Most likely from 2002-2004 as that's when the FGT was created. Not 2008.
The FGT still has the pointy pointed downward front nose.
I'm saying 2008 it the last year of the aero pieces that stuck out like that hence 2002-2008, also it could have been updated to some degree, if you look at the front wing end plates between now and GT5 you'll see they're different. I never said it was model off of 2008 alone obviously but if you wish to skew wording.
Yeah because all F1 cars in that time span had a narrow cylindrical front nose like that.
^ This doesn't look like these
As you can see the nose isn't similar to any of these and really fits more with what was seen in the early to mid 90s.
I'd say the Tyrell fits the mold in the front better than any car from the suggested year.
Do you realize you are missing the point by roughly 1.245.239 miles? And it doesn't change anything if it's inspired by 2002-2008 F1's or 2003/2005 because we are still talking about a fictional formula car inspired by F1's.
Actually if anything you've missed the point. You suggested that the GT3 cars should be able to be in the game since the FGT. However, that is wrong be the GT3 f1 cars are real life cars and PD knows so and that is why the purposely changed the name to not conflict with trademarked brands such as Lotus, Mclaren and Williams. This is how they got around the license issue but in today's world Video games can do that unless you make a complete fictitious car thus the FGT, which is not based on any one year of F1, but a full out attempt to make an F1 car with no restrictions to a budget. So in theory it is the first real X car from PD, before they brought on Adrian Newey and told him, instead of no budget limit, do it with no restriction limit as well.
Once again the point is the FGT is PD's car and that alone. The F686/M, is
Nigel Mansell's 1986 Williams FW11 that PD didn't ask if they could model and license. If they did was rockstar does with GTA (which is like the FGT), this wouldn't be an issue.
I'm not sure that's the problem just look at United Racing Design. Their cars are 2013 DTM cars with other names, yet they are selling them without any problem as far as I know.
http://www.unitedracingdesign.com/#!renders/c222r
Well I never heard of the groups before hand, and my point is it seems they are changing the design enough to not have to worry about license issues, that is the point.