Willow Springs Raceway Appears in Gran Turismo 5 Video

Jordan Greer · · 197 Comments

Careful observers will have noticed an unfamiliar circuit in the latest Gran Turismo 5 video trailer, released to commemorate the launch of the new 2014 Corvette Stingray in the game.

Thanks to users in our forums, it was quickly identified as Willow Springs International Raceway, a 2.5-mile road course located in California.

For reference, here’s a real on-board lap of the circuit filmed with a Corvette C6 Z06 last year:

The new circuit is shown off several times in the Corvette Stingray trailer below, as highlighted in the screenshot gallery.

It is important to note that, although the track is clearly rendered in GT5’s environment, this does not imply or confirm the circuit will be coming to the game as downloadable content in the future.

Willow Springs has, of course, never been featured in any previous Gran Turismo title.

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Comments (197)

  2. Tweetman_277

    For the fist thirty seconds I thought the Z06 video was from some GT5 Demo Booth somewhere… Then noticed the HUD was all wrong and thought it was some sort of hack or s0mething. Then I realised there aren’t any hacks like that I’ve seen.
    THEN I realised it was real life.

    1. toknowjoyman

      Please please, Kazunori, let it get interesting…
      Imagine the entire willow springs complex, including the go kart track, in a paid DLC for GT5
      (*i wish**I wish*) Thank you Kaz

  7. YoshiG25

    hello I’m new in GT5, so far I have driven simulation on PC rFactor, GTR2, Race07, GTRevo semi simulation as SHIFT1 and 2 the only thing I do not like about GT5 is badly made copckit texture speedometer and RPM on all premium cars.
    Ok where the new Corvette :)

  8. scartezz

    I can’ t understand how kazunori’s mind work…….why this track? There are a lot of better track, why this anonymous track?

  9. JeremiahTB

    Both Sony and Microsoft have stated that they want to hold events before E3 in June. Does this mean more details of this track and more GT news in the Spring?

    1. Jawehawk

      If Sony and/or Microsoft are holding their own press conferences before E3, it’ll likely be about next generation consoles.

    2. JeremiahTB

      That’s what I was referring to…next Gen consoles. I mentioned GT in hopes of it being a possible launch title. I believe IGN has more news on the prospective details.

  10. Biggles1961

    Too many whiners ! GT5 is still a great game. Grow up,move out of your parent’s house,and get a life! Enjoy the new car and (maybe) new track. Then enjoy your bus ride to school…

    2. GT5_Honda_Guy

      +1

      I read all of the whacked out comments on these blogs and really start to lose faith in mankind. All too much negativity and overall laziness. (You know, the typical fat, lazy and sitting in front of their computers all day judging people who actually get up and TRY) Either way, 3 years strong on this one title alone, I’m impressed!!!

  14. GTHEAD87

    I dont know how people can complain about the cars, fair enough they could have done without a lot of the civic, 3000gt, silvia, skyline, etc. But at the end of the day not many people will have/drive these cars the whole time they play the game. I work a lot now so i dont get to spend my days playing GT so im happy to just drive cars that i will never get to drive or even see in real round tracks i could only dream of driving round. Good work PD and hope to hear of a GT6 in the future.

  15. Drevenger

    NICE!
    The preview is awesome, lol at those who think PD is done with GT5.
    Music is great too, I know most use custom soundtracks but new stuff is always welcome.
    Willow Springs would be cool for sure. Theres no DLC track from America yet. So far Asia and Europe is represented, maybe Australia with Bathurst and Europe with Silverstone. That leaves us, logicality, with North Am. South Am. Middle East and fictional location. The odds are good but i’m a bit surprised no one noticed.

    4. GT HP Nut

      He’s just wishing us all a happy new year (a bit belated, but I believe he’s talking about the Lunar New Year).
      It’s a fault that he has used Chinese though, should’ve used English.
      (Or that’s actually a joke, now I’ve seen his username…)

  17. biftizmo

    The newC7 is free..and it’s got enhanced performance driving characteristics – down to the shift schedule for the 7-speed manual transmission. News

  18. Wiki

    I really think GT6 is close, with all these hints about this new track in the video and the ones PD was catched up scanning, the confirmation of a aproxiamated reveal date of the PS4 by a Sony executive… Can’t wait! XD

  19. acedition333

    Has anyone compared pictures of a 2013 SRT Viper vs. 2014 Corvette?? VERY similar front nose. All the way down to the amber side marker. Someone got their ideas from the VIPER. I’d pick Viper over the Corvette ANYDAY! Hope the next DLC is a good one.

    1. HuskyGT

      +1

      Viper all the way.

      But the C7 Corvette is quite nice. Seeing them from the front angle, they do seem almost alike, but it’s just an optical illusion. Once you move, the differences are highly noticeable, and the proportions are completely different. Same thing with the C6 that used to look like the previous gen Viper from the front.

    2. RACECAR

      One problem with your claim: The Corvette has looked this way since the Jalonik render that showed what it looked like under the camo (which as it turns out, was spot on), which was in November 2011. So it didn’t get anything from the Viper.

    3. Amac500

      It doesn’t work like that dude, Corvette couldn’t face copied Viper. This car has been in the works for a while, you can see the evolution through the prototype. Chevrolet has been working on this car since before the Viper was released, that’s just how this business works. Therefore Chevy could not have copies Viper and they wouldn’t have had a reason to in the first place. In fact had they known how the Viper looked they probably would have changed the Corvette’s styling to avoid this conversation all together. But again, that’s not how it works, because the Corvette C7 has been developed since before the Viper was released.

  20. ANFD

    As BRE mentioned earlier I too raced motorcycles at Willow Springs in the very early 1980s. Every North American famous racer you’ve probably ever heard of has tested at this track at one time or another over the years. It is about 45 minutes north of LA in the Mojave Desert and is a very fun track to drive if you like sweeping fast turns and elevation changes. I’ve always laughed at the fact that there are no Willows and there are no Springs but the track is awesome fun to drive. By the way, it is also included in the NFS Shift series. I’d love to have this famous unknown track (oxymoron, I know) in GT5 so I hope it becomes DLC.

  21. biftizmo

    Is the prototype the freebi there on about…I don’t mind paying for new tracks cars and anything we get is great. But a freebie from the manufachure should be in order for all the coverage this new car is getting..this is first of many big deals well done PD..now for a GTA colaberation…gt5 is dead….GT5 as only just begun.

    1. biftizmo

      And I tell you what I’m surprised how little this car costs….if I ditch the wife and sell the house this car is in my price range.

    1. Amac500

      SCCA sanctions road racing there but that’s obviously nothing major. It holds competition at a Tsukuba level I guess you could say.

    2. researchALLwars

      it also seems that LOTS of auto testing goes on there- not often by manufacturers, but by journalists for auto magazines and websites/youtube channels.

      It’s a Cali thing. Can’t blame em. I’m an ohio boy, and always hold out hope for a little Mid-Ohio action. Drivers from around the world rave about Mid-Ohio being one of the most fun tracks to run on.

  23. hobanator24

    Remember the Acura NSX concept video? We didn’t get the car but we DID get the track featured, SSRX. So it is a possibility that this track could appear as dlc. Also, SSRX was featured at the end of the 2.0 intro. And we didn’t hear any news of Willow Springs being scanned for GT5 or GT6.

  24. TheeFrogmanlego

    This game has more tracks than any other game.. more cars than any other game… yet content an issue.. pfft…
    not to mention we have received four new locations.. * around 12 new variations* !

    1. JeremiahTB

      “More cars than any other game” isn’t saying much when half if them are really only five cars…Skyline, S2000, RX-7, MX-5, Civic, and Fairlady Z. Not to mention most are poorer quality Standard models.

    3. HuskyGT

      If you take out the repetitions, you’re left with around 400 cars. There is another game that has double than that.

    4. MeanElf

      There may be close to 100 models of Skyline but there are not 100 each of the other car models Jeremiah mentions. So I think GT5 has more than 400 cars…

    5. SimonK

      No matter how you want to debate the cars it’s flat out not true that it has more tracks than any other game.

  25. liampage123

    SEems like a boring track. In the middle of no where, and no trees or big objects to give you a sense of speed.

  26. The_Paladin

    Great to see this presentation, sadly i dont like the car at all, looks like the Ferrari F12Berlineta with the back of the Camaro SS 2010, i prefer C6 Z06 much better.

  27. LR-MR-Cole

    Willow Springs will be in gt6 not 5 its 2 years old with gt6 atleast 1-2 years away. Also this c7 vette will be last DLC car till GT6 sorry guys ohh and Corvette over Viper anyday. The new Viper does not inspire confidence when driving yeah its alot better but not great like it should have been the vette was built the way a a super car is built but this this a sports car that has improved very much so over an outgoing model that was an all around fast/fastest sports car. C6 zo6 has highest g force on skid pad over Viper ACR, LP700 I just think the Corvette is heading in the right direction and anyother direction would have been unacceptable, but yeah its still built in a shed in Bowling Green Kentuckey

  30. goatman64

    Awesome. I really wish Polyphony would take a look at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama for a future game. It’s a great track.

    1. NascarManiaco99

      Someone readed my mind lol They could take a look at Interlagos, Brazil as well. It currently hosts the WEC and the F1. :D

  31. JDMTuningJZX90

    Screw this, all the cars that GT5 Players wanted were not given. GT5 Is no longer about catering for their players. if they did they wouldn’t give us a half ass game. Supra’s, AE86’s, Silvia’s, Koenigsegg’s an Mustangs, and many more. PD is no longer mean anything to me than a money hungry game developer. Which leaves me to support Turn10 and Forza. They haven’t been in this as long as PD, and yet their are teaching GT5 what to do.

    1. GTRACER1998

      AE86’s are ugly.
      And if PD is a “money hungry game developer” than how come the Corvette is FREE.
      If you don’t like GT5 and PD, then leave.

    3. TokoTurismo

      Seriously. Why are you complain? Mind as well leave if you can’t get over yourself and appreciate PD’s hard supporting this game.

      And what a dumn thought to say PD are money hungry, they are not. Honestly some people can be so ungrateful…

    4. JeremiahTB

      If PD was “money hungry”, why is there hardly any DLC? That is the best way to nickel & dime us to death…nickels and dimes I would gladly spend for badass cars every month. I wish PD was money hungry.

    5. GTP_Yamicarlos

      If Polyphony Digital is “mone hungry”, then Turn 10 is robbing you everytime you buy their games, because the amount of money being spent on Dlcs in a lot more than the game itself. In the old days, the game we bought was finished, in sense there was no dlc, no update, nothing to upset the gaming time.

  33. TokoTurismo

    This is so much win, this track and Vette C7 Stingray! :D

    Thank you so much PD and GM for all this, you guys rock as a team working together. :)

    3. sirjim73

      Yeah, I think someone got a bit over excited. I’d go along with Trial Mountain.

      Personally I think the new Stingray looks great, even if it is a rip off of parts of other cars it looks to me like they put them together pretty darn tootin well! And if it does anywhere near 30mpg that seems pretty impressive for a car like this. Looks like an early morning for me tomorrow then!

  35. Foxiol

    Now I remember where I saw this circuit before…it was one of the first circuits for pCARS when it started back in October 2011.

    PD is doing its work guys and looking at the competition. Hell yeah, to me seeing this circuit is not only good to add more real life world tracks…but PD is aiming to compete head to head against itself (Forza counts?) and pCARS which is going to have lot of tracks and amazing visuals at least on PC.

  37. StiggyGT

    Interlagos, Imola, Swiss alps (from gt3) would be great tracks for me! Don’t get me wrong, I still love PD s attitude towards new content.

    2. JeremiahTB

      Really? You love PD’s attitude toward new content? There is hardly new content for this game other than the Seasonals. Kaz himself said there would be new DLC every month…doesn’t happen. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate the new C7; but I’m sure that was just as much GM’s doing as PD’s. GT DLC is severely lacking in content. In this day and age consistent DLC is a must.

  39. Rob-F1-Fan

    Somethin tells me Gran Turismo 6 will have a huge amount of tracks! What with Silverstone, this, and many others that PD have been spotted at.

  41. HKSBro92

    Man you should see all the comments on youtube. These Forza dudes are hella jealous. Its so funny. But anyways I’m super excited! I’d rather have the SRT VIper but f*** it, this is good enough :)

    1. sirjim73

      They have their Viper. GT5 has the Stingray. Unfortunately, thats how the real world works – its called running a business and trying to make a profit – ask any HMV employee tonight about that (am thinking tonight of the 4,000 employees who are at risk and hoping they get something positive).

  42. AngelPlayStar

    Look at 1:56 … maybe there is a camera in the front on that helicopter!!!! … I hope in a new replay view from that!!!!

  44. BaTsBR

    Like everyone, I would really like more tracks, some of them already listed by other gtplayers.
    But, there is one circuit in particular I would love to see in future gt games.
    Interlagos – Jose Carlos Pace circuit.
    Here in Brasil there’s a lot of good circuits but this one is really a nice one.
    C’mim Kaz, surprise your brazilian fans.

    1. Amac500

      They have nothing but a Zonda from South America, they defined need a brazil circuit for one of the largest race fan bases in the world.

    2. infamousphil

      That’s why I use the course maker. I have a 6 mile long doozie of a track. However, PD shoulda gave use more control in the course maker. With free hand control… it’s totally duable. But that’s what the series is most infamously famous.for… Leading the genre in concept developement yet still leaving much to be desired.

  46. V10viperSRT

    Man I love GT5, but I see what’s happened here. Forza gets the new Viper and GT5 gets the new Corvette. Oh well….

  48. Foxiol

    Well no one expected this track so I believe and I am really confident in Lucas Ordoñez words: “GT6 is going to have tons of tracks that are going to make your hat fall off”. (or something similar can´t remember exactly his words)

    If they are mapping those real world tracks it is a good signal from a REAL simulation aspect. I want more real world tracks.

  49. BRElms

    I can confirm that the track is Willow Springs (Like It says at the top)! I raced Motorcycles on it in the 80’s.
    It’s 2.5 miles long in the style of High Speed Ring. It’s a very fast track!! Both Nigel Mansel and Michael Andretti did 1:06’s on it.
    Also very hot at times!! Situated in the Mojave Desert if you race in July or August be prepared for 110-125deg (F) temperatures
    during midday!! And that is before you put on Leathers/Fire Suit,helmet ,gloves,ect. Minimal Armco Barriers so you can usually drive away from errors with minimal damage. I would really like to see it in GT5.

    1. researchALLwars

      where in the world is that NSX Concept? I have to wonder if Kaz/PD put out that video from last feb and thought to themselves “check back in a YEAR for your chance to drive this beatiful car!”

      : /

    2. canieaturchikn

      How can they put the NSX in the game when there is no hard data on the car yet? All we know is engine layout, drivetrain type and what it looks like. There is even rumor that the NSX has been pushed back to 2016 release. However power speculations have been upped to 500hp. Read that at nsxprime. It’s gonna be a challenge for PD to empliment this car because of the SHAWD system. Look at the cars in the game that feature torque vectoring. They aren’t done correctly as far as the driving physics. I should know I drive an ’05 Acura RL and the cars in GT5 that are suppose to have torque vectoring are all wrong. You can tell by watching the tires to see which ones get warm or not in a corner. So I guess it’s a good thing the NSX isn’t in GT5 until their physics engine can do this or at least something close to it.

  54. TomBrady

    This is one of the last tracks i’d expect them to add but I welcome it. It’s been so long since we’ve got a new track that I don’t think we have the right to complain. Just be happy we’re getting a new track.

    It’s a good track too. Maybe it’s not amazing like VIR, Macau, or Bathurst, but definitely better than other choices they could make. Plus the mountain scenery should look nice, mountains is something they do very well. Eiger K trail, the long one is the best looking track in GT5 in my opinion

  55. HuskyGT

    Kind of a stale track if you ask me. But for some reason, I prefer having more new tracks than cars and this would surely be welcomed.

    But it’s not the first time we see a “new” track in a GT5 video that never makes it into the game.

  57. leeson

    How does anyone know that that’s Willow Springs? What are the cues? Just curious. Looks like it could be Toscana.

    BTW that Corvette looks kind of silly. It’s got the back end of a Camaro. Also, isn’t that just a concept vehicle? Will it actually look like that in production?

    3. Hentis

      @playnthru Watch the video at 2:03. I dont think thats Willo Springs… Have they go Astro Truf on the star Finish straight?

  59. sangdude82

    If PD is going to put Willow Springs Raceway into GT5 or GT6, can they include Virginia International Raceway as well? :D

    1. TomBrady

      I HOPE SO. VIR is my favorite track in the western hemispere. I’d also like infineon back, that’s a really underrated track

  63. Madman Apex

    from the video its easy to see why it didnt take polyphony 16 years to get this track into gran turismo…
    X-)

    1. Leondrift

      theres been a few trailers with helicopters in before GT5 was released but ive never seen one in game. would be very cool if you had helicopters following you at times :)

  70. steebz

    Why all the hype? It’s ugly! The Viper is way better looking than this turd. Give us the new SRT because this is horrible. It looks like a cheap ferrari rip-off! Where’s the originality? What a let-down

    2. steebz

      Cool. It’s as if GM looked at the new Ferrari FF and said to themselves “Right, copy the front and sides and then put a camaro back end on it.”

    3. Madman Apex

      STEEBZ…
      you COULDNT be more RIGHT…i just cant figure out which car has four pipes in the rear end in that same exact configuration

  72. Cosbuster

    I would say that it does imply that it will be featured as DLC in the future. I mean, why else put it there in the first place? I also fondly remember that the last time we identified a new track (Route X) we got it as DLC shortly.

  73. playnthru

    Anyone who doesn’t know, Willow is a great track with many different configurations. It would be awesome if PD included it!

  74. UrieHusky

    I’ll say here what I said in the thread in the forum about this.

    Don’t forget that we’ve had locations in trailers that never turned up.

    How long exactly have we been waiting for El Capitan? or the mountain pass road featured in the Ferrari California video? http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature…vLVxcT0k#t=35s

    I’d love to be wrong and have this track turn up, all I’m saying is don’t hype yourself up too much guys.

  75. BuddhaRock

    If I had to guess, I would say that they probably did testing of the new Corvette at Willow Springs and as such, PD decided to render the course. It’s not a particularly memorable course for any reason other than local historical significance. It does look like a fun course to drive, but whether or not it happens is anyone’s guess. Personally, I think it’s just an homage by PD used for background filler.

    2. BuddhaRock

      One would hope. I’d love any new course, honestly. I agree that it wouldn’t make sense for them to render it for a video and not use it. I don’t know… I guess we shall see. :)

  76. BkS

    If Willow Springs comes to GT5, I’ll have new places for taking photos, drifting and doing time attack. AWWWW YEAAAHH!!

    1. JeremiahTB

      Isn’t that what they said about GT5? My hat is still on. I’m not saying you’re wrong…I really hope you are correct…but I always take what is expected of a new GT title with a grain of salt. That being said, a preview of an unreleased track is something to keep in mind.

  86. DORIFTO KOZO

    the track might be the new addition for the next update although you need to pay for it…. or maybe the track could be added to GT6?

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