This week’s Gran Turismo 7 Lap Time Challenge goes historic racing, with the beautiful Ferrari 330 P4 ’67 at Italy’s ‘Temple of Speed’, Monza.
The #21 Ferrari 330 P4 in GT7 was the car shared by Ludovico Scarfiotti and Mike Parkes at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1967. The pair finished four laps behind the winners in what was a grudge match between Ford and Ferrari.
The clash was a direct result of Ford’s failed attempts to buy the Italian car company, as talismanic founder Enzo Ferrari apparently reneged on a takeover deal with the Michigan-based squad in favour of Fiat, forming the plot for the ‘Ford vs. Ferrari’ movie in 2019.
Parkes and Scarfiotti would also finish second in the 24 Hours of Daytona in the same car that year, with their contributions helping Ferrari win the 1967 World Sportscar Championship.
Histrionics
The beautiful 330 P4 was Ferrari’s solution to the Group 4 Sports Car rules, with a cacophonous normally-aspirated V12 providing a startling soundtrack through the 1967 World Sportscar season. Monza itself held Round 3 of the championship that year, which appropriately was won by another P4.
The only mechanically and anatomically correct P4 in existence was owned by Lawrence Stroll and reportedly sold last year. Chassis number 0856 was purchased by the Aston Martin F1 boss for $9 million in 2000 (ironically the car is also nine million Credits in GT7), and we can assume the Canadian businessman earned a tidy profit thanks to the car’s provenance.
Monza is a full-on test of aggression. Brake for the Turn 1 chicane at around 175m, then it’s full throttle through Curva Biassono (commonly referred to as Curva Grande) before hitting the anchors again at 150m for the second chicane. The two Lesmo corners are up next, where dropping to second gear and short-shifting to third will help you get the best exit.
Then it’s a long drag towards the Ascari chicane – under Monza’s old banking – towards the 150m board. Use lots of kerbing on the inside before kissing the right-hand apex (avoiding anti-cuts), using all the run-off available after the final left-hander.
There’s just one corner to go, and it’s a tricky one – Parabolica. Brake just ahead of the 100m board and prepare for a tight entry to maximise traction from the skinny-tired Ferrari on exit. Then it’s back to the start-finish straight, reaching speeds of over 180mph.
Gran Turismo 7’s Lap Time Challenges explained
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.
Gran Turismo 7 Lap Time Challenge video guide
The fastest lap at the time of publication has been set by Japanese player N. Tsutsumiguchi with a 1:45.361 lap time as shown below. Note the way they monster the chicane kerbs and feather the throttle to obtain traction in the low-grip, high-power P4.
Recommended car: Ferrari 330 P4 ’67 (Brand Central 9,000,000 Credits or free rental)
Lap Time Challenge
Race Information
Track: Autodromo Nazionale Monza
Entry Period: 24th August-7th September
Regulations
Useable Tyres: Racing: Hard, Intermediate, Wet
Wide body: Prohibited
Nitrous/Overtake: Prohibited
Car Restrictions
Bop/Tuning Forbidden: Medium-speed
Car used: Garage Car, Event-Specified Car. Ferrari 330 P4 ’67
Car Settings: Specified
Race Settings
Track Limit: Normal
Penalty Settings
Shortcut Penalty: Light
