Some of the world’s best race circuits are in Gran Turismo Sport, and fittingly in this week’s Daily Races, you’ll be visiting three of the finest to duke it out for virtual supremacy.
WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca has a special place in the heart of many Gran Turismo fans, being the first officially licensed circuit to grace the series way back in Gran Turismo 2 alongside Pikes Peak. It’s also home to the daunting Corkscrew series of downhill corners – always the scene of many a controversial incident when it comes to online racing.
Alongside Laguna comes one of my personal favourites, Mount Panorama in Bathurst, Australia. It can be a real pain in the backside, but once you learn the right lines of the top of the mountain, there’s a lovely flow to the venue. There’s no room for overtaking up at the top though, be warned.
Alongside those two legends sits Autopolis, which I would guess most people aren’t too familiar with. But, after its appearance in GT Sport, more have grown to love the unique nature of this Japanese venue where you have to chain together corners like a trick in a Tony Hawk game.
With each event featuring stripped-out race cars, the event this week will feature a frenetic pace.
Race A takes place at the full 2.9-mile Autopolis layout across four laps in Gr.4 machinery. Except there’s a twist. You can only take part in a front-wheel-drive vehicle. That limits you to four choices, but also a change in driving style. Combative in the braking zones, but treading lightly on the throttle upon corner exit to avoid wheelspin.
One for the touring car fans among us.
Onto Race B now, and the second race this week with Gr.4 cars, only this time you can select any that you may have in your garage. Do you go with the poise of the Mitsubishi Lancer and be quick through the twisty section, or the straight-line speed of something like the Renault Megane?
There’ll be a trade-off either way, even with a balanced car like the GR Supra, so expect different drivers to be quicker at different elements of the track, creating plenty of action.
Finally, Race C, aka ‘the strategy race’. Any Gr.3 car from your garage is allowed, but there’s a mandatory pit stop and you must use both tyre compounds in the race at some point. Quick cars, differing strategies and little room for error. Your eyes will be on stalks for 13 laps.
You can view the full details below and we’ll be back next week with the latest ranked Daily Races. For now, let us know on social media if you’ve managed to win a race in the latest Sport Mode events.
Don’t forget that the 2021 FIA Series is also now up and running with GT Sport, alongside the Toyota Gazoo Racing GT Cup.
Race A
Car: Gr.4 – Front-wheel-drive vehicles
Track: AUTOPOLIS INTERNATIONAL RACING COURSE
Laps: Four
No. Of Cars: 12
Duration: 15 Minutes
Tyres: Racing Hard
Fuel Consumption: None
Tyre Wear: None
Start Type: Grid Start
Race B
Car: Gr.4, any
Track: Mount Panorama Motor Racing Circuit
Laps: Three
No. Of Cars: 16
Duration: 15 Minutes
Tyres: Racing Medium
Fuel Consumption: None
Tyre Wear: None
Start Type: Rolling Start
Race C
Car: Gr.3, any
Track: WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
Laps: 13
No. Of Cars: 20
Duration: 25 Minutes
Tyres: Racing Medium and Racing Hard (mandatory use of both)
Fuel Consumption: 2x
Tyre Wear: 10x
Start Type: Rolling Start
