September 10, 2020 by
There’s a fresh set of GT Sport Time Trials starting today, and covering the next two weeks. It’s fair to say that the challenges on offer, though both set at real circuits, are about as far apart in speed terms as it’s possible to get in GT Sport.
First up you’ll find pure speed, and perhaps the quickest way to get around most full-size race circuits across the globe. The car for the fixed setting time trial is Lewis Hamilton’s 2017 world championship-winning Mercedes F1 W08 — and you can use either the fully liveried version, or the “Color Variation”.
Naturally and F1 car needs an F1 track, so you’ll be pounding out the lap times around Japan’s Suzuka Circuit. The home of the Japanese Grand Prix for all but two years since its introduction in 1987, Suzuka is a pretty fierce test, with famous corners like Spoon and 130R. However the W08 should fit right in, and it should be noted that you’ll need a button mapped for the Drag Reduction System (DRS) to get the best possible lap times here.
The tuning event takes you across the Pacific Ocean, as you head to California. It’s the second time in a row we’ve had a tuning event in the Golden State, but rather than Laguna Seca on the Monterey peninsula, you’ll be going to Willow Springs in the Mojave Desert. While the Big Willow layout might be “the fastest road in the west”, your challenge is on something a little slower: the Streets of Willow Springs.
For this Time Trial, you’ll be in a tiny Japanese sports car, the Toyota Sports 800. With 44hp as standard it might not sound very sporty, but the 800 barely tips the scales at 1,280lb. As it’s a tuning event with BOP off and no power/weight restrictions, you’ll be able to do something about that — as well as the rest of the vehicle settings.
GT Sport‘s Time Trial mode is a global competition, ranking your best time against all players worldwide, rather than just those in your region as with other Sport Mode events. These two time trials will run through to September 24, when two further events will replace them.
Mercedes F1 W08 Super Lap
Track: Suzuka Circuit
Car: Mercedes F1 W08 EQ Power+ 2017, Mercedes F1 W08 EQ Power+ (Color Variation) 2017 – Garage Car
Tires: Racing Soft
BOP: On
Power/Weight Limit: 890h/728kg
Settings: Fixed
Toyota Sports 800 Super Lap/Tuning Allowed
Track: Willow Springs – Streets of Willow Springs
Car: Toyota Sports 800 ’65 – Garage Car
Tires: Sports Hard
BOP: Off
Power/Weight Limit: N/A
Settings: Adjustable
