GTPlanet Weekly Rewind: One of a Kind

If this looks familiar you’re not just imagining things, Pagani’s Huayra is once again gracing the Weekly Rewind. However, the image you’re looking at isn’t from Gran Turismo 6 or any Gran Turismo title for that matter, no, what you’re looking at is a brilliant shoot done by one of our very own in Forza Motorsport 4.

We haven’t discussed much of Forza anything in the past weeks leading up to my vacation, or even during the return of the Rewind last weekend. Why? Simply put, there hasn’t been enough of a steady flow of news. Much of the upcoming Forza Motorsport 5 is still shrouded in mystery; much unneeded mystery if I’m to be frank, but we’ll discuss more of that later on as I bring things to a head.

Last week we recapped so much of what happened with Gran Turismo 6 whilst I was on vacation that I’m of the opinion I’ve exhausted nearly every avenue worthy of recapping here, that is, other than the movie. The movie, according to the news reported here, will be inspired by the human element (and perhaps drama) of the GT Academy.

That’s just about everything and if I’m forgetting something let me know in the comments, but for now it’s time to get things winding as we’re returning to the original format this week, which means the Member of the Week has returned as has every other prominent feature known only to the Rewind; so what are waiting for, let’s get things moving!

GTPlanet Picture of the Week

Last week it was an 8K image, this week we’re returning to more of a normal setting with this week’s featured image that was recommended to us by KiroKai and is courtesy of MoMo PeeZero which features the one-off 430-based Ferrari SP1 showing off it’s unique beauty in Red Bull’s very own museum. I’d draw a Formula 1 parallel but we’ll save that for another day.

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.

Ferino Design: Gran Turismo 5 “BENZY” [Language Warning]

Illya has done it again folks. This time it’s all about a black Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG venturing around Special Stage Route 7 to a moody presentation done in his usual mastery. There really isn’t much more to say that the video can’t say for itself, so without further ado I would strongly suggest you click that play icon.

Should you want to commend Illya on this spectacular tribute video then be sure to stop by his video thread, Ferino Design, and let him know how much his hard work has paid off!

GTPlanet Weekly Race Series (WRS) Weeks 132 and 133

No, you didn’t misread the title and I haven’t mixed up the two words, I promise. This week you’re taking the speedy Trial Celica SS-II, arguably one of if not the best front-wheel drive vehicle available in the game for a drive around a longstanding GT favorite, Deep Forest Raceway.

Sector times are already looking fantastic and with a maximum of 294 horses driving the front wheels into and out of corners you better be prepared to pull out a little something extra if you’re to get ahead of the pack and claim overall victory. Let’s see what the Stewards have to say:

Trial time. It’s time for a time trial in a Trial. It’s been said that this is the best FF in the game. Let’s prove it. 

The Trial Celica is a standard model and not in the current OCD, but it can be traded. If you don’t have it without engine stages or weight reductions you can request one to be sent to you. The admins have have been building a stock the last couple of days. If you already on the friends list of GTP_3D3 Racing there is one on share there already and a few ready to be gifted. If you are not a registered online racer and need the car, send a friend request to GTP_3D3_C where you can borrow the car OR we can send you one from that account. Either way, if you need the car just post to the thread with a request after you send the FR. Enjoy. 

Stop by the official thread here and remember that you NEED to be registered before officially participating in the WRS, and that can only be done by submitting a time for the official GTP Registry Qualifier.

But wait a minute because that’s not all, no, while I was putting this together the next event on the WRS time trial calendar was preparing to rear it’s head to the collective WRS audience. With that svelte introduction comes more excitement as the 133rd hotlap event features the Mk. IV Ford GT40 and Daytona Road Course.

Want more? Of course you do. Stop by the official thread right here.

GTPlanet Member of the Week

You know what time it is, time to acknowledge another grand member of the community who has stood out for all that they’re worth and since it’s been lonely without an official mention these past couple of weeks and we’re going to change that right here and now. So let’s welcome the newest inductee into the Member of the Week hall of fame, Furinkazen! Someone most of you will know very well for a variety of reasons, and is yet another senior member making the ranks.

The interview itself will provide you with it’s fair share of laughter and even an inside look into how the name came to be. For the full interview be sure to stop by the Member of the Week thread and get to know Furinkazen better, or maybe even see the world through his eyes. He is, after all, the sixteenth member to be recognized among his peers. Who’s next?

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.

A Special Giveaway

No, I am not giving away a race car. I am not that well connected (yet?), but what I am giving away are a variety of PC games. Details haven’t been specified entirely just yet, but you’ll have your pick of 9 games either for EA’s Origin or Valve’s Steam.

Stay tuned.

GTPlanet Vehicle of the Week

When Graf von Goertz presented this vehicle at 1955 in New York the benchmark was set in terms of design. This week’s vehicle is none other than the 1956 BMW 507, another all-new vehicle making it’s debut in the upcoming Gran Turismo 6.

With elongated side lines, a curved body, and a seemingly never-ending bonnet it should come as no surprise that these are it’s characteristic features adding to it’s timeless design. With the 328 as the forerunner at the time, the 507 ventured into unknown territory and as a result would tread down this path ushering in new ideas relative to design and elegance in the mid-50’s.

Up until 1959 no more than 253 BMW 507 roadsters were produced, 251 of which featured a standard body. Two cars had bodies made by Loewy and Michelotti respectively. Most of these legendary sports cars exist still today, being the most exclusive classic automobiles of the post-war era.

Have a suggestion for next week’s featured image? 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 car will grip until your face falls off…” An encouraging sentiment if there ever was one; a sentiment that should have already piqued your interest, making you just a bit anxious to go out there and sample the tune for yourself.

This tune, recommended to us by Lionheart2113, Audi’s fantastic R8 4.2 FSI Quattro in 500PP trim put together by trackripper123 of Ripper Tuning Garage. It’s ready to assault your choice of track location the second you put your foot down, and anyone who dares to stand between you and the finish line.

Victory is the name of the game as usual and if it’s a deserving victory that you’e after and you want to do so using a bit of German excellence, 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.

Mark Webber Returns to Top Gear

This past season of Top Gear saw the return of Mark Webber in the hot seat as Jeremy looked to start just a little bit of trouble. With Webber leaving the F1 paddock next year to join up with Porsche, there’s going to some relatively large shoes to fill by whomever gets his seat at Red Bull Racing next year.

Enough of that though because you know the deal: why talk when the video can talk for itself?

GTPlanet Photomode Competition 

In Week 144 of the Standard and Advanced competitions 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 144, Standard: I am the Speedhunter – “Being a fan of the Speedhunters website, I’ve decided to dedicate this weeks theme to them. Simply take a Speedhunters inspired picture of a car that represents your favorite side of car culture. Whether it be racing, style, car meet etc.”

Week 144, Advanced 2.0: – Shadows of the City “GT5 offers us some very interesting urban environnements with the city tracks, and some of the most beautiful pics I’ve seen have been taken in these places. I especially like the way we can play with the lights and shadows to make realistic photos. For this week I want you to take some road car and give me the sensation of driving in the shadows of the buildings of Madrid, Tokyo, Rome, Monaco or London (hope GT6 will include a Paris track). You can do a photo figuring a supercar breaking all the rules of the highway code or a little urban car cruising softly in the city streets.” 

For all of the relevant information pertaining to this week’s challenges be sure to stop by here and here.

Closing Thoughts

What a week. What a Rewind. Is it just my imagination or are these things getting more and more plentiful as the weeks progress? After a while there really may come a point where you’ll see the Rewind delivered in parts. Like a sitcom. Maybe I’ll charge you too, who knows.

Joking aside, all I’ve done since getting back from vacation is playing the living daylights out of Euro Truck Simulator 2. Every single day that’s all I’d play for hours upon hours; just driving, flashing my lamps, blowing the horn, and crashing. I never would have guessed I’d have so much fun driving a truck around Europe delivering an assortment of goods. It’s a combination of things that make it so simple yet so intuitive. You have to sleep, you have to stop for petrol that you pay for out of your own pocket, or if you’re on a “Quick Job” the employer covers those expenses as well as any others.

It’s gotten to the point where I’m installing mods not to make the game better, but to extend an already long campaign as to never grow weary of what I’ve yet to see. I think I need to see a therapist because I have Euro Trucker Syndrome or something. Did I mention the shifter gates terrify the ever-living out of me? Because they do. I don’t even want to find a picture to illustrate what it is that terrifies me so. Not going to happen.

If you’ve never played ETS 2 you really, really need to fix that problem, and fast. It’s an open-world driving sim unlike any other, and it’s accompanied by more modifications than you could shake twelve sticks at. The content is plentiful to the point where you’ll be under the impression that you’re doing nothing more than bloating the size of the mods folder.

Now a message from our sponsor, me:

While you’re salivating at the very thought of Gran Turismo 6 finding itself into your PlayStation 3 this coming December why not take the time to become a full-fledged member of our wonderful community. It’s free and we have cake! Okay, we don’t have cake (the cake is and always will be a lie, remember this!) but we do have a strong community and we’re always talking about something interesting. If you aren’t already a member you should join today and maybe you can work out a patented antidote for “Lying Cake Syndrome”. Seriously, it’s been years since I’ve had cake.

My shameless Twitter plug has also returned!

Once again I forgot to mention that I’m on Twitter now. What was once going to be a bit of parody account (because I don’t use Facebook or Twitter for any reason whatsoever) has quickly turned into me using Twitter rather effectively. So, follow me and suggest all things Rewind-worthy from the comfort of your tablets, phones, or Skynet-linked computers. Remember, when the machines finally rise you’ll need someone to write pieces regarding the matter littered with Armageddon-y undertones and I can be just that guy! What were we talking about? Right, Twitter, so if you’ll follow me here the Rewind can be delivered to you in a timely fashion not seen since snail mail. Wait, that’s not the right thing to say!

You will be showered in Rewind, Seasonal Event and future article goodness courtesy of yours truly, so there’s that worth looking forward to once I’ve bothered to get the thing up and running. It can also be used to suggest things for upcoming Rewinds, so that’s now two ways you all can keep me on my toes.

There was a point to this week’s title and it had something to do with Gran Turismo and Forza Motorsport, but for the life of me I’ve written so much that I can’t remember what that reason was. In any case, with all of that said, copied, pasted and done it is once again time to bring this feature to an end. Until next week, keep racing!

Oh, and Knight Rider is still awesome.

GT5 and FM4 Photomode images by TVR&Ferrari_Fan, Gravitron, GTracer98, and The R!CE Guy.

See more articles on GTPlanet Member of the Week and GTPlanet Weekly Rewind.