The Role of Physics Engines & Modelling in Next-Gen

Focus: How new physics engines, damage modelling, tyre physics, terrain deformations etc. are pushing the genre forward. Using recent games (Wreckfest 2, Assetto Corsa EVO, EA Sports WRC) as case studies.
Key points:
Vehicle dynamics: suspension, grip, drift, weight transfer.
Damage and destruction modelling and how it affects gameplay.
Terrain and weather effects.
Performance vs fidelity trade-offs: can regular PCs handle high-end simulation?