A new Online Time Trial is now available in Gran Turismo 7, giving a run out in a Vision GT concept car that inspired a limited-run track toy that won the Goodwood Festival of Speed hill climb shootout.
That is of course — if the image above isn’t enough of a clue — the McLaren Ultimate Vision Gran Turismo. One of the first four VGTs to debut in Gran Turismo Sport, in fact in the beta version of the game, the McLaren features some appropriately wacky characteristics.
Aside from the V8 hybrid powertrain that produces 1,134hp — for a power to weight ratio of almost 1300hp/ton — the car also sports an unusual prostrate driving position for the single occupant.
While similar in overall form, the McLaren Solus GT which the Vision car inspired reverts to a standard driving position. It does, however, have a more left-field powerplant, at least as far as the traditional twin-turbo V8 power that the brand has preferred until the recent Artura. That’s a Judd-designed V10, with 830hp on tap.
The Solus captured the Goodwood Festival of Speed supercar shootout crown in 2023, but it’s not something that players can replicate with the Vision GT as the hill climb is no longer part of the Gran Turismo series despite its appearance back in GT6.
Instead, time trialers will be sending the Ultimate around the Suzuka Circuit over the next two weeks, on Racing Soft tires. There’s one particular aspect of the car that you’ll need to be aware of too, so be sure you have a button mapped for activating the car’s DRS.
Right now the world record for the event is a 1:37.8 — having fallen pretty sharply this morning — requiring a 1:40.7 or better to get into the gold bracket. We don’t think that’s going to stand for long either, and we’d aim for a low-1:40 for some peace of mind, and maybe even a high-1:39.
The Toyota GT-One time trial from the previous week remains available too, for another seven days. Currently the world record there stands at a 1:30.766, requiring you to just dip into the 1:33.4s to secure a gold time. It’s quite an attractive combination though so we could see that bar lowered a little further in the remaining time; figure on a 1:33.1 to be mostly assured of the top prize.
In order to access the Online Time Trials, you’ll need to unlock Sport Mode, by completing Menu Book 9 (“Championship: Tokyo Highway Parade”) in the GT Cafe single player hub. As it’s just you against the clock and not a direct, head-to-head multiplayer event, PlayStation Plus is not required.
You’ll usually need to be within 3% of the fastest time globally once the event finishes in order to secure “gold” status and a 2m credit bonus prize. There’s smaller prizes of one million for being within 5%, and 250,000cr for bronze at 10% off.
The events update every Thursday, with each individual challenge remaining available for two weeks and the oldest of the two events being replaced each week. You can look forward to the next new Time Trial arriving at 0700 UTC on Thursday April 11.
Lap Time Challenge April 4 – Suzuka Circuit
- Track: Suzuka Circuit
- Car: McLaren Ultimate Vision GT – Garage/Rental Car
- Power/Weight/PP Limit: BOP (M)
- Tires: Racing Soft
- Settings: Fixed
Lap Time Challenge March 28 – Fuji Speedway
- Track: Fuji International Speedway
- Car: Toyota GT-One (TS020) ’99 – Garage/Rental Car
- Power/Weight/PP Limit: BOP (M)
- Tires: Racing Medium
- Settings: Fixed
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