Recently, Giuliano Alesi took his maiden victory in the competitive Super Formula Japanese single-seater championship. The race was red-flagged before the full race distance was completed due to adverse weather conditions, leading to several drivers calling for changes at the Autopolis International Racing Course.
But, before any changes are implemented in the future, the often-overlooked venue remotely located on the southern island of Kyūshū, you can race the current layout within GT Sport and more specifically, in Race C of this week’s Daily Races.
The track officially opened in 1990, but only after affluent investor Tomonori Tsurumaki bought the Pablo Picasso painting Les Noces de Pierrette for $51.3 million to hang in the venue’s gallery – I’m willing to bet no other circuit in the world has an origins story quite like that.
I could follow that story up with some sort of ‘making your own art with the Gran Turismo photo mode’ pun, but it’s early and I’m not quite awake yet. Instead, onwards with what else is in store for the ranked online races this week.
We kick things off this week with, as always, Race A. This time, it’s front-wheel-drive N200 cars only around Dragon Trail – Gardens. The lesser of the two Dragon Trail layouts, in my opinion, four laps in this slower machinery makes this a lengthy scrap for supremacy. Keeping the understeer reigned in around the four apices corner near the end of the lap will be the key to success.
Race B moves away from a fictional creation and onto a real-life venue, that of the Fuji International Speedway. Four laps in any Gr.4 car with zero strategies involved will mean last-minute lunges into the tight turn one and 10. It’s time to get your elbows out…
On to Race C, and the aforementioned Autopolis. This is the full-length 2.9-mile version, which snakes its way up and down the undulations of the Japanese countryside, with two sections in particular that require you to chain corners together like a move in SSX Tricky. If the venue wasn’t a stern enough test for you already, you’ll be in the top Gr.1 class, tyre wear and fuel consumption are both a factor, and you must use both the Racing Soft and Racing Medium rubber at some point during the race.
You can view the full details below and we’ll be back next week with the latest ranked Daily Races.
Don’t forget that the 2021 FIA Series is also now up and running with GT Sport, alongside the Toyota Gazoo Racing GT Cup and the Olympic Virtual Series Motor Sport Event.
Race A
Car: N200 – Citroen DS3 ’11, Puegeot 208 GTi by Peugeot Sport ’14, Renault Sport Clio R.S.220 Trophy ’16 or Volkwagen Gold VII GTI ’14
Track: Dragon Trail – Gardens
Laps: Four
No. Of Cars: 12
Duration: 15 Minutes
Tyres: Sports Medium
Fuel Consumption: None
Tyre Wear: None
Start Type: Grid Start
Race B
Car: Gr.4, any
Track: Fuji International Speedway
Laps: Four
No. Of Cars: 16
Duration: 15 Minutes
Tyres: Racing Medium
Fuel Consumption: None
Tyre Wear: None
Start Type: Rolling Start
Race C
Car: Gr.1, any
Track: Autopolis International Racing Course
Laps: 12
No. Of Cars: 20
Duration: 25 Minutes
Tyres: Racing Medium or Racing Soft, mandatory use of both
Fuel Consumption: 2x
Tyre Wear: 6x
Start Type: Rolling Start
