Polyphony Digital and Mazda have announced a new online race series for Japan only with a rather interesting prize on offer: the chance to race in a real-world event next year.
It’s called the Mazda Spirit Racing GT Cup, and it’s due to commence at the end of October. There’s a five-race online series using the same format as regular World Series and Toyota GR GT Cup events, and a junior event for drivers aged 6 to 17 (on October 30) consisting of a hotlap challenge.
All rounds use one of three Mazda vehicles, with the RX-Vision GT3 used for rounds two and five, the Atenza Gr.4 for round three, and a new Roadster NR-A for rounds one and four and the under-18 time trial event.
The full schedule for the series is as follows, with the best four rounds counting towards players’ scores:
Mazda Spirit Racing GT Cup (18+)
- Round 1 – October 30 – Mazda Roadster NR-A – Tsukuba Circuit
- Round 2 – November 13 – Mazda RX-Vision GT3 Concept – Suzuka Circuit
- Round 3 – November 20 – Mazda Atenza Gr.4 – Fuji Speedway
- Round 4 – December 4 – Mazda Roadster NR-A – Autopolis
- Round 5 – December 11 – Mazda RX-Vision GT3 Concept – Trial Mountain
Mazda Spirit Racing GT Cup (6-17)
- Online Time Trial – October 30-November 30 – Mazda Roadster NR-A – Tsukuba Circuit
Interestingly that also confirms the identity of one of the four new cars coming to Gran Turismo 7 in the update due this week, as it reveals the Mazda Roadster NR-A as the car behind the bottom-right silhouette.
Players will be able to purchase the cars in special Mazda Spirit liveries — as seen recently in the GT World Series Manufacturers Cup on the RX-Vision raced by Giorgio Mangano — in the Mazda Brand Central dealer, although there’s free choice of liveries and styles in the event.
The top three drivers in each of the two classes will receive an unspecified prize, but that’s mere dressing on top of the headline prize. Each of the top 20 drivers in the over 18s category with a valid driver’s licence will be invited to a real-world racing challenge in early 2023.
Details of this event are yet to be released, but with Mazda Japan stating that the program intends to “fulfil drivers’ dreams” and “expand the base and develop the culture of motorsports”, it could be a foot on the motorsports ladder for the 20 winners.
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