This week’s Gran Turismo 7 Lap Time Challenge is a slightly odd affair. Not only does it take place at the slightly barmy Autopolis International Raceway – famous for once having an eccentric Picasso-owning proprietor – but we’ve also been lumbered with a minivan to drive. Exciting stuff.
The Toyota people carrier of the past challenge is no more, it’s time for a return to sports cars for the latest Gran Turismo 7 Lap Time Challenge.
The Radical SR3 is a lightweight mini prototype racing car with number plates – the ‘SL’ denotes that this car is indeed street-legal.
The Ford-derived turbocharged engine sitting behind your head makes funny chattering and sucking noises, but it also means gear selection is trickier than you may anticipate.
Due to the car’s slow shifts and solid mid-range grunt, it can be quicker to change down fewer times than you expect upon corner entry. You then use the engine’s torque to minimise the number of shifts down the next straight and sometimes even change up well before the red line.
The venue is the Gardens spin-off of Dragon Trail. That means no chicane of death, whoop, but also a tricky four-apex (or is it three, or two? Hard to tell…) left-hander near the end of the lap and two frustrating sausage kerbs near the beginning. Either avoid them altogether or straddle them with a wheel on either side.
There’s no tuning for this time trial, unlike some previous challenges, so either use a Radical you already own or simply rent one from within the Lap Time Challenge’s menu and pick your desired colour.
GT7‘s Lap Time Challenge is a time trial mode where you compete against other players to set the fastest time on the leaderboard. However, there’s a caveat: setting a lap within three per cent of the fastest time nets players 2,000,000 Credits.
If you aren’t quite quick enough, then lapping within five per cent gains you 1,000,000 Credits, while a time inside 10 per cent of the fastest results in a 250,000 Credit payout.
At the time of publication, Gran Turismo World Series competitor Jose Serrano holds the top spot in the world with a 1:38.112. Can you get close enough to earn a cool 2,000,000 Credits?
Recommended car: Radical SR3 SL ’13 (Brand Central, 126,500 Credits or free car rental)
Lap Time Challenge
Race Information
Track: Dragon Trail – Gardens
Entry Period: 13th -27th April 2023
Regulations
Useable Tyres: Racing Hard
Wide Body: Prohibited
Nitrous: Prohibited
Regulations (Specified Car)
Radical SR3 SL ’13
Car Restrictions
BoP/Tuning Forbidden: Mid-speed
Car Used: Garage Car, Event-Specified Car
Car Settings: Specified
Race Settings
Track Limit: Normal
Penalty Settings
Shortcut Penalty: Light
