Gran Turismo’s World Series esports competition returns with revised format for 2023

Following a triumphant return to an in-person LAN-based finale last season in Monaco, Gran Turismo’s two main World Series esports competitions – the Nations Cup and the Manufacturers Cup – return for another season with some significant changes.

Once again, anyone with a PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 5 and a copy of Gran Turismo 7 can participate, entering in-game qualification rounds before facing off against established World Series drivers at an August Showdown event this August in Amsterdam.

From there, the big World Final happens in December, although the location is yet to be unveiled.

Team-based Nations Cup

The most significant change is to the Nations Cup format. A championship that has always decided the ‘quickest’ country, traditionally it’s a solo competition that informally determines the world’s top Gran Turismo driver.

Meanwhile, the Manufacturers Cup has seen three drivers per squad as a team event. That remains the case this year, but now that Nations Cup will borrow the trio line-up.

For the Showdown, for example, reining Nations Cup finalists will be paired with up-and-coming drivers, from the open-qualifying, to create a team for each region.

Seven-round schedule

It all kicks off within Gran Turismo 7 this week, 13^th May with seven online rounds for the Nations Cup – culminating 3^rd June.

The Manufacturers Cup follows, with its first round on 7^th June and its seventh on 1^st July. Here each entrant represents a real-world car producer. 12 manufacturers will be represented.

Then comes the Dutch Showdown in-person event, running for both competitions across 11^th and 12^th August. This will help determine the line-up for the World Final running across 2^nd and 3^rd December.

Also present in December will be the final round of the Toyota Gazoo Racing GT Cup, with qualification already underway.

Last year, Igor Fraga took the Toyota spoils ahead of Subaru taking the Manufacturers spoils and Spain’s Coque López the Nations Cup.

The World Series is separate from the upcoming Olympic Motor Sport competition, even though that uses Gran Turismo 7, as it’s a collaboration between developers Polyphony Digital, the IOC and FIA.

Gran Turismo Nations Cup 2023 schedule

• Round 1 – 13^th May – Online
• Round 2 – 17^th May – Online
• Round 3 – 20^th May – Online
• Round 4 – 24^th May – Online
• Round 5 – 27^th May – Online
• Round 6 – 31^st May – Online
• Round 7 – 3^rd June – Online
• Showdown – 11^th-12^th August – Amsterdam
• World Finals – 2^nd-3^rd December – TBC

Gran Turismo Manufacturers Cup 2023 schedule

• Round 1 – 7^th June – Online
• Round 2 – 10^th June – Online
• Round 3 – 14^th June – Online
• Round 4 – 17^th June – Online
• Round 5 – 21^st June – Online
• Round 6 – 28^th June – Online
• Round 7 – 1^st July – Online
• Showdown – 11^th-12^th August – Amsterdam
• World Finals – 2^nd-3^rd December – TBC

Images: Sony/Traxion