The Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance is over for another year, and as is tradition, Gran Turismo game series producer Kazunori Yamauchi has handed out the Grand Turismo award.
Each year, the Pebble Beach Golf Links in California is turned into one of the most prestigious automotive shows on the planet, where he ‘best in show’ awards are handed out after a week of car-related events.
This year, automotive insurance and lifestyle membership company Hagerty was the official media partner, who you may notice is also featured within Gran Turismo 7 as the hosts of the Legend Cars pavilion.
What is the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance Gran Turismo award?
The winner of the Gran Turismo Award at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance can be any car at Pebble Beach Concours and is hand-picked by Kazunori Yamauchi. Each car that wins the award will appear in a Gran Turismo video game.
It is one of several honours at the car event handed out during a three-hour awards show and is classified as a ‘Special Award’. The Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance is the signature event of Monterey Car Week.
Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance Gran Turismo Award 2022 winner
The 1969 Autobianchi A112 Runabout Bertone Concept Car won the 2022 Gran Turismo Award at the 2022 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.
It was submitted by Turin’s Automotoclub Storico Italiano (ASI). It was designed by Marcello Gandini – other designs include the Lamborghini Miura and Countach – for that year’s Torino Show, with a look inspired by racing boats. That means no doors and headlights mounted on the rollbar behind the driver and passenger. The only instrument inside is a speedometer.
Its wedge-like design went on to provide inspiration for Gandini’s future projects, specifically the Lancia Stratos and Fiat X1/9 sports cars.
The Autobianchi brand is already featured within Gran Turismo 7, with the diminutive 1985 A112 Abarth city car.
Previous Concours d’Elegance Gran Turismo Award winners
The Autobianchi is the 14th winner of the Gran Turismo Award, of which eight have made it into a Gran Turismo game so far. All are within Gran Turismo 7.
Most notably, the 1929 Mercedes-Benz S Barker Tourer and 1954 Ferrari 500 Mondial Pinin Farina Coupe were new additions to the gaming series upon the launch of Gran Turismo 7. The Maserati A6GCS/53 Spyder ’54 was added in July’s version 1.19 update.
The 2021 winner was a 1969 Ferrari 512 S Berlinetta, while in 2020 the event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The following cars have won the award, but have yet to arrive within a Gran Turismo game, as their appearance isn’t strictly chronological so far:
- 1952 Cunningham C-4R Competition Roadster CN.5217
- 1966 Ferrari 330 P4 Drogo Spyder
- 1966 AAR Eagle Indy Car
- 1931 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Zagato
- 1969 Ferrari 512 S Berlinetta
It is expected that these outstanding vehicles and this year’s Autobianchi will be coming to a Gran Turismo game at some point in the near future.
