It’s more Balance of Performance (BoP) races this week in Gran Turismo 7’s Daily Races refresh. For GT7 players growing tired of the prescriptive nature of controlled racing, fear not, as there’s certainly enough to hold your interest here.
Since the 21st of March we’ve had non-stop BoP racing in GT7’s Daily Races and the format is starting to feel a little overused. A big part of the fun of Gran Turismo is in tuning your car, giving it a ridiculous wing, adding a Wide Body and being able to share this with the world in an online race.
It feels like we are missing out just a little at present, however, the BoP format makes for more even and close races.
Our first race is at the USA’s Laguna Seca for some single-make Radical SR3 fun, followed by a Gr.4 battle (also known as the Mazda Atenza Cup thanks to it being the OP Gr.4 car) at Autodrome Lago Maggiore in Race B, topped off with a nostalgic trip to Le Mans in Race C where Gr.2 cars like the Mercedes AMG CLK-LM ‘98 are eligible.
This week also sees the return of GT Sport’s popular vehicle renting game mechanic for Daily Races. Ideal if you want to do your BoP checks to establish the best car, or even if you just want to try out the more expensive Gr.2 machinery like the 9,500,000 Credit McLaren F1 GTR Race Car.
RACE A
A free radical can be defined as an unstable highly-reactive molecule linked to aging. Which, in a way perfectly describes Race A’s car of choice – the Radical SR3 SL ’13.
The British-made Radical is essentially a road-legal track car without a roof or space for your shopping. The windscreen also barely protects the driver’s face, so wearing a full-face helmet isn’t a bad idea when out for a sporty drive.
Like the free radical molecule mentioned above, the Radical SR3 changes direction in an instant, its Ford Focus ST 239bhp engine enough to haul its 775kg dry weight to 60mph in just 3.4s – enough G-forces to add multiple wrinkles to any helmet-less driving enthusiast.
Combined with the tight confines of California’s 1.9-mile long WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, the Radical can produce some excellent mini Le Mans prototype racing, evoking the heyday of the American Le Mans Series.
Handily, the car can be rented for no charge if you don’t already own it.
Free Radical, anyone?
Recommended car: Radical SR3 SL ’13 (Brand Central, 126,500 Credits)
Race B
We head to Italy for Race B, and the fictional track of Autodromo Lago Maggiore – Full Course. This is a Gr.4 race, and like most of the previous Gr.4 events over the past five weeks sees the Mazda Atenza Gr.4 car stand head and shoulders above the competition.
Known as the Mazda 6 in the UK, the fictional Atenza Gr.4 has become the car of choice for Gr.4 races in GT7 of late, with its four-wheel-drive traction seemingly giving it the edge at most tracks. And Maggiore is no different, with tight corner exits playing to the Atenza’s strengths.
Unusually for Race B, we are set at 1x Tyre Wear and Fuel Consumption, so this is flat-out 15-minute battle to the chequered flag, but with Racing Medium tyres allowed for the first time it’s a good idea to minimise wheelspin just in case…
Recommended car: Mazda Atenza Gr.4 (Brand Central, 350,000 Credits)
Race C
We head to the Circuit de la Sarthe in Le Mans, France for Race C, a happy hunting ground for our car of choice this week. Well, 1998 was more successful than 1999 at least…
Yes, Mercedes’ AMG CLK-LM ’98 was the fastest car at Le Mans in 1998, and despite qualifying on pole both its cars failed to finish. The team won the FIA GT Championship as consolation however.
1999 would be a disaster for the marques on the other hand, with airborne-incidents for Mark Webber and Peter Dumbreck forcing Mercedes to pull the plug on its Le Mans campaign.
Thanks to its slippery shape and huge cornering speeds, the AMG has the edge on the competition, but with 5x Fuel Consumption and Tyre Wear it’s worth lifting a little on the Mulsanne straights to help eke out the fuel mileage.
On a side note, there are some expensive Gr.2 cars to choose from, so if you’ve ever dreamt of owning one of these iconic beasts, why not try renting one? Cars like the AMG CLK-LM and McLaren F1 GTR Race Car aren’t exactly cheap, so this is the best way to try before you buy.
Recommended car: AMG CLK-LM ‘98 (Legend Cars 8,500,000 Credits)
Race A
Race Information
Car: Radical SR3 SL ’13
Track: WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
Laps: Four
No. Of Cars: 12
Start Type: Grid Start
Duration: 15 Minutes
Fuel Consumption: 1x
Tyre Wear: 1x
Regulations
Categories: Radical SR3 SL ’13
Wide Body: Prohibited
Nitrous: Cannot be fitted
Tyre Choice: Sports Hard
Race Settings
BoP/Tuning Forbidden: On
Car Used: Garage Car
Car Settings: Specified
Mechanical Damage: Light
Shortcut Penalty: Enabled
Car Collision Penalty: Enabled
Pit Lane Line Cutting Penalty: Enabled
Race B
Race Information
Car: Gr.4
Track: Autodrome Lago Maggiore – Full Course
Laps: Four
No. Of Cars: 16
Start Type: Formation
Duration: 15 Minutes
Fuel Consumption: 1x
Tyre Wear: 1x
Regulations
Categories: Gr.4
Wide Body: Prohibited
Power: Specified
Weight: Specified
Nitrous: Cannot be fitted
Tyre Choice: Racing: Medium, Intermediate, Heavy Wet
Race Settings
BoP/Tuning Forbidden: On
Car Used: Garage Car
Car Settings: Specified
Mechanical Damage: Light
Shortcut Penalty: Enabled
Car Collision Penalty: Enabled
Pit Lane Line Cutting Penalty: Enabled
Race C
Race Information
Car: Gr.2
Track: 24 Heures du Mans Racing circuit
Laps: Five
No. Of Cars: 16
Start Type: Formation
Duration: 25 Minutes
Fuel Consumption: 5x
Tyre Wear: 5x
Regulations
Categories: Gr.2
Wide Body: Prohibited
Nitrous: Cannot be fitted
Tyre Choice: Racing: Medium, Intermediate, Heavy Wet
Race Settings
BoP/Tuning Forbidden: On
Car Used: Garage Car
Car Settings: Specified
Mechanical Damage: Light
Shortcut Penalty: Enabled
Car Collision Penalty: Enabled
Pit Lane Line Cutting Penalty: Enabled
