Well that didn’t take long. After our community found hints that France’s Circuit de la Sarthe was coming to GT Sport, Sony has released an official trailer, confirming just that.
Le Mans Returns
Yes, the famous circuit headlines the title’s May (1.19) update. Coming in at 8.47 miles, it’s one of the longer circuits in GT Sport. It follows Monza and Tsukuba as returning favorites from previous titles, and again features two versions: one with chicanes, and one without.
GT Sport players will now be able to challenge the real-world lap record, which is 3:17.475. André Lotterer set that in an Audi R18 in 2015, so it’s a good thing the 2016 version is available for use…
La Sarthe comes at a very convenient time: the real-world twice-around-the-clock race happens in June. While the GT Sport version will feature different times of day, as the feature isn’t dynamic, players won’t be able to recreate the actual event.
Shutterbugs will tell you the track was already present in-game, via the Scapes mode. Now that it’s available to race on, Polyphony has added additional still images there.
Speaking of Scapes, Porsche gains more from the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart. Just in time for the brand’s 70th anniversary celebrations too.
Nine Cars Join GT Sport
Fittingly, given la Sarthe’s return, Polyphony Digital has also included a handful of cars that duked it out there during the Group C era. Six other cars join the trio:
- 1968 Fiat 500 F (N100)
- 1988 Jaguar XJR-9 (Gr.1)
- 1967 Lamborghini Miura P400 Bertone Prototype CN.0706 (N400)
- 1989 Sauber Mercedes C9 (Gr.1)
- 1996 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV GSR (N300)
- 1992 Nissan R92CP (Gr.1)
- 2011 Renault Sport Megane Trophy (Gr.4)
- 2016 Renault Sport Clio R.S. 220 EDC Trophy (N200)
- 2015 Subaru BRZ S (N200)
Following the pattern of previous updates, this car list is predominantly rides we last saw in GT6. Indeed, only two are new to the franchise; the Clio is a very slight facelift of the existing 2015 model already in-game, whereas the BRZ is the Subaru sister-car to the GT86 (also in-game).
This marks the first major update to not feature a Toyota model — although one could make the argument the Scooby certainly qualifies. Rather unexpectedly, the Group C cars all fall into Gr.1, not getting their own class a la the Super GT models of the last major update.
If we had to guess (going off GT6), we’d say the Miura prototype will be the most expensive. You’ll want to start saving — maybe have a look at our guide to earning credits fast, then?
New GT League Events
It wouldn’t be a major update without more events showing up in the single-player experience. Polyphony Digital has added three new events, as well as expanded on four existing ones:
- New Event: Group 4 Cup (Beginner League)
- New Event: World Hatchback Championship (Amateur League)
- New Event: Lamborghini Cup (Professional League)
- New Rounds: Clio Cup (Beginner League)
- New Rounds: FR Challenge+ (Amateur League)
- New Rounds: F1500 Championship (Professional League)
- New Rounds: Gr.1 Prototype Endurance Series (Endurance League)
In addition to the above, Dragon Trail – Gardens has joined the Circuit Experience section.
The maintenance period for GT Sport will start in a little over 12 hours. Players can expect the new content to appear following that. Until then, take a gander at the gallery below, and start planning!
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