Prepare for Ragnarök – here comes the Valkyrie!
Sorry, got a little carried away there. Yes, this week’s new Gran Turismo 7 Lap Time Challenge features the insane Aston Martin Valkyrie at the Red Bull Ring, which is very appropriate given the car’s Red Bull Racing lineage.
The Valkyrie was conceived by Red Bull’s Christian Horner and Adrian Newey, and Aston Martin’s Dr Andy Palmer and Simon Sproule. The aim of the collaboration was to create the fastest road car *adopts Jeremy Clarkson voice* … in the world.
And it’s hard to disagree, since its 1139bhp drivetrain – consisting of both internal combustion and an electric motor – is capable of sub-2.5s 0-60mph times. Brutal.
The Valkyrie’s design is typically Newey, with a no-compromise approach to driver comfort meaning anyone of above-average height will find themselves visiting a chiropractor after driving it.
However, it’s worth it in terms of performance, with the Aston capable of producing ludicrous amounts of downforce, stymied only by its road-going Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres.
Cossie
But the main event in the Valkyrie is its 6.5-litre V12 Cosworth engine, which produces a Wagner-esque soundtrack capable of rousing the halls of Valhalla (apologies, I got a little Norse-y there again).
So, it’s quick, and thanks to GT7’s v1.35 update we can drive it in-game – if you’re willing to shell out an eye-watering 4,000,000 Credits. That’s a lot of Music Rallies, folks. Or, you can rent it for free for the duration of this Lap Time Challenge thanks to GT7’s handy renting mechanic.
The Red Bull Ring has been Austria’s premier racing circuit for decades, even its previous guises as the A1 Ring and high-speed – and slightly dangerous – Österreichring. Today, it’s nothing like as sketchy, but the speediness remains, with three long straights punctuated by slower, tighter corners.
You’ll need your brave pills for the track’s final two turns, with the first featuring a blind entry and the second requiring just the right amount of kerb-cutting to give you a clean run onto the pit straight.
But it’s Turns 1 and 3 (the Niki Lauda Kurve and Remus) that are the most important, as they precede long straights. By slowing the car early and taking a late apex through the corners you’ll maximise your top speed in the following stretch.
Again, you can use a lot of kerb in the Valkyrie to shorten the turn and remember to map a nitrous button to use the car’s onboard electric boost – although it’s only really useful from fourth gear onwards thanks to the Valkyrie’s outrageous amounts of wheelspin.
Lap Time Challenge explained
The fastest lap at the time of publication has been set by Australian player P. Kandanoleon with a 1:17.350 (above). Pay attention to their use of nitrous and when it’s applied for the best chance of a quick lap time.
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.
Recommended car: Aston Martin Valkyrie ’21 (Brand Central 4,000,000 Credits or free rental)
Lap Time Challenge
Race Information
Track: Red Bull Ring
Entry Period: 29th June – 13th July
Regulations
Useable Tyres: Racing: Hard, Intermediate, Wet
Wide body: Prohibited
Nitrous: Unrestricted
Regulations (Specified Car)
Aston Martin Valkyrie ’21
Car Restrictions
Bop/Tuning Forbidden: Mid-speed (M)
Car used: Garage Car, Event-Sepcified Car
Car Settings: Specified
Race Settings
Track Limit: Normal
Penalty Settings
Shortcut Penalty: Light
