The latest Gran Turismo 7 Online Time Trial, now available and running for the next two weeks, looks set to be a very high-speed affair paying homage to one of the greatest eras of one of the world’s most famous races.
Unlike most Time Trial events, the new challenge gives you a choice of vehicle in which to take part — and it’s quite the selection too. You can pick any car from the Gr.1 category, so long as it’s from before 2000.
That restriction applies to precisely five cars, effectively comprising the full range of Group C vehicles available in GT7: Jaguar’s XJR-9, the Mazda 787B, Nissan’s R92CP, the Mercedes Sauber C9, and the Porsche 962C.
These can be expensive and hard to obtain cars — all are available to buy only in the Legends Cars dealer, and none are in the current listings — so you’ll probably want to borrow a car for the challenge, but either way it’ll need to be on the stock Racing Hard tires.
And the location? Well, there can really be only one suitable track, so you’ll be heading to the “24 Heures du Mans Racing Circuit”, previously known in Gran Turismo as the Circuit de la Sarthe. Although some of the cars do predate the chicanes on Ligne Droite des Hunaudieres, you’ll be racing on the chicaned version.
As for lap times, it’s going to be hard to come up with a definite target simply due to the fact it’s a long course with potential to drop time in many different places. Currently the world record is a 3:25.608, setting the gold target at 3:31.776 and we can’t see that holding for the next two weeks. The record is not likely to drop below a mid-3:24 though, so if you can get near a 3:30.5 you’ll probably be okay.
Last week’s time trial for the Dodge Viper at Autopolis remains active for the next seven days, and times have fallen right into the region we were expecting. Currently the world record is a 1:58.128, setting the gold target at 2:02.701. There could still be some time left in it, but it’s not likely to be a lot so you’re probably safe and sound with a 2:02.5 of any kind.
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 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 November 14.
Gran Turismo 7 Lap Time Challenge November 7 – 24 Heures du Mans
- Track: 24 Heures du Mans Racing Circuit
- Car: Gr.1/Pre-2000 – Garage/Rental Car
- Power/Weight/PP Limit: BOP (H)
- Tires: Racing Hard
- Settings: Fixed
Gran Turismo 7 Lap Time Challenge October 31 – Autopolis
- Track: Autopolis International
- Car: Dodge Viper SRT10 ’06 – Garage/Rental Car
- Power/Weight/PP Limit: BOP (M)
- Tires: Sports Hard
- Settings: Fixed
See more articles on Gran Turismo 7 Time Trial.
