Gran Turismo World Series (Manufacturers Cup 2025 Exhibition Season 2: 12 Mar - 22 Mar)

[Yard_Sale]

But if we will have a rainy race, this should have exactly the same script for all the races... otherwise some drivers could be luckier than others... am I wrong?

So our friends from Oceania will be the first ones to discover what is going to happen...

One of the best races PD has ever done was at NBG maybe 18-24 months ago. 5 laps, variable weather for all. One of slots only had 5 people finish qually because a cell moved in and caught everyone out on slicks. The 5 of those that qualified had waited a few minutes to see if that cell was going to hit or not. To my knowledge, that was the last time the masses got a true variable weather race in GTWS


Anyways, I’ve been out of the loop for a while. Gonna jump into some custom races and see what my 458 can do with these multipliers

 

[bduddy]

But if we will have a rainy race, this should have exactly the same script for all the races... otherwise some drivers could be luckier than others... am I wrong?

So our friends from Oceania will be the first ones to discover what is going to happen...

It's the same within each race, so it doesn't matter if different races are different. Your points are based on finishing position only, not time or anything like that, so there's no such thing as being "luckier than others".

 

[Moose78]

Try it, if you have the time. Run three dry laps at BB -5 and three at +5 to compare. Heck, probably only need one lap and you could up the multiplier just for the experiment

Well, I gave it a try. Just one lap at the 6x tire multiplier that we have in the race this round (same afternoon C02 weather -- equal conditions mode):

Front (-5 BB)	Rear (+5BB)

I can't say I see much difference.

Maybe it's the way I drive, but I just don't see any benefit as far as wear distribution goes.

 

[Dragonwhisky]

I think the only time you would see a difference in tire wear with different BB settings is if you turned ABS off.

Edit: Since nobody runs GTWS with ABS off, moot point.

 

[Revengel]

Well, I gave it a try. Just one lap at the 6x tire multiplier that we have in the race this round (same afternoon C02 weather -- equal conditions mode):

Front (-5 BB)	Rear (+5BB)
View attachment 1437810	View attachment 1437811

I can't say I see much difference.

Maybe it's the way I drive, but I just don't see any benefit as far as wear distribution goes.

Um, what happened to the motor? Looks like you drove like a young me!

 

[Moose78]

Um, what happened to the motor? Looks like you drove like a young me!

Err... I was hoping nobody would notice. Wasn't paying attention at the end of the Dottinger and went flying into the wall.

 

[Dragonwhisky]

I would add to the ABS on/off thing. Some studies done by at least one individual have indicated ABS in GT7 doesn't work the same as actual ABS systems. Instead of releasing braking force, GT7 adds grip.

Gonna' toss @Marcus Garvey under the bus here as my source too.

I do know, from personal experience, turning ABS off and adjusting the BB to the rear helps keep the fronts from locking up and you can brake later and with much more force. Still gotta get off the brakes to effectively turn the car...
Don't recall how much my times improved in the cars we were using/testing. I seem to recall it was significant however. Marcus may remember or have the data somewhere.

 

[bduddy]

Well, I gave it a try. Just one lap at the 6x tire multiplier that we have in the race this round (same afternoon C02 weather -- equal conditions mode):

Front (-5 BB)	Rear (+5BB)
View attachment 1437810	View attachment 1437811

I can't say I see much difference.

Maybe it's the way I drive, but I just don't see any benefit as far as wear distribution goes.

It's a small difference, but it adds up, especially because tire wear (on the bar at least) starts to accelerate once you get past that point.

 

[Tazzy-91]

Tried a few more laps today and came to the conclusion that I am just slow altogether 🤣 Still couldn't improve on a 8:07 in the GTR and switched accounts to try the Lambo which came in at 8:08. Interestingly I felt the Lambo was the nicer of the 2 and I really should have been able to get down to the 8:00 mark. Silly little errors but it's too late now. Will try both cars later in the races and see how I fair out. I am not holding my breath for a good result though 🙈

 

[tankuroded]

Coque Lopez is hanging the gloves.

(A thread unroller was used because of it being in multiple parts.)

EDIT: Full text:

ANNOUNCEMENT😔

After many years competing in the GT World Series, I have made the difficult decision to step away from the competition. It has been an incredible journey, filled with unforgettable moments, friendships, and opportunities that I will always appreciate.

I’m deeply grateful to Polyphony Digital and @thegranturismo staff for creating this amazing platform and for giving us the chance to compete at the highest level of sim racing. Their passion has built a fantastic community, and I’m proud to have been part of it. However, the reality is that, even after years competing at the top, it has not been possible to build a sustainable future as a professional driver. The current format makes it extremely difficult to continue dedicating ourselves fully to this sport.

I truly hope to see positive changes in the future that allow drivers to turn their dedication into a career. Sim racing, and specially Gran Turismo, has so much potential, and the people who commit their time and effort to give a great show deserve better conditions.

That being said, this is not the end of my journey in simracing/GT7! Some exciting projects, besides the already known, are already in the works, and I can't wait to share them with you all soon. Stay tuned! Thank you for your support, it truly means the world to me! 🙏🏻🏆

 

[dazdilly75]

Coque Lopez is hanging the gloves.

(A thread unroller was used because of it being in multiple parts.)

EDIT: Full text:

Surprised, but not surprised. I think these guys get paid an appearance fee, but actual prize money is non existent. Which means you can't really use it as a career, but ironically, you have to treat it like one if you want to get to the very top. Lopez is one of the all time greats. Maybe PD should give him an ambassador/ consultant role? Either way, I'm sure he'll be successful in whatever new direction he's chosen.

I think PD are trying to appeal to a much younger audience, because 'kids' don't worry about getting paid as much as adults do, because they don't have the same responsibilities or requirements to pay bills.

The Porsche Cup in NA had a prize of 35k which I believe was won by Haywood? I don't see why they can offer prize money for that competition, but can't for a higher profile event like the GTWS!

 

[Pau1_13th]

One of the best races PD has ever done was at NBG maybe 18-24 months ago. 5 laps, variable weather for all. One of slots only had 5 people finish qually because a cell moved in and caught everyone out on slicks. The 5 of those that qualified had waited a few minutes to see if that cell was going to hit or not. To my knowledge, that was the last time the masses got a true variable weather race in GTWS


Anyways, I’ve been out of the loop for a while. Gonna jump into some custom races and see what my 458 can do with these multipliers

10 o clock slot (GT2) in europe. Had exactly this scenario but all were on slicks. Drove carefully on Q2. The race had the same setting, so almost everyone pitted after lap 1, I went for inters. Were worn off to half when I reached the rain. Finished P3, was an exhausting race

 

[MetalApe]

After doing two Asia Pacific GT2 races on the alt account, I can confirm weather for the race is the same as qualifying. Which for the 3 lap GT2 races means you've already experienced 2/3rd of what's to come, and know exactly what's going to be on the radar for the start of the final lap.

Which makes what happened in my last race bizarre. We'd had light rain start of the flying lap in qualifying, but despite concerns I should have put on Inters the track was okay all the way, and barely slower than dry pace. By the end of the lap the bar was reaching 1/3rd level, so it was clear to me with the rain still falling, we'd need to switch to Inters in the race for that final lap.

In the race I was running a lonely 4th at the end of lap 2, the leaders had pulled well clear while I was in traffic. I pulled into the pits for Inters, looking at the track map it appeared none of the leaders had pitted, 5th, 6th & 7th behind shot past without pitting. Not surprisingly I was past all three of them before we left the GP circuit.

It didn't take too long until the track was undriveable on slicks, I walked passed the top 3 while they slid all over the shop and came home first with over a 30 second lead to 2nd place. The best bit was 2nd place was also running a Yellow Jordan livery, and we'd swapped quick EJ messages before the race. Meaning we could celebrate with a "Spa 98" message in the chatroom.

Looking back through the replay the 2nd place finisher was the only other driver to get the strategy right. Three drivers started on Inters, which were actually quite fast until they were worn out 2/3rd the way through the lap, at which point those drivers were totally screwed with no grip. Two other drivers, who'd started on slicks, pitted for Inters a lap early, which were totally worn by the end of the lap needing an extra stop.

 

[Moose78]

I've been doing most of my practice for this round (5-lap GT1) in Free Practice. I figure my main competition in the race will be the weather, not other drivers.

If the track stays dry, I'm toast -- too slow to compete. I'll just treat like a leisurely afternoon drive and take whatever gifts come my way.

When it rains, I feel like I might have some pace. In most of those sessions I end up doing a two-stop: first for IMs, then to Ws. It is usually one or two laps on RHs depending on how heavy the rain is -- if it is only light blue on the radar, it seems safe to stay out on the slicks for a second lap. One lap on IMs as the track gets soaked. Then run out the final laps on Ws. All my wet sessions so far have ended with heavy rain and the gauge at or above the second tick for the remainder of the race.

Good luck to everybody who still has to race!

 

[A1an]

I've been doing most of my practice for this round (5-lap GT1) in Free Practice. I figure my main competition in the race will be the weather, not other drivers.

If the track stays dry, I'm toast -- too slow to compete. I'll just treat like a leisurely afternoon drive and take whatever gifts come my way.

When it rains, I feel like I might have some pace. In most of those sessions I end up doing a two-stop: first for IMs, then to Ws. It is usually one or two laps on RHs depending on how heavy the rain is -- if it is only light blue on the radar, it seems safe to stay out on the slicks for a second lap. One lap on IMs as the track gets soaked. Then run out the final laps on Ws. All my wet sessions so far have ended with heavy rain and the gauge at or above the second tick for the remainder of the race.

Good luck to everybody who still has to race!

I will only be doing three laps as I am only rank D, so it does end up raining then, I wonder if IM's will be enough, I will be using the Viper 😬

 

[OJBrit]

I give up! What a complete waste of time today has been.

8am slot.
Weather shows a slow moving band of mizzle heading our way or as we Brits call it, Tuesday.

Qualy is o.k. and I start 10th.
Lights out and the lobby is a little unstable again with cars moving around but no issues. Coming out of Adenauer Forst a Ferrari mounts the kerb and taps me wide gaining the place.

They then tap a Supra from behind and shove them into the wall at Kallenhard. No doubt this riled them up for what is to come. A Ford GT gets past we as a result of tapping the Supra with nowhere to go. The GT then goes deep at Bergwerk and I take the place back. The Supra is really slow into Mutkurve and I go around the outside. The Supra tries to hold it around the outside of the next kink but find the grass. I know what is coming before I hit the brakes. Bang the Supra punts me into the barriers. 😮‍💨
Thankfully it was a light hit and didn't hold me up too much. Though I am now back in 15th. Going through Wipperman I accidentally take too much kerb and spin myself. Then on the fast left after Pflanzgarten 1 I touch the gravel spinning me again. (What is wrong with me!?) Now DFL. As I come through Schwalbenschwanz I see the Supra has binned it. So 1 place at least. The reason is clear. They pit as they started with inters. All that unnecessary battling and punting. Just have a better brain. Completely ruined others races as they couldn't handle their mistake with dignity. A Lambo has spun just before Hatzenbach so another place back. Lap 3 and a Porsche has spun out of Wehrseifen. Up to 13th now. The mizzle is wetting the track but it is still in the first block. I know have the GT back in my sights. But that is as close as I get. Cross the line P13. Yes I made my own mistakes but I was also taken out by idiots. Without that I may have had a top 10.

I try again in the 11am slot.
I get a very good lap in and start P3. I say start...
My first clue should be in the pre race grid walk. 3 cars are still in the pits...
I come down the main straight. I'm still on the outside camera... I hear the ding of the race start and I'm still looking at my car from the tv cameras. I get stuck in auto drive. Once the car gets to turn 1 B-Spec Bob finally takes over. He's probably a little slower than me but at least he won't make mistakes right... Bob throws the car into Hohe Acht and spins it. He proceeds to spin on a few more corners too. Bob what are you doing. In all this time the position towers is going haywire. The 3 cars are still in the pits. It says I am P10 until I get to the end of the lap where the pit cars are suddenly ahead of me again until I pass them on the main straight. This race also has mizzle but it reaches the track sooner. 2 drivers are spooked into pitting but both throw it off the road on a dry track and quit.
On lap 1 into kleines Karussell Bob has had enough and gives me the car back but not without gunning it for the barrier first. The next 2 laps are uneventful for me. More cars pit at the end of 2 but they all annoyingly make it to the end.
I cross the line and actually finish in P12. So bugger all points for this round. Any chance I could have had a decent race were ruined by a buggy lobby. Not really been my day in any of these rounds.
Dropped 1600 DR for nothing today!

 

[Talon16]

It didn't take too long until the track was undriveable on slicks, I walked passed the top 3 while they slid all over the shop and came home first with over a 30 second lead to 2nd place. The best bit was 2nd place was also running a Yellow Jordan livery, and we'd swapped quick EJ messages before the race. Meaning we could celebrate with a "Spa 98" message in the chatroom.

This is cool. I got into F1 in the mod-late 90s and Jordans were my team (I wanted to pick a team that wasn't a giant in the sport already like Ferrari or McLaren but could nip at the heals given the opportunity). That Spa 98 race was one of the best ever. To see the emotions on Eddie's face.

RIP EJ, thanks for helping me into F1 and always being an outgoing and interesting cat.

 

[911RSR]

Short weather report from my race:
Qualy was 1st lap dry and rain started in 2nd lap at Schwedenkreuz. The inidicator went up to the 2nd! bar very quickly.
It was undriveable on RH! Stoping for IM after lap 1 would have been the smart solution!

Excactly the same conditions in the race!

All the best for you guys in this wet hell!

 

[Moose78]

It was undriveable on RH! Stoping for IM after lap 1 would have been the smart solution!

Does that actually work? I've always assumed if you pit, the game will treat the following lap as an outlap and won't count as a qualifying lap.

 

[A1an]

Short weather report from my race:
Qualy was 1st lap dry and rain started in 2nd lap at Schwedenkreuz. The inidicator went up to the 2nd! bar very quickly.
It was undriveable on RH! Stoping for IM after lap 1 would have been the smart solution!

Excactly the same conditions in the race!

All the best for you guys in this wet hell!

So is it better to qualify on IM from the start?

Race start on slicks then pit at the end of lap one for IM's?

 

[911RSR]

Does that actually work? I've always assumed if you pit, the game will treat the following lap as an outlap and won't count as a qualifying lap.

I don‘t know. But 3 guys did a time which was impossible on RH. So i guessed they‘ve pitted for IM. I was more than 2 min slower on my RH!
Maybe anybody else can confirm if this is possible or not?

So is it better to qualify on IM from the start?

Race start on slicks then pit at the end of lap one for IM's?

I don‘t know if the IM would sourvive a hole lap in the dry.
The race was 1st lap RH and pit for IM after lap 1.
Two guys didn‘t stop and i passed them easy, short after the rain began.

 

[Norbsthebald]

So is it better to qualify on IM from the start?

Race start on slicks then pit at the end of lap one for IM's?

Hi @A1an , the weather on this round is dynamic - you won't know what it's going to be like until you are in qualifying. Don't leave the pits straight away, switch your MFD to weather radar with the widest (50 mile) view and sit there watching it. If you don't see any weather you can go out on RH no problems. If it’s changeable you'll have to use your own judgement. Make sure you leave the pits with at least 9 minutes left on the clock. If it does start to rain make note of how many minutes the session has been going on for when it starts to rain and when the moisture gauge reaches the first tick for example if the wipers start going at 10 minutes and the moisture gauge reaches the first tick at 14 minutes it's likely that the last quarter of your second lap will be in the wet, so you will have to judge if you can drive that bit on RH and pit lap 2, or pit lap 1 and chew your IMs up on dry tarmac for 6 minutes or so.

The only certain is that the weather follows the same pattern in qual as in the race, so in GT3 you will already have a preview of 2.5 laps of your 3 lap race if you stay in the pits for 4 minutes...

Good luck in that Dodge!

 

[Norbsthebald]

I don‘t know. But 3 guys did a time which was impossible on RH. So i guessed they‘ve pitted for IM. I was more than 2 min slower on my RH!
Maybe anybody else can confirm if this is possible or not?

No tyre wear in GT2/3 qualifying, so the only penalty of going out on IM is slowness, just potter round until it starts to rain (if it does) then laugh as you pass all the RH runners.

 

[Moose78]

I don‘t know if the IM would sourvive a hole lap in the dry.

It is definitely possible. You have to be very gentle and slow on the dry lap. As @Norbsthebald already pointed out, though, this isn't a problem in GT2/GT3 since tire wear is disabled. It only matters in GT1.

When I tried this in practice, I was more than a minute slower than my usual RH time and finished the lap with 25% of the tread left. To make this approach viable, I feel like delaying pit exit as long as possible is going to be key since that will minimize the amount time driving on a dry track.

Does anybody know how much extra time is added at the end of qualifying to allow drivers to finish their current lap? I wish PD would include that in the race details.

 

[Norbsthebald]

Oh, and one last top tip for GT2 and 3 runners - it's tight on fuel. In the Ferrari, admittedly without any fuel-saving driving, I finished my 2 races with 2% and 1% left in the tank. In both races I was being chased by Supras which dropped 7 seconds after the end of the Dottinger on lap 3 as they ran out! This means no throttle blipping on the grid, and switch your fuel map to 6 as you roll off, only switching back to 1 on the countdown - it may only save half a percent, but you might need that at the end.

EDIT: Both my races stayed dry enough for RHs all the way - race 1 totally dry, race 2 the moisture gauge got half way to the first tick on lap 3.

Does anybody know how much extra time is added at the end of qualifying to allow drivers to finish their current lap? I wish PD would include that in the race details.

9 minutes today. And we have that annoying thing where we all have to wait for that to run down, even if everyone is done...

 

[Talon16]

Does that actually work? I've always assumed if you pit, the game will treat the following lap as an outlap and won't count as a qualifying lap.

It will NOT count, and rightfully so. You are correct, Moose. If you pit at the end of your first qual lap, your second lap will be an out-lap and not count.

---

One race on the AO account. Get ready for quali and the clouds, albeit not over the track, were coming in quick, So I started on IMs and it was the right call as about half way thru the Q lap it started to rain. A lot of people didn't and they were quitting back to the pits. Thankfully, the few that toughed it out were respectful and got out of the way. But, at the end of Dottenger (where it weaves back and forth just before the braking zone) two slick runners were side by side probably going 100mph less than I was so I had to take to the grass and just cut right over. So unfortunately, even if you make the right call you can get hosed! That was exciting but didn't lose the car.

Weather pattern repeated itself for the race. Lap one on RH, pit for IMs at the end of the lap. Issue is we did at least half a dry lap on the IMs and they die quick. By the time the rain came I'd venture to guess I had ~10% left on the rears. Good news is when it does rain the tires basically don't wear at all. So from lap 1.5-2.5 it was status quo but the latter half of the last lap the clouds tuned blue and it started really coming down. So very worn IMs and the grip meter was now in the W tire territory.

Had TC on for sure and just had to nurse the car around. Fortunately, everyone else - close to me anyway - was in the same boat. A couple people pit at the end of two for new IMs or W tires; I didn't watch enough of the replay to see if they gained/lost because of it. I can see this potentially being a problem for some: if the rain is going to come late in the lap you pit for IMs and they're completely dead before the rain comes and you're in big trouble; conversely, stay out on the RHs and the rain comes you're in big trouble anyway.

For Eddie!

 

[VTEC Driver]

EMEA, GT3, 11:00.

I think that the race could be gone better thinking much less…

Qualified P6 with the rain coming at the end of lap 2.
I stayed at the box waiting for all drivers leaving in order to be alone on my lap… if I started immediately I would avoid the rain at the end… and even if I started late I met other drivers along the track being faster.

Lap 1 dry.
Some drivers started running like hell and after the first kilometers I was already in P3 having those going on rails or grass…

Lap2 light rain coming.
At the end of lap 1 I see from the radar light rain coming already and decided to pit for IM.
In reality the gauge never passed the first slot because the rain was too light and then I burned 75% of the tires…

Lap 3 strong rain.
In the long straight I was thinking to risk and stay out with IM at 25% but in the radar a quite dark blue area was coming and in the meanwhile I started to overtake some still on Hard.
So I did the second pit for Wet.
I went out in P6 with 25 sec from the first and all the lap I was alone with relevant gap in front and behind me.
I arrived in P6 driving in “Touristenfahrten” mode and regretting all the time the too early tire change for IM…
…most probably I could win considering the 25 seconds gap… l

Shall I try again?
With an average lap time (dry) 8:20 / 8:25 I don’t think to be fast enough to be sure to have better results… so I take the 35 point and end of the season.

I’m too new for the races and I need to improve on several aspects…

My takeaway is don’t think too much about strategy before but be reactive in the moment or brave enough to try whatever will happen…

Good luck to all of you.

 

[A1an]

I had no rain at all!

Started 12th, Got punted off in the corners between Hatzenbach and Hoheneichen from about 10th to last place, made-up places some that were people taking each other out up into 8th but at Adenauer Forst? (the one where all the bbq's are and there is that wall) the car just wouldn't turn so I hit the wall and I got caught up and passed.

The second lap I checked the fuel and I was on max but there was 1.8 laps left and as the rain looked miles away I dropped to lowest fuel so I could go without stopping hoping I could overtake some drivers who had to pit, the final lap I had enough fuel to switch back to max fuel and I went past two cars in the pits, I held on with no front left tire and 0.2 laps of fuel as I crossed the finish line in 10th.

I nearly went for another race, but to make up my DR loss I would need to do really well, I decided not to and cut my losses, this cup was a bad one picking the Viper.

 

[ImbaSteckdose]

GT1 EMEA first slot for 152 points in the Nissan GT-R:

Pretty similar experience to what people have already written here, qualifying was full wet pretty suddenly starting halfway through the 2nd (final) lap, at Wehrseifen/exit Breidscheid. Rain was coming from the south. Everyone was on hard tires, I think one on IM, but I managed to comfortably qualify P2 on hard tires as almost everyone else started to fly off the track.

Same rain pattern in the race, changed to IM for lap 2, next lap to W for rest of the race. Judging from the qualifying, it might've been possible to change tires one lap later, skipping one pit stop. Two people quit when the rain really set in, at like 45min into the event, they probably forgot to buy tires.. Rain meter at 2/3 almost all the time.

In the end I finished P1. The player in P2 stayed on IM but with a pretty constant time gap to me, if he hadn't spun in carousel it would've been a close fight I think.

 

[ZEE]

Well what an interesting race to say the least! I had no rain at all as Alan menitoned too. I think I drove well apart from a bad carousel incident on lap 1 with a lambo racer!

GTWS Manu Cup - Rd.4 - EMEA Region - 2pm slot - HONDA NSX Gr.3 - RH tyres - ABS weak - TC 2 - BB -2 - NO RAIN.

Came into with a good practice session but didnt quite find my good pace with the NSX. Kept pushing it till qualy time. Then when the Qualifying comes it has a 13min slot to try and get your best, some drivers just don't understand to not kill each other along track, why are you nosediving and bumping people in qauly, whats the point honestly???

We all trying to get our best time, if you slow let ppl pass and not hog the track, so frustrating. Regardless, I qualied 9th place.

Onto the Race, all B/S drivers and we left smoothly into turn 1, bit of wierd entry as a guy went into turn 1 then got instantly disconnected, not sure was very odd. Then I started chasing a porsche and lambo to keep it pushing along, steadily flowing into the main nordeschliefe area. As we did it got very bunchy, all racers I was in 8th, they kept ducking in and out on the tight early corners.

I kept pushing and went we got closer to the second long straight some cars bailed out and I bumped up to 6th place. a big crash that I drove thru luckily the ghosting worked. Then the lambo behind as I turned the corner before the carousel approach started bumping me like a little child. Then he aggresively punts me causing me to spin on entry to the carousel. He doesnt bother to wait and didnt even get a penalty, his tap made me lose control which was so frustrating and evil lol.

I was now in 10th place playing catchup on the twisties chasing a brit in a porsche and managed to keep my pace with him over there leading into the long long straight. Some guys pitted on lap 1 making me 9th and I kept pushing. I used the next lap to gain lots of ground and then pitted on lap 2, still no rain. Quick pit refuel, and then chasing down that Porsche. A Ford GT and Ferrari were battling on lap 3, the final lap, as I was approaching them with speed. The Ford made alot of mistakes on exit to the long straight running the grass, allowing me and a chasing green Lambo to draft him and pass at 170mph. It was very cool.

Overall finished up in 7th place and will check my overall score shortly. Not a bad end to a So so cup exhibition!

Spoiler: Racing photos at the Nurburggring!