A new hot lap challenge is now available in the Gran Turismo 7 Online Time Trials, bringing a classic race car into the mix for the next two weeks.
It’s a second “short course” event in a row, as the new time trial heads to Watkins Glen’s truncated layout which dispenses with the Boot section of the track in favor of a quick trip through the infield to chop off four of the circuit’s more awkward corners.
Unlike the previous event, which features a low-powered road car for the lap, you’ll be taking to the wheel of an over-powered champion race car in the shape of the 1993 Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft-winning Alfa Romeo 155.
This unusual machine is based on the brand’s three-box sedan but, courtesy of the wild Class 1 regulations at the time, bore little relation to its road car sibling. Just about the closest connection is the basic engine layout, with the 2.5-liter V6 — which drove all four wheels — based on the famous Busso unit.
It’s going to be quite a hectic lap then, particularly on the standard Racing Hard tires which don’t provide quite as much grip as other racing options, and already lap times are tumbling down towards the bottom of the 1:14s.
That means that the current target for gold, and the 2m credit reward for achieving it, is a 1:16.4, but we don’t expect that situation to last long. It’s likely that the 1:13 barrier will be cracked sooner rather than later, and the top times may well settle in the 1:13.7 area. Aim to beat 1:16 then if you want the gold.
There’s seven days remaining on the Mazda Roadster event which began a week ago, with times seeming to be at a standstill now. Barely two-tenths has been carved off the top time in the last week, with only one driver in the 1:00.6s. The places the gold threshold just under 1:02.5, so if you can get into the 1:02.3s or better you should be safe enough.
Meanwhile the opposite is happening in the special event time trial, in the X2019 Competition at Grand Valley, as the players heading to the GTWS third round this weekend appear to be practising the combination they’ll be using for qualifying there. The record has dropped ludicrously far beyond our expectations, with the record now a 1:24.6. Gold is at 1:27.2 therefore, and even that might not be safe.
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 — though the Red Bull event sees the bronze target set at +20% for twice the reward.
The events update every Thursday, with each individual challenge usually 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 October 3.
Gran Turismo 7 Lap Time Challenge September 26 – Watkins Glen
- Track: Watkins Glen Short Course
- Car: Alfa Romeo 155 V6 TI ’93 – Garage/Rental Car
- Power/Weight/PP Limit: BOP (M)
- Tires: Racing Hard
- Settings: Fixed
Gran Turismo 7 Lap Time Challenge September 19 – Suzuka
- Track: Suzuka East Short Course
- Car: Mazda Roadster (ND) NR-A ’22 – Garage/Rental Car
- Power/Weight/PP Limit: BOP (M)
- Tires: Sports Hard
- Settings: Fixed
Gran Turismo 7 Special Lap Time Challenge September 19 – Grand Valley
- Track: Grand Valley Highway-1
- Car: Red Bull X2019 Competition – Garage/Rental Car
- Power/Weight/PP Limit: BOP (M)
- Tires: Racing Soft
- Settings: Fixed
See more articles on Gran Turismo 7 Time Trial.
