Trial Mountain

(UPDATED: September 14, 2011)

Trial Mountain has long been formidable and challenging in Gran Turismo. This unrelenting race track has long been a fixture of Gran Turismo since the very first game. What makes Trial Mountain so difficult? Well, there are number of reasons. You see, Trial Mountain has elements that combine a temporary street course and an imposing rally course. It has high natural rock walls, vast elevation changes, blind corners and awe-inspiring natural beauty. Some people even believe this track's layout was inspired by the boomerang-like shape of Croatia. I have love for Croatia since I get blog hits from Croatia. Whether you believe this or not, this blog post is about Trial Mountain.

--- Trial Mountain ---

^

"A road runs over this mountain." -Gran Turismo 3 A-Spec

Trial Mountain is essentially a race track carved through a mountain. It is a rally course that thinks it is a permanent and proper racing circuit. Rock-faced walls and undulations in the road make Trial Mountain one of the most challenging and original courses anywhere. It is also a surreal natural masterpiece. Since Gran Turismo 3, many people have noted a monkey sitting on a tree trunk while a race is going on. Gran Turismo 5 featured a rumored Loch Ness monster sighting in one image of Trial Mountain in GT5. The track is a fictional course, but in Gran Turismo 2, Trial Mountain is the track used in the UK Nationals. So you could say this is a British course when there has never been a true British venue until London shown up starting in "Gran Turismo 5: Prologue" followed by the Top Gear Test Track in Gran Turismo 5.

One Lap Description.

Laps here are imposing whether in a car or on a motorcycle. Many of the corners are blind, so you will have to always be on your guard and drive carefully. The first corner goes slowly uphill and is followed by a mid-speed left kink. The next corner is also uphill corner of about the same radius as the previous corner. Exiting the second corner, the road goes downhill and bends into a smooth left-hand corner with sufficient banking. The road afterwards goes slightly uphill, slowly bends to the left, and leads into a sharp turn through one tunnel. The road gets narrow and blind with rock-faced walls and even less runoff road after exiting the first tunnel. Better think carefully where to brake and how to attack the apex of the following corner. You get a natural assist as the road progresses downhill. Gain some extra speed and get as close to possible to the inside curb without grazing the big rocks inside. Braking is not needed in the upcoming chicane (unless on a motorcycle) where the infamous tree with a monkey perched on it can be seen midway through the chicane. Set yourself up to head into the brief second tunnel to attack a moderately sharp left-hand corner. As you head into the second tunnel, the path to the tunnel is completely blind before you head downhill. In fact, the left is COMPLETELY blind. Attack the absolute inside through the yellow-painted part of the road to set yourself up for the final tunnel. When you enter the final tunnel, get ready for a high-speed rush like no other. You will go progressively downhill through the tunnel. Exiting the tunnel leads to a brief crest in the road as you blast through a forest. Then, the road goes sharply uphill. Over the crest, get ready to start braking hard. Try to attack the inside here as well, with the yellow painted part of the road. Go deep inside and set yourself up for a series of undulating blind corners. Keep a steady and consistent line throughout these consecutive corners. The final of these consecutive corners is a sharp right-hand corner with plenty of banking inside. Graze the outside curbing if you exit this corner too wide. After a downhill dip, the road ahead leads to the Start/Finish straight. A sharp left follows that leads to the Start/Finish straight. This sharp left has some banking. The final corner is a chicane (which many people intentionally cut). But before you reach this chicane, the road progress downhill leading up to the chicane. Drive a good racing line to be able to properly set yourself up to clear this corner guilt-free. Try not to cut too far inside in either part of the chicane, especially not the second part of it. Otherwise, your car will seriously be on two wheels and be a bit unstable upon exit. Straighten the car out and make ready to take on another lap of Trial Mountain.

Here is a video lap of what I've tried to explain (from Gran Turismo 4):

--- Trial Mountain Over Time ---

These are some videos to showcase the evolution of Trial Mountain. Take a look:

Gran Turismo 1 and 2.

Trial Mountain in its original state wasn't as super-realistic in graphical quality.

Gran Turismo 3.

With PS2 power, the track has gotten an incredible dosage of beauty. Big mountains, many trees, lush forests, and many more natural aspects help shape the natural beauty of this outstanding race course. Even seeing the sunlight shine from the trees is a beautiful natural touch. Considering this is Gran Turismo 3, you will see many rich and beautiful colors to accentuate this course. See for yourself in this quick video:

Gran Turismo 4 and Tourist Trophy.

The biggest differences between GT4's Trial Mountain and GT3's Trial Mountain is the less-saturated colors as well as fewer lines on the roads. It feels and looks more like a proper circuit here. Here is a look at this track in both GT4 and Tourist Trophy:

Gran Turismo 5.

I am working on buying a PS3 and Gran Turismo 5 as of this initial blog post. So therefore, I am seeing this course for the first time under PS3 power. And to say, it seems like most of the natural character of Trial Mountain is mostly diminished. Almost as if Trial Mountain is much less natural between GT4 and GT5 much like how Deep Forest seems less natural between GT3 and GT4. On the other hand, some beautiful and scenic views are present in this version of Trial Mountain. One of the loveliest views is heading into the Start/Finish straight where a lake can be seen. See for yourself the differences. And by the way, I can NOT guarantee a Loch Ness monster sighting in this video:



Regardless, this is one race track that you just don't mess with or take lightly.

--- Just for Fun: What If Trial Mountain Were a Rally Course? ---

(added: September 14, 2011; formerly a post on "John's Blog Space")
Like Grand Valley Speedway and all the Special Stage Route courses, Trial Mountain is a staple of the Gran Turismo series. In Gran Turismo 1, you could race with the Subaru Impreza Rally Car. Ever wonder what Trial Mountain would be like if it were a rally course rather than a hellishly technical road course? Trial Mountain, is a technical road course nicely inspired by rally racing. It's a best-of-both-worlds course that has a rally feel to it than a traditional road course.

So a few questions:

• do you think Trial Mountain is better off as a rally course (meaning off-road... whether dirt or gravel)?
• would you race Trial Mountain if it were an off-road course rather than a road course?
• do you think racing there would be more exciting if it were an off-road course?

Comment away!





That concludes my look at Trial Mountain. It is a great racing challenge no matter if you race in a car or a motorcycle. Its elevation changes and snaking roads make this an extremely difficult stretch of road to take lightly. The track isn't extremely beautiful, but it is very much a deceptive and vastly imposing course. Its challenge is incredible. Thank you for reading! Race on, friends!

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Tourist Trophy License Tests

(UPDATED: March 19, 2012)

The ride of your life involves getting picking up some licenses. Four licenses are available for you to acquire with the Tourist Trophy License School. Getting these licenses pertains to your ability to competitively ride a motorcycle across a number of challenges. There are forty license tests in all. This resourceful blog post features some of my own commentary and info on how to take on each of the forty license tests.

Welcome to Tourist Trophy License School.

LATEST UPDATE(S)/REVISION(S):

MAR 19 2012 - updated look of post

--- Tourist Trophy Licenses at a Glance ---

^ Being taken for a ride by License Tests? Perhaps my insight can help you!

With four licenses to pick up, they represent your only chance of even being eligible to compete in any number of championships or any number of bikes. You must demonstrate mastery of skill in operating and riding a motorcycle to become any professional in the game.

Riding a motorcycle features skills much different from driving a car. You are able to ride harder and deeper into corners on a motorcycle. Unlike cars, though, you can take a nasty spill that will have you flying off of your motorcycle. So make sure to hold on tight while smoothly making your moves on your motorcycle. Motorcycles get even more unstable in certain sections than cars. You need to be absolutely careful trying to maneuver a motorcycle around race tracks. The license tests you have to take part in demonstrate many aspects of how to operate and race a motorcycle.

You have four licenses to pick up: Novice, Junior, Expert, and Super. Each level demonstrates varying levels of difficulty both in operating motorcycles and in competitively racing motorcycles. The Graduation Tests for each class of competition are all one-lap Time Trials. The Novice and Junior classes demonstrate unique abilities to use in your racing. You have a dashed line on the track to let you know the preferred line. Blue means you accelerate, red means you brake, and gray means you let off the throttle. A gradient in the colors means you should apply a little throttle or a little brake depending on the colors. Once you reach the Expert Class, this dashed line will be vanished, and it will be up to you to find the preferred line for each course. The Super Class is all one-lap Time Trials. Here, your concentration and ability to ride a motorcycle while demonstrating all previously-learned skills will equal the difference between pass and fail.

License tests feature standing starts and rolling starts. Getting a good launch in a standing start can make a big difference in shaving a few extra seconds off of your license time. Engage the throttle on a rolling start. I will let you know which tests feature rolling starts. The launch speed is an estimate of how fast your bike is going when you cross the finish line. All speeds are indicated in miles per hour, so if you are more accustomed to kilometers per hour, you'll have to (sadly) do a conversion.

Important Riding Notes.

Here are a few things to take note of as you do license tests...

• You need to tuck down when doing license tests. This will help cut down wind resistance at speed. Just hold down the button you've set to tuck down to ride through the wind better while riding at full speed. Don't try to tuck down in cornering, because this hampers your handling ability trying to lean into the turns.

• Hitting any off-track objects, such as cones or turn markers, results in an automatic disqualification.

• Any time you fall off of your bike, you will be disqualified. Try to clear each task while still on your bike.

• When both tires leave the track, you are not automatically disqualified unless you are off the road for half of a second. Make sure to quickly get back on the road if you are off-course as you get off.


One last note... Tourist Trophy remains the ONLY Polyphony Digital-made racing game where I have gone All-Silver for all license tests. As of this post, I have 20 Golds and 20 Silvers. Most of the tests shouldn't be too difficult to get even Bronze. As long as you have decent understanding of how to handle a bike in the game along with proper racing technique, you should do just fine getting even Bronze. The most important thing to practice is staying on your motorcycle and controlling it.

--- Tourist Trophy License Tests: Novice Class ---

Basic understanding of handling and operating a motorcycle are featured here in the Novice Class. You will learn the basics of competitively riding a motorcycle. You will also learn how to properly control your motorcycle through ten different tests. Your ability to properly use a motorcycle is what you will be tested on for the most part.

(FUN FACT) Tourist Trophy's Novice class is the ONLY set of license tests I've reached that legendary milestone of All-Gold. As of this blog post, this is the first (and sadly) ONLY set of license tests in any Polyphony Digital game I have accomplished All-Gold.


--- NOVICE TESTS ---
N-1: Braking Basics 1
N-2: Braking Basics 2
N-3: Riding Basics 1 (Circles)
N-4: Riding Basics 2 (Circles)
N-5: Slalom 1
N-6: Cornering Basics 1 (Braking to Lean-In)
N-7: Cornering Basics 2
N-8: Cornering Basics 3
N-9: High-Speed Cornering
N-10: Novice Class Graduation Test

N-1: Braking Basics 1.

"Come to a complete stop within the specified area."

Motorcy,c,le: 2005 Yamaha Grand Majesty 250
Course: Test Course (500m strip)
Start: Standing Start

You're not ready for superbikes! Practice your acceleration and braking by utilizing your first two-wheeled rocket: a Yamaha scooter. The Grand Majesty 250 is a peppy scooter that gets up to speed fairly well. Get up to speed (tuck down if you have to) and start braking either as you approach the 450 meter mark or just past the 450m mark. If you need guidance, pay attention to the dashed line on the road and plan your attack there. Gold shouldn't be too difficult to attain.

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 28.270
• SILVER: 29.630
• BRONZE: 32.300

N-2: Braking Basics 2.

"Come to a complete stop within the fixed area. Be careful of the rise in speed compared to the previous test."

Motorcycle: 2005 Honda CBR600RR (J)
Course: Test Course (500m strip)
Start: Standing Start

You will be riding a supersport (also called middleweight) motorcycle here. The same skills you learned in the previous test will come in handy here. Remember that you are attempting the same test in N-1, but on a faster motorcycle. If you are any Gran Turismo veteran, you know that faster machines require quicker stop times. Use the dashed line to help you realize when to brake.

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 19.900
• SILVER: 20.010
• BRONZE: 22.800

N-3: Riding Basics 1 (Circles).

"Ride around the circle 3 times as fast as possible. The test will demonstrate how the racing line is affected by acceleration."

Motorcycle: Suzuki Skywave 250 SS
Course: Circle Course
Start: Standing Start

This is your first test where you will need to do some handling. The Skywave 250 SS from Suzuki is your ride for this course. You will be asked to complete three laps around a circle track 100 feet in radius. To do so, you must keep a consistent top speed all the way around. Adjust throttle input as you lean hard into the corners on your Suzuki. If you leave the course either by hitting the outside cones or with both wheels leaving the race track, you will be disqualified. Try to keep your bike as far inside as much as possible without going off course. If you need a little extra speed, then as you cross the finish line for the final lap, instead of dig inside, try to go straight ahead without hitting any outside cones. A speed of about 36 mph is just right to maintain. You may reach 37 or 38 mph in your run, but keep it between 36 mph or 37 mph. At the start, be careful not to lean too far while trying to get up to speed.

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 39.120
• SILVER: 40.800
• BRONZE: 44.400

N-4: Riding Basics 2 (Circles).

"Ride around the circle 3 times agaim, this time using a more powerful bike."

Motorcycle: 2005 Yamaha XJR1300
Course: Circle Course
Start: Standing Start

From a standing start, you must perform the same task in N3, but on a faster motorcycle. The XJR1300 is your motorcycle for this test. Since you are riding a faster motorcycle than the weakling Suzuki scooter, you obviously realize you can go for higher top speeds. The difficulty is greater, though, as you try to maintain a solid speed for the entirety of the run. A speed of about 40 mph is a good speed to maintain and not exceed. Remember- when getting up to speed, don't lean too far, because you will fall off of your bike if you lean too far trying to get up to speed.

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 37.870
• SILVER: 39.010
• BRONZE: 42.400

N-5: Slalom 1.

"Synchronize rhythmic on/off acceleration with the shifting of your weight."

Motorcycle: 2005 Yamaha TMAX
Course: Fuji Speedway '90s
Start: Standing Start

One of the coolest things about riding a motorcycle is razor-sharp handling while leaning hard. Practice maintaining a decent speed in this slalom test. Yamaha power has been bestowed to you in the form of the Yamaha TMAX scooter. You know you can go only so fast, so don't worry about trying to go too fast to try to complete the slalom run. It is possible to take this course at full throttle without needing to do any braking. Better have a good racing line if you plan on doing this, though.

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 19.050
• SILVER: 19.970
• BRONZE: 21.200

N-6: Cornering Basics 1 (Braking to Lean-In).

"Reduce your speed significantly at the entrance of the corner. Use accel/rear brake to adjust if you enter a corner too hot."

Motorcycle: 2005 Yamaha XJR1300
Course: Twin Ring Motegi - Road Course
Start: Rolling Start at 81 mph

This is your first true handling test. It is also the first Rolling Start test. You are asked to clear the hairpin corner leading to the Start/Finish line of the East Short Course portion of Twin Ring Motegi's road course. The Twin Ring Motegi course is used as the Grand Prix site for World Superbike and MotoGP. This test is the first Rolling Start test, so you do not have to get a proper launch off the line. Just follow the dashed line and carve this corner like a jack-o-lantern as best as you can. You need to brake hard while leaning hard into the corner. Let off the throttle mid-turn, then twist the grip, and rocket down the straight to complete the test.

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 15.130
• SILVER: 16.090
• BRONZE: 17.500

N-7: Cornering Basics 2.

"Learn rhythmic cornering and racing lines by going through a series of corners."

Motorcycle: 2005 Triumph Sprint ST
Course: Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
Start: Rolling Start at 43 mph

The British stallion you will ride is the Sprint ST from Triumph. It is your task to navigate three corners ranging from after the Andretti Hairpin to heading into the high-speed part of the track. Laguna Seca delivers some deceptive corners to you. And if you're not ready, you will pay dearly. Do some hard braking mid-turn for all three corners to keep the bike stable. Pay attention to the dashed line to get some ideas on how to maneuver properly around this course. Be smooth with it to land the best times.

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 32.600
• SILVER: 34.080
• BRONZE: 37.100

N-8: Cornering Basics 3.

"Try to get your bike upright when you need to brake hard. Your bike will lose balance if you brake hard during cornering."

Motorcycle: 1989 Honda VFR400R
Course: El Capitan
Start: Rolling Start at 48 mph

Even though El Capitan can not be raced on against three other riders, you are still given one hefty challenge to power this 1980s Honda motorcycle around the tricky El Capitan course. El Capitan is a course from Gran Turismo 4 with vicious elevation changes. It is an exercise in car control where only the finest will come through with victory. Thankfully, you will not have to take on the elevation changes here. You are asked to clear a very long left-hand hairpin. You will go far outside when approaching the corner. The dashed line suggests you let off the throttle halfway through the corner, then brake moderately followed by twisting the throttle. Develop a smooth line exiting the corner while leaning just right to clear the corners properly. Be careful not to lean too far to where you increase your chances of flying off your motorcycle. Stability at speed is an absolute must around El Capitan.

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 24.543
• SILVER: 24.620
• BRONZE: 28.100

N-9: High-Speed Cornering.

"Try mastering cornering at ultra fast speeds."

Motorcycle: 2005 Suzuki GSX-R 600
Course: High-Speed Ring
Start: Rolling Start at 50 mph

High-Speed Ring is a nice challenge for motorcycles as it is for cars. Take on the first two corners of High-Speed Ring in this test in a fast Suzuki supersport bike. Make sure you are at full throttle because the test begins immediately after you start/restart the test. Half of the first corner can be taken at full speed until you have to do some hard braking and some hard leaning. You will need to brake hard as you exit the first corner, but get the Suzuki back up to speed to take on the second corner. Brake hard into the second corner and try to get a good launch to clear the Finish gate at a blistering speed.

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 35.420
• SILVER: 37.000
• BRONZE: 40.200

N-10: Novice Class Graduation.

"Run the Autumn Ring (Mini) in a one lap Time Trial."

Motorcycle: 2005 Yamaha TMAX
Course: Autumn Ring Mini
Start: Rolling Start at 43 mph

You will receive your Novice license if you can complete one lap around Autumn Ring Mini on a Yamaha TMAX. Autumn Ring Mini is considered a great race track for racing vintage motorcycles and scooters. Its simplistic nature makes it a great course to test your motorcycle riding skills. The critical corners to Autumn Ring Mini are the very first hairpin and all the corners at the eastern ends of the circuit. A healthy amount of leaning is needed to clear this course properly. It takes some practice to get Gold here, but it can be done. Just be smooth all around the course. Watch your lines and try to develop a good angle.

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 46.460
• SILVER: 48.370
• BRONZE: 52.600


That concludes the Novice license! You may either try to earn some new bikes or go for your Junior license. It's up to you.





Speaking of the Junior License, make sure you are reading the full blog post to see my other license test commentaries. This Jump Break is provided for performance purposes.

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Gran Turismo Career Focus - an Introduction

Gran Turismo is great, but in an effort to think on how to make Gran Turismo better, new ideas have to be considered. One must evolve and adapt to become better than before. That even includes going with new ideas and practices. One of them is an idea that can be a hot mess if done wrong- a proper Career Mode. As I've posted in the past, some feel the real racing aspect of Gran Turismo is in serious need of a makeover for the long-term future of the franchise. I am personally falling into that category of thinking that GT needs to evolve even more so in remaining that top-flight racing game franchise. This blog post is an introduction to a new series of blog posts I hope to unveil here on JGTS regarding a true Career Mode for Gran Turismo.

REMEMBER: I have NOT played Gran Turismo 5 yet, so I will not include any personal experiences of playing GT5 in this discussion.

--- The Point of This Blog Post ---

I have created this blog post to illustrate what I hope to discuss in a series of blog posts here on "John's Gran Turismo Space." Basic points will be expressed here followed by clarification in future blog posts.

About the Label:

For when a blog post in the series is posted, look under the label "Career Focus." Each post in the "Career Focus" label pertains to my own look at a career-focused element of Gran Turismo. I will discuss various aspects of a career-focused Gran Turismo because just one post isn't good enough to discuss this. I need to make multiple points and express things properly for my readers to get a proper understanding.

--- What Defines a Career Mode? ---

A racing career mode is defined in most part to whatever goal(s) is/are to be accomplished. To be a complete and proper racing career, a Career Mode must encompass various elements for which a successful racer is defined. A true career in the sense of rookie to legend depends on whatever tasks qualify as becoming a champion of racing. Are you to compete in a given championship for some amount of time? Are you to be in multiple championships?

Career Mode for any sort of racing game comes in a variety of elements and vary depending on the game. Gran Turismo has always been about the drive as well as the number of cars and what-have-you to enjoy racing to the max. One of the main criticisms people give about the Gran Turismo series is that the games have failed to truly deliver on the real racing front. For some, the simple Gran Turismo mode doesn't feel anything like a real racing championship despite all the racing you do.

--- Does Gran Turismo Need a Career Mode? ---

On two fronts, a Career Mode would either be beneficial or damaging. Beneficial that there is racing character to Gran Turismo, but damaging if you're a GT purist. A Career Mode would make Gran Turismo too linear. It would be too linear unless you find a creative way to sort out the races and the action.

Many racing games that have a Career Mode are mostly focused on one or more specific series or races. Other racing games like ToCA Race Driver 3 and RACE 07 (among MANY others) feature the feel of racing in multiple series. All of the real-life championships are basically built up on and based on actual series. Because you don't have as much leeway to race in just about any other series, you're almost essentially stuck to the kinds of cars you use in each championship along with all the different tracks you race on. That's why we have certain games that aren't restricted to only one racing series. That's also why we praise certain games that feature multiple series and the respective tracks raced on by the series in question.

Another challenge to a Career Mode is to try not to make it seem so much like Gran Turismo has a storyline. You don't want to ruin the joy you experience in the Gran Turismo universe with trying to focus establish a proper career. Gran Turismo should, and always should be about the cars and the racing. Trying to focus solely on careers more than racing makes it seem like the cars are unimportant. The ToCA Race Driver series, for example, is a lot more about actual racing and racing series than the cars. Of course, ToCA games were built on emphasizing real racing.

A Good Start...

Gran Turismo 5 and its kart racing is a good way to start a career. When you think about getting started as a race car driver, many race car drivers started off in kart racing. A smart way to set up a career-focused title is to highlight on kart racing. The idea of this is to showcase an up-and-coming driver racing on local tracks or being invited to major amateur-level racing championships. That's why I think the inclusion of kart racing is a great one for the Gran Turismo series.

...but After That?

You've proven yourself in the karting ranks... now what? Use your winnings from karting to purchase some crappy first car to compete in the Sunday Cup? Head right into the License Center to enhance your skills (or maybe try to do great enough there to win bonus cars)? For most racing games, you're already a real race car driver as you have all the licensing you need to compete in just about any race you see fit.

A lot of people who complain about having to do license tests probably feel like the game should start for real when you get a car and work your way up the ladder. But for me, each Gran Turismo is a new experience. Even if you think you know every nuance of the game, you still need to play the game through the License Tests (or do a good amount of Arcade races) to understand the nature of the GT you're playing.

As I have mentioned with a Career model, you may run the risk of making Gran Turismo a bit too linear. But if executed properly, you can make a Career Mode to be engaging and immersive while still maintaining the real character of the racing game (especially for established franchises like the Gran Turismo series).

--- What I Hope to Accomplish With This Series of Posts ---

I would like to share with you what I hope to accomplish in preparing this series of blog posts regarding a career model for Gran Turismo. These are some goals I hope to achieve in preparing these GT Career posts:

* intricately describe every nuance to have that "just right" model for a GT career
^ I don't want to just type up something on a Gran Turismo career; I need to explain everything so my readers get a proper understanding of what I am trying to discuss.

* provide insight from other games and real life in my explanations
^ While I am discussing the Gran Turismo series, insight from other games and real-life applications help drive home a better understanding of what is being mentioned.

* try to enact a model for a professional-type racing career using past practices from past GT games
^ If you're going to do a Career Mode, best do it right. I will use insight from past Gran Turismo games to help illustrate my point as well as speculate what GT would be like if it had a proper career model put into place.

* question various other aspects and "answer questions never asked"
I want to mention as many different points as possible as well as maybe think about things no one may ever consider regarding a career model for GT.


Having said all of this, I hope you enjoy my series on a proper Career model for the Gran Turismo series. One of my biggest hopes is that maybe this catches on and gives some insight to PD on how to structure the next Gran Turismo (or a future GT).

Most of all, I want more people to view and get involved with my content. Don't just visit and leave- let me know if you enjoyed my content! I have been editing JGTS more often apart from my primary blog. So please show some support! How am I supposed to know if I'm doing a good/bad job if you don't tell me?

Remember that all posts in my series on a Career Mode for Gran Turismo will be under the "Career Focus" label. Please use this label to find all of the blog posts in this series.





Thank you for reading! Get involved, people!

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Grindelwald

The beauty of Switzerland is experienced in Gran Turismo 2 with Grindelwald. This one-hit wonder is one of the most challenging and most unique city courses featured in any GT. I find this course to be fun to race with classic cars or even touring cars. Could you imagine if this course was featured in future GT games? Of course, Gran Turismo 5 would feature Eiger Nordwand, which is mostly in the same vicinity of Grindelwald. This blog post is a look at Grindelwald in Gran Turismo 2.

SPECIAL NOTE: Official 50th post to JGTS! :D

--- Grindelwald ---

^ It was in only one Gran Turismo, but it is one of the best racing challenges in GT2.

I think Switzerland is a beautiful country. One of Switzerland's lovely locales is this one here. The Grindelwald track is a city course. While it may not be an urban jungle like some traditional street courses, there are still a great number of corners and sections that make it feel more like a permanent race course than a traditional temporary street course. In fact, you could basically take away the buildings and the barriers, and you'd basically have a permanent race course. The setting is beautiful for Grindelwald. You gaze at beautifully blue skies as well as seeing the Swiss Alps in the distance. As for the track itself, there is a bit of banking and some crests that accentuate this course. Certainly a bad idea to go with soft suspension and low ride height here.

This track begins with a little kink. A smooth and long left follows that goes uphill upon exit. A smooth transition uphill follows along with a rather sharp and blind right. Some banking in the road follows after that as you clear Intermediate 1. Some more banking follows as a moderate-speed right is met with a moderate-speed left. Clear the moderately sharp left that follows to blast down the backstretch at full speed into Intermediate 2. This road ahead is smooth with high-speed roads. You will notice train tracks to your left. When the train tracks disappear from your view, get ready to be confronted with a moderate speed left-right chicane followed by a sharp left-hand hairpin that slowly goes downhill. As you cross Intermediate 3, the biggest drop in elevation around the whole track is experienced in a downhill left-right chicane. Banking in the road that follows lead to a blind right-hand corner followed by a smooth left-hand corner. That left-hand corner gets a bit long as the road to the Start/Finish line is ahead. Go full speed afterwards and hold nothing back to complete a lap in this Swiss alpine paradise!

Here is a video lap around this lovely locale (you may need to turn down the volume a bit):


Don't you wish this course could have been featured in future GT games? Even though other Swiss venues have been featured since Gran Turismo 2, Grindelwald was still a fantastic circuit to feature in a Gran Turismo game. I've only recently began to appreciate just what it was like to have a track like this in the Gran Turismo series. There was just a certain character about having this course.

Since GT2, there have been the Swiss Alps rally course, Eiger Nordwand (tarmac), and Eiger Nordwand (rally), and the Photo Mode location at Lucerne in GT5. Racing this track is still worth plenty of reason to play Gran Turismo 2 again.





Thank you for reading!

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Mid-Field Raceway

The challenge provided by Mid-Field Raceway is a somewhat long course with plenty of high-speed depth. This track made its debut in Gran Turismo 2. It is a 13-turn road course with plenty of high-speed corners. The real challenging parts of the course are on the western end of the course. As it is a relatively short course, it isn't too difficult to land some quick lap times here.

This post is all about the great GT road course known as Mid-Field Raceway (or Midfield Raceway).

--- Mid-Field Raceway ---

^ You must have a fast car that can still corner quite well if you expect to win at Mid-Field Raceway.

At its very core, Mid-Field Raceway is a road course that is easy-going in nature, but deceptive if you take it too casually. The course features two tunnels and thirteen turns. It's really the second half of this course that will test you. Once you exit the first tunnel, you are basically told that this course will get difficult. Mid-Field Raceway isn't extremely challenging. You just have to generate a solid line that helps you clear this course fast. This was the course you raced on for the Japanese Nationals in Gran Turismo 2. Having a fast car helps, but you'll need just a little more to help you to win races here. Laps fly by here in the fastest cars.

Crossing under the overpass leads you to a deceptive Turn 1. It can be easy to overshoot this section if taken the wrong way. A bad entry into Turn 1 will lower your speed heading into Turn 2 as Turn 2 is an increasing radius corner. A straight follows into a high-speed chicane at Turns 3 and 4. Turn 5 comes in abruptly to upset your car's balance a bit. A good entry sets you up for the first tunnel and through Turn 6. Heading into Turns 7 and 8, try to keep the car as far inside as possible without going into the grass. If your car bogs into this section, you're going to have an unhealthy case of understeer trying to point the car in the correct position. You don't want your car going wide in this section when it could be pointed as far inside as possible. Turns 9 through 11 now await. You can take Turns 9 and 10 in two ways- either with minimal to moderate braking heading into the hairpin at Turn 11, or almost at full speed (unbalanced car and all) and try to dive bomb deep into Turn 11. Better safe than sorry- minimal or moderate braking for proper entry into the Turn 11 hairpin is the way to go. Go through the other tunnel to go to Turn 12. As you go uphill, power your way through Turn 13 and make that high-speed dash down to the Start/Finish line.

One of my lap records doing this course in any GT was 57.600 in an F/686m in Gran Turismo 3.


I couldn't find any videos without music, so my video choices are limited.

Gran Turismo 2.

I couldn't find a video that didn't include music, so this was the best I could find. Enjoy this look at GT2's version of Mid-Field Raceway:

Gran Turismo 3.

GT3's rendition of this course was obviously much more beautiful under PS2 power. The textures and environment are smoother and richer both in color and in detail. There are even a number of styling details to set itself apart from GT2's version. Here is a demo lap around Mid-Field Raceway:

Gran Turismo 4 and Tourist Trophy.

There wasn't too much difference graphically between GT3's Mid-Field and GT4's Mid-Field. GT4 obviously had differences such as less saturated (which is sad for me because I love rich colors) graphics. It still looks great. Here is a demo lap of this course in GT4:


A great thing about motorcycles is that you can dig deeper into corners and power out effectively. However, it's tougher to hug the inside on sweeping long corners. See for yourself in this Tourist Trophy video lap of Mid-Field Raceway:



I thought Mid-Field was in Gran Turismo 5, but it is NOT in GT5. So it's sad not to see Mid-Field included in GT5.





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Gran Turismo 4 License Tests - Super License

(UPDATED: March 19, 2012)

Time trials are the name of the game as the Super License challenge comes calling. Getting your Super License qualifies you to compete in just about any race. That even includes the longest and most challenging races. You need to get this license to validate yourself as being worthy enough to compete in, and win, almost any event. Most of your racing in one lap runs have been behind the Pace Car. Now, the Pace Car is off the track. It's all about you and the track in front of you. Make the most of your car and its handling characteristics to deliver the best performance you can muster. Welcome to the final challenge of GT4's license tests- the Super License tests!

Because Gran Turismo 4's repertoire of license tests is massive, I will divide this into three parts. When all have been posted to JGTS, you can visit any number of the blog posts to help you in acquiring whatever series of licenses you aspire to earn. Here is my series on GT4's license tests:

PART 1 of 3: Gran Turismo 4 License Tests - National
PART 2 of 3: Gran Turismo 4 License Tests - International
PART 3 of 3: Gran Turismo 4 License Tests - Super License (YOU ARE HERE)

LATEST UPDATE(S)/REVISION(S):

MAR 19 2012 - updated look of post

--- Gran Turismo 4 License Tests at a Glance ---

You need a license to go racing in Gran Turismo. Where you can race and what you can race depends on your license. You need to acquire all licenses to be eligible to compete in all events. This remains unchanged since the very first Gran Turismo. You may loathe these license tests, but you have no other choice but to take part in these to clear the game. If you have run out of ideas on how to run each course, follow the included demo runs to get some inspiration as to how to clear each license test. Take notes from the video and apply those techniques to your own driving style. I play with a DualShock, but many recommend racing with a steering wheel to get the most overall bit of performance out of your driving. Racing with a steering wheel assembly can offer you a little extra advantage in your racing. So invest in getting a steering wheel to have a little extra edge and control in your racing.

The best thing about Gran Turismo 4's license tests is that they aren't as difficult to clear each test as long as you drive consistently. This makes the license tests more along the lines of "easy to learn, difficult to master." You will find this to be refreshing in the later license tests because some of these can be very tough to score Silver or better. All you have to do is drive consistently and properly to clear most of the later license tests to pass. It may not sound very rewarding to GT veterans like myself, but consider that not every player of Gran Turismo is of the same caliber of the Gran Turismo elites and veterans. On the other hand, the Bronze scores aren't terribly easy to where you can drive like an idiot and still pass.

New to the variety of license tests are one-lap trials and Coffee Breaks. Every five license tests (excluding for the Super License) for each set of tests is a one-lap guided run around a certain track with a Pace Car. These are meant for you to learn some of the many courses of Gran Turismo 4.

When you reach the Super License tests (get all four licenses), your attention turns from lessons to applied tests. You will be racing various cars on some of Gran Turismo 4's finest tracks.

Now, here is some extra information you need to know about License Tests in Gran Turismo 4:

Info on 1 Lap Guide Runs.

On every five License Tests between National-B and International-A, you will take on a One Lap Guide Run. The 1 Lap Guide Run is a new concept to Gran Turismo license tests. In these tests, you learn every inch/meter of each track with a Pace Car ahead of you. The Pace Car will auto-adjust to your skill depending on how hard you want to take the course. Follow the racing line set by the Pace Car driver to know where to drive on the track. When the Pace Car brakes, you do the same in the area he/she brakes. The point of guided runs is to learn each track. If you hit the Pace Car, you will automatically fail. Almost pretend the Pace Car is not there and just go race the track as competitively as you can. When you complete one of these, you will not have the luxury of following your ghost to try to improve your time. So therefore, you will have to continually adjust your driving style to try to lay down the best lap time. Each license test (except the Super License) category features three of these one-lap guide runs. At least a Bronze for each One Lap Guide Run is certainly attainable as long as you race smart and try to complete each course within the specified par times. Take your time and learn each track as you go around each of them. A prize is easily attainable for just driving consistently enough around the track. If you want to score better marks, be more aggressive and put together a solid driving effort.

NOTE: There are no One Lap Guide Runs in the Super License, so don't worry about this part of this section.

Coffee Breaks.

Also new are Coffee Breaks. These are driving mini games meant to provide a little diversion from the intense license tests. Clearing these (for what I know) are not required to clear. Gold and Silver times apply for these, but just finishing the course is more important than trying to lay down a mystifying time around the Coffee Break courses. All of the Coffee Breaks take place on the Gymkhana Course.

Start Types.

Standing Starts and Rolling Starts are featured for License Tests in Gran Turismo 4. If a race is part of a Standing Start, it is important to note that getting a strong launch from your starting position can make a great difference in shaving off a few extra seconds. You need not worry about good launches if a test is part of a Rolling Start. If a license test begins with a Rolling Start, you will see the certain launch speed you will go at. They are purely estimates based on what speed you are at by the time you cross the Start gate. I have run every License Test to examine the closest-possible top speed once you start the test.


This said, let's begin!

--- GT4 License Tests: Super License ---

^ The entire track is yours. Can you pilot your given car across each track with the fastest-possible times?

"This is a higher difficulty level of license for more skilled players. The curriculum is composed of one lap time attacks only."

-Super License Tests scrolling information in GT4

You need a Super License to stand any chance of beating Gran Turismo 4. No excuses. This is not an optional license. You need a Super License especially for some of the races in the Extreme Events hall.

The Super License consists of one-lap time trials. You are given a car to race for one lap around each of the different tracks. All of your skills from the previous four licenses will be put to good use as you are asked to clear each license test to the best of your ability. The Pace Car is no more. You're grown up now. There are no more One Lap Guide Runs. It's time to go all out and make the most of what you've learned previously. The tests consist of both Normal cars and Racing cars. Learn each track. Understand each car. Race as hard as you can to deliver the quickest laps you can muster in having any hopes of clearing all sixteen tests.

The challenges will be extreme, but this will be the ultimate test of your skills that this game has to offer. All I can do is give advice. The actual driving is up to you and you alone. You can do it!


--- SUPER LICENSE TESTS ---
S-1: 1 Lap Time Trial (Twin Ring Motegi Road Course)
S-2: 1 Lap Time Trial (Citta di Aria)
S-3: 1 Lap Time Trial (Special Stage Route 5)
S-4: 1 Lap Time Trial (Costa di Amalfi)
S-5: 1 Lap Time Trial (Seattle)
S-6: 1 Lap Time Trial (Ice Arena)
S-7: 1 Lap Time Trial (Trial Mountain)
S-8: 1 Lap Time Trial (Tokyo R246)
Coffee Break: Cone Maze Challenge
S-9: 1 Lap Time Trial (El Capitan)
S-10: 1 Lap Time Trial (Grand Canyon)
S-11: 1 Lap Time Trial (Opera Paris)
S-12: 1 Lap Time Trial (Suzuka Circuit)
S-13: 1 Lap Time Trial (Infineon Raceway - Sports Car Course)
S-14: 1 Lap Time Trial (Chamonix)
S-15: 1 Lap Time Trial (Circuit de la Sarthe)
S-16: 1 Lap Time Trial (Nürburgring North Course)

S-1: 1 Lap Time Trial (Twin Ring Motegi Road Course).

Car: 1998 Honda Gathers Drider Civic Race Car
Course: Twin Ring Motegi - Road Course
Start: Rolling Start at 90 mph

The first of your license tests requires you to race around Twin Ring Motegi's full road course in a fast Honda Civic race car. Your Civic is a FWD race car on a demanding, mostly flat race course with sharp corners. It will not be easy trying to swing your Civic around Motegi's road course. For the most part, there is not much difference between this race car and the road-going car. Both cars pack 181 horsepower, and obviously, the car you're racing in this test is on racing tires with a racing rollcage. Its brakes are very powerful as well. So if anything, you are essentially racing a street car vastly modified for racing. Be careful not to divebomb too deep into corners. Otherwise, you'll pay dearly on the stopwatch.

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 2:17.000
• SILVER: 2:21.000
• BRONZE: 2:26.000

S-2: 1 Lap Time Trial (Citta di Aria).

Car: 1966 Alfa Romeo Spider 1600 Duetto
Course: Citta di Aria
Start: Standing Start

You are back in the claustrophobic nightmare known as Citta di Aria, but in a different Alfa Romeo. The beautiful Spider 1600 Duetto will be your car as you race around Citta di Aria. This car has a longer wheelbase than the Alfa Romeo Giulia GTA Sprint from the One Lap Guide Run you did in a past test. Because of this, you can push its handling limits a bit further than the other Alfa Romeo you've used previously. This car is more stable in the turns than the car you used in IB-15 and MUCH slower than that suicidal run you have to do in the IB-license final.

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 2:17.000
• SILVER: 2:21.000
• BRONZE: 2:26.440

S-3: 1 Lap Time Trial (Special Stage Route 5).

Car: 2002 Saleen S7
Course: Special Stage Route 5
Start: Rolling Start at 138 mph

If you can believe it, this is your first time... and will be the ONLY time you race around Special Stage Route 5. You're doing a lap of this track in a Saleen S7. This V8-powered beast is a real American supercar with its midship design and incredible top speed. Harness this beast's energy around the highways of Special Stage Route 5. Your car handles the highways and streets pretty well. Maybe it isn't an overly dominating and overbearing supercar, but it handles its own quite well. Develop a consistent rhythm that will allow you to handle especially the first half of the course without fail. This car will not flail out of control unless you just drive bloody mad (as my British friends might say). The really crucial parts of the track are the hairpin and the final set of chicanes that lead to the final corner and eventually the Finish line.

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 1:24.500
• SILVER: 1:27.000
• BRONZE: 1:33.400

S-4: 1 Lap Time Trial (Costa di Amalfi).

Car: 1977 Lancia Stratos Rally Car
Course: Costa di Amalfi
Start: Standing Start

For the first time since Gran Turismo 2, you will be racing the Lancia Stratos rally car. It will, however, be the first time you race one in a License Test. This wedge-shaped racing machine is powered by a Ferrari V6 engine. Costa di Amalfi awaits you as you power your way up and down this course using one of the most successful rally cars of all-time. Narrow roads and various elevation changes add intrigue to this challenging course. However, it is a challenging course where you can enjoy high speed racing. The corners are all blind, but unlike Citta di Aria, is much more fun to race with its slightly wider roads and higher speed sections. The northern portion of the track takes you to the track's highest elevation points. If you're ambitious, as you make your way downhill from the northeastern end of Costa di Amalfi, take on the snaking road from the northeastern corner down to the impending hairpin at full speed and don't start braking hard until you reach the corner leading to that hairpin. Your car will be unstable all the way down, but try to control the car to furiously blast through this section. The most important corners to get right are the final three hairpins. The second and third hairpins are super-slow, so find a good line and power out of the final two hairpins with everything you got! Polyphony Digital couldn't have given you a better car to use for this test than the Stratos rally car.

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 2:17.000
• SILVER: 2:21.000
• BRONZE: 2:27.500

S-5: 1 Lap Time Trial (Seattle).

Car: 2005 Ford GT
Course: Seattle Circuit
Start: Rolling Start at 114 mph

Since Gran Turismo 2, the streets of Seattle were shaking in wake of Fords. You raced two different GT40s in GT2 and GT3 in different tests. You raced this track in the normal direction in GT2 and reverse in GT3. Now, you're back to the normal layout and doing so in the new (at the time of this game) Ford GT. This car isn't as fluid of a car as the Ford GT40 cars you've used previously in past GT games (if you played GT2 and/or GT3), but this car does a very good job handling this course. The back end will not snap on you or punish you for not stabilizing the car properly in the corners. Drive fearlessly and without malice trying to tackle the many blind and sharp corners of Seattle Circuit. By the way, this is your first and only visit to Seattle in the GT4 License Tests.

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 1:34.200
• SILVER: 1:37.500
• BRONZE: 1:43.200

S-6: 1 Lap Time Trial (Ice Arena).

Car: 2001 Hyundai Accent Rally Car
Course: Ice Arena
Start: Standing Start

The Hyundai Accent is your weapon around the Ice Arena. Ice Arena is a fictional course dominated by snow banks and some moderate-degree turns. The Accent Rally Car featured in this test was the same Accent Rally Car raced in the World Rally Championship back in its day. In fact, I think Alister McRae raced an Accent in the WRC back in the early 2000s. Anyhow, it won't take too much to nail down a time just below Silver. Just try to make tight turns as best as you can while not drifting wildly out of control. Also, be sure not to get too aggressive in any one set of turns. Also, be careful not to swing the car out too wide in the switchback that leads to the Start/Finish straight. This is a track that rewards consistent and timely drifts. The Accent is a pretty good car you are given for this course, but it is not as agile or as fun as an Impreza or a Lancer. Make the most of the Accent's ability and deliver your best performance to pass.

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 57.000
• SILVER: 58.710
• BRONZE: 1:00.910

S-7: 1 Lap Time Trial (Trial Mountain).

Car: 2003 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren
Course: Trial Mountain
Start: Rolling Start at 55 mph

Race the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren around Trial Mountain. This beast of a car has 5439cc of displacement and something north of 600 horsepower. It almost seems like a death wish to take an exotic like this around a deceptive purgatory like Trial Mountain. But... that's the challenge in front of you. This car handles Trial Mountain surprisingly well. It has loads of power for a heavy vehicle as this one. It will get up to speed very well and remains mostly stable through the twisty and undulating roads of Trial Mountain. Unlike that "Yellow Bird" you raced, this car is MUCH more stable thanks to its front-engine/RWD layout. You'll reach speeds of over 140 miles per hour as you reach the crest on the backstretch of Trial Mountain. Success in passing this test depends on your ability to keep this big Benz on the road and between the lines. You'll literally have your hands full with this car on this course.

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 1:30.500
• SILVER: 1:32.000
• BRONZE: 1:38.300

S-8: 1 Lap Time Trial (Tokyo R246).

Car: 2003 Honda Takata Dome NSX GT (JGTC)
Course: Tokyo R246
Start: Rolling Start at 137 mph

Strap into your JGTC NSX to take on the streets of Japan's capital city. Tokyo Route 246 is a high-speed street course with plenty of tricky depths to it. You have a mid-engined GT race car to take on these streets with. Not only a mid-engined GT car, but a mid-engine race car from the JGTC (now known as Super GT). Tokyo R246 gives you its toughest corners first. Start braking hard before passing under the second Firestone sign for Turn 1. You're tempted to go really fast here, and you can. You just have to drive carefully and develop a great racing line. Pulling Gold here is going to be quite difficult. My best time (non-demo run) was 1:35.793. Be proud if you even get into the 1:35 range.

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 1:33.000
• SILVER: 1:36.330
• BRONZE: 1:42.000

S Coffee Break: Cone Maze Challenge.

Car: 1992 Honda Beat Version F
Course: Gymkhana - MAZE
Start: Standing Start

Are you ready for the final Coffee Break? This one will grind your mind because 50 cones are scattered across a giant maze. Pilot your Honda Beat through the course, knocking out all 50 cones in the process. Gold is near impossible, so just find all fifty cones and take them out. You can even use Reverse to take out cones behind you. Best advice- take your time. Knock them out so we can knock out the remaining eight Super License tests! My demo run was a 2:11.333. My previous best- 2:38.966!

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 1:33.000
• SILVER: 1:36.000
• BRONZE: (just finish)

S-9: 1 Lap Time Trial (El Capitan).

Car: 2003 Dodge Viper SRT-10
Course: El Capitan
Start: Rolling Start at 113 mph

For the final time, you will take on El Capitan. You will do so in a Dodge Viper convertible. I've personally never really liked the Viper as a convertible. If you thought the previous tests on El Capitan were tough on your car's suspension and in making your car all kinds of unstable, you haven't seen anything yet. Your Viper can be prone to understeer as you try to power your way around this track. This V10-powered snake doesn't have as much venom when contested with the undulations. So among other bits of advice, don't go all out here until you fully understand the limits of both this Viper and El Capitan. Do a little braking if you have to just to prevent the car from snapping loose from your control. Rule number 1- keep the car stable throughout the entire course. Rule number 2- don't try to do too much at once. Just don't go crazy trying to lay down the quickest times until you are truly ready to do so.

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 1:47.800
• SILVER: 1;51.300
• BRONZE: 2:00.000

S-10: 1 Lap Time Trial (Grand Canyon).

Car: 1984 Mitsubishi Starion 4WD Rally Car
Course: Grand Canyon
Start: Standing Start

Experience the full length of Grand Canyon in a Mitsubishi Starion rally car. While the Starion is a rear-wheel drive car, you will be racing the 4WD rally car version of the Starion. Grand Canyon was the first rally course featured for Gran Turismo 4 in GT4's initial stages. It is a course dominated by intense corners. Many switchbacks and challenging roads makes this course totally imposing. The roads are mostly narrow. This course is the closest to a proper-style rally course with such narrow roads. Get ready to deal with the narrow roads and twisty bends of Grand Canyon while trying to nail a solid lap time. Silver can be fairly easy to attain with solid driving. Be a bit more daring if you want to get a Gold here. I pulled a 2:50.979 in my demo run, and it was better than than my previous best of 2:52.345.

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 2:47.000
• SILVER: 2:53.000
• BRONZE: 3:02.000

S-11: 1 Lap Time Trial (Opera Paris).

Car: 2003 Renault Clio Renault Sport V6 Phase 2
Course: Opera Paris
Start: Standing Start

The streets of Paris are much more fun to race on when you have a great car, and that's what you get with this Renault you will be racing. This mid-engine, RWD hatchback is more than sufficient to take on this course. The fact this car has a midship configuration with ample horsepower and rear-wheel drive means you have a car sporty enough and capable enough to take on this course. You can harness this hatchback's performance capabilities to get up to speed quickly and turn precisely. It's hard to get this car to spin out in the corners, but be careful not to power down too early through the very slow corners. Otherwise, your car will briefly drift out of control. Gather it up before you pay a dear price for your tomfoolery.

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 1:36.620
• SILVER: 1:38.500
• BRONZE: 1:44.230

S-12: 1 Lap Time Trial (Suzuka Circuit).

Car: 2004 Nissan Motul Pitwork Z (JGTC)
Course: Suzuka Circuit
Start: Rolling Start at 135 mph

Let this be your final exam around Suzuka- pilot a powerful JGTC race car around one of the world's greatest race tracks. Suzuka will not hold back, and neither will your Nissan Motul Pitwork Z. The Z was the car used by the Nissan teams as the R35 GT-R was still in the works. You must furiously race this GT racing machine through this glorious racing facility. It can take whatever Suzuka throws at it. Powerful brakes, powerful acceleration, strong top speed, and great handling are all this car's finest qualities. You are given a great race car to race in anger. Make the most of it and this track to deliver a strong lap. Be proficient in your attack all lap long, thinking ahead to the next set of corners. Degner, 130R, and the Casio Triangle are three of the most critical zones of Suzuka that must be met appropriately for you to land the best lap times.

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 1:55.919
• SILVER: 1:59.437
• BRONZE: 2:05.730

S-13: 1 Lap Time Trial (Infineon Raceway - Sports Car Course).

Car: 2001 Audi R8 Race Car
Course: Infineon Raceway - Sports Car Course
Start: Rolling Start at 105 mph

The Audi R8 LMP race car dominated sportscar racing for about the entirety of the first half of the 2000s. It would later be replaced by the Audi R10 TDI. Infineon Raceway is a tough circuit to master. It won't be made any easier considering the Audi R8 LMP is such a plenty capable car. You have to try to keep this car pasted to the tarmac as much as you can. Its strong top speed and acceleration, though, make it feel like trying to keep a Formula 1 race car on a go-kart track. You need a lot of practice here to know how to race this track to a Bronze. Then, learn how to do what you did for Bronze, only faster and more precise for Silver and Gold.

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 1:16.120
• SILVER: 1:17.300
• BRONZE: 1:22.700

S-14: 1 Lap Time Trial (Chamonix).

Car: 1985 Peugeot 205 Turbo Rally Car
Course: Chamonix
Start: Standing Start

If you love Group B rally cars, you will love this test. However, you will loathe racing Chamonix because this is very difficult. You must power your way around Chamonix in a Group B car. The loss of traction coupled with this car's willingness to hammer down upon acceleration makes this test absolutely difficult. This is the final rally License test. Group B rally cars were notorious for being absolutely beastly to handle on various off-road and on-road stages. The lack of traction on snow and ice means this car will easily spin out if you give too much throttle too early. Try to find a delicate balance between power and handling. You want to harness the Peugeot's handling and power, but you have to do so on a narrow course laden with snowy and icy sections. The car is poor to race on tarmac. The car really shows its prowess on this course once you get on the snow. In my first time playing this track, I somehow managed 2:28.326- good enough for Silver. I didn't even complete a demo run. So that's why my information and advice are so limited. Maybe you'll agree with me that racing on snow in GT4 is a bit easier than racing on dirt as non-tarmac racing is concerned. Or at least, I've seemed to do better on snow and ice than dirt.

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 2:26.500
• SILVER: 2:30.895
• BRONZE: 2:40.043

S-15: 1 Lap Time Trial (Circuit de la Sarthe).

Car: 2003 Bentley Speed 8 Race Car
Course: Circuit de la Sarthe I
Start: Rolling Start at 99 mph

I can't tell you how happy I am to tell you that Le Mans is next. I am a HUGE fan of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. This will be the final License Test with a Rolling Start. Bentley is one of the all-time greatest marques at Le Mans, having won Le Mans six times in the first ten years of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. They triumphed again in 2003 with the car you will be racing in this License Test. Bentley (or at least Polyphony Digital) has bestowed you with the Le Mans-winning Bentley Speed 8 to take on all 8.5 miles of Circuit de la Sarthe I. This track snakes and weaves to the left and to the right early on with several elevation changes. Tertre Rouge (leading onto the very long backstretch) is tough to get right. All the while, enjoy racing at over 200 miles per hour to about a top speed in the 220 mph range. The Mulsanne Kink is a reminder that this course is going to get much more difficult. The road to Indianapolis and Arnage narrows up as both corners are tough to navigate. The Porsche Curves will really test your car control skills. My best time of this blog's initial posting was 3:24.610. My demo run was 3:31.033. It is not difficult at all to keep this car to the road- just don't overdrive the car.

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 3:19.000
• SILVER: 3:25.400
• BRONZE: 3:36.600

S-16: 1 Lap Time Trial (Nürburgring North Course).

Car: 1992 AMG Mercedes 190 E 2.5 - 16 Evolution II Touring Car
Course: Nürburgring Nordschleife
Start: Standing Start

You will be home free from License Tests once you get past this test. That is... 12+ miles away from home! From a previous blog post, you know how much I love (actually, f'ing HATE!) racing the Nürburgring Nordschleife. Narrow, undulating roads along with blind corners make this track worthy of its nickname of "Green Hell." The best news is that as long as you can race precisely around these roads for a good seven minutes, winning a prize isn't hard to come by. This is the final Standing Start license test. I didn't even complete a demo run, so let me offer you advice as someone who hates racing this course. Learn as you go is the main piece of advice. You are basically racing the motorsports version of the car from the IA-15 test. This car was made for the Nürburgring since it isn't blindingly fast. The one thing I hate about doing long courses is that screwing up one section of a very long course ruins an entire run, and it's almost impossible to rebound if you're able to do so. I feel like I HAVE to clear it on the first try so that I won't have to waste minutes of my life having to try the entire massive course again. It is a huge test of patience. And when you're trying to nail a super-fast lap time on a very long course with well over 100 corners, it is an absolute nightmare. Do more braking and drive a bit less fearless driving this course if it helps. Just drive fast enough to easily nail Bronze. You'll need to be faster and more precise to get to Silver territory and beyond. My only run on record here yielded a 7:49.974 time. Glory awaits you if you pass this test!

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 7:07.700
• SILVER: 7:30.000
• BRONZE: 7:58.300


Did you clear all 16 tests and the Coffee Break? If so, congratulations! Enjoy your Super License and prize car(s)!





This concludes not only the Super license tests, but all license tests. I broke these up to decrease my workload and also to improve the performance of my blog. Thank you for reading this series of posts on the License Tests of Gran Turismo 4!

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Gran Turismo 4 License Tests - International

(ADDED: March 19, 2012)

The National tests are done. Now, it's time to think Internationally. An International-grade license shows that you are ready to challenge in more difficult races. You need International licenses in your development towards becoming a World Championship race car driver.

Because Gran Turismo 4's repertoire of license tests is massive, I will divide this into three parts. When all have been posted to JGTS, you can visit any number of the blog posts to help you in acquiring whatever series of licenses you aspire to earn. Here is my series on GT4's license tests:

PART 1 of 3: Gran Turismo 4 License Tests - National
PART 2 of 3: Gran Turismo 4 License Tests - International (YOU ARE HERE)
PART 3 of 3: Gran Turismo 4 License Tests - Super License

LATEST UPDATE(S)/REVISION(S):

MAR 19 2012 - updated look of post

--- Gran Turismo 4 License Tests at a Glance ---

You need a license to go racing in Gran Turismo. Where you can race and what you can race depends on your license. You need to acquire all licenses to be eligible to compete in all events. This remains unchanged since the very first Gran Turismo. You may loathe these license tests, but you have no other choice but to take part in these to clear the game. If you have run out of ideas on how to run each course, follow the included demo runs to get some inspiration as to how to clear each license test. Take notes from the video and apply those techniques to your own driving style. I play with a DualShock, but many recommend racing with a steering wheel to get the most overall bit of performance out of your driving. Racing with a steering wheel assembly can offer you a little extra advantage in your racing. So invest in getting a steering wheel to have a little extra edge and control in your racing.

The best thing about Gran Turismo 4's license tests is that they aren't as difficult to clear each test as long as you drive consistently. This makes the license tests more along the lines of "easy to learn, difficult to master." You will find this to be refreshing in the later license tests because some of these can be very tough to score Silver or better. All you have to do is drive consistently and properly to clear most of the later license tests to pass. It may not sound very rewarding to GT veterans like myself, but consider that not every player of Gran Turismo is of the same caliber of the Gran Turismo elites and veterans. On the other hand, the Bronze scores aren't terribly easy to where you can drive like an idiot and still pass.

New to the variety of license tests are one-lap trials and Coffee Breaks. Every five license tests (excluding for the Super License) for each set of tests is a one-lap guided run around a certain track with a Pace Car. These are meant for you to learn some of the many courses of Gran Turismo 4.

When you reach the Super License tests (get all four licenses), your attention turns from lessons to applied tests. You will be racing various cars on some of Gran Turismo 4's finest tracks.

Now, here is some extra information you need to know about License Tests in Gran Turismo 4:

Info on 1 Lap Guide Runs.

On every five License Tests between National-B and International-A, you will take on a One Lap Guide Run. The 1 Lap Guide Run is a new concept to Gran Turismo license tests. In these tests, you learn every inch/meter of each track with a Pace Car ahead of you. The Pace Car will auto-adjust to your skill depending on how hard you want to take the course. Follow the racing line set by the Pace Car driver to know where to drive on the track. When the Pace Car brakes, you do the same in the area he/she brakes. The point of guided runs is to learn each track. If you hit the Pace Car, you will automatically fail. Almost pretend the Pace Car is not there and just go race the track as competitively as you can. When you complete one of these, you will not have the luxury of following your ghost to try to improve your time. So therefore, you will have to continually adjust your driving style to try to lay down the best lap time. Each license test (except the Super License) category features three of these one-lap guide runs. At least a Bronze for each One Lap Guide Run is certainly attainable as long as you race smart and try to complete each course within the specified par times. Take your time and learn each track as you go around each of them. A prize is easily attainable for just driving consistently enough around the track. If you want to score better marks, be more aggressive and put together a solid driving effort.

Coffee Breaks.

Also new are Coffee Breaks. These are driving mini games meant to provide a little diversion from the intense license tests. Clearing these (for what I know) are not required to clear. Gold and Silver times apply for these, but just finishing the course is more important than trying to lay down a mystifying time around the Coffee Break courses. All of the Coffee Breaks take place on the Gymkhana Course.

Start Types.

Standing Starts and Rolling Starts are featured for License Tests in Gran Turismo 4. If a race is part of a Standing Start, it is important to note that getting a strong launch from your starting position can make a great difference in shaving off a few extra seconds. You need not worry about good launches if a test is part of a Rolling Start. If a license test begins with a Rolling Start, you will see the certain launch speed you will go at. They are purely estimates based on what speed you are at by the time you cross the Start gate. I have run every License Test to examine the closest-possible top speed once you start the test.


This said, let's begin!

--- GT4 License Tests: International B-License ---

^ You have arrived by way of getting your National licenses! Now, it's time to arrive proper with your International Licenses.

"This license covers the more advanced aspects of driving in race conditions, including mastering variations in road elevation and the challenges of street courses."

-IB License Test scrolling information in GT4

The International-B License shows that you have mastered more advanced racing techniques than you have learned in the B-License and A-License tests. You will be introduced to racing on temporary street courses in this set of license tests as well. When faced with city street races, you must understand what makes a street course different from a traditional permanent road course. One of the biggest differences is that many street courses don't give you the luxury of extra grass or runoff areas in case you overshoot a corner or miss a braking point. You have to master racing a car through much tighter space. While many against street courses think they are slow and lack any real fun, one advantage to these courses is that (and let's face it) it's cool seeing race cars go around city streets faster than average traffic on those streets. Part of the allure of city street races is the ability to go full speed through cities and city streets as buildings fly by. While this is a visual thrill, city streets can also be quite bumpy. Street courses can be immensely physical to race on.

While not all courses in the IB category are street courses, you still have a great deal to learn and master before even going for your IA license. Allow me to share some advice in your quest for your IB license.


--- IB-LICENSE TESTS ---
IB-1: Braking During Turns 1
IB-2: Braking During Turns 2
IB-3: Advanced Level Complex Corners 1
IB-4: Advanced Level Complex Corners 2
IB-5: 1 Lap Guide Run (Costa di Amalfi)
IB-6: Cone Slalom 1
IB-7: Cone Slalom 2
IB-8: City Street Challenge 1
Coffee Break: Knock over the cones laid out in a spiral (2)
IB-9: City Street Challenge 2
IB-10: 1 Lap Guide Run (Hong Kong)
IB-11: Competition Dirt Racing 1
IB-12: Driving on Snow 1
IB-13: Tackling Undulating S-bends
IB-14: Tackling Corner Sequences over Undulating Surfaces
IB-15: 1 Lap Guide Run (Citta di Aria)
IB-16: Graduation Test

IB-1: Braking During Turns 1.

Car: 2001 Hyundai Tiburon GT
Course: Tsukuba Circuit
Start: Rolling Start at 78 mph

At about 78 mph, you will race your Hyundai around the first corner of Tsukuba Circuit while practicing trail braking. This is where you start braking into corners while turning the steering wheel. Tsukuba's first corner is slow and a bit blind. You have to brake hard to avoid going into the outside tire wall. Then, you need to find a good line to get as much speed exiting the corner to post the fastest time. The Tiburon is a pretty powerful FWD car with great performance. Make the most of its power and performance to clear this test with a good time.

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 14.440
• SILVER: 14.870
• BRONZE: 15.570

IB-2: Braking During Turns 2.

Car: 1998 Mercedes-Benz SL 500 (R129)
Course: Nürburgring Nordschleife
Start: Rolling Start at 77 mph

You will be racing the northern section of Nürburgring Nordschleife in a trail braking exercise. Here, you will need to do so in a heavy Mercedes-Benz sports coupe. The goal here is to practice high-speed trail braking. This track is a bit easier because you are heading downhill, and also because this one is a bit more simple in scoring a quick time. Use the green sign on the far right as a braking reference. Brake HARD into the corner while turning. Get the right amount of speed upon exit to power towards the finish line. I pulled a 25.768 in one demo run, but then pulled a 25.202 run... 2 thousandths away from Gold! You can probably do better than me here. Give it a shot!

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 25.200
• SILVER: 26.000
• BRONZE: 27.300

IB-3: Advanced Level Complex Corners 1.

Car: 1998 Honda Prelude Type S
Course: Suzuka Circuit
Start: Rolling Start at 88 mph

Spoon Curve is your nemesis in this license test. Your weapon to take on Spoon Curve is a Honda Prelude Type-S from 1998. You have to brake fairly early to set the car up to properly tackle this corner quickly. Spoon Curve is a two-part corner. The first half is a smooth entry, followed by a sharp second half. It must be cleared properly to get a great exit towards the Finish gate. While the Prelude Type-S is a powerful FWD car, you still need to harness its power and capabilities properly to get a great time.

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 27.600
• SILVER: 28.430
• BRONZE: 30.230

IB-4: Advanced Level Complex Corners 2.

Car: 2003 Audi S4
Course: Deep Forest Raceway
Start: Rolling Start at 47 mph

Any Audi that boasts an "S" in its name is an upgraded performance version of a base Audi. Therefore, you are racing the performance version of the A4, the S4. You will take on the second half of the interior portion of Deep Forest. It begins from exiting the first tunnel of the full course. You go through another tunnel before ending up on the backstretch to the Finish gate. A lot of required out of you to get into Silver range, as a difference of 8 tenths of a seconds determines the difference between Gold and Silver. It is very tough to think of this section as two long corners, but you have to treat this track like two long corners. Between the corners and exiting the corners, you need to keep the S4 stable on the undulating roads. Beware of understeer as you exit the final corner. Be EXTREMELY proud if you get a time at or below 27.999 because that equals Gold for this course.

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 28.000
• SILVER: 28.840
• BRONZE: 30.600

IB-5: 1 Lap Guide Run (Costa di Amalfi).

Car: 2003 Peugeot 206 RC
Course: Costa di Amalfi
Start: Standing Start

Welcome to your first license test on city streets. This is your first look at the challenges street courses provide. What makes street courses challenging are blind corners and high walls. You have to properly trace a driving line that allows you to clear it effectively. As for racing these courses, there is no margin for error as you don't have the luxury of runoff road or lots of grass in case you get it all wrong. You will race the very fun Costa di Amalfi course in a Peugeot 206 RC. Costa di Amalfi will allow you to turn your car loose as you go for speed. Trying to suppress your high speed rush are narrow roads with some tricky tight corners. Don't begin to trail the Pace Car until after you clear the first kink. The rest of the way is a challenge to properly navigate the winding roads of Assisi while keeping the car as stable as possible.

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 2:46.000
• SILVER: 2:50.000
• BRONZE: 3:02.500

IB-6: Cone Slalom 1.

Car: 2003 BMW Z4
Course: Fuji Speedway '80s
Start: Standing Start

This is a slalom test utilizing the long front stretch of Fuji Speedway. The course is marked off by cones as you race a BMW Z4, a powerful convertible BMW. Active Stability Management (ASM) has been enabled to help make sure your car doesn't spin out of control wildly as you clear this slalom. Control your throttle input as you weave around the cones.

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 17.700
• SILVER: 18:660
• BRONZE: 20.890

IB-7: Cone Slalom 2.

Car: 2003 BMW Z4
Course: Fuji Speedway '80s
Start: Standing Start

ASM has been disabled on your BMW Z4 as you take the same course as in IB-6. Or really, I take that back. ASM is still enabled for your car because... YOU are are the ASM for the car! Experience much more raw handling in this test. It will be tougher to keep the BMW stable weaving around cones, but not impossible. The same license times from the other test are the same for this one. So if you are somehow able to clear the first Cone Slalom without fail, this game pretty much believes you can do the same test times even without ASM enabled. This one is going to be tougher, so don't be overaggressive on the throttle.

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 17.700
• SILVER: 18:660
• BRONZE: 20.890

IB-8: City Street Challenge 1.

Car: 2004 Chrysler Crossfire
Course: New York
Start: Rolling Start at 84 mph

This is your first proper license test (not a time trial) on a city course. You will have to deal with a series of 90° corners in the Big Apple. This is a more traditional street course with walls lined by barrier walls and catch fences. You have blind corners to contend with as well. So you have two challenges as you attempt to navigate the streets of New York City- find the best racing line around all seven turns. All seven are blind, and you are trying to make sure not to tag any walls. The first corner can use a little trail braking as you attack the apex of the first corner. This is critical because improper entry will send you right into the outside wall. Brake hard going into Turn 2 and power out of the corner from the apex. Next, swing your car out to the outside heading into Turn 3. Attack it just right to get ready for Turns 4-7. Turns 4 and 5 are like a double-apex corner. Turn 6 is a switchback that leads to Turn 7. Your car is the RWD Chrysler Crossfire. It will be your stylish car to take to the streets with. It has no problem staying on the streets and out of the walls. The streets of New York City can be tough, even for Gran Turismo racers. How will YOU handle your tour around NYC? Don't let the walls and barriers intimidate you. I got a 43.532 in my best demo run, better than my previous best- a 43.666.

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 43.200
• SILVER: 44.440
• BRONZE: 46.800

IB Coffee Break: Knock over the cones laid out in a spiral (2).

Car: 1994 TVR Griffith 500
Course: Gymkhana - SPIRAL REVERSE
Start: Standing Start

You will perform the same 100-cone Coffee Break as in the A-License Coffee Break. This time, however, in the opposite direction and with a much more powerful and capable car. The previous Coffee Break allowed you to increase a certain top speed you set. This Coffee Break is the opposite. Set a certain speed limit for your car that progressively decreases. The closer you get towards the center, the more you have to consider slowing down. Since this is a twitchy RWD car, you have to be careful keeping this car stable. Control your speed, and you should be able to clear this one effortlessly.

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 31.500
• SILVER: 33.333
• BRONZE: (just finish)

IB-9: City Street Challenge 2.

Car: 2001 Volkswagen Bora V6 4Motion
Course: Citta di Aria
Start: Rolling Start at 87 mph

From the streets of New York City to the Italian town of Assisi, you must navigate the extremely narrow roads of Citta di Aria in this City Street Challenge. The course runs from the backstretch to the super-slow downhill chicane. The fact that you will be running this course very fast (90 mph on a one-lane road with buildings on both sides!) makes this even more challenging. The WV Bora is a pretty fast four-wheel drive car, so make sure to slow the heck down as you navigate through this torturous set of roads. How well you are able to properly control the car through the corners equals the difference between pass and fail. Control your speed, find the correct racing line, and at least a Bronze is attainable. Do what you did for Bronze faster and more precisely if you want Silver or Gold.

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 22.000
• SILVER: 22.660
• BRONZE: 24.000

IB-10: 1 Lap Guide Run (Hong Kong).

Car: 1997 MG MGF
Course: Hong Kong
Start: Standing Start

This is the first license test performed under evening conditions. You will be racing on the festive streets of Hong Kong for this 1 Lap Guide Run. You will use an MG MGF to tame the streets of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region, China. This mid-engined convertible with rear-wheel drive is probably better suited to mountain roads than tight street courses. Still, you will enjoy open-air driving as you take in the sights of Hong Kong. This is no sight-seeing tour, though. What makes Hong Kong challenging are its high walls and deceptive corners. The depths of this course are tricky. What you think you can take at full speed or limited throttle may require some (at least) light braking. This track is not too difficult to race (wait until you race a much tougher street course later in the IB licenses!). The MGF is actually very fun to race around Hong Kong. It's like a rally car in the corners. You can swing the tail end loose and be able to gather it back up for a sweet drift around the corners. You will have to be quite crafty to secure a Gold around here.

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 1:55.200
• SILVER: 1:57.420
• BRONZE: 2:05.180

IB-11: Competition Dirt Racing 1.

Car: 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VII MR GSR
Course: Grand Canyon
Start: Rolling Start at 57 mph

Now, let's take a break from city street courses and head back off-road. After clearing a big jump, your Lancer Evo. VII MR GSR will cross the Start gate to take on two more jumps. What follows is a smooth left-hand corner, followed by a switchback that leads to a sharp right. This test isn't too difficult as long as you maintain a smooth line and come along with a solid drift through the corners.

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 18.200
• SILVER: 18.800
• BRONZE: 19.800

IB-12: Driving on Snow.

Car: 1991 Celica GT-FOUR RC (ST185)
Course: Ice Arena
Start: Standing Start

Welcome to the first-ever license test in snowy/icy conditions! Never before has racing in Gran Turismo been done on snow or ice until now. Racing on snow or ice is much different from racing on dirt. Racing on snow/ice is different from racing on dirt because there is much less traction gained by racing on such conditions than on dirt. Snow tires usually have studs on them to help aid in handling on icy surfaces. With this test, you are asked to clear a portion of Ice Arena that includes two hairpins. Most of the road is dominated on either side by high snow banks. Don't even think about braking or letting off the throttle for the first two corners. At the first hairpin, start braking hard and let the car drift to the left as you take on the corner. Do the same thing for the second hairpin, only drift to the right. Attack the inside as best as you can and get a good-enough jump out of the final smooth corner to deliver a great time. My demo run time was a 24.454, which is better than my previous best of 24.708.

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 24.000
• SILVER: 24.720
• BRONZE: 26.450

IB-13: Tackling Undulating S-bends.

Car: 2002 Ford Focus RS
Course: El Capitan
Start: Rolling Start at 73 mph

The American El Capitan course will be negotiated by a front-wheel drive European hatchback. Your Focus RS will go up and over the undulating roads between the finish of the A-8 test and the entrance to pit road of the El Capitan course. It will be a challenge to keep the Focus on track while properly navigating the course. However, at least this will be better than the Undulating Corners test of Gran Turismo 3 (if you've played it). Your rally-spec Focus can take on these roads nicely, but to make the most of its performance, you need to have great car control all the way around this course.

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 29.700
• SILVER: 30.860
• BRONZE: 33.170

IB-14: Tackling Corner Sequences over Undulating Surfaces.

Car: 2004 Mercedes-Benz SL 600 (R230)
Course: El Capitan
Start: Rolling Start at 61 mph

After clearing the first hairpin of El Capitan, it is up to you to pilot this 2004 Mercedes-Benz SL 600 around the roads between the first hairpin and the second hairpin. I can tell you from experience that you are truly tempted to go fast around here. This course isn't all that intimidating to try to go full speed or have limited throttle. However, you need to do some hard braking to keep the car stable through sections. You can take the first few corners at full throttle heading into the bus stop chicane that leads to the tunnel. Your car will get all kinds of unstable as you head uphill out of the tunnel. It is important you brake to avoid flying off the road and into the outside sand trap. The most important element of this license test is in your ability to keep the car stable despite the violent elevation changes you will encounter here. A very important lesson in car control can be mastered by taking this test.

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 36.350
• SILVER: 37.000
• BRONZE: 40.200

IB-15: 1 Lap Guide Run (Citta di Aria).

Car: 1965 Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GTA 1600
Course: Citta di Aria
Start: Standing Start

I personally hate racing Citta di Aria with a passion. It's fun in Tourist Trophy on a motorcycle, but not with a car. I even remember seeing a video of Gran Turismo 4 Prologue where a BMW McLaren F1 raced around Citta di Aria flawlessly. I'd much rather stick to slower cars for Citta di Aria. Citta di Aria is a beautiful course, don't get me wrong. It's just not fun. You will have the honor of driving a beautiful 1965 Alfa Romeo through this old city in a one-lap guide run. This classic Alfa Romeo GTA is more than decent in handling. The one thing to be careful of is in making sure that you don't get on the throttle too early exiting corners going downhill. The car can, and will, slide away up under you, inducing a spin. Another thing to be careful of is in going too fast down the backstretch. I hit the Pace Car in my demo run, but I wasn't disqualified (because I didn't hit the Pace Car hard enough). Just take it easy and bring it to the Start/Finish line in one piece.

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 2:11.000
• SILVER: 2:14.930
• BRONZE: 2:23.550

IB-16: Graduation Test.

Car: 2002 Lotus Esprit V8
Course: Citta di Aria
Start: Rolling Start at 103 mph

One last time around Citta di Aria in order to gain your IB License. From the very fast backstretch, you will negotiate a very tight right-left chicane followed by a tight right hairpin. The uphill trudge to the finish consists of a snaking and challenging road to the Finish gate. As I mentioned, I don't like Citta di Aria, and I'm not really a fan of the Lotus Esprit. Two evils working against me.... but that's what you have to contend with. You need to be fearless (and a bit reckless) to score a fast time here. This test is almost unfair. If you want a braking point, look to your left. You will see what looks like the entrance to one building. The moment you begin to approach this white-walled building to your left, start braking hard. Or another way to view the braking point is to start braking when the downhill road begins to flatten. Use your visual cues to make this unfair license test a bit more fair.

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 19.000
• SILVER: 19.700
• BRONZE: 21.300





That covers your IB License. IB is good, but IA is better. Let's get after the IA License!

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