It’s a familiar feeling to this week’s Gran Turismo 7 Daily Races, as we’re again subject to Balance of Performance (BoP) events.
It certainly keeps the racing close and intense, but removes the ability for players to tune their cars to their preferences – and exhausts this writer’s ability to produce puns on the word ‘BoP’.
This week, (w/c 4th April March 2022) we have an Initial D-themed race at Suzuka’s short East layout, with two Gr.3 events at Deep Forest Raceway and Spa-Francorchamps to finish off.
RACE A
The Toyota Sprinter Trueno has a cult following around the globe. This is in part thanks to it featuring in the manga comic and anime movie Initial D, about a tofu delivery boy’s drifting exploits with his father’s car.
The Toyota had all the right ingredients to be a superb driving machine, with a high-revving 1.6l twin-cam engine, rear-wheel drive, and near perfect front-to-back weight distribution. Anyone that used the AE86 mod back in rFactor’s heyday will no doubt remember the thrill of chucking the little Toyota around.
Race A also allows the use of the Toyota Corolla Levin, which is essentially the same as the Sprinter, just without pop-up headlights.
We take to a short layout of the Japanese Suzuka Circuit – the East Course. This features a long front straight with the fast, flowing curves of sector one ideally suited to the underpowered Toyotas.
Although cheap compared to drift luminaries like the Nissan 200SX, Toyota Supra and Nissan Skyline at the time, prices have risen dramatically on the Sprinter version thanks largely to the ‘Initial D effect’.
You can collect the Toyota Corolla Levin 1600GT APEX (AE86) ‘83 by completing Menu Book 10, or keep an eye out for it becoming available in the Used Car Dealership for 47,400 Credits. The Toyota Sprinter Trueno 1600GT APEX (AE86) ‘83 is available now from the Used Car Dealership, priced at 48,200 Credits.
Recommended car: Toyota Corolla Levin 1600GT APEX (AE86) ‘83, (Used Cars) 47,400 Credits and Toyota Sprinter Trueno 1600GT APEX (AE86) ‘83 (Used Cars), 48,200 Credits
Race B
Race B is our first foray with the Gr.3 cars this week, this time at Deep Forest Raceway.
The classic Gran Turismo fictional track is a fan favourite, and its comeback to the series was much anticipated. Thanks to a few tweaks, the layout is better than ever, and feels great to drive with these GT3/GTE inspired cars.
Our pick for this one has to be the Ford GT Race Car. Built to help celebrate 50 years since the Ford GT40 Mk II’s famous Le Mans victory over Ferrari in 1966, the Ford GT had one aim: to win. Thanks to Sébastien Bourdais, Dirk Müller and Joey Hand, they did just that, their teammates’ also securing third, fourth and ninth places.
It was Ford vs Ferrari all over again, as the Chip Ganassi Team snatched the GTE Pro win ahead of the second-placed Risi Competizione Ferrari, delighting Ford’s PR and Marketing departments… and racing fans too, obviously.
The 3.5l V6-powered car featured some trick aerodynamics thanks to the road car’s open flying buttresses, so sticks to the road like nothing else. And with 10x Tyre Wear enabled, you’ll need to use all that grip to look after your tyres.
Recommended car: Ford GT Race Car ‘18 (Brand Central, 1,000,000 Credits)
Race C
Our final race uses the Gr.3 cars again, this time at Belgium’s home of motorsport – Spa-Francorchamps.
Home to the F1 Belgian Grand Prix, Spa is often hailed as one of the greatest driver’s tracks in the world, thanks to high-commitment corners such as Pouhon and Eau Rouge/Raidillion.
Race C is traditionally pitched as an endurance-style event, and this is no different, with 7x Fuel Consumption and 10x Tyre Wear, so pit stop strategy will be crucial. Of course, it never rains at Spa, so you can absolutely discount the potential of wet weather coming in to play…
On second thoughts, best buy some Intermediate and Heavy Wet tyres…
Our top car pick for Race C is the Peugeot RCZ Gr.3. We recommended the French sportscar for last week’s Brands Hatch race, and its cornering capabilities come to the fore through the smooth curves of the Stavelot circuit.
Recommended car: Peugeot RCZ Gr.3 (Brand Central, 450,000 Credits)
Race A
Race Information
Car: Toyota Sprinter Trueno 1600GT APEX (AE86) ‘83 and Toyota Corolla Levin 1600GT APEX (AE86) ‘83
Track: Suzuka Circuit East Course
Laps: Six
No. Of Cars: 12
Start Type: Grid Start
Duration: 15 Minutes
Fuel Consumption: 1x
Tyre Wear: 1x
Regulations
Categories: Toyota Sprinter Trueno 1600GT APEX (AE86) ‘83 and Toyota Corolla Levin 1600GT APEX (AE86) ‘83
Wide Body: Prohibited
Nitrous: Cannot be fitted
Tyre Choice: Comfort
Race Settings
BoP/Tuning Forbidden: Applicable
Car Used: Garage Car
Car Settings: Specified
Pit Lane Line Cutting Penalty: Enabled
Race B
Race Information
Car: Gr.3
Track: Deep Forest Raceway
Laps: Five
No. Of Cars: 16
Start Type: Formation
Duration: 15 Minutes
Fuel Consumption: 2x
Tyre Wear: 10x
Regulations
Categories: Gr.4
Wide Body: Prohibited
Power: Specified
Weight: Specified
Nitrous: Cannot be fitted
Tyre Choice: Racing Hard, Intermediate, Racing: Heavy Wet
Race Settings
BoP/Tuning Forbidden: Applicable
Car Used: Garage Car
Car Settings: Specified
Pit Lane Line Cutting Penalty: Enabled
Race C
Race Information
Car: Gr.3
Track: Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
Laps: Eight
No. Of Cars: 16
Start Type: Formation
Duration: 25 Minutes
Fuel Consumption: 7x
Tyre Wear: 10x
Regulations
Categories: Gr.3
Wide Body: Prohibited
Nitrous: Cannot be fitted
Tyre Choice: Racing Hard, Intermediate, Racing: Heavy Wet
Race Settings
BoP/Tuning Forbidden: Appliicable
Car Used: Garage Car
Car Settings: Specified
Pit Lane Line Cutting Penalty: Enabled
