = 1


The project is still being refined, but version 0.32 is now available at
[url=https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/ ... drive_link[/url]

Thanks to everyone who tested the previous versions, reported problems and suggested improvements. Many of the current features came directly from those discussions.