Today, as I’m writing this, marks the 20th year since the unfortunate passing of one of Formula One’s greatest drivers, Ayrton Senna. Senna is often looked upon as one of, if not the greatest driver known to the sport courtesy of his outright uncanny ability to wring the most out of the car, for the uncanny skill of being able to take off into the distance on a wet race day unlike anyone else at the time; the proverbial “rain master” as it’s known in the world of F1.
However, the one thing a great number of us will remember when thinking of Ayrton Senna is not his race pace or his ability to master the feats of a wet race track, it will be his intense and controversial rivalry with Alain Prost. A rivalry that has seen some of the most spectacular on-track battles and maneuvers rarely seen in the sport today.
Here’s to one of the legendary personalities in the world of F1 and to everything he’s contributed.
http://youtu.be/nwLEE420v20
GTPlanet Picture of the Week
This week’s featured image, recommended to us by dice1998 and courtesy of Demetrius81, features the championship winning 1973 McLaren M23 at the legendary Spa Francorchamps.
Have a suggestion for next week’s featured image? Drop me a private message, entitle it “GTPlanet Picture of the Week”, and fill it out with your two choices and they’ll be featured in upcoming Rewinds. NOTE: You cannot elect your own work.
To the Tuning Database!
Introduced in March as a beta, the GTPlanet Tuning Database has officially launched – even being integrated within the site itself courtesy of a new “Tunes” tab!
It provides a simple, standardized way to share, organize, rate, find, and talk about car setups, and it’s completely free to use for all GTPlanet members. Here’s a few feature highlights:
- Tune Ratings: My personal favorite feature of the Tuning DB, the new rating feature makes it easy to see which tunes other members of the community find most useful. It also lets you give feedback to tunes which might need some work, which can help tuners refine their craft.
- Powerful Search Capabilities: Find just the tunes you are looking for using keyword search or the powerful “Tune Finder”, which lets you filter tunes by make, PP values, tires, setup type, and tuner.
- Easy-to-Read & Input: Tunes are displayed in a standardized, easy-to-read format, so you can read data quickly. Sharing tunes is also faster – just point, click, and select the relevant settings for your tune.
- “Follow” Tunes: Subscribe to or “watch” tunes that interest you to receive notifications for further updates or changes a tune might receive.
- Complete Forum Integration: The Tuning DB is completely integrated with GTPlanet’s forums. You can browse your favorite tuner’s setups right from a new “Tunes” tab displayed on their account profile, you’ll get notification alerts when someone “likes” or reviews your tunes, and each tune in the database gets its own dedicated discussion thread for more comprehensive feedback and analysis.
- Full Mobile Compatibility: Browse or share tunes right from your couch or driving rig – the Tuning DB has been designed to be easy to use and fully compatible with smartphones and tablets.
The database launches with support for Gran Turismo 6, but the fun won’t end there, no, support for other games, including PC simulators will surface in the future.
What are you still doing here? Stop by the GT6 Tuning Forum for all the help and discussion you’ll ever require.
GTPlanet Quiz of the Week
The tenth week is upon us, and the question is and forever will be, how much do you know?
1. This former Formula 1 double world champion driver is known as Michael Schumacher’s toughest rival during his first career.
2. When did the Bugatti Veyron make its Gran Turismo debut?
3. What 2011 racing game featured an introductory narrative by Jeremy Clarkson entitled Endangered Species?
Clues will be provided if necessary. The official thread is up and running and has finally been updated but there’s still work to be done. Drop me a private message, entitle it “GTPlanet Quiz of the Week”, answering in the comments section does not count, and share your answers.
Gran Turismo 5’s Last Parting Shot
As we’re all well aware of by now, the online services for Gran Turismo 5 are set to be discontinued at the end of this month, however, Polyphony Digital have announced they will be hosting one final event before the service is terminated; a curtain call event, if you will.
Starting on April 30th at 20:00 Pacific Time (PDT) and running through May 30th, the “Online Event Finale” will consist of the following two stages:
- Stage 1: Mazda Roadster Touring Car ’11, Top Gear Test Track
- Stage 2: Nissan GT-R N24 Schulze Motorsports ’11, Nurburgring 24h
For participating in these last two events, players will be rewarded with five free cars in Gran Turismo 6 if they sign into the game between June 2nd and June 29th using the same SEN ID they used to record their Finale event lap times in GT5.
The reward cars are:
- Abarth Grande Punto ’09
- Renault Sport Megane R.S. Trophy ’11
- Nissan Fairlady Z (Z34) ’08
- Tesla Motors Model S Signature Performance ’12
- Subaru S206 NBR Challenge Package ’12
Stop by the official Gran Turismo 5 forum and pair up with those giving the online portion of the title a proper sendoff.
GTPlanet Member of the Week
The prized status and stardom that only the Member of the Week can bring has once again arrived and thus, it is once again time to acknowledge a member of the GTPlanet community; a member who has stood out among the hundreds of thousands of members already here, both old and new alike for all that they’re worth and all they have contributed to the community.
Yet another Junior member is among the ranks, and this particular member has quickly made his rounds, and is someone many of you will undoubtedly be familiar with for a variety of reasons. So let’s welcome Samus to the ever-expanding MotW madhouse!
The interview is now live and provides the usual share of laughter, but more importantly provides the medium of getting to know your fellow GTP members a little bit better. For the whole kit-n-kaboodble be sure to stop by the official Member of the Week thread.
Anyone you’d like to see recognized as the Member of the Week? Drop me a private message, entitle it “GTPlanet Member of the Week”, and fill it out with your choices and they’ll be featured in upcoming Rewinds. NOTE: You cannot nominate yourself.
Ayrton Senna Honored with New GT6 Content and Documentary Film
This has been a long time coming, new content for Gran Turismo 6 is on the way later this month, and among that new content is the 1985 Lotus 97T responsible for Senna’s first Formula 1 pole position and race victory.
Keep your eyes peeled for the latest on the upcoming Senna content that will be included in a free title update later this month.
Stop by the original post here for more.
GTPlanet Vehicle of the Week
This week’s featured vehicle, recommended to us by LJ12, is the 5.6 Liter V12-powered BMW 850CSi.
Have a suggestion for next week’s featured vehicle? Drop me a private message, entitle it “GTPlanet Vehicle of the Week” and fill it out with your two choices and they’ll be featured in upcoming Rewinds. NOTE: You cannot elect your own work.
GTPlanet Tune of the Week
This week’s feature tune, recommended to us by Jaywalker, features the 1986 Toyota MR2 1600 G-Limited Supercharger tuned for events befitting of a 400PP sports machine.
“This is my first tune that I actually put some work into; it handles quite nicely IMO. The reason I left the transmission stock was because this was (originally) intended to match up with my dad’s MR2 that he had in the ’90s (it was unfortunately totaled when a lady ran a red light right into him) I tuned this at Trial Mountain; the best lap I managed was a 1.41.447 which is O.K I guess. This car was also tuned on custom wheels.”
Victory is the name of the game as usual and if it’s a deserving victory that you’re after and you want to do so while while using the sportiness of an MR2, then you’ll want to stop by and see the tune for yourself!
Exactly like the Picture and Vehicle of the Week features, if you have any suggestions for the upcoming Rewinds be sure to drop me a private message, entitle it “GTPlanet Tune of the Week” and let me know. NOTE: You cannot elect your own work.
Attack of the Hyper Hyrbids!
This week you’re dealing with a triple threat of hypercar nirvana in a playlist put together by yours truly. Three videos featuring the Porsche 918 Spyder, McLaren P1, and the Ferrari LaFerrari.
You’re very welcome.
GTPlanet Photomode Competitions
We’ve reset the counter for the sixth chapter in the Gran Turismo series and the photomode competition is back and better than ever.
In Week 21 of the Standard and Advanced competitions for GT6 you are to put your best foot forth and show the community just how seriously you take your in-game photography. All you need to know is as follows:
Week 021, Standard: Genesis – “The beginning, the origin of it’s kind – this week I’m looking for cars that have multiple generations of the same model or at least direct ‘family ties’. I would then like you focus on a car that was the first in it’s family line or at least the first available in GT6. You may photograph it on it’s own or with a newer generation but the main focus must that of the predecessor.
Now there is a twist so please read carefully. This weeks PMC is directly linked to this weeks 2.0 theme. Whatever model of car you choose to use this week must be used for both themes. Over in the 2.0 comp you will be using the latest generation of the car you choose here in the theme titled REVELATION so choose wisely.
Week 021, Advanced 2.0: Revelation – “The unveiling, the final product revealed – this week as in the PMC comp I’m looking for cars that have multiple generations of the same model or at least direct ‘family ties’. I would then like you focus on a car that is the latest in it’s family line available in GT6. You may photograph it on it’s own or with an older generation but the main focus must that of the successor.
Now there is a twist so please read carefully. This weeks 2.0 is directly linked to this weeks PMC theme. Whatever model of car you choose to use this week must be used for both themes. Over in the PMC comp you will be using the earliest generation of the car you choose here in the theme titled GENESIS so choose wisely.
For example if you choose the C7 Corvette here you must use the C1 Corvette in the PMC Competition.”
For all of the relevant information pertaining to this week’s challenges be sure to stop by here and here.
Closing Thoughts
Today also marks the 20th year since the unfortunate passing of Roland Ratzenberger, a man of unyielding commitment and dedication who broke into the world of F1 after having achieved notable success in a multitude of racing disciplines: winning the Austrian, German and European Formula Ford titles, Formula Ford Festival, and taking pole position from sixth at the Nurburgring in 1987 in the F3 Euroseries.
His work ethic made him a natural all-rounder and very adaptable as a driver, and proving this versatility throughout his entire career, success would seemingly follow alongside as a result. Ratzenberger branched out to the World Touring Car Championship in 1987 where he drove the BMW M3 for Schnitzer finishing 10th overall with a total of 134 points. In 1989 he would add a race-winning season in British Formula 3000, and a career best finish of fifth at the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race while piloting a SARD Toyota 93 C-V.
When faced with the dilemma of furthering his career, Ratzenberger headed to Japan where he’d race in sportscars, touring cars and F3000. Success would again follow alongside with a sweeping victory in the 1990 Fuji 1000km and a winning the prestigious Suzuka 1000km the following season – a feat that was only supplemented with a podium finish in the Daytona 24 Hours in 1992.
In 1994 Ratzenberger’s opportunity to enter Formula 1 would finally arrive after a previously failed attempt with Eddie Jordan’s eponymous team, with the emerging MTV Simtek Ford team where he would partner alongside David Brabham.
After early struggles with the team in the first two rounds and an eventual breakthrough, the anticipation of what could have been was unfortunately left unfulfilled. After running wide during qualifying at Imola and damaging the front wing, Ratzenberger was pitched into the barriers at 306km/h (190mph) and was killed instantly.
What many may not be aware of is that while millions lined the streets of Sao Paulo to pay their respects to Ayrton Senna at his funeral on May 5th, Max Mosley, then head of FIA was absent, instead traveling to the service of Ratzenberger.
“I went to Ratzenberger’s funeral rather than to Senna’s where all the great and good of Formula One were because I felt somebody needed to support him and his family.
Ayrton had had the success, the brilliant recognition worldwide, the state funeral in Brazil and so on. Ratzenberger was just as dead and it was just as sad for his family but he’d never experienced all that.”
Here’s to two of the sport’s finest.
Until next week, keep racing!
GT5 and GT6 Photomode images by Ronin387, carfanatic45, and Fuzzi0n.
See more articles on GTPlanet Member of the Week and GTPlanet Weekly Rewind.
Once GRID Autosport, F1 2014, & Project Cars drop..GT6 will be dead.
Yea I bet.
GRID went the arcade route and F1 games have never posed any threat. The only game that is a legitimate threat to both Gran Turismo and Forza is P-Cars. The graphics for P-Cars looks perfect and since it isn’t system exclusive it could wipe both of them out, but the physics will be the challenging part and we’ll have to see how that goes. I’m skeptical on P-Cars’ physics because I don’t know how good it could be seeing they have developed for multiple systems instead rather than focusing on one, and as new as the PS4 and Xbox One are I don’t know how they could have developed physics as well as Gran Turismo has. But basically what I’m saying is huge over reaction on your part and inaccurate.
Great job on the Rewind this week Terronium.
Thanks!
I would like to see the toleman and senna’s title winners aswell
I feel bad for Roland Ratzenberger. His death constantly lives in the shadow of Ayrton Senna and when it is remembered it plays second fiddle to Senna and is only brought up in coordination with Senna. I don’t think it’s fair but unfortunately I don’t see it changing.
It’s interesting that you mention that, which is exactly why I closed with a longer tribute of sorts to Ratzenberger.
His accomplishments are practically unending.
At least he IS remembered, if it wasn’t for Ayrton Senna, would he be remembered at all? .. F1 is such a moneyed, fickle and two faced sport.
I’m unsure what the point of that contrived statement is supposed to be.
Rest assured those who called to glory will always be remembered.. by those who love them and those who have been personally touched by them. The difference is some are glorified more than others. Not to say it’s a terrible thing, because it’s not. It’s a matter of where your mind is and/or was. For me, it was a time when I was in full spectator mode. Both as a VHS recorder of SpeedChannel programming and a volunteer at the local track. Some of those sights, sounds, smells and the occasional debris pelting will never be forgotten but always missed.
It was a weekend in which the motorsports world lost 2 of it’s professionals who were at the top of their game. Thanks Terronium, for righteously including RatzInABurger. Pun intended… a way I use to remember most foreign names. I can only imagine how few of the Planet’s faithful followers actually lived through the news of the moments.
Kind of goes to show how skewed the memory of Ratzenberg is though Phil. You said he was at the top of his game, but he was at only his 3rd grand prix and had he qualified it would have only been his 2nd start. He had a DNQ and an 11th in his 2 F1 appearances. Not to take anything away from him but he is remembered a lot higher, or maybe differently is a better word, because his memory is tacked on to Senna’s. I did like that Terronium mentioned the sports cars, because if anything Ratzenberg was primed for a career in sports car because he did have a lot of diversity that it would took to make him perfect for that field. His career highlight was the 5th at Le Mans and the year he died he was suppose to run a Toyota C90 at Le Mans with Mauro Martini and Jeff Krosnoff, who died in ’96 in a CART race at Toronto. Eddie Irvine would replace Ratzenberg in that car, which would come with in 90 minutes of winning the race when a gear box linkage broke while Krosnoff was at the wheel, and they would ultimately finish 2nd overall in what I believe was the closest battle for a podium position in Le Man history. But anyways, it goes to show how Ratzenberg’s memory is so tied into Senna’s. Even in remembering him we wouldn’t have had a mention of him in this article if not for Senna’s death. It’s really a lose lose situation for his memory I think.
Well said of Ratzenberger’s short career, Amac. Winning a Formula One seat is arguably any career race driver’s dream for obvious reasons. It was in that context that I say all F1 pilots are at the top of their game.
I remember being supremely happy to hear, back in ’94, of Ratzenberger’s accomplishments along with Senna’s. Their loss was mentioned hand in hand as they should and always be.
Something to consider… last time I watched a televised race, the commentators usually mentioned tragic events of the venue. I doubt it would ever come to be but the omission of the events’ history, especially the tragic, would be disappointing. In reporting news history it is the responsibility of the journalists to highlight all of the subjects, just as Terronium did. An unfortunate thing is when ignorance and arrogance is allowed to go unaddressed.
Really love the Senna content. Not sure how it would go over, but I’d like to see the track Imola put into the game. Not sure if the version of the track that Senna raced on could be reporduced, but that is the definitive version of the track.
I think now that GT5 is bowing out, GT6 will get at least some limited attention from PD.
Maybe Ferrari, McLaren, and Lambo GT3 cars could make it in.
I remember F1 in this period, the cars looked so much better, the huge rear tyres, wider cars and then you had fuel stops, it was a great time F1 at its best, I didn’t watch the race where the great Senna was killed but my friend watched it live, sad day. I think if Senna had lived we would have seen a great rivalry between him and Schummacher and some spectacular racing. I remember watching a lap of Senna in a Top Gear special a few years ago, my god did he drive on the ragged edge, incredible stuff. The one race that sticks in my mind is Senna and Mansell at Monaco, Senna in the lead Mansell right behind him, screaming through the tunnel Mansells nose almost touching Senna’s rear, he couldn’t get past though, you know how difficult it is to pass in Monaco, Mansell had a few looks but Senna took it, incredible to watch.
R.I.P Ratzenberger and Senna. You will both dearly be missed by many motorsport fans.
R.I.P Senna and Ratzenberger. May both of you be in motorsport heaven. I like Ratzenberger’s MTV Formula 1 car though.
Just finished watching the Senna doc (again) on velocity…
Makes me cry every time, yet I never was alive during his life time..
Same. Gonna have my wife watch it with me this time.
I’m glad you mention something about Ratzenberger, he seems to be a forgotten death in F1 because of the death of Senna. I know what i’m about to say will probably not happen, but I think it would be nice if they did a little tribute for him to.
A tribute to all who have passed in motorsports would be as good as anything in my mind. There have bee so many.
A “Racing Greats” DLC with cars from legendary drivers, some who aren’t with us, like Ratzenberger’s car, or Earnhardt’s Black Monte Carlo. I would be so happy with that pack.
But, it’ll never happen…