Formula Gran Turismo '04
by Blake
Deep Forest Raceway: 0'53.935
Specs
Power: 904BHP
Weight: 550kg
P/W: 0.608
Tyres: R3
Yes ladies and gentlemen, today is the big one. I get my birthday and Christmas presents all at once. I get
the Formula Gran Turismo.
A chassis sculpted to perfection after thousands of hours in the wind tunnel, and months of research and development.
A 3 litre V10 engine that puts out over 300BHP
per litre.
Together with racing slick tyres, we have a combination that weighs in at less than 600kg, and puts down a whopping 900BHP.
Blakes 👍
As I squeeze my frame into the monocoque chassis, I begin to feel quite bulky having trouble to fit into the snug survival cell, even with the steering wheel removed. Almost lying down, I try to get used to the awkward position while mechanics are fastening my racing harness.
I have never driven anything like
this in my life. Sure, Ive driven fast cars, but this was different. This was more than Id ever imagined it could be.
Setting out on my first lap of the Deep Forest Raceway I was having trouble dealing with the power. Its not that the wheels were breaking traction even without TC they were almost completely stuck to the asphalt but the acceleration was mind blowing!
The corners were linked by bursts of speed where I would reach well over 200kph, before hitting a jarring bump where my body would absorb more of the impact than the suspension.
Despite the bumpy surface, and my timid driving, I was soon punching in consistent 54 second laps. On many a cold winter morning, I have spent longer trying to get my car to start. This open-wheeler was amazing!
A slight understeer most of the time, with some moments of extreme oversteer and the tail ran out of grip and tried to overtake the front. Not particularly hard to catch, but you definitely have to think quickly.
You can ride most curbs pretty aggressively, as long as you can handle the pain as your back is compressed absorbing the impact.
Lap times are amazing. Out of this world. I have never driven anything that can pump out consistent 54s laps around Deep Forest. Amazing lap times at any circuit, really. I even got to drive a lap at the legendary Nürburgring circuit. Nothing in you can do in a car compares. Well, almost nothing
Blakes 👎
It isnt all good, though.
It takes upwards of 6 people to get the car started. It takes a lot of preparation before you can do anything. I needed to get a seat fitted, I needed to learn how to use the steering wheel (oh please, dont be snide, I already knew how to use
a steering wheel, but this one is different more buttons or something, I still dont know what all the fuss is about), and its so expensive that its not even worth thinking about what would have happened if Id crashed it.
Besides all that, and I alluded to this before, the ride is horrible! Bumps you wouldnt feel in most cars would knock your teeth out, as the tyres and your own body take far more of the impact that the super advanced suspension system ever could.
The tyres go through excruciating pain as they handle out-of-this-world acceleration, braking, and cornering forces. A set of R3s enduring close to 40km of punishment before giving up on life and deciding to try something else.
Overall
This is an amazing machine. It is the ultimate in racing technology. Performance is beyond the reach of anything else. Nothing else can really be said.
This is what driving is about.