https://www.facebook.com/festivalofspeed/videos/1319306231446695/
The branding on race cars can arguably be their most iconic feature. Despite their demonic speedy looks, we instantly recognize certain cars by the company that sponsors the racing team behind the car. The Ford GT40 is a prime example: it’s an absolute beauty, but it’s never looked better than when it was dressed up in Gulf’s blue and orange livery.
Similarly, the Toyota Celica GT-Four ST-205 feels incomplete without the green, white and red Castrol livery used in the WRC. There is a car that PlayStation and motorsport fans perhaps remember that is even more unique by virtue that it never even appeared in any racing games on the console itself. This is the PlayStation Porsche 911 GT1 EVO.
Photos by Rajan Jangda of EnduranceRacing.co.uk.
In the video featured on the Goodwood Festival of Speed Facebook page, Andrew Jordan goes hands-on with the 1997 racer that dresses in the iconic PlayStation color palette. Complete with huge PlayStation logo on the front and Gran Turismo branding on the spoiler, everything about it screams retro, and it’s fantastic to look at.
Make no mistake, that doesn’t mean this racing machine didn’t make an impression outside of it’s darling looks. The wastegate noises sound awesome and the drive itself is commended by the 2013 BTCC champion. Despite it’s aggressive looks the handling is described as “friendly and welcoming” when pushed around Silverstone circuit. The downforce also garners a lot of attention and inspires Jordan to conclude that the car is one of the “friendliest racers he has driven”, and that he could “spend all day driving it.”
In the video game space, the 911 GT1 appeared in the PlayStation 1 title Need For Speed: Porsche Unleashed although in a generic livery-less form.
In recent times, the even more wild-looking 1998 version of the 911 GT1 has appeared in Forza Motorsport 4 & 6. This exact model of the car remains confined to the real-world however, and will probably stay that way for the foreseeable future. It’s a shame this Porsche may never make an official appearance on the PlayStation format.
The GT1 may be the focus of Goodwood’s video but Playstation and Porsche collaborated on another 911 too and this time it was the GT2 model.
The 911 GT2 competed in the Le Mans 24 Hour race with a similar livery, with particular attention paid to the PlayStation logo on the hood and Gran Turismo branding on the spoiler. In a more accurate homage to the Sony brand, the side-skirts of the car were now half-colored between the yellow and blue shades found on the S within the PlayStation logo as opposed to the red found on the GT1.
The 911 GT1 and GT2 are very nice in their own right and perhaps capture the best design philosophies from the German manufacturer. Seeing them in full PlayStation war paint is even more eye-candy for us at GTPlanet, having grown up with the brand. There weren’t many logos that were as recognizable as Sony’s gaming division in the late ’90s.
Gran Turismo branding often appears on modern racers in the form of a window banner or minor sponsorship—typically as a series or event sponsor—but nothing quite to the extent that these two cars showed off. The closest thing we’ve seen in recent years would be Kazunori Yamauchi’s own Nürburgring 24H ride, the Walkenhorst BMW M6 GT3. Perhaps GT Sport’s livery editor may open the door to creating a similar design this year. For now, enjoy the above video and envy Mr. Jordan’s opportunity to drive such a beast.
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