"New" Suzuka in GT5?

[TheDabbinDave]

Tonight live on Speed Formula 1 will be returning to Suzuka for the Japanese Grand Prix. Have a question. Does anyone know what they specifically changed or improved over the last few years while the track has been "under construction"?

Being that GT4 had several versions of Fuji from the original to the current GP layout. I wonder if we will have the old Suzuka along with this renovated Suzuka in GT5? I hope so.

 

[tlongman]

The layout of the track hasn't changed. Only the pits/facilities. Since F1 was last at the track Suzuka has had to renovate the pit lane and the main grandstand to bring it up to Ecclestone's standards. I'm glad they didn't touch the layout though. To me that track exemplifies exactly what an F1 track should be. It's full of twisting, challenging, high speed corners that really show of what an F1 car can do cornering-wise. It's nothing like the tilke tracks you see today that are essentially just a sequence of long straights followed by impossibly tight corners. But yeah to answer your question it was only the pit facilities that were changed. It would be nice if PD updated it to get it up to its present form but I'm not heartbroken if they choose not to.

 

[Chronos]

Spoon's huge gravel trap has been removed but not sure when.

I'm disappointed as, if you made a mistake its very costly there but now its all tarmac runoff area it really spoils the challenge of how fast you're going to take it. Gravel trap was quite close to the track too.

If PD put the runoff in it could spoil online for some.

 

[IsmokeGT]

If PD put the runoff in it could spoil online for some.

Some people would run wide every lap it thats the case.

Here comes Redsuinit saying I cant prove what I said...

 

[Cap'n Jack]

Tonight live on Speed Formula 1 will be returning to Suzuka for the Japanese Grand Prix. Have a question. Does anyone know what they specifically changed or improved over the last few years while the track has been "under construction"?

The main changes are new facilities and grandstands. About half the circuit has brand new tarmac laid down and there's now tarmac run-off at turns 1-2 and Spoon (although, the run-off at Spoon has been there for quite some time now).

I came across this thread on Planet-F1.com yesterday, while searching for images of the changes to the circuit myself. It shows some great images of the construction and changes made.

 

[L_Hamilton]

Great post, Jackington!

It looks great. I'm pretty sure it wouldn't take long to upgrade GT5's Suzuka to Suzuka '09.

 

[Nomino]

If PD put the runoff in it could spoil online for some.

Why, because they cannot drive and skid off? Their problem...

 

[pricey2003]

Not the brightest bulb in the box are we Nomino?

 

[yeti]

Not the brightest bulb in the box are we Nomino?

Ha ha

But is running wide a better line than apexing the corner?

C.

 

[killanite]

Ha ha

But is running wide a better line than apexing the corner?

C.

I dono, ask Raikkonen (spellcheck?) at Spa..

 

[ST-2]

Not the brightest bulb in the box are we Nomino?

ROFL, new pictures of the track are very impressive though...

 

[balang_479]

Impressive changes, theres also more space at Gyaku... I really hope they update the track, it would be quite impressive to drive around i think.

 

[alfy13]

Only thing i know is Bernie wanted the pits to be worked on. either way, Hamilton FTW.

 

[sejtur]

I dono, ask Raikkonen (spellcheck?) at Spa..

He already said it wasn't because otherwise he would have done it on every lap.

 

[A2K78]

Everytime I hear about Suzuka the only thing I could think of is Daijiro Kato's death...

 

[TheDabbinDave]

Wow, they put a lot of work into that track/facility!

 

[cpp214]

Why, because they cannot drive and skid off? Their problem...

Because scrubs/cheaters could use the runoff area to gain an unfair advantage, just like the runoff areas at Fuji, as others have already pointed out...

Spoon's huge gravel trap has been removed but not sure when.

I'm disappointed as, if you made a mistake its very costly there but now its all tarmac runoff area it really spoils the challenge of how fast you're going to take it. Gravel trap was quite close to the track too.

If PD put the runoff in it could spoil online for some.

Some people would run wide every lap it thats the case.

 

[Conquerer]

The layout of the track hasn't changed. Only the pits/facilities. Since F1 was last at the track Suzuka has had to renovate the pit lane and the main grandstand to bring it up to Ecclestone's standards. I'm glad they didn't touch the layout though. To me that track exemplifies exactly what an F1 track should be. It's full of twisting, challenging, high speed corners that really show of what an F1 car can do cornering-wise. It's nothing like the tilke tracks you see today that are essentially just a sequence of long straights followed by impossibly tight corners. But yeah to answer your question it was only the pit facilities that were changed. It would be nice if PD updated it to get it up to its present form but I'm not heartbroken if they choose not to.

Well said. Good description of the Tilke tracks which are very unimpressive, especially when you compare to greats like Suzuka and Spa.

 

[Stonemonkey]

Turn 1 has a big tarmac runoff now too

 

[imtheleprechaun]

I think the new Hockenheim is a big disappointment, but these newer Tilke tracks aren't all bad. Kuala Lumpur is awesome. Bahrain is a pretty great track too, the drivers certainly love it.

That said, I'm really glad that Suzuka is back on the calendar, it's right up there among the greatest tracks ever. Spa, Monza, Suzuka (and surely I'm missing at least one or two), these are tracks that the F1 circus should go to every single year, no matter what. Fuji pales in comparison to Suzuka.

edit: great link! thanks for posting it Jackington.

 

[Twinturbo120]

The layout of the track hasn't changed. Only the pits/facilities. Since F1 was last at the track Suzuka has had to renovate the pit lane and the main grandstand to bring it up to Ecclestone's standards. I'm glad they didn't touch the layout though. To me that track exemplifies exactly what an F1 track should be. It's full of twisting, challenging, high speed corners that really show of what an F1 car can do cornering-wise. It's nothing like the tilke tracks you see today that are essentially just a sequence of long straights followed by impossibly tight corners. But yeah to answer your question it was only the pit facilities that were changed. It would be nice if PD updated it to get it up to its present form but I'm not heartbroken if they choose not to.

I agree that track is simply amazing. It's one of my personal favorites when I play GT or any racing game actually.

 

[JohnBM01]

I'm watching F1 Qualifying at Suzuka. I've noticed some new structures and such, and so I'd have to imagine we'll see the new Suzuka in GT5. I need not stress how much I love Suzuka. It's where the F1 Grand Prix of Japan SHOULD be. Sorry, Fuji.

 

[Rusty*]

Suzuka is one of the most technical tracks in the world, that's why it makes a grat F1 track, F1 driver's are some of the best driver's in the world, F1's are the most capable platform on 4-wheels for tight & twisty stuff...so why not have a track to match?:tup:
It would be nice to see the new layout for sure, but it doesn't matter to me if it's not.
PD has sooooo much on there plate...
R*

 

[TheDabbinDave]

4 accidents by 5 drivers in qualifying!!! Eee gadz man!

There is some issue with grip change between the new asphalt on the esses and the old surface. Plus, (just like in rain soaked practice) the cars are turning into "surf boards" when they go over rumble strips. I don't recall having any problems riding rumble strips in GT5P?

 

[Cap'n Jack]

I don't recall having any problems riding rumble strips in GT5P?

In general, the rumble strips in GT5: Prologue tend to not penalise you at all, unlike real life. It's one of my biggest gripes with the game.

 

[SUPER NUMBBER]

I dono, ask Raikkonen (spellcheck?) at Spa..

Well, seems like Webber did ask him, but his own results weren't as productive