Last week we had our first non-Balance of Performance race for around three months in Gran Turismo 7‘s Daily Races. We hope you enjoyed it, as this week we’re back to BoP across the board…
This week we kick off with a Mazda MX-5 race around Tsukuba, followed by Gr.4 at Autodrome Lago Maggiore and a Gr.3 race at Watkins Glen in Race C – newly added in the v1.17 update.
Since 30th May, Race A of Gran Turismo 7’s Daily Races is an event that will not affect players’ Driver Rating (DR) and Sportsmanship Rating (SR). This means Race A is ideal for newcomers to online racing, or those simply unwilling to risk their hard-fought DR and SR
Since the v1.15 update, Sport Mode also plays host to bi-weekly Lap Time Challenge events. This time around, we have a time trial at 24 Heures du Mans Racing Circuit with Gr.1 cars . The car and track combination will change on the 23rd of June.
For GT7 newbies, the Sport mode – where you can find the Daily Races – unlocks after completing Café Menu Book nine.
RACE A
Tsukuba is the venue for Race A. The tight little Japanese track has appeared in every main series version of Gran Turismo since GT4 and is notable for its three hairpins and short lap.
Located around 40 miles from Tokyo, Tsukuba is a popular track for Time Attack style racing, where drivers race their highly-tuned vehicles against the clock rather than each other.
Race A is a single-make race for the Mazda Roadster S. The nimble sportscar is best known in the UK as the MX-5 or the Miata in North America. It combines a supple, lightweight chassis with a rear-drive configuration, providing a fun driving experience on the road.
Tsukuba is an easy track to make mistakes on, so be patient and bide your time. Try not to be on the outside of a turn, as one bump from another car will send you straight onto the grassy run-off areas next to the track.
Recommended car: Mazda Roadster S (ND) ‘15 (Brand Central, 24,950 Credits or free rental)
Race B
Autodrome Lago Maggiore has been a popular mainstay of GT7’s Daily Races of late, and for Race B we visit the fictional Italian circuit’s West End Reverse layout.
Gr.4 has been dominated by the likes of the Subaru WRX and Mazda Atenza in recent times, but it looks like Polyphony Digital has finally balanced these cars out of the picture. However, some things stay the same, as yet again another four-wheel-drive car has emerged as the pick of the bunch.
The Alfa Romeo 155 2.5 V6 TI was used in the DTM touring car championship in the early ’90s. It combined ferocious power with total traction, sounding absolutely gorgeous in the process.
Battling against factory BMW and Mercedes teams, Alfa’s Nicola Larini dominantly took the 1993 championship thanks to the car’s 483bhp engine and 1060kg kerb weight.
Recommended car: Alfa Romeo 155 2.5 V6 TI ’93 (Legend Cars 800,000 credits or free rental)
Race C
BMW’s outgoing GT3 car – the M6 – is the car to have for Race C, taking place at the newly added Watkins Glen circuit – Long Course. This layout incorporates the famous ‘Boot’ section, consisting of suitably motorsport-themed corner names like ‘Heel’ and ‘Toe’.
With 1x fuel consumption there won’t be any need to lean the fuel mixture out, but with 5x tyre wear using Mediums or Softs becomes a delicate balancing act.
Watkins is one of the fastest road courses in the USA but provides excellent racing and close slipstreaming battles, showcasing GT World Challenge America races, NASCAR and once hosting the American F1 Grand Prix.
Recommended car: Car: BMW M6 GT3 Sprint Model ‘16 (450,000 Credits or free rental)
Lap Time Challenge
The new Lap Time Challenge is a simple time trial mode where you compete against other players to set the fastest time on the leader board. As has been the fashion lately, this event is subject to BoP conditions.
The third Lap Time Challenge sees the first use of the Gran Turismo series’ cult hit, the Suzuki V6 Escudo Pikes Peak Special ’98.
Since appearing in Gran Turismo 2, the Escudo has been present in every mainline GT game and today (23rd June 2002) marks the car’s first appearance in GT7 as part of the v1.17 update.
With over 900bhp on tap, it will be a tricky task to tame the Suzuki through the twists and turns of Alsace but thankfully the Escudo has huge aerodynamic grip thanks to its massive wing and splitter.
To incentivise players, the Lap Time Challenge now has target times to aim for. Beating a lap time of 1:39.131 gains 250,000 Credits, 1:41.056 nets 1,000,000 Credits and beating a 1:39.131 will win players a whopping 2,000,000 Credits. The Lap Time Challenge is certainly a quick way to make money in GT7.
A new Lap Time Challenge will begin on the 7th of July.
Race A
Race Information
Car: Mazda Roadster S (ND) ’15
Track: Tsukuba Circuit
Laps: Six
No. Of Cars: 12
Start Type: Grid Start
Duration: 15 Minutes
Fuel Consumption: 1x
Tyre Wear: 1x
Regulations
Categories: Mazda Roadster S (ND) ’15
Wide Body: Prohibited
Nitrous: Prohibited
Tyre Choice: Comfort Soft
Car restrictions
BoP/Tuning Forbidden: On
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.4
Track: Autodrome Lago Maggiore – West End Reverse
Laps: Seven
No. Of Cars: 16
Start Type: Rolling Start
Duration: 15 Minutes
Fuel Consumption: 1x
Tyre Wear: 1x
Regulations
Categories: Gr.4
Wide Body: Prohibited
Nitrous: Prohibited
Tyre Choice: Racing: Hard, Intermediate, Wet
Car restrictions
BoP/Tuning Forbidden: On
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: Off
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.3
Laps: 10
Track: Watkins Glen Long Course
No. Of Cars: 16
Start Type: Rolling Start
Duration: 25 Minutes
Fuel Consumption: 1x
Tyre Wear: 5x
Regulations
Categories: Gr.3
Wide Body: Prohibited
Nitrous: Prohibited
Tyre Choice: Racing: Medium, Soft, Intermediate, Wet
Car restrictions
BoP/Tuning Forbidden: On
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: Off
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: Alsace – Village
Entry Period: 23rd June to 7th July
Regulations
Categories: Car: Suzuki V6 Escudo Pikes Peak Special ’98
Wide Body: Prohibited
Nitrous: Prohibited
Tyre Choice: Racing: Soft, Intermediate, Heavy Wet
Car Restrictions
BoP/Tuning Forbidden: On
Car Used: Garage Car, Event-Specified Car
Car Settings: Specified
Race Settings
Track Limit: Normal
Penalty Settings
Shortcut Penalty: Light
