Grand Valley Returns to Gran Turismo 7

[05XR8]

All it is is the scenery. Those unsure, have to give it time. Imagine each corner and it becomes familiar as GVS. Seriously, that’s the main thing. The final chicane before the last tunnel is a change, but the flow of the original is the same.

 

[breyzipp]

Let's be honest if they redid actual GVS visually it would be a Maggiore reskin

Which honestly I wouldn‘t mind either. You could say tracks in forested areas share assets as well.

I like the current coastal setting of GVH but it should not have been the re-imagination of GVS IMO. They should have kept the original eye-candy of GVS with the arcing bridge and the many grand stands. And on top of that they could have done a “California Highway“ location with the coastal assets of what is GVH.

I’m all pro remastering with some re-imagining of classic original tracks, but IMO the setting/location/atmosphere should not be altered. Suppose FMnot8 would launch with Mapple Valley not being in that iconic autumn leaves setting but all the sudden this would be an urban location, a forest, a grassland, a snow-covered area or something, it would feel off even when the circuit itself would be the exact same thing. I personally had no issue with the reimagined Deep Forest, High Speed Ring and Trial Mountain in GT7, because all those 3 tracks still continue on the iconic scenery of the classic original tracks. GVH sure takes a different step and I don’t like it. It’s still a great circuit to race on, but… it shouldn’t have been the Grand Valley reimagination.

 

[RobertHammer]

Which honestly I wouldn‘t mind either. You could say tracks in forested areas share assets as well.

I like the current coastal setting of GVH but it should not have been the re-imagination of GVS IMO. They should have kept the original eye-candy of GVS with the arcing bridge and the many grand stands. And on top of that they could have done a “California Highway“ location with the coastal assets of what is GVH.

I’m all pro remastering with some re-imagining of classic original tracks, but IMO the setting/location/atmosphere should not be altered. Suppose FMnot8 would launch with Mapple Valley not being in that iconic autumn leaves setting but all the sudden this would be an urban location, a forest, a grassland, a snow-covered area or something, it would feel off even when the circuit itself would be the exact same thing. I personally had no issue with the reimagined Deep Forest, High Speed Ring and Trial Mountain in GT7, because all those 3 tracks still continue on the iconic scenery of the classic original tracks. GVH sure takes a different step and I don’t like it. It’s still a great circuit to race on, but… it shouldn’t have been the Grand Valley reimagination.

That is fair , thing is there are many complains that GT7 has too many racing tracks - i don't mind them maybe that's why they went with real life GV instead 🤔

 

[Lion-Face]

I personally had no issue with the reimagined Deep Forest, High Speed Ring and Trial Mountain in GT7, because all those 3 tracks still continue on the iconic scenery of the classic original tracks. GVH sure takes a different step and I don’t like it. It’s still a great circuit to race on, but… it shouldn’t have been the Grand Valley reimagination.

I guess they three tracks, Deep Forest, HSR and Trial Mountain kept their iconic look and retained their original names. Grand Valley Highway pulls the track layout from the classic, but changes up the flow, feel and scenery, so while they have retained Grand Valley, they renamed it Highway 1 (possibly indicating more tracks to follow in a similar theme) as opposed to Grand Valley Speedway because it is now quite removed from the Speedway of the classic.

I think the changes to Deep Forest final sector being the worst, I feel everything else has been a hit and would welcome more remakes of original tracks rather than remasters. I would like to see Autumn Ring and Autumn Ring Mini get a shake up. Autumn Ring was my favourite track in the original GT.

 

[MroczMR]

Did a couple of runs on new Grand Valley and I love it Great vistas and great track for road car racing.

 

[Fezzik]

I forgot to check, what's the CE reward on this track? Does each layout have it's own CE ?

1 layout - the full Highway 1.
Nissan GTR GR.3
1,000,000 for gold

 

[PletdeKoe]

After racing quite some laps and watching some replays I have to say this is the most beautifull track PD ever created. It is fully “alive”. From the smoke from the house on the start finish straight to the birds in the sky and the waves of the ocean. It is so freakin fantastic.

In the 600pp race it clicked. This is canonball run to the max!

Yes it is not the old race track Grand Valley. But it is such a beautifull interpretation of driving along the coast.

And that chicane at the end of the lap after the second to last tunnel is just epic as you can really attack the cerb. And then it is flat out all the way.

 

[Aiko_Mac]

Gran Turismo Geographic on Grand Valley

 

[Waster3000]

Really been enjoying the Reverse layouts, particularly on the South variation. Thundering uphill toward the last corner, getting the car slowed down (barely), finding one of seemingly many lines through the turn, then flooring it; working to get the power down, and stop the rear from breaking away, trying to avoid slamming into the barrier on the outside; brings memories of previous races at Grand Valley from years past.

I'm still really slow, though. 🤣

 

[Vule]

How did you do in the circuit experience? I managed a 1:47.7 last night after like 15 attempts. The last chicane after the tunnel is frustrating, other than that, amazing track, nicely flowing, a joy to drive.

 

[Boxster]

How did you do in the circuit experience? I managed a 1:47.7 last night after like 15 attempts. The last chicane after the tunnel is frustrating, other than that, amazing track, nicely flowing, a joy to drive.

Same feeling here: nice track, last sector tough mainly because the gold time is so tight. It is difficult to maintain full grip in the tunnel and then it is very hard to judge the left-right as you come into the light.
Still 0.2 secs off the gold in S3.

 

[AlexWilmot]

Absolutely loving this GVH1 track, has such a good flow to it! reverse I'm not too sure on but hey just need to spend more time in the "seat"

 

[Vule]

Still 0.2 secs off the gold in S3.

Yeah I had the same issue on the S3 experience, it took many attempts until I finally understood the concept, only important thing is the exit to the main straight. Tunnel more or less, you can take whatever line you want, but the exit is the key, to floor it in 3rd gear as soon as possible and you're good.

 

[Fezzik]

Yeah I had the same issue on the S3 experience, it took many attempts until I finally understood the concept, only important thing is the exit to the main straight. Tunnel more or less, you can take whatever line you want, but the exit is the key, to floor it in 3rd gear as soon as possible and you're good.

I cannot figure it out. Think I've nailed it, right on the bumper of the ghost and yet it pulls away those few tenths.
Are you in 3rd through the chicane, or in 2nd and then shifting up straight away?

 

[Mariangello]

After racing quite some laps and watching some replays I have to say this is the most beautifull track PD ever created. It is fully “alive”. From the smoke from the house on the start finish straight to the birds in the sky and the waves of the ocean. It is so freakin fantastic.

In the 600pp race it clicked. This is canonball run to the max!

Yes it is not the old race track Grand Valley. But it is such a beautifull interpretation of driving along the coast.

And that chicane at the end of the lap after the second to last tunnel is just epic as you can really attack the cerb. And then it is flat out all the way.

Definitely one of the best looking track in the GT7 when compared to other like Brands Hatch, Maggiore, Sardegna or Le Mans that look very outdated and poor.

But I ran into one small graphic bug, a popping tree right in front of car. Hopefully they will fix it in the future.🤞

 

[the Interceptor]

Question: given that the location of the track appears to be real, is there - in reality - the whole of the track? Or are just some parts real and other parts are added virtually to make it a track in the game?

I'm wondering because - if the original Grand Valley Speedway layout was modeled after this real road and we just didn't know, it would make a good amount of sense that they put the recreated Grand Valley in its original real-world location and thus scenery.

 

[Vule]

I cannot figure it out. Think I've nailed it, right on the bumper of the ghost and yet it pulls away those few tenths.
Are you in 3rd through the chicane, or in 2nd and then shifting up straight away?

After the straight, I shift down do 2nd just to enter the tunnel curve properly, immediately upshift to 3rd and feather the throttle right until the bright part on the tunnel exit. Then a quick downshift to 2nd to enter the chicane, but no throttle in 2nd because I immediatly upshift to 3rd to launch the exit. I hope I explained it right, I will record a video tonight.

 

[RobertHammer]

Question: given that the location of the track appears to be real, is there - in reality - the whole of the track? Or are just some parts real and other parts are added virtually to make it a track in the game?

I'm wondering because - if the original Grand Valley Speedway layout was modeled after this real road and we just didn't know, it would make a good amount of sense that they put the recreated Grand Valley in its original real-world location and thus scenery.

It's like 80% real and 20% fictional to make it as racing track - somebody did a actual comparison to the real thing which i cant find atm

 

[Fezzik]

It's like 80% real and 20% fictional to make it as racing track - somebody did a actual comparison to the real thing which i cant find atm

Grand Valley Highway 1 vs. Real Life [More added Pg. 2]

As a SF Bay Area resident who has driven the real Highway 1 a few times, the amount of details PD got right for Grand Valley Highway 1 is truly impressive, especially for things 90% of players would never even notice like the Big Sur Lighthouse that's way out of frame. Here's a side-by-side...

www.gtplanet.net

 

[breyzipp]

After racing quite some laps and watching some replays I have to say this is the most beautifull track PD ever created. It is fully “alive”. From the smoke from the house on the start finish straight to the birds in the sky and the waves of the ocean. It is so freakin fantastic.

In the 600pp race it clicked. This is canonball run to the max!

Yes it is not the old race track Grand Valley. But it is such a beautifull interpretation of driving along the coast.

And that chicane at the end of the lap after the second to last tunnel is just epic as you can really attack the cerb. And then it is flat out all the way.

Yeah it does grow on me as well the more I race on it. And I agree the 600 PP race was perfect for it! This morning I did the 950 PP Gr.1 race and that was just too fast for all the hairpin areas IMO.

From the aesthetic point of view, what I liked the most was sunset light/day transition in one of the races where the entrance of one of the tunnels was first covered half in sun/shadow and each successive lap the sun was going down more, changing the location of the light/darkness line but also the intensity of the lit up part. Felt super realistic for TOD effects. And that’s even on a PS4 Pro. 😅

I‘m certainly intrigued by this latest update to get a PSVR2 and either a PS5 Pro or PS5 Slim in the future. But I don’t want the ugly and bulky PS5 as it is now. I enjoy my Xbox Series X for all the new-gen stuff (like Hogwarts Legacy, NFS Unbound, FH5) but on the Playstation side, the PS4 Pro has to do until a new variant of the PS5 is released. But I’ve never been more impatient or eager to make that jump to PS5 (and PSVR2) than now. Ooh and that Horizon Forbidden West PS5-only expansion as well as Horizon Call of the Mountains (for PSVR2) sure help as well. If only Half-Life Alyx would also be announced! 😋

 

[the Interceptor]

It's like 80% real and 20% fictional to make it as racing track - somebody did a actual comparison to the real thing which i cant find atm

Grand Valley Highway 1 vs. Real Life [More added Pg. 2]

As a SF Bay Area resident who has driven the real Highway 1 a few times, the amount of details PD got right for Grand Valley Highway 1 is truly impressive, especially for things 90% of players would never even notice like the Big Sur Lighthouse that's way out of frame. Here's a side-by-side...

www.gtplanet.net

Thank you! I guess ultimately one would have to match the pieces of road from the real world to the respective pieces of the GT7 track to determine whether the earlier Grand Valley (Speedway) track layout has always been based on this location.

 

[zdravkelja]

I cannot figure it out. Think I've nailed it, right on the bumper of the ghost and yet it pulls away those few tenths.
Are you in 3rd through the chicane, or in 2nd and then shifting up straight away?

When you are exiting the tunnel, move to the right so you can attack the chicane from a good angle so you can sooner accelarate for the final straight. That's all there is to it, you can do it in 2nd or in 3rd, it's your preference.

 

[05XR8]

When you are exiting the tunnel, move to the right so you can attack the chicane from a good angle so you can sooner accelarate for the final straight. That's all there is to it, you can do it in 2nd or in 3rd, it's your preference.

Yeah, I been following the AI in custom races to see what line they take. Just need to Gold that sector to get my 1 mil.

Edit: Just did it with a 31.012. Good stuff.

 

[Yui-san]

Thank you! I guess ultimately one would have to match the pieces of road from the real world to the respective pieces of the GT7 track to determine whether the earlier Grand Valley (Speedway) track layout has always been based on this location.

It's a mashup of real locations along California's Highway 1 but the road layout is fictional (asides from that brief Bixby Bridge section) and made to resemble the classic Grand Valley Speedway layout.

 

[the Interceptor]

It's a mashup of real locations along California's Highway 1 but the road layout is fictional (asides from that brief Bixby Bridge section) and made to resemble the classic Grand Valley Speedway layout.

Got it, thank you! Looking at the recognizable landmarks of the location in Google Maps, it appears to be that way to me as well now.

 

[Boxster]

Just did the WTC600 race in the Radical, and it is an absolute blast. Very nice combo of car and track

 

[JeyM]

I'm surprised they left the "Grand Valley Speedway" banner in the trailer

 

[Galvston]

Definitely one of the best looking track in the GT7 when compared to other like Brands Hatch, Maggiore, Sardegna or Le Mans that look very outdated and poor.

But I ran into one small graphic bug, a popping tree right in front of car. Hopefully they will fix it in the future.🤞

maggiore looks poor? sardegna?

It's more like Brands Hatch, Le Mans, St Croix. Maggiore looks amazing imo. Sardegna is nice looking too.

 

[Magog]

maggiore looks poor? sardegna?

It's more like Brands Hatch, Le Mans, St Croix. Maggiore looks amazing imo. Sardegna is nice looking too.

St Croix is a gorgeous track when seen from above. Unfortunately in the car all you can see is guard rails. They really should have eliminated them in places and made them shorter where they were actually needed.

 

[A_Higher_Place]

Given the stereotypical sim racer is of a certain conservative, change-averse demographic i guess PDs strategy of 'improving' something old wasn't ever going to be without controversy.

Personally I like it a lot, but I don't have any strong emotions towards the old track like the critics do.

Watching videos of the old games I don't think losing the old scenery is a big deal, and this combination of a classic fictional track with 'real' roads/locations is an awesome design concept. But again for some people this is a very emotional thing from the sounds of it. To me this is an overall improvement, and not a negative like I consider the removal of the tree lined section of road on trial mountain to be (which I am guessing was done for performance reasons).

Subjective opinions on the scenery aside, the track layout and racing experience is what really matters in my opinion. And I really don't understand people who say it's nothing like the old, or complain about it being narrow. Looking at the comparison video below it seems as if anything the old version was narrower. And looking at the track maps below the differences are small as well.

I think the turn into the tunnel into the bridge and ensuing chicane is much more interesting than the old layout, and this is probably the only major change. It can make for some interesting racing as it's possible to go around the outside through the tunnel and get the inside line into the chicane. If you decide to fight here, which you will have to do in some cases as it's pretty much the last turn before the straight to the finish line, it is going to cost a lot of time, and people coming from the back can gain a lot. And if it's one thing we've learnt from GT7 it's that tracks with long straights and slipstream lead to the best racing (e.g. Daytona, road Atlanta, le man's daily races to name some). There are also more elevation changes, which i like. Sector 1 is a flowing dream with the view over the ocean, which contrasts strongly with the middle sector where at least in the faster cars you have to be extremely patient on the throttle as you maneuver through the corners. I'm glad I have a wheel and pedals for this as i hate that type of driving on controller, but it is something different to a lot of tracks currently in game, so I think it's a great addition.

Finally, it's worth noting that even if the old track was recreated pixel by pixel it would feel different to the old games due to new physics, and the flow will always be car dependent.

That's a great comparison video, thanks for sharing it! The biggest miss for me is the stadium atmosphere that the old GVS offered. Again, the new one is stunning, and unique, but I loved the old one for being a speedway, not a highway. This new one isn't hitting the nostalgia for me, but is providing a whole new driving experience which I can appreciate once I separate it from the past 👍🏻