Ayrton Senna Tribute Thoughts

Ayrton Senna was one of the greatest racers in any discipline of motorsport- let alone Formula 1. A number of plans were underway to try to infuse Ayrton Senna's career into the realm of Gran Turismo. Update 1.08 for Gran Turismo 6 featured the Ayrton Senna Tribute material and a new Vision GT car from Mitsubishi. But for this blog post, I will only offer thoughts on the whole Ayrton Senna Tribute package. This post does NOT include any advice on how to clear the events. I may do that in a future post here on "John's Race Space."

--- Ayrton Senna Tribute Thoughts ---

Before offering thoughts, let me share with you this video to get you excited about the Ayrton Senna Tribute:


^ Gran Turismo 6 - Ayrton Senna Tribute Trailer

The Ayrton Senna Tribute is a chance for you to learn more about what made Ayrton Senna one of the all-time greatest race car drivers. Helping you feel like you are the iconic Brazilian racing superstar are a number of Time Trial challenges. You get to race three vehicles that Ayrton Senna raced in his career: his go-kart from 1980, his Formula 3 car, and the fire-breathing Lotus 97T that Senna won his first F1 race in. This package includes two older variants of Brands Hatch and Monza as well as a different version of the Silverstone Stowe course. It also adds some more PS3 Trophies for accomplishing tasks in this package.

I completed the Ayrton Senna Tribute long before compiling this blog post of ideas. I have not completed everything to where I got Gold for each event, though.

How the Ayrton Senna Tribute Works.

The Ayrton Senna Tribute features individual stages of his career. Before starting a certain challenge, you are helped to a slideshow of Ayrton Senna's illustrious past including captions to the pictures. Classical-style piano music plays in the background as you learn about Ayrton Senna. At the end of each slideshow, you are then treated to a Time Trial challenge to clear. You can win the vehicles you race with if you are able to clear the challenges with a certain score. If you leave the course or get into a collision, you will be disqualified. Trying to clear the individual challenges can be quite difficult, especially for Gold. It will take a lot of effort out of you to try to clear each challenge.

My Thoughts on the Ayrton Senna Tribute.

Some people will say this is disappinting since you don't really feel like you are engaged enough to feel like you are Ayrton Senna himself in the most intense moments of his racing career. A lot of F1 fans have considered A. Senna as a rain master, so you could conclude you could have raced a course under wet conditions. I think more probably could have been done to make the Ayrton Senna Tribute more engaging as far as the challenges are concerned. But in my view, I think the difficulty of each challenge is sufficient enough and hard enough to test even the most hardened Gran Turismo racer. Maybe the package would have benefit from having some other F1 cars and personalities to battle against in addition to Ayrton Senna. Then again, it would probably make the Ayrton Senna Tribute a bit less about Ayrton Senna. Like, what if there was a challenge where played as (for example) Alain Prost battling against A. Senna? It would make the Tribute more engaging, but this would require more licensing deals as well as sort of take away from realizing what made A. Senna so great.

Part of me says that if you want a more complete Formula 1 racing experience, go get one of the Codemasters F1 games or download a quality F1 racing mod for a great PC sim racer. Nobody said this was the most complete and thorough tribute of Ayrton Senna and his racing career. This tribute was done as best as Polyphony Digital could make it out to be. Could it be better? Sure. Could it be worse? No. If I were to grade the Ayrton Senna Tribute overall, I would grade it an A-. It has great challenge and features a well-told and well-executed look at Ayrton Senna's career. The tribute can be vastly more detailed, but you can't completely fault the effort and strides made to make the Ayrton Senna Tribute any better than it already is. If anything, this was a video game deal that got me to appreciate his racing career and his abilities more than I already respect him for.

At least... that is what I think about the Ayrton Senna Tribute. Feel free to express your own opinions.





If you haven't gotten the Update 1.08 package for Gran Turismo 6, be sure to download it. In fact, you probably should have the whole thing by now, since Update 1.09 was released not too long ago as of the initial date of this blog post (June 28, 2014).

What do you think about the Ayrton Senna Tribute in Gran Turismo 6?

As I mentioned, I may consider discussing certain aspects of the individual challenges in the Ayrton Senna Tribute. But for now, I hope you enjoyed this post and enjoyed reading my thoughts on this GT6 feature. Thank you for reading!

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GT5 Specials: Sebastien Vettel X Challenge

The Red Bull X2010 awaits you when you reach Level 30 in Gran Turismo 5. Only in a video game like Gran Turismo 5 can you experience (that's right- you EXPERIENCE; not drive) the X2010's awesome capabilities. It is the final Special Event challenge for the Gran Turismo gamer. To master this challenge, your reflexes and driving skills will have to be elevated. Your reaction time will have to be enhanced more than most F1 racers usually have. This will be the toughest challenge to date for you in Gran Turismo. Are you ready? This blog post is the last of the GT5 Special Event posts.

Welcome to John's Gran Turismo Space!

--- Sebastien Vettel X Challenge ---

^ Only in Gran Turismo 5, take on the most radical challenge of all time. Strap into the Red Bull X2010 and show your prowess.

"Take on Sebastien Vettel in the X2010 - Red Bull and Gran Turismo's jointly-created dream machine."

NOTE: This Special has a video you can watch. When you play it for the first time, you get to see this video play. You can see it again by highlighting on the image in the bottom-left hand corner of your screen when you access this Special.

Get ready to race the most ridiculously capable race car ever conceptualized- the Red Bull X2010. Formula One racing requires a great level of fitness and performance to survive a basic Grand Prix weekend. Formula One race cars are built to a certain specification. Basically, F1 is a challenge of what a great race car should be like, and it is the job of every other F1 team to build cars to a certain specification. It is simply one of the most rigorous and most rewarding forms of motorsport in the world. But what happens (or what WOULD happen) when there are no rules or guidelines to adhere to in building a race car? The answer is with this car and this series of Special Event time trial races.

You are asked to take the X2010 around three different Formula One race tracks while completing two laps around each. Each challenge begins in pit lane. From the pits, you must complete the rest of the first lap followed by completing a full lap in your second tour around each track. You will clear each challenge if you can clock lap times within the prescribed times. The X2010 takes some getting used to. Your reaction time and control of the car will be magnified when you do these challenges. According to my friends over on GTPlanet, you can have much better lap times if you race with a steering wheel rather than with the standard DualShock 3. This challenge will NOT be easy. My advice- learn the car's tendencies, take your time, and don't go all-out until you've mastered both the car and the given tracks.

And you thought video games were not capable at providing intense experiences... the mark of a great game (let alone racing) is to provide an exclusive experience only one specific game can offer. That exclusive experience is with the Red Bull X2010. As of this post, the X2011 was unveiled not too long ago for Gran Turismo 5. The insane racing originates with this X2010. The X2010 was offered as a free download as Sebastien Vettel recently clinched the 2011 Formula 1 World Championship. Racing the X2010 may be the scariest experience I've EVER had in any Gran Turismo game, let alone any racing game period.

Earlier this year, it was reported that if Sebastien Vettel won the 2011 FIA Formula 1 World Championship (which he did CONVINCINGLY), the Red Bull X2010 would be offered as a free download to all Gran Turismo 5 gamers. Use this opportunity to practice using this car in a variety of races if you haven't yet been able to utilize the X2010.

Sebastien Vettel X Challenge: Briefing.

You are asked to take the X2010 around three different Formula One race tracks while completing two laps around each. Each challenge begins in pit lane. From the pits, you must complete the rest of the first lap followed by completing a full lap in your second tour around each track. You will clear each challenge if your total lap time is within the prescribed times.

The X2010 takes some getting used to. Your reaction time and control of the car will have to be magnified when you do these challenges. You have to learn the car's tendencies immediately. There is no practice with this car. The cornering speeds are incredible. It accelerates and decelerates very quickly. Your reaction time and control of the car will have to be magnified when you do these challenges. If you want to clear these challenges effectively, my friends over on GTPlanet.net suggest you use a racing wheel instead of a standard gamepad. Bronze is not impossible, but Gold will require full concentration and solid driving. This challenge will NOT be easy. My advice- learn the car's tendencies, take your time, and don't go all-out until you've mastered both the car and the given tracks.


FIXTURES:
• the X2010 will be provided for you- no need to purchase a certain car beforehand.
• You must be at Level 30 or higher to compete in any of the events in this Special.
• Your total time is determined by the combined time of both laps.
• If you go off-course, crash hard, or knock over any cones, you will be disqualified.

--- Sebastien Vettel X Challenge (Level 30) ---

Let me try to suppress your fears if I can. You are NOT going to get this right away. You have to practice racing this car and get adjusted to racing with this machine. Prepare to screw up multiple times until you finally realize how to put together two laps to complete the challenges given. Before laying down acceptable lap times, practice completing two fast laps around the course. Once you find out how to race each course properly, try doing what you did to complete two laps... only faster and more precisely. Victory CAN be obtained! All you need to do to clear this set of challenges is to get Bronze or better. And once again- a racing wheel is recommended if you want to really dominate this Special. It is also very recommended you pay attention to the advice given to you before each of the three challenges. They can come in very handy in helping you clear each challenge.

PERSONAL NOTE: While Bronze is not what you want to obtain, there is no shame in accepting Bronze for this Special Event series unless winning Gold satisfies you more than Silver or Bronze. This Special is NOT easy!

Nürburgring GP/F Course.

For some reason, the Nürburgring has been one of my least-performing venues. I am NOT good on any configuration of the Nürburgring. You are racing the full Grand Prix configuration of the Nürburgring here. This track has many tricky depths and can be very deceptive to try to race with absolute precision. It will take some practice to get adjusted with this car and this track. Prepare to fail this challenge multiple times before you eventually find a way to lay down fast enough times to net you Bronze or better.

OBJECTIVES:
• Bronze: 2:23.000
• Silver: 2:09.500
• Gold: 2:08.000

Monza Circuit.

I actually cleared the Monza time trial before clearing the other two. This one is easy to me since Monza isn't a technical purgatory. Speed is the name of the game at Monza. Your only real concern is how you take each of the corners. While Monza is a speedy playground, the different corners that will slow down your car all have to be taken carefully to avoid going off-course or into a wall. Bronze shouldn't be too difficult as long as you race this course smart.

OBJECTIVES:
• Bronze: 2:19.000
• Silver: 2:05.000
• Gold: 2:04.000

Suzuka Circuit.

Suzuka is one of the world's most rewarding and most challenging race tracks. Having said this, you really need to be adept to clear this one with Bronze (at least). Suzuka is a twisting nightmare that will really push your X2010 skills to the limit. Drive fearlessly with controlled frenzy. This will not be easy. Actually in my runs, I cleared this one second after clearing the Monza challenge.

OBJECTIVES:
• Bronze: 2:26.000
• Silver: 2:11.500
• Gold: 2:10.000


You've completed the most difficult of the Special Events if you were able to clear all three tests! Be proud if you even secure Bronze in these challenges. This is one of those deals where you will gladly accept even Bronze honors for your efforts.





This concludes the GT5 Special Events series. All of my material was hopefully of good use to help you to take on each of the different events. Thank you for reading!

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GT5 Specials: Sebastien Loeb Rally Challenge

Think you know about rallying in Gran Turismo? Well... think again! Sebastien Loeb is one of the finest rally racers racing today. In the Sebastien Loeb Rally Challenge, you are challenged to complete three intense rally challenges on three tough courses. Try to complete a lap around three of GT's off-road courses to pass the Sebastien Loeb Rally Challenge.

--- Sebastien Loeb Rally Challenge ---

^ Prepare for the most difficult rally challenge of your Gran Turismo life when you compete in the Sebastien Loeb Rally Challenge.

"Learn some skills from 7-time WRC World Champion Sebastien Loeb."

NOTE: This Special has a video you can watch. When you play it for the first time, you get to see this video play. You can see it again by highlighting on the image in the bottom-left hand corner of your screen when you access this Special.

The rally racing is much improved in Gran Turismo 5 than in any other Gran Turismo, and you're going to learn this in the most intense way with this Special Event. Being at Level 16 will get you into this challenge. Three of the game's off-road courses will be made available to you. Your job is to try to drive fast enough to clear each prescribed time. These challenges can be pretty intense, so take your time and learn as you go. You will be racing the 2008 Citroen C4 WRC rally car in all three challenges.

I can say that this is very hard because I am not familiar with any of the featured courses. You run on Toscana, Eiger Nordwand K Trail, and Chamonix (not the GT4 version). The real challenge is in adjusting to these new courses and driving them as fast as you can.

FIXTURES:
• cars will be provided for you- no need to purchase a certain car beforehand.
• You must be at Level 16 or higher to compete in any challenge in this Special Event.
• You will be disqualified if you have a hard collision.

--- Sebastien Loeb Rally Challenge (Level 16) ---

Part of the challenge of this Special is that you don't have too much experience on any of these courses. As of this blog post, I have only completed the first of the three challenges. What I suggest for the other two challenges are all based on what I've learned in TRYING to complete the different challenges.

REMEMBER: You must be at Level 16 or higher to compete in this Special.

Tuscany.

If you remember your experience around Toscana in the Ford Focus WRC in the Grand Tour, you have yourself some experience heading into racing this event. There is very little separating Bronze from Gold. So if you want the best time, you'll need to be absolutely precise in your attack. While it shouldn't be too much a problem, keep in mind that the sun will go down as you're trying to complete this course. The course also has a handful of long and sweeping corners along with some sharp corners and switchbacks. It won't be easy trying to lay down a consistent lap with this track and its variable corners.

OBJECTIVES:
• Bronze: 2:00.700
• Silver: 1:59.200
• Gold: 1:58.200

Eiger Nordwand Full Course.

In all likelihood, you will be racing Eiger Nordwand K Trail for the first time ever. The Full Course of Eiger Nordwand is, in a word- difficult. You will do a brutally long (four minutes) lap around this 4.45-mile (7.16-kilometer) twisting rally course. One of the recommended things to note about this course is that a big part of your lap time involves your handling of the many small corners as well as how you handle the various elevation changes. Because the lap is long, your concentration has to be at or near the top in trying to complete the lap effectively and efficiently.

OBJECTIVES:
• Bronze: 4:11.400
• Silver: 4:09.900
• Gold: 4:08.900

AS OF THIS INITIAL POST: I have NOT cleared this challenge.

Chamonix.

Your final challenge is on snow at Chamonix. Now keep in mind- this is NOT the Chamonix of Gran Turismo 4. GT5's Chamonix is much longer at 5.13 miles (or an estimated 8.26 kilometers). In fact, GT5's Chamonix is longer than the Eiger Nordwand K Trail you raced in the previous challenge. Remember I said in the GT Rally Specials that rally racing on snow/ice is easy? Well, not here! You basically need to practice this course before even considering laying down a blinding fast lap here. An even more delicate balance of speed and handling is needed here than when you took on Eiger Nordwand K Trail in the previous challenge. Practice patience and stay consistent for the whole four-something minute lap around Chamonix.

OBJECTIVES:
• Bronze: 4:19.000
• Silver: 4:17.000
• Gold: 4:16.500

AS OF THIS INITIAL POST: I have NOT cleared this challenge.


These Special Events are tough. It takes a good deal of practice to eventually get everything right. You can do these courses in Practice in GT Mode if you need to familiarize yourself better with each course. Do whatever it takes to get these courses right.





That's all for this one. Thanks for reading!

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GT5 Specials: Grand Tour

Gran Turismo is Italian for "Grand Tour." This Grand Tour takes you mostly through central and southern Europe in a series of five events. Placing well in these races lend you money as well as new Photo Mode locations. Can you complete all five Grand Tour events? Can you complete this two-country tour? Welcome to John's Gran Turismo Space as well as another post regarding GT5's Special Events. And in my opinion, the best-executed of the Special Events in GT5.

--- Grand Tour ---

^ Five races in five places with five fabulous cars. Welcome to Gran Turismo's Grand Tour!

"Go on tour and take part in a series of events stretching from Bern all the way down the Italian peninsula to Rome."

Of all the Special Events, perhaps the most fun and creative Special Event is the Grand Tour, taking you on a tour through mostly central and southern Europe. You begin in Switzerland at the Eiger Nordwand Short Track. Afterwards, you head into Italy. Along the way, you will unlock more Photo Mode locations and compete in a number of different challenges. It is a very fun and well-executed Special Event series. Challenges range from time trials to races. Best of all, no car in your collection is needed for any of the given challenges.

I think this is perhaps the best-executed of the Special Events. I want to blog more about the concept of this Grand Tour in a future post or two. This one is a lovely Special Event. I think you will enjoy this one if you haven't played it already.

Grand Tour: Briefing.

The tour goes like this. Each of the individual cities are in normal letters, and the racing venues are all in CAPITAL letters:

Bern - EIGER NORDWAND (short track) - Luzern - MONZA - Siena - TOSCANA (Tarmac) San Gimignano - TOSCANA (Rally) - San Galgano - ROME

Each stage of the Grand Tour features a brief video. Your Grand Tour begins in Bern, Switzerland. You set out to drive to the Eiger Nordwand Short Track for your first of five racing stages. The rest of the Grand Tour takes place in Italy. This is a racing tour that takes you from the mountains of Switzerland to the streets of Rome. What happens along the way is a magical racing journey that puts you into some sweet cars and intense competitions.

FIXTURES:
• cars will be provided for you- no need to purchase a certain car beforehand.
• You must be at Level 13 or higher to compete in any event in the Grand Tour.
• You will be disqualified in the time trials (first and fourth events) if you have a hard collision at any point of the races.

--- Gran Turismo 5: Grand Tour (Level 13) ---

So let's look at the individual stages of the Grand Tour. Your journey begins in Bern, Switzerland; as you cross through a gate to drive over to Eiger Nordwand Short Track. The crowd cheers you on as you begin your fantastic voyage.

Now that I have set up the Grand Tour, it is time to talk about the five stages of racing action. Let's begin!

Eiger Nordwand Time Trial.

The beautiful Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione is your first car to race with in this series. You are asked to take this car around Eiger Nordwand Short Track in a Time Trial. How you handle the super-slow hairpins and rather narrow roads determines success or failure. The entire course is tricky to master, so if you want the best time, you will need to be creative and take a few chances to try and post a fast time. The uphill switchback usually catches me out every time I race this course. Hard collisions and going off-course here will disqualify you.

OBJECTIVES:
• Bronze: 1:25.000
• Silver: 1:19.000
• Gold: 1:17.000

Monza Circuit 2-Lap Battle.

After clearing Eiger Nordwand, the remaining four races all take place in Italy. The first Italian challenge takes place at Autodromo Nazionale Monza. Your car here is the 2007 Ferrari F430 Scuderia. Your task is to race two laps around Monza trying to finish as high as possible against 15 other Ferraris. Monza is a high-speed playground with a few technical corners to throw your car off-balance. It remains a fun track, though. Let that Ferrari sing at speed as you try to pass as many cars as possible to advance to the next stage of the Grand Tour. Go ahead and play dirty if you like- there are no penalties for collisions or going off-course. Just bring your best driving effort when battling against the other Ferraris. They won't know what hit 'em once you dance all over your opposition! :)

OBJECTIVES:
• Bronze: Finish 3rd.
• Silver: Finish 2nd.
• Gold: Win the race.

Tuscan Night Race.

This is a race that happens at night on the tarmac of Toscana. The atmosphere this race provides almost seems like New Year's Eve- the time goes from late sunset to deep into the night with fireworks going off in the background. You have yourself another Italian car for which to try to clear the challenge with. Your car happens to be an orange Lamborghini Murciélago, and your job is to pass the five cars on the track you share with. Getting Gold is going to be an intense challenge. It may sound annoying and repetitive for me to say this, but it is true- you need to keep driving mistakes to a minimum. You have to find ways to make up about a 20-second gap on a rather long point-to-point tarmac course. Prepare to do this race many times (especially for Gold) until you finally get it right. Finish as high as possible!

OBJECTIVES:
• Bronze: Finish 5th.
• Silver: Finish 2nd.
• Gold: Win the Race.

Tuscan Time Trial.

Of all the Grand Tour races, this is the only Grand Tour stop that does NOT feature an Italian car, and it is also the only one that features a proper race car. You will be asked to run one lap around the Toscana rally course in a Ford Focus WRC. This course is not easy to master. It is a rather long rally course with a set of troublesome switchbacks. You will find yourself stumbling quite a bit until you finally get a grip on this course. Put your Focus into focus and focus on delivering a solid lap time around Toscana. You will be disqualified for hard collisions.

OBJECTIVES:
• Bronze: 2:10.000
• Silver: 1:56.000
• Gold: 1:54.000

Rome City Course Street Battle.

With only one lap, you are behind the wheel of the beautiful Lamborghini Miura. Only one lap with 12 other cars on a 2.16 mile street course determines victory or defeat. One thing to be careful of is that the rear view from inside the car is not very clear. So it's best to use some other camera view if you want to look behind. Do everything you can to complete this Grand Tour on top! No penalties will be given for hard collisions or leaving the course.

OBJECTIVES:
• Bronze: Finish 3rd.
• Silver: Finish 2nd.
• Gold: Win the race.


If you've completed all five events, congratulations! You've cleared the World Tour! Even more respect if you managed to win all five Grand Tour events with Gold.





Congratulations- the Grand Tour is complete! Be ready to take on the next Special Event, which will put you back in the realm of rallying. This time, the rallying is done with a guy who's... a pretty big deal. This next one will NOT be easy. Remember that I want to do a blog post about something similar to the Grand Tour you've just read about. So stay tuned! Thank you for reading!

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GT5 Specials: Gran Turismo Rally

Rally racing makes its return as Gran Turismo 5 takes you through the intense realm of rally racing. It is a style of racing that combines controlled frenzy while also properly navigating a car around some intense corners on winding roads. Have the best combined time to win in rally racing. This blog post will not help you win in rally racing, but it will give you a little bit of pointers on rally racing in GT5.

--- Gran Turismo Rally ---

^ Get ready to get sideways on gravel, snow, and tarmac in the Gran Turismo Rally.

"The fastest overall time through all of the Special Stages will win in this realistic rally event."

Gran Turismo's best attempt at rallying was exhibited in Gran Turismo 5. Gone are the rallycross-type courses that have defined GT rallying since its Gran Turismo 2 debut. You will be racing on generated rally stages. This is the first-ever Gran Turismo title whose rally mode does not utilize the rallycross-style courses (Toscana, Chamonix, etc.). You are racing proper rally courses here. Though they may be generated rally courses in one of three different Course Maker environments, you are doing point-to-point rally racing in this mode.

Early on, the courses are pretty weak sauce. Just wait until you do the Intermediate and (especially) Advanced courses, though! Realistic weather and time changes also help make these events fun to race. Each event is a one-day rally with a different number of stages. The rallying gets more interesting as you compete in the tougher rally classes. You encounter more intense and longer roads in tougher stages as opposed to in the basic Beginner rally. I think if there was more variety in the surroundings and character of each generated course, the rallying would be much better. It's still very good for what it is.

Gran Turismo Rally: Briefing.

All of the events you will be racing in are on generated tracks. You may not know what kind of course you will be racing on, so the best thing to keep in mind is to study what generated track is given to you and adjust from there. The Gran Turismo Rally is divided into three different difficulty levels and offer a certain number of events. Each level of difficulty features one rally of each of the following: gravel rallies with the Liege environment, snow rallies with the Alaska environment, and tarmac rallying with the Toscana environment. The Beginner GT Rally features three Special Stages with very easy to learn courses. The Intermediate GT Rally features five Special Stages with some complex corners. The Advanced Gran Turismo Rally features eight special stages with some of the longest and most intense courses of all. You do not need to win every stage, but you must have the best combined time to win each rally.

When you begin any rally in this series of Special Events, you will start behind three other rally cars that share the track with you. Cars will be sent off in intervals of about five seconds. When your car is sent off, it is very important to listen to your co-driver, as the co-driver will let you know of when the next corner is coming up and how long the road ahead is. Drive aggressively while making sure to stay controlled. Try to get a good slide into the corners while keeping the car firmly balanced. Hard impacts with the walls or into other racers will result in penalties that slow you down for as much as about five seconds. So don't try to get any sort of unrealistic advantage by doing a lot of wall riding.

The gravel stages represent some of your most basic rally races. Gravel allows you to be more aggressive and daring in your driving. It can be very fun pushing your car to the limit on these gravel stages. From my experience playing GT5, the snow rallies can be incredibly easy. Hard, consistent driving can easily land you top honors for each stage. Rallying on tarmac isn't as fun as rallying on gravel. And really, you could bring almost any car you want for the tarmac rallies as long as you have the required tires and horsepower regulations. As you may know, not every car can be equipped with Dirt or Snow tires. Make sure your car can be equipped with Dirt or Snow tires if you intend on using it in the gravel and snow rallies.


FIXTURES:
• You must have Dirt tires for Gravel rallies and Snow tires for snow rallies.
• You must be at Level 10 or higher to compete in the Beginner rallies, and your car must have no more than 246 horsepower to compete. Sports Soft tires (or less) are required for the tarmac rally on this level.
• You must be at Level 15 or higher to compete in the Intermediate rallies, and your car must have no more than 345 horsepower to compete. Sports Soft tires (or less) are required for the tarmac rally on this level.
• You must be at Level 20 or higher to compete in the Advanced rallies, and it requires any proper rally car. There are no horsepower restrictions.
• Penalties will be enforced for collisions or wall-riding.

--- Gran Turismo Rally: Beginner (Level 10) ---

The Beginner level of Gran Turismo Rally requires for your car to be at 246 horsepower or less. Be sure you have invested in Dirt Tires and Snow Tires before attempting rally racing on (respectively) gravel or snow. The humble beginnings of your rally racing career will begin with three rallies. Learn the basics of rally racing as you go along. Because you are racing on generated roads and in generated environments, you will not know what specific course you will get. So the challenge lies in what generated courses you will get. You must learn to adjust and adapt to these challenges both in driving and in execution. Try hard to finish high in each rally.

REMEMBER: You must be at Level 10 or higher to compete in the Beginner rallies, and your car must have no more than 246 horsepower to compete. Sports Soft tires (or less) are required for the tarmac rally on this level.


PRIZE MONEY:
• 1st: 27,000 Cr.
• 2nd: 19,000 Cr.
• 3rd: 14,000 Cr.

Fine Gravel Rally.

To begin your rally racing career in Gran Turismo 5, your first challenge is to take on three gravel rally stages. The roads can be very wide with only a few modest corners to contend with. It should be too difficult to win unless you don't have a properly-tuned car.

Snow Challenge Rally.

Your first snow challenge takes place in the Snow Challenge Rally. The three stages shouldn't be too complex in layout as you try to drive around in the snow. There is very much a difference between gravel and snow. Snow has much less traction than gravel. So therefore, you will need to drive the car differently to try to get as much grip as possible as you try to navigate through each stage. You should be fine as long as you drive hard and consistently.

Tarmac Challenge Rally.

The open road is your best friend, or your worst nightmare if you can't handle tarmac roads properly. Rally racing on tarmac doesn't have the aggression you can display like in a gravel or snow rally. These events are more about precise driving on real tarmac roads. Undulations in the road as well as sudden corners and switchbacks may rack your brain as you try to go through each section properly. This shouldn't be too difficult as long as you remain calm and controlled as you progress through each Special Stage.


That concludes the Beginner rally events. Time to step it up and go to the Intermediate rallies. Get up to Level 15 if you haven't done so already.

--- Gran Turismo Rally: Intermediate (Level 15) ---

The Beginner Rallies just got you going. Now, it's time you take on some tougher stages. The Intermediate Rally features the same three kinds of rallies, but instead of three stages, there are now five stages. The stages of the Intermediate rallies are longer and more complex in layout. You can afford to bring more powerful cars (up to 345 horsepower), but your ability to properly navigate each stage and rally remains a daunting task. It may help if you have a proper rally car that is within the horsepower limitations.

REMEMBER: You must be at Level 15 or higher to compete in the Intermediate rallies, and your car must have no more than 345 horsepower to compete. Sports Soft tires (or less) are required for the tarmac rally on this level.


PRIZE MONEY:
• 1st: 41,000 Cr.
• 2nd: 29,000 Cr.
• 3rd: 21,000 Cr.

Clubman Gravel Rally.

The Clubman Gravel Rally readies you for a ride rougher than what you experienced in the Beginner-level gravel rallies. Five tough gravel stages await you as you try to power through each stage of the Clubman Gravel Rally. Remember that the courses will be tougher than what you experienced in the Beginner-level gravel rallies. So make sure to adjust your driving style as well as make any needed tuning adjustments to get your car to better adapt to the loose gravel. Also, be mindful of any weather changes that may hamper your driving experience somewhat.

Alaskan Rally.

When you begin your romp on the snow, be ready for a five-stage tour of duty as you heat up the ice. Just remember that your car can be no more powerful than 345 horsepower. Be ready to down-tune your car if it is too powerful. And of course, it has to be equipped with Snow Tires. You have to be careful taking on some of these tougher stages.

Tuscany Tarmac Rally.

The five-stage Intermediate Tuscany Tarmac Rally will test your ability to handle tarmac roads in your car. Your car must have Sports Soft tires or less to compete. Be wary of elevation changes as well as any possible weather changes that may come along. It can be a bit tough when dealing with races at night in the Toscana environment. Make sure to tune your car to take on the rigors of this rally.


The Intermediate Rallies are now complete. Make sure to do your best in getting Gold for all three rallies in this difficulty level. The final events are in the Advanced rallies. So make sure to get up to Level 20 to take on the final set of challenges.

--- Gran Turismo Rally: Advanced (Level 20) ---

Only true rally cars are allowed to compete in this final set of rally races. The longest and most difficult stages await the adept Gran Turismo racer in the Advanced class. There are now eight stages of rally insanity compared to the three stages in the Beginner class, and also compared to the five stages of the Intermediate class. Only true rally cars, meaning no normal/concept/tuner cars tuned for rally, can compete. These races will be difficult and long. Victory is not impossible- you just have to work for it in this one! So get ready to log the most difficult rally miles/kilometers of your GT5 career!

REMEMBER: You must be at Level 20 or higher to compete in the Advanced rallies, and it requires any proper rally car. There are no horsepower restrictions.


PRIZE MONEY:
• 1st: 107,000 Cr.
• 2nd: 75,000 Cr.
• 3rd: 54,000 Cr.

Gran Turismo Gravel Master.

You're in trouble now. Prove your mastery of racing on gravel stages by trying to win this eight-stage rally. Only proper rally cars are allowed to compete in all of the stages here. As you progress through this rally, you will be faced with numerous sharp corners and perhaps some narrow roads. One problem I've had was in trying to get through low-speed corners while in opposite lock. Not sure if that's a problem with GT5's driving model or if I need to tune better. Anyhow, this is a tough rally to take part in. Do your best!

Gran Turismo Snow Master.

Try this eight-stage snow rally with your finest rally car. Long and intense stages await you as you try to take on each individual stage. Remember your training through the first two snow rallies to help you with this one. If you drive very well or have a nicely-prepared rally car, you may be able to dominate this rally.

Gran Turismo Tarmac King.

Rally racing with racing tires can be tricky with tarmac racing. You may anticipate some wet roads, making it tricky to prepare for the challenges ahead. It won't be easy taking on this eight-stage rally. Now here is the tricky part. Some stages may have some wet roads or may start out in wet conditions. Do you opt for the Rain tires? I think to be safe, equip your car with (at most) Sports Soft tires so you won't have to worry too much about trying to equip proper racing tires for stages that aren't soaked in rain. Can you become a champion of tarmac rallying with this rally?


Congratulations! If you have won prizes in all nine rallies, you did great! This series of races is over.





I want you to know that I appreciate all of you for visiting John's Gran Turismo Space! I will continue my series of blog posts on the Special Events of GT5. The next in the series is the Grand Tour. I hope you enjoyed your time here. I may edit this post to reflect more changes. Thank you for reading!

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GT5 Specials: AMG Driving Academy

The Nürburgring Nordschleife isn't called "Green Hell" for marketing purposes. How else do you define a 12+ mile track with mostly two lanes of racing and well over 50 corners? Many purists define it as racing Heaven. To me, it's Hell. I even call it the "Nürburgring Nightmare." I could troll online about how bad I am at this track, or I could learn how to race it so that I don't get on the bad side of other fans of this course. This Special will help you to understand how to race this course effectively.

--- AMG Driving Academy at a Glance ---

^ "Green Hell" can be a bit more heavenly once you master racing this tricky and diabolical course thanks to the AMG Driving Academy.

"Learn the techniques and rules necessary to take on the hallowed Nürburgring safely."

Not everyone can master racing the Nürburgring Nordschleife. So as a service for Gran Turismo racers, you will learn how to race the Nürburgring Nordschleife in a segment-by-segment basis. I personally loathe racing the Nürburgring Nordschleife or any configuration utilizing the Nürburgring Nordschleife. I have always been terrible at trying to master and race a 12+ mile course with two lanes of road and 70-something corners. The cars you will be using are from Mercedes-Benz, and you will even race against other Mercedes-Benz cars. There are four different levels of competition each with five different challenges. The first two require you to race on the Nürburgring Nordschleife under dry conditions, and the other two require you to race the same course but under wet conditions. Each of the individual challenges feature the course segmented in four different places. In the final challenge to each level, you must complete one full lap around the Nürburgring Nordschleife (that's right- all 12+ miles) while also navigating your way through traffic. Consider this your racing school for conquering one of the world's most grueling racing tracks.

This is an invaluable service for Gran Turismo racing. The way the track is segmented is a big help in trying to master this course. It helps you to understand how the course flows. Since you are not racing anything extremely fast, you are able to take on this course at a comfortable, almost casual level. Just remember to cross the line. It doesn't take much just to get even Bronze. Just pace yourself and learn the nuances of each segment of the track. Then for the final, just go all out while dodging other cars on the track. One other good thing about this Special- there are no penalties for crashing or going off-road.

AMG Driving Academy Briefing.

To learn how to race the Nürburgring Nordschleife effectively, this track has been divided into four parts. Each level of racing here features five events. The first four feature this massive course in four parts that are raced on separately. In the final challenge of each level of competition, you must run one complete lap around all 12+ miles of the Nürburgring Nordschleife against other cars sharing the same track. This entire Special can be taken casually (you can crash and go off-road without penalty), and Bronze in any test is not meant to be difficult for any of the 20 events. Just putting out a decent drive in each of the events is enough to earn at least Bronze. This will allow you to go through these events rather quickly. The main point is for you to learn the course across the individual stages followed by the cumulative test at the end of each difficulty level. To master this course, you will need to learn how to take it on in two different conditions- dry and wet. The first two levels test your ability to race this course under dry conditions; and the other two require you to race the same track, but in the wet.

You will only be racing on the Nürburgring Nordschleife. While the Nordschleife is featured on two different configurations, you will only be racing the Nürburgring Nordschleife, and not any of the other configurations that utilize the Nordschleife. This Special is designed for you to learn the Nordschleife to prepare you for racing around this course proper in proper races.


FIXTURES:
• cars will be provided for you- no need to purchase a certain car beforehand.
• You must be at Level 6 or higher to compete in the Beginner events.
• You must be at Level 12 or higher to compete in the Intermediate events.
• You must be at Level 18 or higher to compete in the Advanced events.
• You must be at Level 24 or higher to compete in the Expert events.
• There are no penalties for crashing or going off-road.


LESSONS:
• Sector 1: Start/Finish line to Aremburg
This section has a good rhythm to it. The very first corner will throw you off. How you manage to take on the next series of corners will determine how well you get through this sector. Elevation changes and blind corners on the high-speed second half of this sector will really test your limits.

• Sector 2: Aremburg to Bergwerk entrance
It can be too easy to make a mistake here. More elevation changes and blind corners will throw you for a loop. This section is very difficult and critical to get right because overshooting any of the corners in this sector can lead to disaster. The sector begins from the underpass at Aremburg to the northernmost part of the Nordschleife, characterized by an uphill banked hairpin. The end of this section leads to a long stretch of road with plenty of left-hand kinks to keep you honest. Keep to the road and try to make as few driving errors as possible.

• Sector 3: Bergwerk to Brünnchen
This part of the course rides like a rally course with its many sudden corners. It starts out fast with a series of bends and kinks to enjoy high-speed driving. As you enter the first turn where you'll need to do heavy braking, however, the section gets serious. It is a severely taxing part of the Nordschleife that must be taken properly to deliver the best time through this sector. The section features one of the two concrete-patched corners. How specifically you handle the second half of this course will play a huge role in what times you'll turn in at sector's end.

• Sector 4: Brünchen to Start/Finish Line
Of all the sectors, this one is the easiest because it involves the super-long backstretch. This sector can actually be broken down into three parts- the continuation of the rally course-like section, the high-speed blasts, and the series of progressively sharp corners leading to the Start/Finish line. When you reach the concrete-patched corner, that is your cue to think about making that high-speed romp down to the Start/Finish line. You still have some tough corners to slow you down and bring you back to Earth after clearing the bend down the backstretch. The final few corners will really determine your time. Slow down just enough in the final corners to safely bring your car home with a great time.

Use all of these sector cues to help prepare you for each full lap you will do.


It is now time for you to practice your skill around this massive course.

--- AMG Driving Academy: Beginner (Level 6) ---

Before you can go pretend being master of the Nürburgring, you must start small. So you will start with one of my all-time favorite sports cars- the gorgeous 1954 Mercedes-Benz 300SL coupe. This car is fairly nimble around this course. Since it is not extremely powerful or seriously fast, you will be learning this course with a very good car.

Beginners Class: 300SL Coupe '54, Sector 1/Dry.

Learn the very first part of this course by taking your 300SL around the first sector of the Nürburgring Nordschleife. This part of the course starts out with a good set of corners. Find a good rhythm early on to properly weave your way around each corner. Then as you approach the faster parts of this sector, watch your speed and drive carefully so you stay on the road. It is especially important to stay on the road as you approach the final corner. Cross the Finish area to conclude this sector.

OBJECTIVES:
Bronze: 2:00.000
Silver: 1:43.000
Gold: 1:36.000

Beginners Class: 300SL Coupe '54, Sector 2/Dry.

The next section requires you to go from under the underpass at Aremberg to just before Bergwerk. Along the way, you will encounter various blind corners and various elevation changes. These two elements combine for a ride that will be anything but pleasureful. Don't try to be a high-speed hero here. Just take it easy and adapt on the fly.

OBJECTIVES:
Bronze: 2:53.000
Silver: 2:31.000
Gold: 2:21.00

Beginners Class: 300SL Coupe '54, Sector 3/Dry.

Take this section smoothly early on. The real determinant in how your lap times shape up depend entirely on how you handle the second half of this section. Drive fast enough and consistent enough to have a fairly hefty top speed for the first half of this section.

OBJECTIVES:
Bronze: 2:39.000
Silver: 2:16.000
Gold: 2:07.000

Beginners Class: 300SL Coupe '54, Sector 4/Dry.

After three sections, it's time to bring your car home. Doing that requires taking on the other of the two carousel corners and that super-long backstretch. You will have time to think about the final part of your attack as you reach this car's top speed of 135 mph (or about 217 kph). Most important part of this course is to attack the final set of corners safely to finish strong.

OBJECTIVES:
Bronze: 3:08.000
Silver: 2:41.000
Gold: 2:30.000

Beginners Class: 300SL Coupe '54, Full Lap/Dry.

Take all of your skills from the four sectors and apply them all in this test. Other cars (all Mercedes-Benz cars) will share the track with you. You must learn to properly overtake vehicles while still maintaining a decent racing line. Here is a brief review of what to remember as you attack this course. Remember that Sector 1 has some of the toughest corners thrown at you first. The racing transitions to high-speed before a decisive right-hand corner leads to the overpass. The second sector has many blind corners hindered by various elevation changes. Careful driving is a must here. The third sector, while starting off with high speed in the first half of the sector, transitions to a rally course-like second half of this section. The madness ends with a balanced attack of high-speed and precise handling as you bring this car to the Start/Finish line.

OBJECTIVES:
Bronze: 11:02.000
Silver: 9:27.000
Gold: 8:49.000


You did good if you managed to clear all the lessons and got trophies for them. Remember- this Special is all about learning a massive race course. There is nothing to feel terrible about unless you just don't know how to race this course properly and fast enough.

--- AMG Driving Academy: Intermediate (Level 12) ---

In the previous set of tests, you were given a glorious car from Mercedes-Benz's past. Now, you are bestowed the present (and maybe its future)- the beautiful Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. It is the cover car for Gran Turismo 5, and it is also an impressive sports car. A tuned version of this lovely car will be your set of wheels for this set of lessons. This more modern car is obviously faster and much more capable than the 300SL you raced earlier. Nothing has changed about the course- you are racing the same Nürburgring Nordschleife as you did in the previous lessons, and you are doing the same sectors as you did previously. The key to passing these lessons is to apply your knowledge of the 300SL and put it (and adapt) with the SLS AMG.

Intermediate Class: SLS AMG '10 tuned car, Sector 1/Dry.

This car will get up to speed very well, much more so than the vintage 300SL. Remember to always take your learning from one car to another as you transition to new muscle. You may need to slow down more often in this car if you are taking these corners too fast. Control your pace and hit your marks- (at least) silver is not hard with this car and this section.

OBJECTIVES:
Bronze: 1:43.000
Silver: 1:28.000
Gold: 1:22.000

Intermediate Class: SLS AMG '10 tuned car, Sector 2/Dry.

This same section is even more of a fussbudget with your modern sports car compared to the 300SL. Remember that this car has more grip, power, and top speed than the 300SL you were using previously. Take advantage of this modern car's capabilities to get through this section quickly. Keep the car under control to obtain the quickest time through this sector.

OBJECTIVES:
Bronze: 2:27.000
Silver: 2:06.000
Gold: 1:57.000

Intermediate Class: SLS AMG '10 tuned car, Sector 3/Dry.

Do Mercedes-Benz proud and furiously take on this sector with your SLS AMG. It can take on the third sector with great power and performance. Remember that the key to a great time lies in your ability to properly take on the deceptive corners in the second half of the course. After getting out of the carousel (the banked left-corner with concrete patches on the inside), the course gets tricky and troublesome. Go easy here.

OBJECTIVES:
Bronze: 2:10.000
Silver: 1:52.000
Gold: 1:44.000

Intermediate Class: SLS AMG '10 tuned car, Sector 4/Dry.

The SLS AMG has seven gears and can go north of 180 mph (or an estimated 290 mph). Use that top speed capability that this car has to take on this sector of the Nürburgring Nordschleife. Remember that this car has great performance and great handling. It is obviously much more powerful than the 300SL, so continually adjust your driving to clear this section effectively.

OBJECTIVES:
Bronze: 2:35.000
Silver: 2:13.000
Gold: 2:04.000

Intermediate Class: SLS AMG '10 tuned car, Full Lap/Dry.

A powerful car like the SLS AMG means you can lay down some quicker lap times around any track than you could in any older car. Adjust your speed and pace using the SLS AMG. This track has the ability to really deceive you, and if you fall for its traps, you and your car will pay the price. Control yourself and this car properly to land a solid time.

OBJECTIVES:
Bronze: 8:52.000
Silver: 7:35.000
Gold: 7:05.000


Congratulations! You may now move on to the Advanced races once you reach Level 18.





We're halfway done! Hey, are you reading the full post or not? Please make sure you're reading the full blog post to see all of what it has to offer. After the Jump Break, you will be taking on this same course, but in wet conditions. So to continue reading, click on "Read More" to continue. Disregard this entire section (but do subscribe and follow) if you are reading the full blog post.

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GT5 Specials: Top Gear Test Track

Top Gear is one of the most popular TV shows of any kind. While the show's history dates back to , it was revived starting in 2002. Since then, it has become the premier car show on television. Its popularity has also lent itself to Gran Turismo. You will be using the BBC's Top Gear Test Track in three unique racing challenges. Can you clear these three unusual challenges? I am here to offer a little advice to help, but it's up to you to make the most of the cars and challenges you are given.

This blog post continues my look at Gran Turismo 5 and its Special Events.

--- Top Gear Test Track at a Glance ---

^ Three unique races await you around the Top Gear Test Track in Gran Turismo 5.

"Unique and exciting challenges on the world-renowned Top Gear Test Track."

NOTE: This Special has a video you can watch. When you play it for the first time, you get to see this video play. You can see it again by highlighting on the image in the bottom-left hand corner of your screen when you access this Special.

It used to be that there has NEVER been a real-world track in the United Kingdom in Gran Turismo's history. That all changed in "Gran Turismo 5: Prologue" when the streets of London were featured. The Top Gear Test Track blew away many motoring fans with its inclusion into Gran Turismo 5. While there may not be polygon representations of Jeremy Clarkson, James May, and Richard Hammond; you do still get to enjoy going all out on the Top Gear Test Track. This Special features three racing challenges for you. Your goal is to try to finish high enough to complete each stage.

It may be sad that there could be more diversity among racing events, but what this Special provides is fun. I'll put it this way- you will be racing with two different oddball Volkswagen vehicles in addition to the lovely Lotus Evora. The challenges are all meant to be fun and engaging. It will take some effort on your part to get Gold for each event. I would even have liked maybe some Time Trial challenges to spice things up. I'm not saying "Beat the Stig's Time" time trials, but some more different items to make the experience more interesting.

Top Gear Test Track: Briefing.

You need to be at Level 4 or higher to compete in any of the events. Learn every bit of the Top Gear Test Track in three different challenges. Each of these challenges last two laps around the Top Gear Test Track. Master using every car offered to you on this course to clear each challenge.

FIXTURES:
• cars will be provided for you- no need to purchase a certain car beforehand.
• You must be at Level 4 or higher to compete in the Beginner event.
• You must be at Level 8 or higher to compete in the Intermediate event.
• You must be at Level 19 or higher to compete in the Advanced event.
• If you go off-course, crash hard, or knock over any [all-red] cones, you will be disqualified.


So are you ready to go? Let's do this, then!

--- Top Gear Test Track: Beginner (Level 4) ---

Introduce yourself to the Top Gear Test Track with this challenge.

The Gran Turismo SambaBus Challenge (Beginner).

The first race involves a One-Make race in the Volkswagen Typ 2 Samba Bus. Rather than relive the Summer of 1969 and going to Woodstock, you're racing against seven other of these buses in a unique race around the Top Gear Test Track. Victory isn't too difficult here. Your best offense can be made by doing impressively at the Hammerhead section. Just remember to stay within the cones as well as stay on the road. These machines were not meant to be racing machines, so don't think you are going to blow through the pack. Going off course at the final two corners is something you definitely want to avoid. Of course, going off the track warrants disqualification.

OBJECTIVES:
• Bronze: Finish 9th.
• Silver: Finish 3rd.
• Gold: Win the race.


That concludes one challenge. Let's get the other two!

--- Top Gear Test Track: Intermediate (Level 8) ---

Now that you've been introduced to the Top Gear Test Track with a slow car, get ready for racing this course with a faster car.

The Gran Turismo 111R Challenge (Beginner).

From old buses to a more modern sports car, Lotus has bestowed you with the Lotus 111R for which to race around the Top Gear Test Track with. This car is pretty tough to drive around this course, so you will need to take it easy to make the most of this car's performance while also passing the other cars.

OBJECTIVES:
• Bronze: Finish 5th.
• Silver: Finish 3rd.
• Gold: Win the race.


The Intermediate course is now complete. Only one more remains, and it is not as easy as it looks.

--- Top Gear Test Track: Advanced (Level 19) ---

Are you ready for one more challenge? If so, welcome to this final challenge guaranteed to rack your brain and rock your world!

The Gran Turismo Kubelwagen Challenge (Advanced).

Volkswagen is back to give you another one of its old cars for you to race around the Top Gear Test Track. It is an amphibious assault as you are handed a 1944 Volkswagen Kubelwagen typ82. This is a race involving eight over of these machines (including yourself). It will be you trying to get around these other Volkswagen machines in a two-lap race. However, this one will not be easy. Not easy just because of the action on track, but because of the possibility of other cars ready to plow right into you! Remember that the Top Gear Test Track crosses over midway around the course. There are another pack of cars (all Kubelwagens) that will come onto the same track you're racing on and will attempt to knock you off the road. Any heavy contact, including impact from these other cars you are NOT racing against, will result in disqualification. So be VERY careful making passes and preventing yourself from being disqualified.

OBJECTIVES:
• Bronze: Finish 5th.
• Silver: Finish 3rd.
• Gold: Win the race.


If you managed to clear this one, congratulations! You're done with the Top Gear Test Course events (unless "done" to you means clearing all tests with Gold)!





This concludes the Top Gear Test Course events and this blog post. There are more Special Events to clear, so be sure to stay with John's Gran Turismo Space to see all of the latest posts of mine. Thank you for reading!

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GT5 Specials: NASCAR School

Whether you love or loathe NASCAR, Gran Turismo 5's inclusion of NASCAR includes NASCAR stock cars. While they are not the only stock car racing series, it is by far the most popular; and the premier class of NASCAR are the Cup cars. Piloting these cars takes some getting used to. In an effort to educate and challenge you, nine challenges spread across three levels of difficulty await you. You can race the NASCAR Series when you reach Level 21. Before you can get there, though, it's best you try out the individual challenges put in front of you to challenge your racing ability prior to trying to wrestle these stock cars around various tracks.

This blog post continues my look at the Special Events of Gran Turismo 5.

--- Jeff Gordon NASCAR School at a Glance ---

^ Learn how to pilot a stock car in Gran Turismo 5 in nine different challenges.

"Learn the secrets behind NASCAR racing from four-time NASCAR Series champion, Jeff Gordon."

NOTE: This Special has a video you can watch. When you play it for the first time, you get to see this video play. You can see it again by highlighting on the image in the bottom-left hand corner of your screen when you access this Special.

When NASCAR was brought into Gran Turismo 5, many people met with this news either with loving embrace or with detest. In an effort to educate people on NASCAR, my personal favorite NASCAR driver, Jeff Gordon, is featured. You will be racing his #24 car in three different sets of challenges featuring a number of different scenarios and situations. Learn various techniques to help you get ahead and master racing stock cars. Each of the challenges help you become better adjusted to stock cars, both in handling and in racing.

Say whatever you want about NASCAR. I'm no fanatic, but I do respect NASCAR as an unconditional lover of motorsport. NASCAR is featured for an important reason- it is every bit as distinct as any other motorsport. Maybe the cars aren't as capable as F1 cars or sportscar racing machines. Maybe the action is more like a demolition derby than actual racing. Thing is, NASCAR is its own distinctive motorsport. It has its own character and style that sets it apart from any other form of motorsports.

Jeff Gordon NASCAR School: Briefing.

There are three levels of difficulty with unique challenges. All of these challenges take place either at Daytona International Speedway or Indianapolis Motor Speedway. While NASCAR also runs road races, your NASCAR experience in the Jeff Gordon NASCAR School takes place on ovals in Gran Turismo 5. Here are the fixtures for this Special:

FIXTURES:
• cars will be provided for you- no need to purchase a certain car beforehand.
• You must be at Level 2 or higher to compete in the Beginner events.
• You must be at Level 9 or higher to compete in the Intermediate events.
• You must be at Level 21 or higher to compete in the Advanced events.
• If you go off-course, crash hard, or knock over any cones, you will be disqualified.

The Beginner class requires you to know how to pass cars on the track by mastering the art of drafting. To test this, you must complete two challenges designed to teach you about drafting in a stock car. In the Intermediate events, you are faced with a more technical set of tests utilizing the inside and outside grooves of Daytona and Indy. The Advanced events put you in racing situations with only two laps to go. Pass as many cars as you can.


Now that you've been briefed, it's time for you to shine. So let's do it!

--- Jeff Gordon NASCAR School: Beginner (Level 2) ---

Consider this as Basic Training for controlling a NASCAR stock car. Your track is Daytona International Speedway. The first thing you must learn is how to pass cars. To do that, you will need to learn how to draft. Drafting is all about engaging in slipstream battle against cars you're trailing. Cut down on wind resistance from the leading cars and use your own car's momentum and speed to make passes. Practice drafting to clear these tests.

Using Drafting to Get Ahead.

Pass the only car on the track by getting into a slipstream battle. Drafting is about getting into the slipstream of a leading car. Try to cut down the leading car's turbulence to give yourself an edge in pulling a pass. If you can successfully pass the leading car through effective use of drafting, you will win this challenge.

Drafting With Multiple Cars.

Instead of one car, you must now try and pass through a pack of cars. You will be using half of the oval configuration at Daytona International Speedway against four other cars. Smooth steering and effective drafting will allow you to pass all the cars without fail. Even Bronze should be attainable here.

OBJECTIVES:
• Bronze: Finish 3rd.
• Silver: Finish 2nd.
• Gold: Win the race.


That's it for the Beginner difficulty events. Get up to Level 9 and take on the next series of events.

--- Jeff Gordon NASCAR School: Intermediate (Level 9) ---

As important as learning to controlling a stock car is, it is equally important to learn how to control a stock car at speed into corners. There are three specific parts of an oval usually called "grooves." You have the far inside of the corners (the inside groove), the middle of the corner (the middle or center groove), and the outside of the corner (the outside groove). Mastery of using especially the outer and inner grooves will help you to win races. This set of challenges will prepare you for these tasks. You will be tested on your ability to control a stock car to ride the inside and outside grooves. You can't ride the center because that groove will be blocked off with cones. And just like in license tests, if you hit any cones, you will be disqualified. So make sure to learn how to pilot a stock car on the inside and outside. These challenges will prepare you to take on this vital element of stock car racing.

Inside Driving - Daytona.

Ride the inside groove of Daytona for this test. All you should be concerned with is making sure not to let the car walk up the race track while trying to keep the car in the inside and while riding the banking.

Inside Driving - Indianapolis.

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is what I call the "world's fastest road course." The course somewhat rides like a road course while still being very fast. Therefore, you might agree with me that completing this inside-riding task is actually easier here than at Daytona. Treat the inside like a road course. Without any significant banking in the corners, you should be better able to carve a better line to help you get through this test successfully.

Outside Driving - Daytona.

This is where things start to get tricky. Rather than ride the car around the inside, you now must learn to keep the car between the cones and the outside wall. You must learn how to ride the outside groove of Daytona in this test. This is not easy because the corner is so smooth as you try to balance high speed while not taking out the cones or scrubbing the outside wall. In addition, you have to contend with the high banked corners. This one requires some practice to eventually get it right.

Outside Driving - Indianapolis.

The final challenge requires you to ride the outside groove of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and like before, you must make sure not to take out any cones on the inside. Try to keep your car away from the cones to your left and the wall to your right. You can afford to let off the gas at Indy a bit while still not sacrificing loads of speed.


You've completed both the Beginner and Intermediate events. If you're ready for one more set of challenges, then get up to Level 21 and enter the Advanced events.

--- Jeff Gordon NASCAR School: Advanced (Level 21) ---

The Advanced races require you to pass as many cars as possible with so little time left. These are not tests- you are piloting these cars in racing conditions. All you have learned in the past is now put to the test in an intense series of challenges. The opportunity to become a hero/heroine is at stake here. Can you pass all the cars in just two laps to get Gold, or are you going to settle for any position lower than 1st? Nothing beats first place, so go for the win if you can!

Raceday: Exiting Pit-Lane.

From pit lane at Daytona, you have to pass as many cars as possible after giving up the lead during your pit stop. You have only two laps to pass as many cars as you can.

OBJECTIVES:
• Bronze: Finish 5th.
• Silver: Finish 2nd.
• Gold: Win the race.

Raceday: Indy, Last Two Laps.

Who DOESN'T want to win at Indy? This is your Brickyard 400 (or pretend it is) moment right here- a green-white-checker is about to happen, and it is up to you to be a hero/heroine in just two laps. You must go from 11th place (bringing up the rear) to finish at least 6th to clear this challenge.

OBJECTIVES:
• Bronze: Finish 6th.
• Silver: Finish 2nd.
• Gold: Win the race.

Raceday: Daytona, Last Two Laps.

Are you ready to be a hero/heroine at the Daytona 500 (or let's just pretend it is the Daytona 500)? You are faced with the same green-white-checker scenario like from the previous challenge. You must go from 11th place to finish in a qualifying position to clear this challenge. This one has caused me more frustration than any of the other challenges. I basically adjusted the Controller Steering Sensitivity to make the most of my car's handling.

OBJECTIVES:
• Bronze: Finish 5th.
• Silver: Finish 2nd.
• Gold: Win the race.


Do your best in each one, and you will have cleared all of the challenges here!




I hope you were able to clear each challenge. There are more Special Events to complete, so there is no way I am done here. Thank you for reading!

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