This week’s Gran Turismo 7 Daily Races dispense with car tuning altogether, unfortunately, but I can forgive Polyphony Digital just this once. The reason? This week we pay tribute to one of my racing heroes, the legendary car designer Jim Hall. Apologies in advance for nerding out…
As a matter of course, we’re also treated to Gr.3 and Gr.4 races, while Race B sees a return of the Red Bull Ring after last week’s controversial Daily Races circuit bug controversy.
Initially, Race B was set at Autodromo Lago Maggiore’s West layout. However, a strange teleportation bug was found by some players, resulting in unbelievably quick lap times. This forced a switch to Red Bull Ring’s Short configuration. In some kind of bizarre reward, the track remains on the schedule this week (in its Grand Prix layout).
As of the 30th of May, Race A’s performance will not affect players’ Driver Rating (DR) and Sportsmanship Rating (SR), so feel free to race as hard as you like.
RACE A*
Jim Hall and Chaparral are synonymous with Can-Am racing (short for Canadian-American Challenge Cup). The series, which ran from 1966-1974 in its heyday, featured very few technical regulations and was therefore a hotbed of engineering innovation. And the biggest innovator of all was Jim Hall.
Before Porsche blew away the competition in 1973-74, Hall had masterminded (alongside business partner Hal Sharp) the introduction of moveable aerodynamic devices, monocoque chassis and semi-automatic transmissions.
Can-Am had the best drivers and the most powerful cars at the time, boasting a driving roster of Jackie Stewart, John Surtees, Denny Hulme and Mario Andretti, while attracting manufacturers such as McLaren, Shadow and Lola.
Incredibly, Hall pioneered DRS (Drag Reduction System) well before its introduction into Formula 1. Operated via a third pedal in the cockpit (the semi-auto gearbox only required the gas and brake), the DRS would also open up a small duct at the front of the car to channel air to the rear wing. Yup, he also perfected the f-duct.
His most powerful invention was still to come, however, as Chaparral rolled out the 2J in 1970. By combining a massive fan with Lexan side skirts, the car was literally sucked to the ground. This ‘fan car’ concept was successfully used by Gordon Murray on the F1 Brabham BT45 – eight years later. Hall pioneered ground effects and the fan concept in one stroke.
Sardegna’s Road Track A layout seems like an odd choice for the all-American 2J (Willow Springs or Laguna Seca would have made more sense) but the car can still show off its incredible grip through the tight and twisty turns of the quasi-street circuit.
Just like in F1, the fan car concept was quickly outlawed, prompting Hall’s disillusionment with the Can-Am chiefs who had already banned most of his innovations.
After Can-Am, Chaparral found more success in IndyCar and sports car racing. But the 2J and Hall remain an iconic and inspiring part of motorsport history.
Recommended car: Chaparral 2J ‘70 (Legend Cars, 2,500,000 Credits)
*Since the implementation of Gran Turismo 7’s v1.26 update, Race A has now changed. Race A is now a five-lap Gr.3 race around Deep Forest Raceway’s Reverse layout. Fortunately, however, the rewards for placing well in Race A have increased by 400%, somewhat softening the blow of missing out on the glorious Chaparral.
Race A now has 2x fuel consumption and 6x tyre wear, so unusually becomes a strategic battle. Tyre compounds aren’t specified, so you can choose Hards, Mediums or Softs. Try to look after them though, whichever you choose.
Our favoured car for Race A is the fictional Mazda RX-VISION GT3 Concept, with the Ford GT Race Car ’18 and Subaru WRX Gr.3 also proving to be close contenders. In fact, there are several car models within close proximity, so it seems like Polyphony Digital is finally getting on top of its Balance of Performance (BoP) issues.
Race A uses the Mid-Speed (M) BoP.
Recommended car: Mazda RX-VISION GT3 Concept (Brand Central, 450,000 Credits)
Race B
For the second week in a row, Race B finds itself at Austria’s Red Bull Ring. Thankfully, there’s no cutting controversy this time around and we find ourselves in a straightforward Gr.3 shootout.
Recently dominated by the Porsche 911 RSR (991), car performance is more open than before for this Gr.3 race. Our recommended pick is the Honda NSX, however.
Not known for its competitiveness in GT3 competition, the base model NSX was notable for being a hybrid supercar. Its road car performance didn’t translate that well to motorsport, although the GT3 racecar (in Acura form) has enjoyed modest success in the GT World Challenge America series.
Even a revised Evo22 model failed to deliver adequate results. Still, though, it works really well in GT7 around the Red Bull Ring! Another good option is the Nissan GT-R Gr.3.
Recommended car: Honda NSX Gr.3 (Brand Central, 450,000 Credits or free rental)
Race C
Race C takes place at Watkins Glen, using Gr.4 cars. This race features 7x fuel consumption so requires a degree of race management and engine map adjustment to achieve the best result. Hard tyres are also specified to be used in this race, so make sure to pick some up before the race starts.
Thankfully, Watkins Glen is a track where it’s easy enough to coast into its banked corners like the Outer Loop and The Chute.
Our car of choice for this one is the Nissan GT-R Gr.4 – finally displacing the utterly dominant Alfa Romeo 155 2.5 V6 TI.
Race C uses the Mid-speed (M) BoP format.
Recommended car: Nissan GT-R Gr.4 (Brand Central, 350,000 Credits or free rental)
Lap Time Challenge
The current Lap Time Challenge features the Suzuki V6 Escudo Pikes Peak Special ’98 at Willow Springs International Raceway’s Big Willow layout. Do well here and you could walk away with 2,000,000 Credits. Nice.
A new Lap Time Challenge will become available on the 5th of December at 7am GMT.
Recommended car: Suzuki V6 Escudo Pikes Peak Special ’98 (Legend Cars 1,700,000 Credits or free rental)
Race A
Race Information
Track: Deep Forest Raceway Reverse
Laps: Five
No. Of Cars: 12
Start Type: Rolling Start
Duration: 15 Minutes
Fuel Consumption: 2x
Tyre Wear: 6x
Regulations
Useable Tyres: Racing: Hard, Medium, Soft, Intermediate, Wet
Car Type: Gr.3
Wide Body: Prohibited
Nitrous: Prohibited
Car restrictions
BoP/Tuning Forbidden: Mid-Speed (M)
Car Used: Garage Car, Event-Specified Car
Car Settings: Specified
Race Settings
DR Updates: Off
SR Updates: Off
Mechanical Damage: Light
Minimum No. of Pit Stops: None
Track Limit: Normal
Penalty Settings
Shortcut Penalty: Light
Penalty for collisions with other cars: On
Pit Lane Line Cutting Penalty: On
Race B
Race Information
Car: Gr.3
Track: Red Bull Ring
Laps: Seven
No. Of Cars: 16
Start Type: Rolling Start
Duration: 15 Minutes
Fuel Consumption: 1x
Tyre Wear: 1x
Regulations
Useable Tyres: Racing: Hard, Intermediate, Wet
Categories: Gr.3
Wide Body: Prohibited
Nitrous: Prohibited
Tyre Choice: Racing: Hard, Intermediate, Wet
Car restrictions
BoP/Tuning Forbidden: Mid-speed (M)
Car Used: Garage Car, Event-Specified Car
Car Settings: Specified
Race Settings
DR Updates: Yes
SR Updates: Yes
Mechanical Damage: Light
Minimum No. of Pit Stops: None
Track Limit: Normal
Penalty Settings
Shortcut Penalty: Light
Penalty for collisions with other cars: On
Pit Lane Line Cutting Penalty: On
Race C
Race Information
Car: Gr.4
Laps: 10
Track: Watkins Glen Long Course
No. Of Cars: 16
Start Type: Rolling Start
Duration: 25 Minutes
Fuel Consumption: 7x
Tyre Wear: 1x
Regulations
Useable Tyres: Racing: Hard, Medium, Intermediate, Wet
Required Tyre Type: Racing: Hard
Categories: Gr.4
Wide Body: Prohibited
Nitrous: Prohibited
Car restrictions
BoP/Tuning Forbidden: Mid-speed (M)
Car Used: Garage Car, Event-Specified Car
Car Settings: Specified
Race Settings
DR Updates: Yes
SR Updates: Yes
Mechanical Damage: Light
Minimum No. of Pit Stops: None
Track Limit: Normal
Penalty Settings
Shortcut Penalty: Light
Penalty for collisions with other cars: On
Pit Lane Line Cutting Penalty: On
Lap Time Challenge
Race Information
Car: Suzuki V6 Escudo Pikes Peak Special ’98
Track: Willow Springs International Raceway – Big Willow
Entry Period: 24th-November-5th December
Regulations
Useable Tyres Racing: Soft, Intermediate, Wet
Wide Body: Prohibited
Nitrous: Prohibited
Specified Car: Suzuki V6 Escudo Pikes Peak Special ’98
Car Restrictions
BoP/Tuning Forbidden: Mid-speed (M)
Car Used: Garage Car, Event-Specified Car
Car Settings: Specified
Race Settings
Track Limit: Normal
Penalty Settings
Shortcut Penalty: Light
